history
Religion in Albania — a model of coexistence
Albania is roughly 60% Muslim, 17% Christian Orthodox, 10% Catholic, with the rest secular or other. The dominant attitude is "religion is a personal matter" — and the country is famous for inter-faith coexistence.
By myAlbania Editorial·April 28, 2026·2 min read
A unique secular tradition
From 1967 to 1990, communist Albania officially banned religion entirely — mosques and churches were closed, clerics imprisoned. Today, freedom of religion is constitutional, and the legacy is a population that overwhelmingly views faith as a private matter.
What you'll see
- Mosques and churches across the street from each other (Berat, Tirana).
- The famous Et'hem Bey Mosque in Tirana's Skanderbeg Square — open to visitors.
- The Skanderbeg Catholic basilica in Shkodër.
- The Bektashi World Centre in Tirana — Albania is the global headquarters of the Bektashi Sufi order.
How to behave
- Cover shoulders and knees in mosques; remove shoes.
- Same in active churches.
- Religious holidays of all faiths are public holidays — and people of all faiths celebrate them together.