Macedonians of Albania (Macedonian: Македонците во Албанија, Makedoncite vo Albanija; Албански Македонци, Albanski Makedonci)are an officially recognized ethnic minority in Albania. According to the census of 2011, only 5.870 Macedonians live in Albania. However, before the census, the Macedonian organizations from Albania asked Macedonians to boycott the census because only in Mala Prespa the Macedonians were allowed to declare themselves as such, In the 1989 census, 4,697 people had declared themselves Macedonian.
The condition of the Macedonian population living in the Prespa area is described in positive terms and particular praise is given since all the villages of the area have classes in their mother tongue. Macedonian organizations allege that the government undercounts their number and that they are politically under-represented, arguing there are no Macedonians in the Albanian parliament. Past Helsinki reports stated, "Albania recognizes a Macedonian minority, but only in the Southern regions. Those who identify as Macedonians outside these minority regions are denied the minority rights granted in the south, including minority classes at state schools."
Read more about Macedonians Of Albania: Areas Inhabited By Macedonians, Education, Macedonian Organizations, Politics, Religion, Representation in Government, 2009 Minority Study, Notable Macedonians From Albania, See Also