Kukës County

Kukës County is a landlocked area in northeastern Albania, with its capital city in Kukës. It covers 2,374 square kilometres and had a population of 61,998 people as of 2021. The county shares borders with the Albanian counties of Dibër, Lezhë, and Shkodër, as well as the countries of Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.

The region has a long history, with people living there since the Bronze Ages. Ancient groups like the Illyrians, Dardanians, and Romans built settlements in the area. The landscape of Kukës County is mostly mountainous, framed by ranges such as the Albanian Alps. The highest point is Maja Jezercë, standing at 2,694 metres above sea level. The county is crossed by the Drin river and is also where other rivers like the Valbona and Gashi begin.

The climate here is a mix of alpine and continental, with temperatures ranging from 11 °C in winter to 25 °C in summer. Most people in Kukës County follow the Muslim faith, but there is also a notable Catholic Christian community. They speak the Gheg dialect of the Albanian language.

Geography

The Valbona Valley during the autumn season.

Kukës is one of the 12 counties of Albania, found in the north and northeast part of the Northern Region. It covers an area of 2,374 km² (917 sq mi), making it the seventh largest county in Albania and the third largest in the Northern Region. It shares borders with Shkodër County to the west, Dibër County to the south, and Lezhë County to the southeast. It also borders the countries of Kosovo to the east and northeast, and Montenegro to the north and northwest.

The landscape of Kukës includes small flat areas and tall mountains. Heights range from 250 m to 2,200 m above sea level. The Albanian Alps run through the northwest, while the northeast has high, steep peaks like Gjallica, Koritnik, and Pashtrik. Between these mountains are narrow valleys, canyons, and ravines. The county is also crossed by the Sharr and Korab Mountains from the southeast. Most of the county lies within the area where the Drin River and its tributaries flow, ending in the Adriatic Sea. Important lakes such as Fierza and Koman are fed by the Black Drin and White Drin rivers. Other notable rivers include Gashi and Valbona. The area is part of the Dinaric Mountains mixed forests and Balkan mixed forests regions, and it includes protected areas like the Valbonë Valley National Park, Korab-Koritnik Nature Park, and the Gashi River Nature Reserve. The Gashi River is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Demographics

Kukës is the largest city in the county.

Kukës County has about 61,998 people, making it one of the least populated counties in Albania. The area is not very crowded, with just 26 people living in each square kilometre. The number of people living there has gone down a lot since 1989.

Most people in Kukës are Albanian, making up about 95% of the population, with some Bulgarian people and others from smaller groups.

Since the Kukës International Airport Zayed opened in 2021, more tourists have been visiting the area.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1950	62,150	—
1960	68,136	+9.6%
1969	90,696	+33.1%
1979	114,325	+26.1%
1989	146,081	+27.8%
2001	111,393	−23.7%
2011	85,292	−23.4%
2023	61,998	−27.3%
Source:

**Population of Kukës according to religious group (2011–2023)**
Religion group	Census 2011		Census 2023		Difference (2023−2011)
Religion group	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
Sunni Muslim	71,483	83.8%	52,647	84.9%	-18,836	+1.1%
Bektashi Muslim	177	0.2%	3	0.0%	-174	-0.2%
Total Muslim	71,660	84.0%	52,650	84.9%	-19,010	+0.9%
Catholic Christian	2,236	2.6%	1,778	2.9%	-458	+0.3%
Orthodox Christian	22	0.0%	47	0.1%	+25	+0.1%
Evangelical	23	0.0%	94	0.2%	+71	+0.2%
Other Christian	31	0.0%	43	0.1%	+12	+0.1%
Total Christian*	2,312	2.7%	1,962	3.2%	-350	+0.5%
Atheists	284	0.3%	252	0.4%	-32	+0.1%
Believers without denomination	2,095	2.5%	3,492	5.6%	+1,397	+3.1%
Total Non-religious	2,379	2.8%	3,744	6.0%	+1,365	+3.2%
Prefer not to answer	6,989	8.2%	2,711	4.4%	-4,278	-3.8%
Not stated / Not available**	2,122	2.5%	615	1.0%	-1,507	-1.5%
TOTAL	85,292	100%	61,998	100%	-23,294	–

Economy

Kukës County is one of the poorest parts of Albania, both now and in the past. Many people from this area moved to Tirana or other countries since the 1990s. Before that, the main work in Kukës included making rugs, farming, and producing clothes. But after many people left, the local economy grew weaker.

In 2021, Albania’s leader, Edi Rama, opened the country’s second international airport in Kukës to help improve the economy. Even with this, Kukës is still much less wealthy than Tirana, the capital city.