MAPPING OF THE POPULATION AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS IN ALBANIA Table 1: Coefficient of Statelessness Risk by District Each number represents how many more times is an individual at risk of facing statelessness compared to the average if he/she resides in a particular district.50 Regarding the risk of statelessness, from the figures it would appear that people living in Gjirokastra are at greatest risk of statelessness, while those in Tirana are at the least risk. There are many reasons behind these differences. First, from TLAS/UNHCR’s long experience and other reports51, it can be seen that Roma and Egyptian communities reside in relatively large numbers in the districts of Fier, Shkodra, Elbasan and Gjirokastra. These communities, for several reasons, are among the most vulnerable groups regarding the issue of statelessness. Second, the influx of immigrants returning to Albania over the past few years, produces more cases of persons at risk of statelessness in cities near the borders than in central regions, such as Tirana. The importance of this point is asserted by Figure 9, which demonstrates that the most pervasive cause of statelessness in Albania is being born outside of Albania. Third, those NGOs that are specialized in tackling the risks associated to statelessness, including TLAS, are located and have strong structures in Tirana, but, usually, have fewer resources in other districts. Related to this, Figure 8 shows that after 2011 (INSTAT Census) the problem of statelessness has relatively improved in the districts of Tirana, Durres, or Lezha, but has significantly deteriorated in the districts of Shkoder, Fier, or Gjirokastra (assuming that our sample of stateless persons collected in four months is representative of the Albanian population). 50 Keep in mind that if you want to compare how many more times one is at risk by living in a district instead of another, you have to divide the coefficients. For example, an individual residing in the District of Shkoder is 2.28 (1.55/0.68) times more at risk of being stateless compared to a person in the District of Lezha. 51 “Roma and Egyptians in Albania: A socio-demographic and economic profile based on the 2011 census.” 50 UNHCR - TLAS / May 2018