MAPPING OF THE POPULATION AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS IN ALBANIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - Key findings This report found 1031 persons at risk of statelessness mostly due to difficulties to have their nationality confirmed. However, the actual number may be higher as persons at risk of statelessness often remain invisible and are hard to census. The objectives of the report were to conduct an in-depth analysis of the factors that contribute to the risk of statelessness in Albania, as well as provide a clear picture of the demographics of those at risk. This study found that the majority of persons at risk of statelessness in Albania are entitled to nationality as per the law on citizenship, but find difficulties to have it confirmed in practice. The main obstacle remains access to birth registration, which is hindered due to costly and lengthy administrative and judicial procedures. This particularly affects Roma and Egyptian communities, as they are often socially and economically marginalized, but also Albanian returnees whose children were born abroad. 97% of those recorded as at risk of stateless in Albania are children. Just under 50% of the total is children under 5. The primary causes reported are: i) being born outside of Albanian territory (53%), ii) being born to parents who aren’t married (12%), iii) being born at home (10%), and iv) being born in hospitals or maternity units that hold incorrect personal details on the mother (9%). Altogether 84% of those identified at risk of statelessness had obstacles related to birth registration procedures. Of those born outside of Albania, the majority of births were in Greece (53%), followed by Germany (29%), Kosovo (6%) with the final 12% listed as ‘other’. Members of Roma and Egyptian communities are disproportionately affected; and they make up half of all recorded cases at risk of statelessness despite representing between 0.4% and 3.3% of the total Albanian population (according to varying estimates)1. Geographically, you are more likely to find a person at risk of stateless in Tirana (18% of the total), then Fier (12%), Shkodra (11%) and Gjirokastra (10%). However, if you look at the relative prevalence of persons at risk of statelessness, Gjirokastra and Berat come out as the worst affected areas. 1 INSTAT/UNDP, Roma and Egyptians in Albania: a socio-demographic and economic profile based on the 2011 census April, 2015 8 UNHCR - TLAS / May 2018