Geography The Municipality of Kukës (MK), with the town of Kukës as its center, is located in the north-east of the Republic of Albania and accounts for 2% of the total area of the country. The relief of the territory of the Municipality of Kukës is mostly mountainous. The mountains of Gjallica and of Koritnik, which are part of the mountain range of Korab, lie in this area. Whereas Drin valley is well known for the rough terrain and many bottlenecks, on which large hydropower dams were built. The fact, that a part of the mountain range of Korab lies in this area, highlights its characteristics as a mountainous area, where settlements reach about 1400 m altitude. Kukës area lies in a part of the lake Fierza, which is the largest artificial lake in Albania. Morini gorge, through which the road to Prizren passes, makes this area a connecting place with Kosovo. The city of Kukës is the main center of the Municipality of Kukes, and the most important one from the economic, administrative and social viewpoint. Other economic centers include Bicaj, Shtiqen, Shishtavec and Shëmri (Malzi). Despite these economic centers, Kukës is the place where the main commercial activity happens.
Population The population of Kukës Municipality, according to the civil registry office at the municipality, is 60800 residents. Kukës city population constitutes 34% of the total population of the Municipality of Kukës. The average population per local government unit in this region is 4053 inhabitants/AU, or 50.6% lower than the national average of 8016 inhabitants/AU. The Units with the smallest number of residents are Arrën and Kalis. The average density is 66 inhabitants / km2. Kukës city, as an urban center has a population density of 1597 inhabitants/km2, while in other areas, the density does not exceed 100 inhabitants/km2, except the AU of Shtiqen, the density of which is about 112 inhabitants/km2. There are units where the density reaches the minimum figures such as in Arrën (approximately 9 inhabitants/km2). AUs that are far from the center, are sparsely populated and with very weak interactions, being distanced from Kukes as the municipal center. Recent analyses reveal two important trends in terms of population: (i) general depopulation (ii) and depopulation followed by inter-regional migration from rural to urban centers. In recent years, the city of Kukës population grew by 3.8%, while in other administrative units, it has fallen by 2.5%. The administrative units that have experienced the largest decline are: Kalis (42.8%), 30.6% Kolsh, and Topojan (12.8%). The lowest density figures were observed in the administrative units of Arren (9 inhabitants / km2). At qark level, Kukës presents a net migration rate of -9.6 in 2014. While the ratio between arriving people and leaving people from the area presents a deep negative balance of internal migration, experiencing a much higher influx of population outflow compared to inflows (32% to 68%). The population of Kukës Municipality consists of a relatively new population, a characteristic distinctive even at country level. Since 2006, the trend with three age groups has been more or less stable. 49% of the population are at working age and the rest of 14% consist of children (young age) and 37% is the age group of 65 years old and above. The coverage ratio for young people is 76% in total, and it is also higher than the average coefficient for all Kukës qark (46.3%). Likewise, the rate of coverage for the elderly appears to be high, when compared to the average for Kukës (12.4%), or at country level. This implies a considerable burden of dependents in the family economic units and economies of the area in general. This degree of dependence is the result of the high birth rate that continues to be the highest in the republic.
Kukës
Territorial Development Strategy of Kukës Municipality Facilitated by Decentralisation and Local Development Programme (dldp) with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Albania
Population and density Administrative Units and the Municipality of Kukes Kukës Shtiqen Malzi Tërthorë Zapod Surroj Bicaj Shishtavec Arren GrykëCajë Bushtricë Kolsh Kalis Topojan Ujmisht TOTAL
Population
Density Inhabitant s/km2
20698 3365 3853 3698 3141 1810 6536 5075 568 1910 1936 2340 934 2495 2441 60800
1597 112 25 55 83 23 76 79 9 21 53 59 28 35 50 66
Source: Municipality of Kukës, Directorate of Civil Registry