Roma Community in Albania: Discrimination and Social Exclusion

Last updated: 5 October 2026

Photo: Through the veil - An Indian Gypsy Woman - Shirsendu Nayak

Albania Roma discrimination is a daily reality for more than 100,000 people. Roma and Egyptian communities in Albania face systematic exclusion in housing, education, employment, and healthcare. They are pushed to the margins of society. Their homes are demolished. Their children drop out of school. They cannot find jobs. And when they seek help, the state often ignores them. This article examines the situation of Roma and Egyptians in Albania and explains why this matters for asylum claims based on race and ethnicity.[1]

The evidence comes from the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), the European Commission, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and Albanian civil society groups. Together, these sources show a clear pattern of discrimination that the Albanian government has failed to address. For expert witnesses and asylum decision-makers, this evidence is critical.

Who Are Roma and Egyptians in Albania?

Albania is home to two main minority communities often grouped together: Roma and Egyptians. They are different groups with different histories, but they face similar problems. The Roma are part of the wider Romani people found across Europe. The Egyptians are a separate group, also called "Jevg" or "Evgjit" in Albanian. They speak Albanian, not Romani, and have their own cultural identity.[2]

The exact population is difficult to count. The Albanian census has been criticised for undercounting minorities. The government estimates around 8,000-15,000 Roma and 3,000 Egyptians. However, independent organisations and the Council of Europe estimate the real number is much higher, between 100,000 and 150,000 people combined. Many Roma and Egyptians do not declare their identity in the census because they fear discrimination.[3]

Both communities are recognised as national minorities under Albanian law. The Constitution protects their rights. Albania has signed international agreements that guarantee minority protection. However, the gap between law and reality is very wide. In practice, Albania Roma discrimination affects every part of daily life.

Housing: Forced Evictions and Informal Settlements

Housing is one of the most serious problems for Roma and Egyptians in Albania. Many families live in informal settlements. These are areas where people have built homes without legal permission. The homes are often made of poor materials. They lack clean water, electricity, and sewage systems. Conditions are unsafe, especially for children.[4]

The Albanian government has demolished many of these settlements. In Tirana, Elbasan, and other cities, Roma and Egyptian families have been forced from their homes. Sometimes they received no warning. Other times, the notice was very short. In many cases, the government did not provide adequate alternative housing. Families were moved to temporary shelters far from their workplaces and schools. Some received no new housing at all.[5]

The European Court of Human Rights and international organisations have criticised these evictions. They say Albania must follow proper procedures and provide adequate relocation. However, forced evictions continue. The government says it needs the land for development projects. The result is that Roma and Egyptian families are pushed further to the edges of cities, into worse conditions.

Education: Low Enrollment and High Dropout

Education is supposed to be a way out of poverty. For Roma and Egyptian children in Albania, it often is not. School enrollment rates are much lower than the national average. Many Roma children start school late or not at all. Those who do start often drop out within a few years. By secondary school, very few Roma students remain.[6]

The reasons are complex. Poverty is the main factor. Families cannot afford school supplies, uniforms, or transport. Children are often needed to work or beg to support the family. Some schools are far from Roma settlements. In some cases, Roma children face bullying and discrimination from other students and even from teachers. There are reports of Roma children being placed in separate classes or seated at the back of the room.

The Albanian government has taken some steps to improve Roma education. It has offered free textbooks and transport in some areas. However, these programmes are small and do not reach everyone. The dropout rate remains very high. Without education, Roma children have very little chance of escaping poverty. The cycle continues from one generation to the next.

Employment: Shut Out of the Job Market

Unemployment among Roma and Egyptians is about three times higher than the national average. Most Roma who do work are in the informal economy. This means they have no contracts, no social security, and no protection. They work as waste collectors, street sellers, or seasonal agricultural workers. They earn very little money.[7]

Discrimination in hiring is common. Employers refuse to hire Roma workers, even when they have the right skills. Some employers openly say they do not want Roma employees. The anti-discrimination law prohibits this, but it is rarely enforced. The Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination receives complaints, but the consequences for employers are very small.

Healthcare: Registration Barriers and Lower Life Expectancy

Roma and Egyptians in Albania have much less access to healthcare than the general population. Many Roma do not have health insurance because they work in the informal sector. Without insurance, they must pay for medical care. Most cannot afford it. As a result, they do not see doctors, even when they are seriously ill.[8]

Registration is another barrier. To get healthcare, you need an address and identity documents. Many Roma lack both. They live in informal settlements with no official address. Some do not have birth certificates or identity cards. Without these documents, they cannot register with a doctor. Children do not get vaccinated. Pregnant women do not receive prenatal care. Life expectancy for Roma is estimated to be 10-15 years lower than the national average.

The Albanian government has created some programmes to help, such as free health checks in Roma areas. However, these are one-off events, not regular services. The structural barriers remain. Until Roma can register for health insurance and access regular healthcare, the health gap will continue to grow.

Albania Roma Discrimination: Key Indicators

Legal Framework: Laws Without Enforcement

Albania has a legal framework that should protect Roma rights. The Constitution prohibits discrimination. Law No. 10221 of 2010 is a specific anti-discrimination law. It created the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination (CPD), an independent body that can investigate complaints and make recommendations. Albania has also adopted action plans for Roma integration, most recently the National Action Plan for Roma and Egyptian Integration 2021-2025.[9]

However, the enforcement of these laws is very weak. The CPD receives complaints but has limited power. Its recommendations are not binding. Fines for discrimination are small. Very few discrimination cases go to court. Even fewer result in real consequences for the discriminator. The action plans look good on paper, but they have very small budgets. Many of the targets in previous plans were not met.

International monitoring bodies have consistently criticised this gap. The European Commission notes it in every annual report. ECRI has made detailed recommendations that Albania has not fully implemented. The situation improves very slowly, if at all.

Roma and Egyptians in Albania continue to face widespread discrimination in access to education, employment, healthcare, and housing. Despite the existence of a legal framework and action plans, implementation remains insufficient. Forced evictions without adequate alternative housing particularly affect these communities.

ECRI (European Commission against Racism and Intolerance), Report on Albania, Fifth Monitoring Cycle, 2020

Implications for Asylum Claims

Albania Roma discrimination can form the basis of an asylum claim under the Refugee Convention. The Convention protects people who face persecution on the ground of race. Roma ethnicity clearly falls within this category. The key question is whether the discrimination amounts to persecution. Individual acts of discrimination may not be enough. However, the cumulative effect of discrimination in housing, education, employment, and healthcare can amount to persecution.[10]

For asylum claims, it is important to show the pattern. A Roma person who has been evicted from their home, denied employment, and unable to access healthcare faces a situation that, taken together, makes life unbearable. This cumulative discrimination can meet the threshold for persecution under the human rights framework.

State protection is also relevant. The Albanian state has laws against discrimination, but does not enforce them effectively. The police do not take discrimination complaints seriously. The CPD has limited power. This means the state is unable or unwilling to protect Roma from discrimination. Internal relocation does not help because discrimination is nationwide.

Conclusion

Albania Roma discrimination is systematic, widespread, and deeply rooted. Roma and Egyptian communities face exclusion in every important area of life. They are evicted from their homes. Their children do not finish school. They cannot find work. They cannot access healthcare. The Albanian government has laws and action plans, but does not enforce them. International bodies have criticised this situation for years, but real progress is very slow.

For asylum decision-makers, this evidence matters. Roma from Albania face a level of discrimination that can amount to persecution. The state cannot protect them. Internal relocation is not an option because discrimination is the same across the country. An expert witness can explain the depth and pattern of Albania Roma discrimination. For more information, see our asylum guide.