The World's First Atheist Nation: A Secular Constitution

Albania is the world's first constitutionally atheist country. In 1967, Enver Hoxha, the head of state of Albania, declared Albania to be the first atheist state of the world, despite the Soviet Union under Lenin already being a de facto atheist state. In 1976, Albania was declared the world's first constitutionally atheist state.

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Albania was declared the world's first atheist country in 1976

Albania was declared the world's first constitutionally atheist country in 1976. The country had been a secular state since 1912, guaranteeing freedom of religion, belief and conscience under its constitution. However, in 1967, Enver Hoxha, the head of state of Albania, banned religious practices, making Albania the first and only constitutionally atheist state to ever exist. This move was part of an anti-religious campaign that saw the vilification and humiliation of the clergy, the desecration of religious vestments, and the imprisonment, execution, and starvation of clerics. The National Museum of Atheism in Shkodër, the city viewed by the government as the most religiously conservative, became a major centre for anti-religious propaganda.

Despite Albania's declaration, the Soviet Union under Lenin had already been a de facto atheist state. During the Stalinist era, which lasted from 1929 to 1953, the Soviet Union pursued militant state atheism, suppressing public religious expression in wide areas of its influence, including Central Asia. Other countries that experienced strong state atheism policies during this time included Bulgaria, East Germany, and Czechoslovakia. Today, China, North Korea, and Vietnam are officially atheist states. Cuba was also an atheist state until 2019 when it changed its constitution to become a secular state.

The Party of Labour put a ban on religious belief in the constitution

Albania is the world's first constitutionally atheist country. In 1967, Enver Hoxha, the head of state of Albania, declared Albania to be the "first atheist state of the world". This was despite the Soviet Union under Lenin having already been a de facto atheist state.

The ban on religious belief in the constitution was not the first time Albania had taken steps towards becoming an atheist state. Albania has been a secular state since 1912 and, according to the constitution, the state has to be "neutral in questions of belief and conscience". This means that freedom of religion, belief and conscience are guaranteed under the country's constitution.

However, in 1967, religious practices were officially banned in Albania, making the country the first and only constitutionally atheist state to ever exist. After the fall of state communism in 1991, religious activities resumed.

Today, Albania is a religiously diverse country with no official religion. Islam is the most common religion in Albania, followed by Christianity, though religiosity is low and there are many irreligious Albanians. In the 2023 census, Muslims (Sunni, Bektashians and non-denominationals) accounted for 51% of the total population, Christians (Catholics, Orthodox and Evangelicals) made up 16%, while irreligious (Atheists and the other non-religious) were 17%. The other 16% were undeclared.

Albania imposed punishments for participating in religious ceremonies

Albania was the first constitutionally atheist country in the world. In 1967, Enver Hoxha, the head of state of Albania, declared Albania to be the "first atheist state of the world", despite the Soviet Union under Lenin having already been a de facto atheist state.

In 1976, the Party of Labour declared Albania the first atheist country in the world, putting a ban on religious belief in the constitution and imposing punishments for participating in religious ceremonies and possessing holy books. The government encouraged faith in Hoxha, communism, and the party. Despite the state’s commitment to the destruction of religious institutions, the burning of sacred books, and the imprisonment, and execution of priests and imams, some Albanian families continued to practice their faith in secret, putting their lives at risk.

The 1977 penal code imposed prison sentences of three to ten years for "religious propaganda and the production, distribution, or storage of religious literature". A new decree targeted Albanians with Islamic and religiously-tinged Christian names, stipulating that citizens whose names did not conform to "the political, ideological, or moral standards of the state" were to change them. Towns and villages with religious names were also renamed.

The criminal code prohibits interference in an individual’s ability to practice a religion, and it prescribes punishments of up to three years in prison for obstructing the activities of religious organizations or for willfully destroying objects or buildings of religious value. It imposes imprisonment of up to one year for obstructing participation in religious ceremonies or impeding the free expression of religious beliefs. By law, the Office of the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination receives and processes discrimination complaints, including those concerning religious practice. The commissioner may issue decisions and impose fines, which the affected parties may appeal in court.

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Albania's communist government fell in 1991

Albania was declared the world's first constitutionally atheist country in 1976, although religious practices were banned in 1967. In 1991, after the fall of Albania's communist government, religious activities resumed.

Albania has been a secular state since 1912 and is currently a religiously diverse country with no official religion. Freedom of religion, belief and conscience are guaranteed under the country's constitution. The most common religion in Albania is Islam, followed by Christianity, although religiosity is low and there are many irreligious Albanians. In the 2023 census, Muslims (Sunni, Bektashians and non-denominational) accounted for 51% of the total population, Christians (Catholics, Orthodox and Evangelicals) made up 16%, while irreligious (Atheists and the other non-religious) were 17%. The other 16% were undeclared.

Albania's present-day evangelical church is still in its initial stages

Albania is a secular and religiously diverse country with no official religion. Freedom of religion, belief and conscience are guaranteed under the country's constitution. In 1967, Enver Hoxha, the head of state of Albania, declared Albania to be the "first atheist state of the world", although the Soviet Union under Lenin had already been a de facto atheist state. The former socialist government started the anti-religious campaign in 1967 and Albania was declared the world's first constitutionally "atheist state" in 1976. Religious practices were officially banned in Albania, making the country the first and only constitutionally atheist state to ever exist. After the fall of state communism, in 1991 religious activities resumed.

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