In a significant and contentious move, the Albanian Orthodox Church has voiced its dissatisfaction with the results of the 2023 national census, arguing that the reported percentage of Orthodox Christians in Albania does not reflect reality. According to the official census data, the number of individuals identifying as Orthodox Christians has decreased by 15,347 since 2011.

Albania's population, currently at 2.8 million, was surveyed in the recent census, and the results concerning religious affiliation are as follows:

Muslims: 1,101,718
Bektashi Muslims: 115,644
Catholics: 201,530
Orthodox Christians: 173,645
Evangelicals: 9,658
Other faiths: 3,670
Undeclared: 332,155
Atheists: 85,311
No response: 244,331
The Holy Synod of the Albanian Orthodox Church has pointed to several reasons for what it considers a discrepancy in the census data. Firstly, they claim that many census takers did not inquire about respondents' religious affiliations. The Synod asserts that they have documentary evidence showing that a significant number of believers were not surveyed because census takers never visited them. They argue that church baptismal records indicate a much higher number of Orthodox Christians than the census suggests.

The Church also criticized the methodology of the census, stating that there were barriers to accurately accounting for religious affiliations and minorities. The question about religious affiliation was optional, which the Church believes led to underreporting. Moreover, the term "practicing Orthodox" used in the census questionnaire was problematic. The Church contends that it is difficult to measure a believer's participation in religious life accurately. Consequently, some respondents who do not attend church regularly might have indicated that they are not Orthodox, even though they are.

The Church's concerns point to potential flaws in the census process and the importance of ensuring that such surveys are thorough and inclusive. The discrepancy between the Church's records and the census data raises questions about the accuracy and reliability of the census, emphasizing the need for a transparent and rigorous approach to data collection in future censuses.

The Albanian Orthodox Church's criticism of the 2023 census reflects deep concerns about the representation of religious communities in Albania. It calls for a reevaluation of the methods used in the census to ensure that all religious groups are fairly and accurately represented, thus fostering a more inclusive and accurate understanding of the country's demographic reality.