Islam in Albania is the majority religion and has a rich and longstanding history in the country. It was introduced in the 15th and 16th centuries as a result of the Ottoman conquests of the Balkans. During the Ottoman rule, the majority of Albanians were of Muslim affiliation (Sunni and Bektashi). However, decades of state atheism which ended in 1991 brought a decline in religious practice in all traditions.
A recent Pew Research Center demographic study put the percentage of Muslims in Albania at 79.9%.[1]