People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Albanian, Tosk of North America


People Group Info

Total Population: 126,270

ROP3 Code: 100222
IMB Affinity Group: European Peoples
Affinity Bloc: Eurasian Peoples
People Cluster: Albanian
Language: Tosk Albanian - (als)
Religion: Islam - Sunni
Country of Origin: Albania

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project.
Copyright © International Mission Board-SBC

Majority Located Where

  New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY - 25,000

  Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI - 10,874

  Toronto (Mississauga, Brampton), ON - 9,281

  Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA - 4,701

  Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA - 4,641

Click here to recommend other locations where this People Group resides.

Learn More

Brief Profile

Tosk people are Tosk-speaking population people from southern Albania. The Tosk language is one of two main dialects, the other being Gheg, spoken in Albania. Although mutually intelligible with one another, social-cultural norms derived from a long history of how the Tosk and Gheg view one another reinforce the Tosk's own distinct social identity. Tosk are often known to be friendly and talkative whereas Gheg are often known to be more stern and courageous. At the end of 19th and beginning of 20th century many Albanians migrated to North America with the majority being Tosks.

In the United States, the first migrations centered in the greater Boston area, with other significant concentrations in New York City; Jamestown and Rochester in New York State; Chicago, Illinois; and Detroit, Michigan.

Most Albanian Tosks are nominal Muslims, following only Islam because of their past family and ethnic heritage. Many have begun to marry outside their people group.

Prayer Points

  • Ask God to reveal the truth in Jesus Christ through dreams.
  • Pray for the Albanian, Tosk people to learn that they may know both the ultimate and intimate God through Jesus Christ.


Learning Resources

Learn more about "Any-3"
Any–3 provides biblical principles and practical steps that have equipped hundreds of Christians to witness confidently and effectively. Over the past decade, thousands of Muslims have been engaged with the gospel.

Learn more about "Learning Paths"
Online Courses for embracing, encountering and engaging diaspora people. Work at your own pace. Begin anytime and complete the course according to your schedule. Interactive, Hands-On Application.

Learn more about "Reaching the Nations"
This book delineates five disciplines Christians should develop in order to effectively reach the nations. More specifically, it will guide Christians to develop an engagement strategy in their locale.

Loving Muslims Small Group Study
This Loving Muslims booklet is a two-week group study that takes a deeper look at Christ’s command to "love our neighbor."

World Religions - Beliefs Overview
An overview of major world religions and cults - their beliefs and practices.

Overview of Islam
Overview of Islam and its sub-groupings. Developed by the North American Mission Board, SBC. Includes generalized witnessing tips.


Other Resources

Prayer Guide for Unreached Peoples
A 30 day guide to pray for unreached people groups.

Online Talking Bible - Albanian
The purpose of Talking Bibles is to give non-readers and the blind access to the Bible in their native language.

Prayer Guide using the GOSPELS acronym
A prayer guide that utilizes the acronym GOSPELS to pray for workers among diaspora.

Displaying 1-16 of 16 results.
Country City Metro Area Name State / Prov. Baseline Population
United StatesLakewoodCleveland-ElyriaOH1,936
United StatesCarrolltonDallas-Fort Worth-ArlingtonTX2,200
United StatesClearwaterTampa-St. Petersburg-ClearwaterFL2,146
United StatesBallwinSt. LouisMO1,395
United StatesHoustonHouston-The Woodlands-Sugar LandTX600
United StatesAbileneAbileneTX300
United StatesSterling HeightsDetroit-Warren-DearbornMI10,874
United StatesMaldenBoston-Cambridge-QuincyMA4,701
United StatesWorcesterWorcesterMA2,416
United StatesWethersfieldHartford-West Hartford-East HartfordCT1,177
United StatesNew YorkNew York-Newark-Jersey CityNY25,000
United StatesRockledgePhiladelphia-Camden-WilmingtonPA4,641
United StatesColonieAlbany-Schenectady-TroyNY1,031
United StatesAddisonChicago-Naperville-ElginIL3,469
United StatesJacksonvilleJacksonvilleFL1,852
CanadaTorontoToronto (Mississauga, Brampton)ON9,281