Kukës

Kukës
Kukësi
From the top, View over Kukës, Palace of Culture, Kukës street scene, Ethnographic Museum, Drini Bridge
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Kukës
Coordinates: 42°5′N 20°25′E / 42.083°N 20.417°E / 42.083; 20.417
Country Albania
CountyKukës
Government
 • MayorAlbert Halilaj (PS)
Area
 • Municipality957 km2 (369 sq mi)
 • Administrative unit8.2 km2 (3.2 sq mi)
Elevation
350 m (1,150 ft)
Population
 (2023)
 • Municipality
36,125
 • Municipality density37.7/km2 (97.8/sq mi)
 • Administrative unit
15,643
 • Administrative unit density1,900/km2 (4,900/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Albanian: Kuksian (m), Kuksiane (f)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal Code
8501, 8502, 8503
Area Code(0)24
Websitekukesi.gov.al

Kukës (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈkukəs]; Albanian definite form: Kukësi) is a city in Albania. The city is the capital of the surrounding municipality of Kukës and county of Kukës, one of 12 constituent counties of the republic. It spans 8.2 km2 (3.2 sq mi) and had a total population of 15,643 people as of 2023.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19501,060—    
19603,018+184.7%
19697,300+141.9%
19799,500+30.1%
198916,555+74.3%
200117,157+3.6%
201116,719−2.6%
202315,643−6.4%
Source:

Geologically, the surrounding area is dominated by mountainous and high terrain. The city sprawls across the Luma Plain within the Albanian Alps between the banks of Lake Fierza and the hills of the northernmost Korab Mountains and westernmost Sharr Mountains. At the confluence of the Black and White Drin, the Drin River originates close to the city's territory.