Albanians (Bulgarian: албанци, albantsi) are a minority ethnic groupin Bulgaria (Albanian: Bullgaria). Although according to the 2011 census they only numbered 220,[1] their number in the Bulgarian lands was much larger in the past. Between the 15th and 17th century, groups of Albanians (both Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox by confession) settled in many parts of modern northern Bulgaria, with a less numerous group of settlers in southern Thrace. Eventually, they were fully assimilated into the surrounding Bulgarian communities.
^"Етнически малцинствени общности" (in Bulgarian). Национален съвет за сътрудничество по етническите и демографските въпроси. Archived from the original on 2013-03-22. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
