2025, Albania’s population declined at the fastest rate in the region

Albania’s population is shrinking at much faster rates, almost two to three times higher than in other countries of the region, according to updated Eurostat data on the populations of candidate countries.

In 2025, Albania’s official population stood at 2,363,314 inhabitants, marking a decline of around 27,628 people within one year, while in relative terms the decrease was –1.2%, the highest rate in the region.

According to Eurostat data in the table below, the population decline in Bosnia and Herzegovina was –0.3%, in North Macedonia –0.2%, in Serbia –0.6%, and in Montenegro –0.1%.

In the four other candidate countries of the Western Balkans, the population fell by an average of 0.3%, while in Albania it declined almost four times more, by about 1.1%.

This difference shows that demographic phenomena, especially ongoing emigration and declining birth rates, are affecting Albania more strongly than other Western Balkan countries with EU candidate status.

In recent years, population decline has accelerated due to the shrinking number of young people, which has led to a rapid reduction in births from year to year.

The sharp contraction in the age group up to 30 years is mainly the result of high emigration, which remains among the highest in Europe. Albanians, particularly young people and professionals, are leaving for higher wages, better working conditions, and more stable career opportunities in EU countries. This trend has intensified following the liberalization of the European labor market and new recruitment schemes in countries such as Germany, which have a high demand for labor.

Domestic data show that the population aged 15–29, representing the group most active in emigration, shrank by 45 percent between 2011 and 2025.

At the same time, Albania has the lowest number of births in the history of its transition, with a fertility rate of around 1.2 children per woman of childbearing age, well below the replacement level and among the lowest in Europe. Many young couples postpone starting a family due to economic insecurity, the high cost of raising children, and the emigration of partners.

Over the next decade, the number of deaths is expected to exceed the number of births, creating a natural deficit that will deepen further unless mitigating measures are taken.

“KORÇA BOOM”