Alarming Figures: Births Dropped by 5% in 2024, Lowest Number in 90 Years

The number of births in Albania has drastically declined, reaching the lowest level since 1934. According to INSTAT data, only 22,425 babies were born in 2024, marking a 5% decrease compared to 2023. This downward trend has accelerated in recent years, reflecting the impact of demographic, economic, and social factors.

The decline in birth rates is even more pronounced than during historically difficult periods. For instance, during World War II, in 1942, over 36,000 babies were born, despite the number of women of reproductive age being lower than today. In 1950, under the communist dictatorship, 47,291 babies were born, even though there were only 259,472 women of reproductive age. In contrast, in 2024, despite a significantly higher number of women in this age group, fewer than half the number of babies were born compared to the 1950s.

Experts are increasingly concerned about this demographic crisis, emphasizing that policies have been slow to address the issue. The main causes of declining birth rates are linked to massive emigration, economic uncertainty, and the high cost of living. For this reason, demographers suggest targeted policies to support young families.

Studies show that Albanian women still want to have more children than they actually do. According to a survey conducted six years ago, 100 women stated that they ideally wanted to have 250 children collectively, a figure above the population replacement rate. However, in reality, six years later, these same women had only 121 children, far below their desired number.

To counter this crisis, experts propose measures such as improving economic conditions for young families and implementing supportive policies for parents. A successful model comes from Spain, which in 2003 introduced a reform that exempted mothers with children under three from income tax. Additionally, Spain provided a €2,500 baby bonus for each birth, helping to increase birth rates.

In conclusion, Albania is facing a demographic crisis that requires urgent solutions. Social and economic policies must focus on supporting young families to ensure the natural growth of the population and the country’s future stability.

CREATED by:

“KORÇA BOOM”