Everyone wants a “boy” / Albania, an anomaly in births. Boys above the natural rate

In a year when births in Albania continued to decline and the country again lost population, the ratio between boys and girls at birth remains above what is considered biologically normal. Data from INSTAT shows that in 2024, 12,094 boys and 11,216 girls were born in Albania, or 108 boys for every 100 girls. The report states that the natural rate is 105.

The deviation becomes even more pronounced in fourth births and beyond. According to INSTAT tables, in this category the ratio reaches 113 boys per 100 girls, while even in first and third births the ratio remains above the biological norm.

In the same report, INSTAT notes that the total number of births in the country fell to 23,310 in 2024, 307 fewer than the previous year. The total fertility rate remains at 1.64 children per woman, well below the 2.1 level considered necessary for population replacement.

The sex ratio at birth is one of the most closely monitored indicators by international organizations, as in many countries persistent deviations above the biological norm have historically been linked to a preference for boys. Albania has been mentioned for years in international demographic analyses as one of the Balkan countries where this ratio has consistently remained above the natural average.

Sociologist Marsida Simo told Monitor that in countries where this phenomenon has been strong, such as China or India, a share of men have remained unable to form families, affecting fertility, household consumption, and social stability. According to her, this is particularly concerning for Albania because it overlaps with two parallel crises: declining birth rates and mass youth emigration.

The INSTAT report comes at a time when Albania’s demographic structure is changing rapidly. The population fell to 2.36 million at the end of 2024, while the over-65 age group continues to grow and net migration remains negative for both genders.

“KORÇA BOOM”