INSTAT updates the data with the new census: over 245,000 Albanians live in extreme poverty

Over 10% of the population living in Albania is in very serious difficulty in meeting their daily living needs, according to data from the INSTAT database, revised with the new 2023 population census.

According to official data from the Survey on Income and Living Conditions, the percentage of households that declare they manage to make a living with great difficulty has decreased from 18.0% in 2021 to 10.2% in 2024.

This statistical improvement did not come from an actual rise in living standards, but from recalibration of the data based on the new demographic structure from the census. Referring to the updated data, there are currently around 245,015 individuals in Albania who suffer from extreme poverty.

The indicator is calculated through self-reporting and citizens’ direct perception of their income.

A family in the category “living with great difficulty” means that it faces severe material deprivation on a daily basis.

These individuals experience a complete inability to cover even a minimal unexpected expense, such as a medical emergency or a simple household breakdown, as they have no savings at all.

This group is also characterized by persistent and repeated delays in paying mandatory utility bills such as electricity, water, or rent, living constantly with anxiety and the risk of having these essential services cut off due to inability to pay on time.

Beyond bills, extreme poverty directly affects nutrition and health, as families in this group are often forced to cut back on basic biological needs.

This means they are unable to afford a full meal with meat, fish, or equivalent alternatives at least once every two days, relying instead on a poor and limited diet. During the winter months, this financial pressure translates into an inability to adequately heat their homes, which directly impacts the health of children and elderly people living in these conditions.

This segment of the population also finds it very difficult to replace or purchase basic household appliances such as a washing machine or a functioning refrigerator.

According to data from INSTAT, 245,015 Albanians living in extreme poverty require targeted interventions, as this group is unable to benefit from overall economic growth without specific support policies.

“KORÇA BOOM”