Korça County has per-capita income that is less than 50% of Tirana’s

The concentration of economic activity and population in Tirana is deepening the economic inequality between the capital and the country’s 11 other counties.

The recently published INSTAT data on the economy of the regions, referring to 2023, show that half of the counties about five of them had a GDP per capita that was less than half of Tirana’s.

The county with the lowest income is Kukës, with only 40.2% of Tirana’s level, highlighting the significant territorial disparities in the country. It is followed by Dibër and Berat, with around 43–44% of Tirana’s level, while Elbasan and Korça show a slightly better situation, but still below 50% of Tirana’s GDP per capita.

Lezha and Shkodra also have incomes per capita ranging from 50.7% to 56.4% of Tirana’s level. Gjirokastra rises to 62.5%, placing it among the counties closer to the national average.

Meanwhile, Vlorë, Fier, and Durrës appear as the most developed counties outside of Tirana, with income levels ranging from 71% to over 79% of the capital’s value, due to the strong presence of tourism, industry, and transport in these regions.

In 2023, in the Northern region which includes Shkodër, Durrës, Lezhë, Kukës, and Dibër the GDP per capita was 819,000 lek, or 16.80% below the national average.

In the Central region, which includes Tirana and Elbasan, the GDP per capita was 1.9 million lek in 2023, or 21.8% above the national average.

In the Southern region which includes Berat, Vlorë, Fier, Gjirokastër, and Korçë the GDP per capita was 845,000 lek in 2023, or 14.12% below the national average.

The highest GDP per capita in 2023 was recorded in Tirana County, with 1.3 million lek, 38.9% above the national average. It was followed by Durrës County with 1.086 million lek, 10.31% above the national average, and Fier County with 1.042 million lek, 5.82% above the national average.

The lowest GDP per capita was recorded in Kukës County, at around 549,000 lek, followed by Dibër County with around 595,000 lek and Berat County with 599,000 lek.

In the coming years, the economic gap with other regions is expected to deepen further, as the capital’s GDP continues to grow at a faster pace.

“KORÇA BOOM”