Across Europe — especially in developing regions — people are on the move, seeking better lives. Globalization, open markets, freer movement, and relaxed work permit rules in aging, developed nations have created new opportunities. Unsurprisingly, many, especially young people with rising life expectations, are eager to seize them.
But no country is experiencing a population exodus as rapidly as Albania.
According to the latest Eurostat data, processed by Monitor, Albania's population shrank by 18.2% by the end of 2024 compared to 2011. This dramatic reduction — which spans the period between two national censuses — means over 500,000 people have left the country in just over a decade.
Today, Albania officially has 2.36 million residents, a figure also confirmed by Eurostat. This 18.2% decline — relative to the country’s population size — is the highest in Europe. The next in line is Bulgaria, whose population dropped by 12.3% over the same period.
Other countries in the region also show steep declines:
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North Macedonia: -11.4%
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Bosnia and Herzegovina: -11.2%
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Croatia: -9.7%
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Latvia: -9.4%
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Serbia: -9.0%
In contrast, Montenegro is the only Balkan state that has managed to maintain a stable population, with a slight increase of 0.6% since 2011. (No comparable data was available for Kosovo.)
Meanwhile, Western European countries, despite aging demographics, have actually grown their populations — thanks largely to aggressive immigration policies designed to offset declining birth rates and rising life expectancy. The Eurozone overall saw a 3.2% population increase since 2011.
Examples include:
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Italy: -1.8% (slight decline in the EU’s oldest country)
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Spain: +4.5%
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Germany: +4.0% — thanks to more relaxed work visa requirements in recent years.
Why Is Albania Shrinking So Fast?
Albania’s sharp population drop is driven by two key factors:
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A Collapse in Natural Population Growth
After the pandemic, Albania’s birth-death balance turned negative and remains at historic lows. In 2024, the natural increase was just 1,200 people, compared to over 60,000 in the early 1990s. -
Mass Emigration
Since 2016, a new wave of emigration has emerged — mainly among the younger population. In 2024 alone, net emigration stood at 28,800 people, the second-highest rate in Europe after Turkey, which lost 156,000 residents but has a much larger population of 86 million.
Since the early 1990s, every census has shown that Albania loses roughly 500,000 people per decade through emigration alone.
Aging Nation, Shrinking Workforce
This dual phenomenon — low birth rates and mass emigration — has also led to the rapid aging of the Albanian population. According to Eurostat, Albania’s median age reached 44.3 years in 2024, inching closer to the EU average of 44.7. Just 14 years ago, in 2010, Albania’s median age was 31.9 years.
This demographic shift is already creating economic challenges:
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A tight labor market is forcing businesses to scale back expansion.
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Wages are rising without corresponding productivity increases.
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Consumer spending is stagnating.
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Long-term impacts are expected on pension systems and sustainable economic growth.
Despite these warning signs, the Albanian government has yet to recognize the population decline as a national emergency. Unless addressed with targeted policies, experts warn the current trajectory could leave the country with deep structural problems in the coming decades.
With the fastest-shrinking population in Europe, Albania stands at a demographic crossroads — and the decisions made now could shape the country's future for generations.