Official statistics for 2025 show that overall mortality in Albania continued to decline, yet the internal structure of causes of death is shifting in ways that raise public health concerns.
Deaths by Age Group, Disease Group, Variable, and Year
| Cause of Death | 2024 | 2025 | Change in No. | Change in % |
| Deaths by cause | 22,102 | 21,394 | -708 | -3.2 |
| Diseases of the circulatory system | 11,694 | 11,321 | -373 | -3.2 |
| Symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions | 4,753 | 4,461 | -292 | -6.1 |
| Tumors (Neoplasms) | 3,374 | 3,283 | -91 | -2.7 |
| Traumatic injuries and poisonings | 665 | 711 | 46 | 6.9 |
| Diseases of the respiratory system | 436 | 378 | -58 | -13.3 |
| Diseases of the central nervous system and sense organs | 327 | 372 | 45 | 13.8 |
| Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases | 209 | 241 | 32 | 15.3 |
| Diseases of the genitourinary system | 213 | 227 | 14 | 6.6 |
| Diseases of the digestive system | 180 | 169 | -11 | -6.1 |
| Mental disorders | 113 | 121 | 8 | 7.1 |
| Conditions originating in the perinatal period | 66 | 46 | -20 | -30.3 |
| Infectious and parasitic diseases | 17 | 22 | 5 | 29.4 |
| Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs | 25 | 19 | -6 | -24.0 |
| Complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium | 2 | 10 | 8 | 400.0 |
| Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and joints | 13 | 8 | -5 | -38.5 |
| Congenital anomalies | 11 | 5 | -6 | -54.5 |
| Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue | 4 | 0 | -4 | -100.0 |
According to data published by INSTAT, the country recorded 21,394 deaths in 2025, a decrease of 3.2% compared to 2024, or 708 fewer deaths overall. While this suggests a general improvement in mortality outcomes, the distribution across disease categories tells a more complex story.
The leading cause of death remains diseases of the circulatory system, which include cardiovascular conditions. These cases fell by 3.2%, totaling 11,321 deaths, but they continue to dominate national mortality patterns. Cancer-related deaths also declined by 2.7%, while deaths linked to respiratory diseases dropped more significantly by 13.3%. Cases categorized under ill-defined symptoms and conditions also decreased by 6.1%.
Despite this overall downward trend, several categories showed notable increases.
Deaths caused by trauma and poisoning rose to 711 cases, an increase of 6.9% compared to the previous year, adding 46 additional deaths. Neurological diseases and disorders of the senses increased by 13.8%, reaching 45 more cases than in 2024. Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases also rose significantly by 15.3%, totaling 241 deaths.
Smaller but still notable increases were recorded in other categories. Urogenital diseases grew by 6.6%, mental and behavioral disorders increased by 7.1%, and infectious and parasitic diseases rose sharply by 29.4%, although these remain relatively low in absolute numbers compared to major chronic conditions.
One of the most dramatic percentage changes was observed in maternal complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Cases increased from 2 to 10 deaths, representing a 400% rise. However, public health experts typically interpret such spikes cautiously due to the very small baseline number, which can exaggerate percentage changes.
On the other hand, several categories recorded strong declines. Deaths occurring in the perinatal period fell by 30.3%, while congenital anomalies dropped by 54.5%. Skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases recorded zero deaths in 2025, marking a complete statistical disappearance for the year.
Overall, the data suggests that Albania’s mortality profile remains dominated by chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular conditions and cancer. However, the increase in trauma-related deaths, neurological conditions, and endocrine disorders indicates a gradual shift in the country’s health burden composition.
While the total number of deaths is decreasing, the uneven changes across categories highlight a structural transition in public health challenges rather than a uniform improvement across all medical domains.