Albanian Youth Among Europe’s Poorest: Household Income Just €5,736 a Year, Eurostat Data Show

 TIRANA, Albania — Young people in Albania are among the poorest in Europe in terms of the disposable income of the households they live in, and rank last when income is adjusted for purchasing power, according to Eurostat data for 2025.

 

The annual median disposable income of households with young people aged 18–24 in Albania stood at just €5,736, the second-lowest figure among the 34 European countries included in the comparison, according to figures reported by Panorama.

Only North Macedonia recorded a lower level, at €4,640, while the European Union average reached €21,482.

The gap highlights the significant income disparity between young people living in Albania and their peers across the EU. The figures refer to household disposable income, rather than the personal earnings of young people themselves.

The picture becomes even more concerning when purchasing power is taken into account. Under this comparison, Albania ranked last among the countries surveyed, with 8,175 purchasing power standards (PPS).

This measure adjusts income for differences in price levels between countries, providing a more meaningful comparison of how much households can actually afford to buy.

The data point to the economic challenges facing young people in Albania, where limited household resources can make it harder to achieve financial independence, pursue education and training, and afford housing and other basic expenses.

While nominal income figures reveal a substantial gap with the EU average, the purchasing-power ranking suggests that the disadvantage remains even after accounting for differences in the cost of living.