Balkan Barometer 2021: The most pessimistic Albanians in the Region for the future

Albanians are the most pessimistic in the region for the future compared to other Balkan countries for 2020.

The results of the Balkan Barometer that were published today in Tirana by the Regional Cooperation Council showed that the dissatisfaction of Albanians with life fell significantly during 2020, but the level of pessimism for the future increased to records.

In addition to the pessimists in the region, the index also deteriorated by itself. In 2019, the index of optimism for the future marked 50 percent, but during 2020 it is seen to have deteriorated significantly, also marking the lowest level since 2014, since the beginning of measurements by the Balkan Barometer.

Over a period of 7 years, the life satisfaction index in the Region increased on average (46% in 2020 compared to 35% in 2014).

Despite the unprecedented pandemic situation, the feelings of the population in the Balkans and the outlook for the economic situation remained unchanged, compared to 2019 (46%).

Satisfaction index with actuality in Albania marked 38%, staying at the same level as in 2019, but 3 points below the Regional average

While public perception of the current situation in the Region remains high (41%, from 40% in 2019), expectations for the future have dropped significantly (28% compared to 55% in 2019). Albania is the economy with the biggest decline in expectations for the future.

From a level above the average of optimism, Albania not only halved its optimistic outlook, but also recorded the lowest level of expectations for the future during the last seven years, both nationally and regionally (20% from 56% in 2014).

Kosovo has the highest expectations in the region, although they have halved in 2020 (35% from 67% in 2019).

The Balkan Public Awareness Index (BPSI) measures the current situation and expectations for the future in terms of the economic situation in society, as well as the current situation of households and individuals participating in the survey.

The BPSI is composed of two sub-indices, the BPSI-Current Situation Index and the BPSI-Index of Expectations, which separately monitor the current feelings of SEE citizens as well as their expectations for the future.

Overall, the Barometer results for 7 years show that regional satisfaction with life continues to grow, but the same cannot be said for the future./Monitor