A third of families in Tirana and Korça are single-person, doubling in a decade

High levels of emigration, population aging, and urbanization have increased the number of single-person households.

Census 2023 data showed that 25% of households nationwide had only one person, but in Tirana, Korça and Gjirokastër they had a greater share.

Comparative data shows that the number of single-person households has increased significantly in the last decade, doubling compared to the 2011 census data, where about 12.7% of households consisted of only one person living alone in the dwelling.

Analysis of Census 2023 data on the composition of families in Albanian municipalities shows a marked trend towards single-member families, a phenomenon that is occurring with intensity throughout the country and that suggests rapid demographic and social developments in the future.

In the capital, 31.9% of families have only one member, the highest percentage nationally. Korça is also at this level.

They are followed by the municipality of Gjirokastra with 30.4%, followed by Dropulli (29.7%), Përmet (29.6%) and Dibra (28.6%). In these municipalities, one in three families is composed of only one person. (see graph below).

On the other side of the spectrum, small municipalities such as Pustec (19.6%), Has (21.1%), Konispol (26.3%) and Peqin (22.8%) have lower percentages of single-person households.

In these municipalities, historical traditions with stronger family ties and intergenerational coexistence still dominate, which is helping to preserve larger family structures.

In addition to Tirana, high percentages of single-person households are also found in Durrës (27.9%), Elbasan (28.0%), Fier (27.2%), and Shkodër (27.9%). These large cities attract young individuals migrating for employment or study reasons who often choose to live alone.

Single-person households are more typical of urban areas with older populations.

Albania is facing a profound transformation of the family structure. This category is dominated by elderly people.

These data suggest that public institutions should increase attention to social policies, housing, and care for the elderly.

If this trend continues, it will have a major impact on the demand for small housing, for personalized social services, and on the structure of social support at the local and national levels./ Monitor