Albania among the 11 oldest countries in Europe, we aged 4 times more than the EU

In just 14 years, Albania went from being a country with the youngest population in Europe (31.9 years old in 2010) to being ranked in 2024 among the 11 countries with the oldest populations in Europe.

According to Eurostat data, the median age of the population in the EU reached 44.7 years last year, while in Albania it was 44.3 years. This means that in Albania, half of the population is under 44.3 years old and half is over this age. In 2010, half of the Albanian population was under 31.9 years old.

From 2010 to 2024, the median age of the Albanian population increased by 12.4 years. Official data show that no other European country has experienced such a large movement in such a short time. In most countries, the median age of the population increased by 2-6 years, while the EU average is 3.4 years.

The latest data shows that Italy is the country with the oldest population in Europe with a median age of 48.7 years, followed by Bulgaria, Portugal, Greece, and Spain where the median age of the population is around 47 years.

Next in line are Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, and Serbia with a median age of around 45 years, followed by Hungary and Albania with over 44 years.

On the other hand, Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iceland, Georgia are the countries with the youngest population, with around 33-34 years old, according to Eurostat. The list of countries with the youngest population also includes Kosovo, which according to the last census of 2024 had a media age of 34 years old.

The drastic decline in fertility below 1.5 births per woman over the decade and the high emigration of young people has influenced the rapid aging of the resident population in our country.

The median age of the Albanian population grew at much higher rates than the Region.

In the Western Balkans, the median age increased by 3 to 6 years between 2010-2014.

A detailed look at median age data from 2010 – 2024 shows that our country is going through a demographic shock that has no precedent on the European continent. The Albanian aging rate is almost four times the EU average and almost double that of the second fastest aging country, Moldova.

At these rates, the labor force could shrink by 8% by 2030. Economic growth also risks slowing if labor productivity does not increase.

In recent years, the emigration of the working-age population, mainly 20-35 years old, towards the EU, Britain and the USA has intensified. The latest INSTAT data show that net emigration (emigrations minus returns) during 2023-2024 was -72 thousand people, mostly young people.

Demographers advise the drafting of comprehensive strategies aimed at curbing emigration, returning the diaspora, and encouraging births with pro-family fiscal policies./ Monitor