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Tirana becomes difficult for young families, births fell by 18% in January-March

Politiko 2025-05-26 14:12:20

Tirana is the only region in the country that has population growth, as a center of gravity that attracts internal migration, but on the other hand, the Capital City led the regions with the largest decline in births in the first quarter of 2025.

Official INSTAT data show that 1,750 babies were born in the Tirana region in the first quarter of 2025, an 18% decrease compared to the same period a year earlier. Tirana ranked second after Kukës for the high rate of decline among the other 12 regions. On the other hand, the population of the Tirana region between the two censuses of 2011 and 2023 has increased by 7.3 percent.

Factors for the decline in births in Tirana are related to the high costs of living for young couples and the high prices of childcare.

Housing prices in Tirana have increased by more than 60% since 2018, according to official data, while the stock of social housing remains in a state of flux. Rent and credit account for more than 35 percent of monthly income, pushing couples to limit births. For young people who want to start families, housing and rent costs have almost doubled. The average rent now in the main areas of Tirana ranges from 300-80 euros per month, more than double from 2019 when rents were from 150 to 300 euros per month. Also, the price of a square meter of housing in the suburbs this year is 100-1200 euros, while in areas inside the second ring road more than 2000 euros, almost double before the pandemic.

Tirana has a large contribution to the number of births as the capital is where most young Albanians who do not want to leave the country are projected to live. In 2024, 8,495 babies were born in Tirana, accounting for 38 percent of the total births nationwide, but as the population grows, births are plummeting.

Arbana, a young woman who is an expert in communication and social media, is raising 2 children. She wanted to have a third child, but the costs have become unaffordable, she says. Compared to 2016 when she gave birth to her first child, the costs have more than doubled. The birth package if you go to a private hospital has increased from 1,000 euros to 2,600 euros currently. Also, clothing, food and all the infrastructure for children has more than doubled.

"Since I had my second child, my husband and I, both with above-average salaries, have not been able to save. We are not even able to buy new clothes and other things for ourselves like before. We have limited entertainment expenses and going out with friends, as year after year the fees for daycare centers and medical checkups are increasing daily. Mainly due to increasing costs, we have put aside plans to have a third child that we so much wanted," she said.

After birth, parents face various expenses for baby care, which have doubled in 5 years. Within a 5-year period, the prices of private courses have had a price difference of almost 40%.

For sports or music courses, the average prices were 3500 lek, currently they are 5000 lek. While the highest increases of over 50% have been experienced by foreign language courses for children 5 years and older. The prices of other goods and services for children have also increased at the same rate.

INSTAT reported a few days ago that in the first quarter of this year, 4,662 babies were born across the country, a 14% decrease compared to the same period in 2023./ Monitor