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IOM: Albania among the most affected in Europe by the decline in births and population

Politiko 2026-07-16 11:38:53
IOM: Albania among the most affected in Europe by the decline in births and

 

Demographic trends in Europe are revealing a new complex reality, with Albania emerging as one of the countries most affected by the combined dynamics of declining fertility and massive emigration of the reproductive-age population. According to the World Migration Report 2026, while Europe is undergoing profound structural changes, our region remains at the center of a demographic crisis that risks deepening in the coming decades, with Albania among the most affected countries.

The report highlights that in countries such as Albania, Lithuania, Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the emigration process is directly affecting the loss of potential births. While the European continent has seen a decline in the number of its citizens living abroad, from around 20 million in 1990 to 16 million in 2024 – Albania follows a different trajectory with a significant increase in its citizens living abroad.

Albania is classified among countries where the fertility rate is below replacement level. The emigration of the reproductive-age population worsens this situation, as the departure of young people reduces the country's demographic potential for the future.

While some European countries, such as Germany or Italy, manage to mitigate population decline through immigration, the Western Balkan countries are facing a continuous outflow of human capital, which makes demographic stabilization much more challenging.

The analysis of the data (2005–2024) shows that while countries such as Luxembourg, Malta or Ireland have seen population growth, a significant number of countries, mainly in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, have experienced significant declines. In many of these countries, including Albania, projections predict a continuation of this negative trend unless effective policies are undertaken to boost fertility and curb the outflow of the young workforce.

The report highlights that geopolitical uncertainty and conflict-induced migration have changed the map of migration corridors in Europe, making Germany one of the main global destinations. However, for countries like Albania, the challenge remains how to transform an economy with high immigration into one that preserves and develops its human resources at a time when the population is rapidly aging.

 

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