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| Graph of personal transfers from EU countries to Albania, source: Instat |
Albania received 1 billion euros in transfers to Albanian immigrants from European Union countries in 2021, Eurostat announced.
According to a map published by Eurostat, this is the largest amount in Europe in relation to the corresponding size of the country, reaching 6.7% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Montenegro receives 6.1% of the GDP, while the data for Kosovo is missing, Monitor report.
2021 marked the highest level of remittances since 2013 when Albanian State Institute of Statistics, known locally by the acronym "INSTAT", reported the data, reflecting a revival in the emigration cycle, with new emigrants increasing remittances to their country of origin.
The most recent Eurostat data showed that Italy is the main source of emigrant remittances to Albania.
According to data from Eurostat for 2021, personal transfers from Italy were worth 279 million euros, or about 24.5% of the total. Shipments from Italy increased by 7.2% compared to 2020.
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Meanwhile, Great Britain has been consolidating for years the second place in terms of the value of transfers to Albania. According to Eurostat, for 2021, the value of these remittances reached 206.5 million euros or 18.1% of incoming personal transfer flows. Growth in shipments from the UK was slower, at 1%, compared to 2020.
In the third place and with significant growth is Germany. In 2021, the value of transfers from Germany reached 172.8 million euros or 15.2% of the total. Transfers from Germany have recorded a high increase, by 20.4% more compared to 2020, while compared to 2017 they have increased by 71%, as this country has become one of the most preferred destinations for immigrants in recent years.
The fourth partner in terms of the value of remittances sent is Greece, with a value of 172.3 million euros, or about 15.1% of the total in 2021. Although the weight of Greece in the structure of new Albanian immigration is estimated to be lower, especially in the post-Greek economic crisis period, transfers from Greece have also increased, by 2% more compared to 2020.