Official data indicates that Albania remains one of the youngest populations in Europe, but over the last 20 years, it has experienced the fastest aging rate on the continent.
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| Source: Eurostat |
In 2023, the median age of Albanians was 38.8 years (implying that 50% of the population is younger and 50% is older). Comparable data from Eurostat shows that the median age of Albanians increased by nearly 11 years between 2003 and 2023, the highest level in Europe, with a significant difference compared to the aging of other European populations (see the attached graph).
After Albania, the highest aging rates between 2003 and 2023 were in Portugal with 8.5 years, Romania with 8.5 years, and North Macedonia with 8 years.
On the other hand, Sweden has maintained stability in the age of its population, as over the past two decades, its population aged by only one year, followed by Moldova, Luxembourg, and Belgium, where the average age of their populations increased by less than two years from 2003 to 2023.
In 2023, the countries with the oldest populations in Europe were Italy, where the median age of the population was 48.4 years, up from 41 years in 2003, followed by Portugal at 47 years, Bulgaria at 46.8 years, and Greece at 46.5 years.
Since the fall of communism, Albania has faced a strong demographic transition that continues with high rates in the fourth decade of the democratic order. The increasing cycle of emigration, along with declining fertility rates, has aged Albania faster than countries with similar political and economic conditions.
The aging of the country's population is not being accompanied by measures to mitigate the consequences of this phenomenon. Labor shortages have become so severe that even the public sector is struggling to find workers, while the lack of young people threatens to deteriorate the quality of life in the country.
Furthermore, Albania has one of the highest rates of emigration of educated individuals. The reduction in the number of students in many fields is leaving the country without experts in various areas, from public education and healthcare sectors to manual workers without knowledge and skills.
In the long term, the increase in the number of elderly people will burden public spending, hinder economic growth, and put pressure on health and insurance systems.