Albania faces demographic crisis amid peripheral depopulation

Albania is facing a significant demographic crisis characterized by rapid depopulation and aging in its peripheral regions. According to the 2023 census and an Urban Index, 51 out of 61 municipalities are experiencing population decline, with the number of elderly residents now exceeding the number of children in many areas.

In response to these trends, the Socialist Party has proposed a territorial reform that includes merging 15 small municipalities with larger ones. This proposal follows the work of a bipartisan parliamentary commission. Experts in urban planning, sociology, and economics warn that this shift toward urban centers is creating a ‘geography of inequality’ that threatens the country's economic and social stability.

Data indicates that since 1989, Albania has lost approximately one-quarter of its population. The average age has risen from 35.3 to 42.5 years. Urban planner Doriana Musai described the data as a ‘wake-up call,’ noting that only 14.2% of the population lives in 30 municipalities with low urban indices, while 15 municipalities have fewer than 10,000 residents.