INSTAT: Over 245 thousand Albanians in extreme poverty

2026-05-28 07:11:00, Aktualitet CNA

Over 10% of the population living in Albania is experiencing great difficulties in coping with daily living according to data from the INSTAT database revised with the new 2023 population census.

According to official data from the Income and Living Standards Survey, the percentage of families declaring that they make ends meet with great difficulty has decreased from 18.0% in 2021 to 10.2% in 2024.

This statistical improvement did not come from the standard of living, but from the calibration of the data based on the new demographic structure of the Census. Referring to the new data, there are currently around 245,015 individuals in Albania who suffer from extreme poverty.

The indicator was calculated through self-declaration and direct perception of citizens on their income.

A family in this "more difficult" category means that it faces extremely severe material deprivation every day.

These individuals experience a total inability to cope with even a minimal unexpected expense, such as a health emergency or a simple household defect, given that they do not possess any kind of savings.

This group is also characterized by persistent and repeated delays in paying mandatory utility bills such as electricity, water or apartment rent, constantly living with anxiety and the risk of interruption of these vital services due to the inability to repay obligations on time.

Beyond bills, extreme poverty directly affects the quality of nutrition and health, with families in this group often forced to skimp on the most basic biological needs.

This means that they are unable to secure a full meal of meat, fish or equivalent at least once every 2 days, making do with a poor diet. During the winter months, this financial pressure is transferred to the inability to keep the house warm enough, which directly affects the health of children and the elderly living in these environments.

This segment of the population finds it quite difficult to afford the replacement or purchase of even the most basic household appliances such as a washing machine or a functional refrigerator.

According to the data, 245,015 very poor Albanians require targeted interventions, as this group finds it impossible to benefit from the country's overall economic growth without specific supportive policies. /Monitor