Albania, third in the world for asylum applications in 2023, in relation to the population

2024-03-21 07:34:18, Aktualitet CNA

Albania, third in the world for asylum applications in 2023, in relation to the

Illustrative photo

Albania is a country that has started the irreversible path towards the European Union.

Economic growth rates are comparable or even higher than the region. The country is turning into a tourist destination, with foreign arrivals growing at a double-digit rate, attracted by low prices, abundant natural beauty and historical heritage.

However, the Albanians themselves are continuing to flee at rates that are among the highest in the world, in relation to the population, going to the European Union countries to seek asylum.

Although the rates of emigration slowed somewhat in 2023, they still remain very high, in a country that today officially has around 2.7 million inhabitants, but only the census, which is expected to be published in June, will show this exact figure.

According to Eurostat, in 2023 there were 9,145 Albanian citizens who applied for asylum in one of the European Union states, or 331 applications per 100,000 inhabitants, out of 17 applications per 100,000 inhabitants, which is the average of all applications in the EU.

Eurostat data on asylum applications from all countries, processed by Monitor in relation to the relevant population, show that Albania was the third in the world for high asylum applications in relation to the population (see the chart Asylum applications per 100 thousand inhabitants in the EU, year 2023).

In first place is Syria, a country that has been suffering the consequences of civil war for years. This country had 874 applications per 100,000 inhabitants in EU countries in 2023. Syrians flee the war. By December 2022, according to UNCHR estimates, over 580,000 people have lost their lives; 13 million Syrians have been displaced and 6.7 million refugees forced to leave Syria.

The second country is Georgia, which had 668 applications for asylum in the EU per 100,000 inhabitants. Almost half of the applications are in Germany, followed by France and Italy. According to foreign media, applications are mainly for economic reasons, while in 2023 they fell by 12%, mainly after Germany put Georgia on the list of safe countries and accelerated the procedures of penetration.

In recent years, North Macedonia has seen an increase in emigration in relation to the population, ranking it fourth in the world, after Albania. In 2023, according to Eurostat, applications reached the record of recent years, at 6,760.

Kosovo was ranked 12th in the world, with 162 applications per 100,000 inhabitants. Asylum applications are expected to increase significantly this year, following the abolition of visas with EU countries.

Serbia ranks 21st, with 68 applications per 100,000 inhabitants, Montenegro with 58.1 (25th place) and Bosnia 48th, with about 49 applications.

In Albania, Eurostat data shows that France continues to be the most preferred country for Albanians to seek asylum, with 3530 applications, or 38% of the total in 2023. Germany ranks second, with 2225 applications or 24% of the total .

Albania, third in the world for asylum applications in 2023, in relation to the

A recent report by the United Nations, which measures the quality of life through the happiness index, found that Albania remains among the unhappiest countries in Europe, trailing only Turkey. Index scores, which measure happiness, worsened in 2023.

Albania gets the lowest rating in the corruption perception indicator, with only 0.049 points, where the main question asked to the respondents is related to the spread of corruption in the government. Generosity has a poor rating with 0.138 points, which shows that Albanians do not support each other that much.

The ranking is highest in per capita income, with 1.4 points, social support 0.9 points, healthy life expectancy, 0.6 points. Albanians think that they do not have many choices in life, with the indicator receiving 0.69 points.

The perceived low level of quality of life seems to be the main reason why Albanians, especially young people, continue to flee the country at rates comparable to countries at war or civil conflicts.

The intensification of immigration in recent years is causing great deformations in the country's economy, since the availability of the labor force, which is hindering the plans of businesses for expansion and investment, the contraction of consumption and in the long term the further imbalance of the pension scheme. / Monitor.al

Albania, third in the world for asylum applications in 2023, in relation to the