2019-2023, only 4 regions have increased their share in the economy, the other 8 have decreased

2025-11-13 17:11:00, Ekonomi CNA

2019-2023, only 4 regions have increased their share in the economy, the other 8

Year after year, economic activity is being concentrated in the metropolitan area, Tirana-Durrës, while the weight of the country's more peripheral regions is declining.

Official regional data from INSTAT show that in 2023 Tirana contributed 44 percent of the national GDP. During 2029-2023 Tirana has increased its share by 1.2 percentage points in the national GDP, while Durrës by 0.6 percentage points.

Developments show economic expansion in metropolitan and coastal areas, supported by services, construction and tourism. Vlora and Berat have also recorded modest growth, by 0.2 and 0.1 percentage points respectively, while Shkodra has maintained the same economic weight throughout 2019-2023.

On the other hand, most other regions have lost ground in their contribution to the national economy. Korça results in the largest decline, losing 0.7 percentage points in the period 2019–2023, followed by Fier, Gjirokastra and Lezha with decreases of 0.3 percentage points each. Kukës, Dibra and Elbasan have also suffered a slight contraction in their share in the national GDP.

This shift of economic activity in the Tirana-Durres area indicates the deepening of regional inequalities in the country's economic development, while the southeastern and northern regions face a decline in economic activity and a loss of their role in national production.

Both the districts of Tirana and Durrës benefit from the greatest concentration of public and private investment, the most developed infrastructure, the presence of central institutions. The expansion of the service, information technology, construction and tourism sectors in these areas has also attracted businesses and labor from other districts. Durrës benefits from logistics due to the country's largest port and from developments in coastal tourism, while Tirana remains the epicenter of consumption, education and public administration.

On the other hand, the decline in economic weight in regions such as Korça, Gjirokastra, Lezha or Kukës reflects the lack of new public and private investments, the emigration of the population to larger centers or abroad and the contraction of traditional sectors such as agriculture or processing. Many of these regions have limited capacities to generate high-productivity jobs, while infrastructure and access to markets remain weak.

The concentration of economic activity in Tirana and Durrës is putting pressure on housing, traffic and public services. Meanwhile, peripheral and mountainous areas risk lagging behind in development, further deepening social inequality and labor market instability. EU membership will condition our country on regional development reforms and policies as a way to distribute economic development more evenly./ Monitor Magazine