Businesses move towards the coast and the outskirts of Tirana, shrinking in 19 municipalities

2026-07-24 09:10:00, Ekonomi CNA

Businesses move towards the coast and the outskirts of Tirana, shrinking in 19

The number of active enterprises in Albania continued to grow in 2025, but the rates of expansion have not been the same in all municipalities.

Official data from INSTAT show that Albania's economic map is becoming increasingly polarized.

On one side stand Tirana, Durrës, Kamza, Lezha and the tourist areas of the south, where businesses are growing rapidly, and on the other, small municipalities in the southeast, north and mountainous areas are experiencing a contraction in economic activity, reflecting the movement of population and capital towards areas with greater development potential.

According to the data, Himara leads with a 15.6% expansion in the number of businesses in 2025 compared to 2024. The number of active enterprises in this municipality reached 869 from 752 in 2024.

Libohova ranks next with an annual growth of 16%, albeit on a very small basis, while Saranda recorded an increase of 10.2%, with 290 net new businesses within a year.

The performance of these municipalities is mainly related to the expansion of tourism, investments in accommodation, services, bars, restaurants and activities related to the tourism sector. In recent years, especially on the Albanian Riviera, tourism has become one of the main drivers of the opening of new businesses.

Another high-performing group are the municipalities near Tirana. Kamza recorded a 9.2% increase, adding 348 active enterprises, while Shijaku and Lezha each recorded an 8.9% increase.

These areas are benefiting from the urban expansion of the capital, lower land and warehousing costs, and the development of logistics, trade, and construction activities. The phenomenon of businesses moving to the suburbs has become increasingly evident in recent years.

However, Tirana remains the center of the Albanian economy. The capital added 2,714 active enterprises during 2025, or almost a third of all net growth in the country, reaching 58,634 businesses. It is followed by Durrës with 412 new enterprises, Kamza with 348, Shkodra with 304, Saranda with 290 and Elbasan with 258.

On the other side of the table, 19 municipalities (31%) recorded a contraction in the number of active enterprises. The largest relative decline was recorded in Pustec, with 22.7%, but due to the very small number of businesses, the economic impact remains limited.

Among the municipalities with the greatest economic weight, Maliqi lost 49 active enterprises (-9.3%), Pogradec 74 (-4.7%), Dropulli 17 (-8.5%), while Puka, Kolonja and Skrapari also recorded significant contractions.

Emigration and an aging population are reducing the consumer base and workforce in more peripheral areas. Small businesses in traditional sectors, such as retail and agriculture, are facing difficulties in finding employees and maintaining profitability./ Monitor