American Dream, 37 thousand Albanians emigrated in 9 years/ In 2023, third after Russia and Ukraine

2025-02-26 07:59:00, Ekonomi CNA

American Dream, 37 thousand Albanians emigrated in 9 years/ In 2023, third after

Immigration has become a pandemic for Albania, as, in addition to asylum requests in Europe, thousands of others also emigrate abroad in other legal ways.

In the period 2014–2023, nearly 37 thousand Albanians immigrated to the US, according to data from the State Department (annual visa office reports).

For 2023, 3,436 visas were granted from Albania, ranking third in Europe after Ukraine and Russia, countries involved in the war.

Albania leads Europe in terms of the high number of immigrants to the US, compared to its population.

Before the pandemic, visa immigration to the US was at very high levels (see attached chart).

More detailed data shows that, for the period 2023, out of 36,631 Albanian immigrants to the US, about 16 thousand or 44% of them were from the lottery program known as "Diversity Immigrants".

The majority of Albanian emigration is represented by the lottery program, as along with lottery winners, their family members, who are categorized as "Immediate Relatives", in the context of the American visa program, refer to the relatives of the lottery winners.

The structure of immigration to the US shows that Albanians generally leave in search of better employment opportunities.

In 2023, 11% of European immigrants to the US were Albanian

In 2023, about 30,829 Europeans immigrated with a visa to the US, for employment or to join their families, but 11% of them were from Albania.

The proportions for each category vary from country to country, but Albania stands out as a case where the “Employment Preference” channel is very pronounced, suggesting a strong orientation towards seeking economic opportunities and work in the United States.

Albania represents only 0.3% of Europe's population in 2023, but, relative to its population, holds the record for emigration to the US.

As can be seen from the data, Albania has a very high level of immigration to the US, even in relation to the region.

In 2023, Kosovo received 797 visas for immigration to the US, North Macedonia 547 visas, Bosnia and Herzegovina 200 visas, and Montenegro 120 visas, quite low figures compared to Albania.

Immigration from Albania to the US is at a higher level, reflecting a combination of historical factors, extended family networks, and economic factors./ Monitor Magazine