Scary increase in emigration, 2.2 million Albanians live abroad

2025-12-19 14:07:00, Ekonomi CNA

The Albanian diaspora continues to expand and remains one of the country's most important demographic and economic phenomena.

According to the latest estimates of the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), in 2025 the number of Albanian citizens living outside the territory of Albania is estimated at around 2.25 million people, or approximately 49% of the total Albanian citizens diaspora-in-figures

INSTAT emphasizes that, due to the lack of regular administrative records of departures from the country, the diaspora cannot be calculated with absolute accuracy. For this reason, indirect methods are used, comparing civil registry data with the resident population in the country. This estimate shows that the Albanian diaspora has a relatively young and economically active profile, with about 77% of it in the 15–64 age group, while only about 5% are over 65 years old, which makes it an important potential source for the labor markets in the host countries.

Historically, Albanian migration has been continuous and diverse, starting from the 15th–16th centuries until the massive waves after the 1990s. The publication distinguishes between the “old diaspora”, formed mainly before 1944 and during the period 1945–1990, and the “new diaspora”, which is associated with the massive migration after the fall of communism. In this latter phase, the main destinations have been Greece, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and France.

International census data show that around 1.1 million Albanian-born people live in 31 European countries today, with around 939,000 Albanian citizens registered as residents in these countries. Italy and Greece remain the two main historical and current destinations, followed by Germany, France and the United Kingdom. In parallel, the number of Albanians acquiring citizenship in host countries has also increased in recent years, particularly in Italy, Greece, Germany and Sweden, reflecting a more sustainable long-term integration.

A special chapter of the publication is dedicated to the Albanian diaspora in the United States of America, where over 206 thousand people of Albanian origin live, divided between the first generation of immigrants and the second generation born in the US. This community is presented with high employment rates and a diversified educational structure, reinforcing the role of the diaspora as a significant economic and social factor.

INSTAT emphasizes that the publication aims to serve as an information instrument for policymakers and institutions, in order to draft better policies for the diaspora and strengthen its ties with its country of origin, in a context where migration remains one of the greatest structural challenges for Albania./ Monitor