Tirana, among the cities with the highest number of taxis in Europe in relation to population

2025-07-26 08:45:00, Sociale CNA

Tirana, among the cities with the highest number of taxis in Europe in relation

The fight for passengers, taxis gain ground on the streets of Tirana. Albania, among the first in Europe for the high number of taxis in relation to the population. The increase in tourists, poor public transport and the entry of electric taxi fleets have given impetus to the development of this market.

On Elbasan Street, 87 taxis passed by in just 5 minutes, according to an observation made by "Monitor" at 9:30 a.m. And if you move a little closer to the center, in front of Toptani, 17 taxis are waiting, parked, ready to pick up passengers in the heart of the capital.

According to the Directorate of Transport and Road Traffic, there were 2,850 licensed vehicles and 130 legal entities operating in the capital by the end of May 2025.

Based on Census 2023 data on the resident population, the Albanian capital currently has 4.8 taxis for every 1,000 residents.

This figure ranks Tirana among the countries with the highest number in Europe and the Balkans, surpassed only by Podgorica (4.9). The Albanian capital is followed by Sarajevo (4.6).

In Europe, the busiest capital is Paris, with 8.5 taxis per 1,000 inhabitants.

According to relevant sources from official institutions of each country, processed by "Monitor", Tirana leaves behind many of the largest and most developed metropolises on the continent.

Compared to cities like Berlin (1.49), London (1.62) or Rome (2.74), Tirana has significantly more taxis in relation to population.

Popular tourist destinations such as Athens (4.33 taxis per 1,000 inhabitants), Istanbul (1.17) and Madrid (2.3) have a significantly lower number of taxis per inhabitant compared to Tirana.

This comparison highlights not only a feature of the Albanian urban transport market, but also the fact that, although Albania is a smaller destination, it offers higher access to taxi services, an element that positively impacts the visitor experience and ease of movement within the city.

The country's return to being a tourist destination has significantly boosted this market in the country. Meanwhile, ongoing public transportation problems have forced citizens to increasingly rely on alternatives such as taxis.

These two factors were combined with the introduction of electric taxi fleets, which in addition to increasing supply, also reduced service prices due to their lower cost compared to conventional taxis that used fuel.

Within just the first five months of this year, 274 new taxis have been registered in Tirana. According to data from the General Directorate of Road Transport Services, in 2024, the number of registered taxis was 2,576 and in May of this year this number reached 2,850, marking an increase of about 10.6%.

Faced with high demand, many new operators have entered the market, bringing more competition and, as a result, a significant reduction in prices for trips within and outside the city.

Online platforms and taxi-ordering applications have increased flexibility for customers, while operators compete to offer the cheapest prices and the highest quality service.

The number of taxis increases, prices decrease

The increase in the number of taxi operators in the market has brought with it not only more alternatives for passengers, but also a significant reduction in prices for the most sought-after destinations.

The entry of electric fleet operators has significantly reduced transportation costs. An electric taxi can travel 300 km for a charging cost of 200-500 lek.

A fuel-powered taxi for the same route spends about 4-5 thousand lek on diesel or gasoline.

According to a market observation, with the increase in competition, offers have also increased, especially from large operators, who aim to attract customers with promotional prices or occasional discounts.

In the past, the trip to Rinas Airport cost between 2,000 and 2,500 lek, while now, through various applications and operators, this price averages 1,200 lek, but there are operators that offer even cheaper prices of up to 1,000 lek.

According to data published by some of the largest operators in the country, the current rates for taxi service in Tirana are as follows:

Departure fee: 300 lek for the first 1.5 km

Zone A (5 km after 1.5 km): 120 lek/km and 25 lek/minute

Zone B (10 km after 6.5 km): 95 lek/km and 21.25 lek/minute

Zone C (over 16.5 km): 80 lek/km and 20 lek/minute

Mr. Kurtaj states that at Green Taxi they try to maintain stability throughout the year, but in special cases, such as during holidays or the tourist season, there may be moderate adjustments to cope with the increased flow and increased costs for destinations outside the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Tirana.

Technological development has begun to fundamentally change the way this market operates. The Uber platform has introduced new standards in service, enabling simple payments, monitored trips, and increased customer trust.

Technology has brought more transparency and choice to citizens, while for taxi drivers themselves it has created a fairer channel to provide service, without being forced to operate in an intermediary or informal manner.

"We see an increase in card payments every month, even from Albanian consumers," says Mr. Kadia, emphasizing that trust in technology has increased significantly.

Despite innovations in technology, the problem remains as the majority are individual taxi drivers.

According to Dashnor Memaj, head of the Public Transport Association, "the majority of taxis are individual taxis, without being structured into large companies, and this makes it difficult to provide service on time and with a good standard."

Unlike companies, which follow pre-determined schedules and more precise work plans, individual taxi drivers often “come to work and leave on their own time,” creating gaps in demand coverage, especially during busy times or in suburban areas.

This difference in the way of organization translates into different qualities of experience for citizens and shows that, although technology has begun to bring order, the market still needs more complete standardization.

The number of taxis is increasing, but what about the prices?!

The increase in the number of taxi operators on the market has brought with it not only more alternatives for passengers, but also a reduction in prices for the most sought-after destinations. The entry of operators serving with electric fleets has significantly reduced transportation costs.

An electric taxi can travel 300 km for a charging cost of 200-500 lek. A fuel-powered taxi for the same route spends about 4-5 thousand lek in diesel or gasoline.

According to data published by some of the largest operators in the country, the current rates for taxi service in Tirana are as follows:

Departure fee: 300 lek for the first 1.5 km

Zone A (5 km after 1.5 km): 120 lek/km and 25 lek/minute

Zone B (10 km after 6.5 km): 95 lek/km and 21.25 lek/minute

Zone C (over 16.5 km): 80 lek/km and 20 lek/minute

Technological development has begun to radically change the way this market operates.

The Uber platform has introduced new standards in service, enabling simple payments, monitored trips and increased customer trust. The technology has brought more transparency and choice to citizens, while for taxi drivers themselves it has created a fairer channel to provide service, without being forced to operate in an intermediary or informal manner.

For example, Patoko, a local platform, currently has over 800 registered drivers, 760 of whom operate in Tirana. Arbër Kadia, CEO and co-founder of Patoko, says that the most active users are young people between 18 and 42 years old, a group that seeks convenience, secure payment and good service. “We see an increase in card payments every month from Albanian consumers as well,” says Mr. Kadia, emphasizing that trust in the technology has grown significantly.

Despite innovations in technology, the problem remains as the majority are individual taxi drivers.

Taxis boost import of electric cars

During the period 2019–2024, a gradual and steady increase was observed in the number of electric vehicles registered for the first time in Albania, mainly influenced by the increase in taxi companies that have electric fleets.

According to data from the General Directorate of Road Transport Services (DPSHTRR), in 2024, 3,127 electric vehicles were registered, a 72% increase compared to the previous year and almost 5 times more than in 2022, when only 675 vehicles were registered.

For the most part, electric vehicles are primarily for use as taxis.

According to DPShTRr data, out of 2,576 taxis operating in 2024, 1,467 were electric, 63 hybrid and 1,046 fuel-powered. Electric vehicles accounted for 57% of the total taxi fleet (up from 31.2% in 2023).

This is also seen in the infrastructure for these vehicles. While citizens face difficulties in finding charging stations, taxi companies have invested in special stations for their fleet, giving themselves a clear advantage in using this technology.

The administrator of Green Taxi claims for "Monitor" that "the use of electric cars has brought significant reductions in fuel and routine maintenance costs."

"We as a company have special charging points, giving us an operational advantage."

He emphasizes that the company's strategy for a more sustainable fleet is closely linked to new market demands and increasingly higher customer expectations.

According to the Energy Regulatory Authority, in total, around 178 contracts for charging stations have been registered in the Republic of Albania, with a total installed power of 26,627 kWh.

Despite the growth, the number of electric vehicles remains minimal in relation to the total number of new cars registered in a year.

In 2019, the number of electric vehicles was only 35, out of a total of 51,994 vehicles registered that year.

The peak of this trend was reached in 2024, with 3,127 electric vehicles registered, accounting for about 3.1% of the total of 99,441 new registrations.

Technical and infrastructural challenges

However, this transition is not easy. Albania still faces a shortage of trained specialists to maintain hybrid cars, and spare parts are often lacking or expensive.

Furthermore, road infrastructure leaves much to be desired: potholes, damaged pavements, and few electric charging stops can cause damage and delays for drivers using electric vehicles.

Mr. Kurtaj from Green Taxi states that "the main challenge is the lack of specific spare parts for electric models in the domestic market."

The largest companies in the market

Several large taxi companies operate in Tirana, which occupy a significant share of the passenger transportation market within and outside the city.

According to data from the Central Bank on the annual turnover achieved in 2023, four of the most well-known names in this sector are:

Merr Taxi, currently one of the largest operators in the country, has achieved a turnover of 562.6 million lek.

Lux Taxi, known for its high-class vehicle service, has reported revenues of 138.1 million lek.

City Taxi, another consolidated name in the market, has generated 79.7 million lek in revenue.

Smart Taxi, a smaller operator compared to the others, has reported a turnover of 9.2 million lek.

The operators' profit rate fluctuates at 8-10%, according to the operators' balance sheets, not resulting in a very profitable business./ Monitor.al