The United Nations has estimated that some 1.2 million Albanians have emigrated between 1990 and 2020.
This is equivalent to just under half of the current population.
The highest wave of migration was between 1990 and 1995 following the collapse of the communist regime and the initial transition from a centralised economy to a market economy. This combined with the opening of borders led to a mass exodus of Albanians via embassies or ships. During this period, some 443,000 Albanians left the country
Between 1995-2000 following nationwide riots and almost civil war, many more decided to leave. Some 180,000 left during these five years.
Numbers increased between 2005 and 2010 with around 217,000 leaving the country. Between 2010 and 2015, a further 137,000 left.
Over the last five years, people are still leaving en masse but the figures have decreased slightly. This could be due to the fact that those who had the means to leave have already left. With an ageing population and a low birth rate, figures will naturally decrease going forward.
Albania is still one of the world’s leading countries for refugee and asylum applications in Europe.
The UN Population Division has predicted that between 2020 and 2025, the number of those leaving the country will be around 70,000. Between 2025 and 2030, the UN said that some 55 thousand will leave and that over the following five years, it will decrease again to around 40,000.
Between now and 2100, the UN believes that as many as 615,000 people will leave Albania. This combined with low fertility rates means that Albania’s population could be as low as 1.9 million in 80 years in the best-case scenario.
In the worst-case scenario with a higher emigration rate and low fertility, there could only be half a million inhabitants by 2100.
