Albania tops the list of European countries for emigration among the 15–29 age group, losing more than 18,000 young people within a single year. According to the latest Eurostat data on demographic trends in Europe, in January 2025 Albania counted 405,800 young people in this age group—around 18,300 fewer compared to a year earlier. This translates into an annual decline of 4.3%, a rate four times higher than that of Serbia, which recorded a contraction of 1%.

Meanwhile, countries such as Slovakia, Austria, and Turkey report minimal decreases of under 1%, making Albania’s case a worrying exception at both regional and European levels.

The contrast becomes even more pronounced when compared with countries experiencing growth in their young population. Spain (+2.8%), as well as Bulgaria and Romania (+2%), are registering an expansion of the 15–29 age group, reflecting their ability to attract or retain human capital through labor markets and education systems.

While countries such as Switzerland, Iceland, and most European Union member states are stabilizing or increasing the number of young people, Albania continues to deepen its demographic decline. Experts emphasize that the need for encouraging policies to curb emigration and retain young people in the country is more urgent than ever.

According to the data, the shrinking youth population is not a Balkan-wide phenomenon but a specifically Albanian problem, one that is leaving the country without an active workforce and without innovative energy. The loss of around 18,300 young people in a single year is equivalent to the demographic disappearance of an entire city made up of students and young professionals.

Meanwhile, Germany and Italy—the two main destinations for Albanian emigrants—are recording increases in their young populations, by 0.50% and 0.7% respectively, directly benefiting from the human capital leaving countries such as Albania.