The significant outmigration, particularly of young people, from the northern regions, has had a profound impact on consumption in several areas of Albania.

Between 2014 and 2022, monthly expenditures of Albanian families on a national scale increased on average by 27%. However, during the same period, prices surged by 19.8% (averaging inflation from 2014 to 2022).

When considering inflation, the real expenses of Albanian families grew by 7.2% during this period. Nevertheless, in the northern districts, these expenses dropped by approximately 10%, based on data from the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) Family Budget Survey.

In regions like Kukës, Shkodër, Lezhë, and Dibër, family monthly spending only saw an 11% increase from 2014 to 2022. Given that prices went up by 19.8% during this timeframe, monthly consumption in Lezha families decreased by -15%, by -11.3% in Shkodra, by -10.1% in Dibra, and in Kukës, actual family consumption increased by only 2.6%.

These statistics indicate that over the past eight years, expenses have increased at a higher rate compared to the national average in the Korça district. In nominal terms, family expenses in this district increased by 48% from 2014 to 2022, but after adjusting for inflation, the growth was 28.4%.

An average family in Korça spent 85,398 lek per month in 2022, up from 57,633 in 2014. Following Korça, the most significant rise in real expenses was seen in Vlora families, with an increase of about 24.6% over the same comparison period. Elbasan and Berat followed closely, with family expenses increasing by 23.4% and 18.6%, respectively.

Tirana takes the lead in terms of the size of monthly family expenses. In 2022, a family in the capital spent an average of 104,426 lek per month. However, real family expenses in the capital increased by only 8% between 2014 and 2022.

The map illustrating the growth of family expenses highlights unequal development among regions within the country, which further exacerbates economic disparities and ultimately triggers population migration away from these regions.

Additional indicators, such as Gross Domestic Product by Regions, indicate that the northern region has experienced notably slower growth compared to the center and south over the past decade. These trends account for the mass exodus of the population from the northern regions, particularly among the youth, despite these areas still holding significant untapped potential for mountain tourism.

The data also underscores that the development of tourism has been a robust catalyst for income growth in several districts. Korça emerges as an exemplary model of regional development, having achieved the most rapid growth in family expenses at the national level in the past decade by focusing on local policies that promote agriculture and tourism.