Albania continues to face mass exodus of its population to more developed countries. Together with Moldova, it is among the countries with the highest level of migration in relation to the population. The problem is pointed out by the International Organization for Migration in the global report for 2024.

Mainly, due to the lack of employment prospects with decent wages, many people have left some EU sub-regions to work in Western and Northern Europe.

“Countries such as Albania and the Republic of Moldova are some of the hardest hit; about 40% of Albania’s workforce, for example, estimated to be working abroad, contributing to the brain drain, putting pressure on domestic industries and economies that are constantly losing workers in both low- and high-skilled sectors,” the IOM noted.

The International Organization for Migration lists as reasons the high rates of poverty, the wage differences between Albania and other countries in the region, the considerable corruption and clientelism that have influenced people’s decisions to leave Albania.