Despite being among the economically disadvantaged countries in Europe and holding a record for food expenses as a proportion of the total budget, Albanian families display a reluctance to cut back on clothing expenses, potentially sacrificing more fundamental needs.
According to data from the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), in the year 2022, Albanian families allocated 5% of their total budget for clothing and footwear. This percentage surpasses the European average of 4.3% for the same year, as reported by Eurostat.
Among 38 countries, Albania ranks 15th, outperforming nations like Germany, Sweden, and Finland. Within the region, Albania secures the second position, tied with Montenegro, both at 5%, following Bosnia and Herzegovina, which leads with a record of 5.4%. In contrast, other countries in the region, such as North Macedonia and Serbia, allocate a lower percentage, both at 4.3%.
On a broader European scale, Turkey takes the lead, with 7% of total expenses directed towards clothing, followed by Romania (6.3%) and Estonia (5.9%). Italy, renowned as a fashion center, contributes 5.5% of its total budget to clothing.
Citizens displaying the least interest in clothing and footwear reside in Switzerland, one of the wealthiest countries, dedicating only 2.3% of their total budget. Similarly indifferent are the Hungarian population with 3%, and the French with 3.3%.
Despite the seemingly unrestricted percentage allocation by Albanian families in comparison to total expenses, the actual value spent on clothing is relatively low. This is attributed to the overall limited budget available to fulfill all their needs.
Eurostat data reveals that the per capita spending on clothing and footwear in Albania was 140 euros per year for 2020, the latest available data. This stands in stark contrast to the 620 euros spent by the average European during the same period. The spending value in Albania is notably the lowest in Europe, approximately four times lower than the European average. To provide perspective, an Italian citizen spends around 840-1,100 euros annually on clothing.
North Macedonia follows a similar trajectory, with a per capita spending of 150 euros. Although Serbs exhibit a lower percentage, their budget in terms of value is higher, reaching 190 euros in 2020 and increasing to 260 euros in 2022.
The record for the highest value spent per capita is held by Denmark, Ireland, Italy, and Austria, each surpassing 1,100 euros annually.
