Fertility rates (children per woman of reproductive age) in Albania have experienced a drastic decline from year to year, but in some districts, the situation appears more worsened.

Official data from the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) shows that during 2022, the fertility rate nationally dropped to 1.21 children per woman of reproductive age, compared to 1.32 in 2021. This is the sharpest decline since 2015, but in the Vlorë and Korçë districts, the fertility rate was less than one child per woman of reproductive age.

The highest birth rates are in the Kukës, Dibër, and Lezhë districts.

In the Kukës district, 100 women of reproductive age gave birth to over 215 children in 2022, and in Dibër, 197 children were born.

Meanwhile, in the Vlorë district, 100 women of reproductive age gave birth to only 88 children, and in the Korçë district, 91 children were born in 2022.

The fertility index has deteriorated significantly in the central and southern regions and is slightly better in the northern part of the country.

Even Tirana, which has a relatively young population nationally, has a low birth rate with fewer than 135 children per 100 women of reproductive age.

The synthetic fertility rate in Albania has continuously declined from 1.37 children per woman in 2018 to 1.21 in 2022. At the same time, the average age of Albanian women at childbirth has increased by almost one year over a five-year period: from 28.6 in 2018 to 29.5 in 2022.

Compared to Eurostat data from 2021, Albania is seen to have the lowest fertility rates in Europe, trailing only behind Spain (1.19) and Malta (1.13).

The fertility index is below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman, meaning a couple cannot replace themselves.

Postponement of marriage, career aspirations, and in many cases economic difficulties are causing Albanian women to have fewer children.

According to internal data from INSTAT, the synthetic fertility index dropped to 1.32 children per woman in 2021 from 1.34 in 2020 and 1.36 in 2019. In 2001, according to INSTAT, this index was 2.1, while in the 1970s, it was over 5.

INSTAT reported that in 2022, fertility has decreased for age groups 20-24 and 25-29, 35-39, while for older age groups, it has experienced a slight increase. In 2022, the average age at childbirth is 29.5 years. Last year, 24,688 babies were born, a 13% decrease compared to 2021.