More than one in three Albanian families have at least one migrant member, turning emigration into a daily reality for thousands of households across the country. According to the 2024 Migration Survey, 37 percent of families have either a member currently living abroad or a relative who has lived abroad and returned. In 5 percent of cases, families have more than one migrant member, showing that migration is not an isolated episode but a continuous cycle.
Migration does not affect all regions equally. Berat Prefecture records the highest level of migration, with around 69 percent of families having experienced the departure of a family member. In Vlora and Lezha as well, one in two families reports having migrants. While Berat and Vlora have more return migrants, Lezha leads in the number of families with members currently abroad. In contrast, Gjirokastër, Kukës, and Dibër show lower levels of migration, largely linked to isolation and poverty. Tirana, as the country’s economic center, also has a relatively lower share of families with migrants, reflecting greater employment opportunities at home.
The profile of migrants varies by destination. Migrants heading to Western and Northern Europe and the United States generally have higher levels of education. The United States stands out as the destination with the most highly educated migrants, with nearly one-third of Albanians over the age of 25 having completed higher education. On the other hand, Greece remains the destination with the highest concentration of low-educated migrants, indicating a clear division of migration based on skills and opportunities.
Albanian migration remains largely a male-dominated phenomenon. About three-quarters of current migrants are men, a similar trend also observed among return migrants. Gender imbalances are particularly pronounced in the United Kingdom, Greece, and Germany, while a more balanced gender distribution is seen only among migrants with higher education.
Data show that migration mainly occurs at a young age. Nearly 80 percent of migrants left Albania before the age of 35, while return tends to happen later in life, often after long periods abroad. Some migrants return even after retirement, although on average they return at a younger age than the non-migrant population.
Although incomes abroad remain higher than in Albania, financial reality does not always meet expectations. Migrants tend to overestimate the earnings and savings they can achieve, while high monthly expenses significantly limit their ability to save. More than one-quarter of return migrants report that they were unable to save money during their time abroad, while current migrants achieve only modest average savings.
Remittances, one of the main sources of income for Albanian families, continue to be sent mainly through informal channels, remaining outside the financial system. This makes migration not only a story of departure, but also a missed opportunity for the country’s economic development.
