Albania\u2019s natural increase is entirely dependent on the number of women in reproductive age, but they are experiencing a rapid decline.<\/p>\n
Data from the 2023 Census show that in 2023 there were 508 thousand women of reproductive age (15-49 years) nationwide, down from over 710 thousand in the 2011 census. Their number between the two censuses has decreased by more than 28%, which is more than double the overall population decline (14%).<\/p>\n
Among younger age groups with the highest potential for childbearing, the decline was over 40%.<\/p>\n
The largest decline is seen in females aged 15-19, who have decreased in number by more than in 2011.<\/p>\n
In 2023, there were only 72 thousand females aged 15-19, a 45% decline from the 2011 census where there were over 132 thousand females in this age group.<\/p>\n
The decline of women in reproductive age will affect the low birth rate in the coming years and contribute to the irreversible reduction of the population.<\/p>\n
Women in the 25-29 age group decreased by 21%.<\/p>\n
The lowest decline, 6%, was among women aged 30-34, while reductions of over 30% are also present in the 40-44 and 44-49 age groups.<\/p>\n
Besides shrinking in numbers, women of reproductive age are also giving birth to fewer children.<\/p>\n
In 1950, when the communist dictatorship regime was established, 47,291 infants were born, according to data from INSTAT archives, while the number of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) was only 259,472.<\/p>\n
In 2023, nationwide, only 22,210 infants were born, the lowest level since 1934 when official annual data were reported, while the number of women of reproductive age is over 500 thousand.<\/p>\n
It is understandable that since the \u201950s and \u201960s, Albania, like Europe, has evolved towards family planning, gender equality, and integrating women into the labour market. However, the country still has a higher percentage of women giving birth to fewer children than desired.<\/p>\n
Demographers and sociologists are concerned that births in Albania have fallen beyond all predictions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Albania\u2019s natural increase is entirely dependent on the number of women in reproductive age, but they are experiencing a rapid decline. Data from the 2023 Census show that in 2023 there were 508 thousand women of reproductive age (15-49 years) nationwide, down from over 710 thousand in the 2011 census. Their number between the two […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":58576,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153],"tags":[270,1061,5374,550,243,151,1309],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n