Albania's drastic population threat: More Death Than Birth

With births falling and people fleeing, Albania's population is continuing to shrink dramatically.

INSTAT's first quarter data shows that the population's addition was the lowest in the last five quarters, being close to zero.

The number of births for the first quarter of 2019 results in 5.986, marking a 10.1 %, compared to the first quarter 2018. The number of deaths for the first quarter of 2019 results in 5,949, marking a decline of 5.7 %, compared to the first quarter 2018.

During the first quarter of 2019, the number of births exceeds 37 deaths. In the same quarter of a year ago, the population's addition was about 400 people.

In the first quarter of 2019, the population's natural extensions for Albania's 12 count counties in Tirana district, where the number of births exceeds 562.

In the first quarter 2019, natural supplements record negative value in eight circuits. The lowest value is noted in Corca County, where the death toll exceeds 191.

Births

The largest number of births, for the first quarter of 2019, registers in Tirana's district, with 1,985 births marking a 9.4 %, compared to the first quarter 2018. The lowest birth rate, for the first quarter of 2019, registers in Gjirokastra County, with 97 births, reflecting a drop of 21.8 %, compared to the first quarter 2018.

Of the country's 12 counties, 9 of them suffered birth rates in the first quarter of 2019, compared to the first quarter 2018. The biggest declines in birth rates during this period were recorded in the Gjirokastra district with 21.8 % and Shkodra County 19,4 %. An increase in birthrate was registered in Debar districts by 16.1 %, Korca with 1.3 % and Kukes by 0.4 %.

Deaths

The lowest death toll for the first quarter of 2019 is registered in Kukes County, with 134 deaths, with a drop of 11.3 %, compared to the first quarter 2018. The highest death toll for the first quarter of 2019 is registered in Tirana's district, with 1.423 deaths, with a decline of 4.9 %, compared to the first quarter 2018.

Of the country's 12 counties, 11 suffered a decrease in the number of deaths in the first quarter of 2019, compared to the first quarter 2018. The largest drop in death rates during this period marks the Kukes County, with 11.3 % and the district of Elbasan, with 10.6 %. The death rate increase was registered in Berat County, with 0.3 %. /Alsat-M/