Albanians getting married less and less and more divorce

According to the latest data from INSTAT and the Civil State General Directorate, 2024 registered only 16,120 marriages, the lowest level ever recorded, nearly half compared to the beginning of the 1990s.

The decline in marriages has been ongoing since 2004 and has accelerated significantly after 2019, reflecting deep demographic changes, youth immigration, and increased reluctance to form marital ties.

By contrast, divorce has followed an unstoppable growth trajectory.

In 2024, one in three marriages ended in divorce, while the indicator reached 29.8 divorces per 1,000 marriages, the highest record ever recorded in Albania. This level is several times higher than that of the '90s, when divorce was viewed as rare and socially stigmatized.

Sociologists and family experts view this development as a sign of deep social transformation, JOQ reports.

Quick urbanisation, economic pressure, migration and ever stronger orientation towards individual prosperity have changed the way Albanians conceive of life in pairs.

Meanwhile, the increase in divorces is increasing the burden on courts and social services, especially on child custody issues and property sharing, creating new challenges for institutions and family policies. /Periscopi