Albania and Kosovo are empty: Two countries with Europe's largest population contraction

According to Eurostat data, on January 1, 2026, Albania counted some 2.34 million people from 3.06 million in 2000 (Eurostat reports the figures published by INSTAT).

In 25 years, the country's population has decreased by about 721 thousand people, or 23.6%. It turns out that Albania has lost almost one in every four residents it had at the beginning of the millennium.

This drop, according to processed data from “Monitor”, is the highest in Europe. The second largest contraction state is Bulgaria, which saw a 21.6% reduction in the same period.

In third place is Kosovo, for which contraction has been calculated since 2003, when the earliest data is reported. For that period, Kosovo's population has contracted by 19.3%.

The sharp decline has also marked Lithuania, with 17.8%, followed by Romania with 15.2%, Croatia with 13.8%, Serbia with 13.2% and Georgia with 11.1%.

In northern Macedonia, the population has decreased by 10%, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina by 9.5%. Hungary has lost 7.2% of its population, Poland 5%, Armenia 4%, Greece 3.8% and Estonia 2.9%.

The data shows that almost the entire Western Balkans has lost population, but Albania remains at the top of the ranking for the pace of contraction.

Serbia has lost about one eighth of residents compared to 2000, Croatia approximately 14%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Northern Macedonia are about one tenth.

The only exception in the region is Montenegro, where the population is 3.3% higher than in 2000.

Population decline, high migration, and gradual population aging

Albania is facing three demographic shocks simultaneously: high migration, birth loss and rapid aging.

Migration is the main factor affecting this tendency. Continued youth migration has reduced not only the number of residents but also the basis of the population in reproductive age. As a result, the number of births has declined rapidly, while the ratio between young and old is deteriorating.

Since the early 1990s, the country has been experiencing successive migration cycles, which do not seem to be stopping despite economic growth and revenue improvement. According to INSTAT's latest data on net migration of more than 166.4 thousand Albanians turns out to have abandoned the country during the post-pandemia years from January 1st 2021 to 2026.

Albania, which for decades was considered one of the newest countries in Europe, has already reached the age of European Union media. According to INSTAT data, the age of media reached 45 on January 1, 2026, from 34.2 in 2014. In just 12 years, the index grew by 10.8 years -- about 4.5 times faster than in the EU.

This means that half of the Albanian population is already over the age of 45. The decline in fertility and migration of new ages are rapidly shifting the demographic structure towards larger age groups.

In 2025, births reached the lowest historical posttransition rate of 22.5 thousand, up from 82 thousand in 1990, as natural additions are heading towards zero. (See the natural extension graph)

The consequences are not limited to the number of residents. Population ageing lowers the base of consumption, narrows labor force supply and increases pressure on the pension system and health services.

With fewer youths entering the labour market and more elderly retirementers, the ratio between contributors and beneficiaries deteriorates. At the same time, for several years businesses have been facing more and more lack of employees, especially in sectors that require qualified workforce and are trying to replace them with foreign employees.

Europe Grows, Despite More Deaths Than Birth

While Albania and most Eastern European countries are losing population, the European Union continues to increase the number of residents.

On January 1, 2026, the EU population reached 452 million people, about 706 thousand more than a year ago. This was the fifth consecutive year of growth, following the fall recorded during the pandemic in 2021, Eurostat reported.

In comparison with 2016, the European Union had 8 million more inhabitants, and by 2006 the increase was 16 million.

But the population's addition is not coming from birth. Since 2012, The EU has recorded more deaths than birth. The negative natural balance has been offset by positive net migration.

This means that without the immigrants' entry, the European Union's population would be on the decline.

During 2025, the population grew to 16 EU countries. The highest growth rates were recorded in Malta, with 24.1 per 1,000 inhabitants -- Cyprus with 13.7 and Luxembourg with 13.1. The strongest declines were marked in Latvia, Estonia and Hungary.

Malta and Ireland, the strongest growth since 2000

In the long term comparison, Malta has increased its population by 51.3% from 2000, the highest rate in Europe.

Ireland ranks next with 45.9%, Cyprus at 44.3% and Iceland with 41.3%. Andorra has marked growth of 35%, Azerbaijan 28%, Switzerland 27.4%, Liechtenstein 27.1% and Norway 25.7%.

Spain has increased the population by 22.5%, Sweden by 19.7% and the United Kingdom by 19.3%. Significant growth has also registered Belgium at 16.8%, Austria with 15.2%, the Netherlands with 14.3% and France with 14.2%.

These countries also face low fertility and aging, but have managed to ease natural loss by attracting immigrants.

The more developed economies offer higher salaries, jobs, public services and institutional stability. This has turned them into destinations for the workforce from the Balkans, Eastern Europe and other countries.

Migration is creating two different demographic realities in Europe. Host countries are increasing the population and meeting the needs of the labour market, while countries of origin are losing young, professional and active age. /Monitor