Albania population pyramid 2026
2,751,025 people in 2026 (projected). Albania’s fertility fell from about 6.4 in 1960 to 1.3 in 2026, and mass emigration since 1991 has cut its population by about a sixth.
- 2026 population
- 2.8Mrank 144 of 237
- Median age
- 37.8 yearsoldest rank 87
- Fertility rate
- 1.32births per woman · below replacement
- Structure
- Older18.3% age 65+
Albania population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Hover over or tap a bar to see exact values.
Download this population pyramid
Use the publication-ready SVG, create a high-resolution PNG, or download the complete age-by-sex dataset.
The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Albania age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 16.3% of the population, while 18.3% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 65.3% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Albania’s age structure as older; the guide to constrictive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 53.0: about 53 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (25.0 children and 28.0 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Albania’s population pyramid
From six children to just over one
In 1960 Albania’s total fertility rate was about 6.4, among the highest in Europe, and in 1975 its pyramid was a broad triangle with the widest band at the base. Fertility fell steadily under communist rule and then rapidly after it: to about 3.0 by 1990, 2.2 by 2000 and 1.3 in 2026. The median age, about 19 in 1975, is close to 38 in 2026 and is projected to pass 51 by 2050.
A population that left
Albania’s population peaked in 1991 at about 3.3 million, as the communist system collapsed and the borders opened. Hundreds of thousands left in the following years, mainly for Italy and Greece, and departures have continued since. The UN estimates net emigration of about 550,000 between 1950 and 1999, most of it in the 1990s, and about 810,000 between 2000 and 2023: together more than a third of the peak population.
The losses are written into the pyramid. In 2000 women outnumbered men in every band from 15–19 to 35–39, largely because young men were the first to go. Many of those cohorts, born in the 1960s and 1970s, are now in their late forties to mid-sixties, and in 2026 there are only about 84 men per 100 women at 50–54; the 45–49 band also forms a notch about 8% smaller than its neighbours. The widest bands, 30–34 and 35–39, were born in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before the steepest fall in births, and are themselves at the ages most likely to emigrate.
At the other end, boys outnumber girls by an unusually wide margin, with about 110 boys per 100 girls at ages 10–14 and a sex ratio at birth of about 106.5. Studies have linked Albania’s elevated ratio at birth to a preference for sons, though the chart alone cannot show the cause.
A shrinking outlook
In percentage terms Albania’s 2026 pyramid resembles those of New Zealand, the United States and Canada, but for opposite reasons: their middle bands are widened by immigration, Albania’s are what remains after emigration and a fall in births. Deaths are projected to exceed births from 2029, and with continued net outflows the medium scenario has the population falling to about 2.2 million by 2050 and 1.2 million by 2100. The fastest-declining populations ranking shows how this compares with other shrinking countries in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
Comparing each five-year band with its neighbours picks out the cohorts that break a smooth slope. These irregularities usually record past surges or deficits in births, or migration concentrated at particular ages; the pattern alone does not identify which. The guide to baby booms and echo cohorts explains how to date and interpret them.
| Age band in 2026 | Born about | Feature | Versus neighbouring bands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | 2012–2016 | Bulge (larger cohort) | +12% |
| 30–34 | 1992–1996 | Bulge (larger cohort) | +11% |
Births outnumber deaths in 2026; the medium scenario projects deaths to exceed births from 2029. People aged 65 and older came to outnumber children under 15 between 2023 and 2025.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Albania is projected to record 26,604 births (about 73 births a day) and 24,242 deaths, a natural increase of 2,362. Net migration adds −22,595 people, ranking #224 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 913,867 births, 482,060 deaths, and cumulative net migration of −807,725. Over that period migration moved the total more than the balance of births and deaths did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of −326,756 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 81.9 years47.3 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 78.3 years41.9 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 19.1 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 6.7per 1,000 births · 194 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 7.8per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 29.5 yearssex ratio at birth 106.5
Women in Albania are projected to live 3.6 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 194 to 6.7 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #151 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 29.5 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Albania
The median age of 37.8 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 1.32 births per woman is below the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 80.1 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,751,025 | #144 | Largest first |
| Median age | 37.8 years | #87 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 1.32 | #209 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | -0.7% | #221 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 80.1 years | #59 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 18.3% | #60 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Albania
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30–34 | 229,324 | 8.3% | 114.9K / 114.5K |
| 2 | 35–39 | 210,131 | 7.6% | 109K / 101.1K |
| 3 | 25–29 | 202,692 | 7.4% | 103.6K / 99.1K |
| 4 | 60–64 | 178,306 | 6.5% | 83.8K / 94.5K |
| 5 | 55–59 | 171,726 | 6.2% | 79.3K / 92.4K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Albania has 1,359,294 males and 1,391,730 females. That is 97.7 males per 100 females, ranking #130 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 49.4% of the population and females for 50.6%. There are 32,436 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 87.4 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 106.5 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Albania has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 1,247,851 in 1950 to 2,751,025 in 2026, a change of 120%. Over the same span, median age moved from 19.6 to 37.8 years.
The under-15 share changed from 39.0% to 16.3%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 6.0% to 18.3%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Albania’s population is projected to decline by about 19%, reaching 2,240,166 in 2050. The median age changes from 37.8 to 51.1 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 9.6 percentage points to 27.9%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 10.7%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The annual UN series reaches its highest estimated population of 3,282,602 in 1991. Historical population totals are estimates rather than exact head counts. Compare timing across countries in the population peak ranking.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,247,851 | 19.6 | 6.17 | 44.5 | 49,038 | 29,038 | +6,757 | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 1,649,387 | 18.8 | 6.38 | 56.4 | 67,661 | 26,206 | +13,734 | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 2,181,220 | 18.0 | 5.16 | 65.2 | 72,754 | 19,342 | +92 | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 2,735,416 | 20.1 | 3.59 | 69.9 | 73,190 | 18,107 | −601 | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 3,277,966 | 22.9 | 3.01 | 72.7 | 85,490 | 18,311 | −60,173 | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 3,166,148 | 26.2 | 2.22 | 74.8 | 55,449 | 17,792 | −60,531 | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 2,928,722 | 31.6 | 1.65 | 78.4 | 36,236 | 17,733 | −51,907 | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 2,871,954 | 35.1 | 1.37 | 77.8 | 30,258 | 26,077 | −16,680 | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 2,811,655 | 36.3 | 1.35 | 79.6 | 28,803 | 23,428 | −25,357 | -0.7% |
| 2024* | 2,791,765 | 36.7 | 1.34 | 79.8 | 28,283 | 23,610 | −24,472 | -0.7% |
| 2026* | 2,751,025 | 37.8 | 1.32 | 80.1 | 26,604 | 24,242 | −22,595 | -0.7% |
| 2030* | 2,671,885 | 40.1 | 1.32 | 80.8 | 23,617 | 25,499 | −18,454 | -0.8% |
| 2040* | 2,461,866 | 45.9 | 1.37 | 82.5 | 17,703 | 28,701 | −11,233 | -0.9% |
| 2050* | 2,240,166 | 51.1 | 1.40 | 84.1 | 15,660 | 30,647 | −7,427 | -1.0% |
| 2060* | 2,017,998 | 54.6 | 1.43 | 85.5 | 12,504 | 29,412 | −5,015 | -1.1% |
| 2070* | 1,802,818 | 57.0 | 1.46 | 86.7 | 10,223 | 28,878 | −2,659 | -1.2% |
| 2080* | 1,584,303 | 59.2 | 1.47 | 87.8 | 9,304 | 30,618 | −1,086 | -1.4% |
| 2090* | 1,364,419 | 58.9 | 1.48 | 88.9 | 8,233 | 28,445 | −392 | -1.5% |
| 2100* | 1,184,997 | 57.6 | 1.49 | 90.0 | 7,147 | 22,511 | −128 | -1.3% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 69,439 | 64,846 | 134,285 | 4.9% |
| 5–9 | 75,573 | 69,590 | 145,163 | 5.3% |
| 10–14 | 88,936 | 80,936 | 169,872 | 6.2% |
| 15–19 | 83,155 | 76,215 | 159,370 | 5.8% |
| 20–24 | 89,005 | 81,481 | 170,486 | 6.2% |
| 25–29 | 103,633 | 99,059 | 202,692 | 7.4% |
| 30–34 | 114,871 | 114,453 | 229,324 | 8.3% |
| 35–39 | 109,013 | 101,118 | 210,131 | 7.6% |
| 40–44 | 86,384 | 84,505 | 170,889 | 6.2% |
| 45–49 | 70,174 | 79,140 | 149,314 | 5.4% |
| 50–54 | 70,871 | 84,425 | 155,296 | 5.6% |
| 55–59 | 79,302 | 92,424 | 171,726 | 6.2% |
| 60–64 | 83,840 | 94,466 | 178,306 | 6.5% |
| 65–69 | 81,215 | 90,168 | 171,383 | 6.2% |
| 70–74 | 62,343 | 69,835 | 132,178 | 4.8% |
| 75–79 | 43,289 | 48,867 | 92,156 | 3.3% |
| 80–84 | 27,363 | 31,995 | 59,358 | 2.2% |
| 85–89 | 15,131 | 19,457 | 34,588 | 1.3% |
| 90–94 | 4,923 | 7,051 | 11,974 | 0.4% |
| 95–99 | 784 | 1,518 | 2,302 | 0.1% |
| 100+ | 52 | 180 | 232 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Albania’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Curaçao97% overlap · median age 39.0
- New Zealand96% overlap · median age 38.0
- United States96% overlap · median age 38.7
- Canada96% overlap · median age 40.8
- Iceland95% overlap · median age 36.6
- Norway95% overlap · median age 40.1
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Albania.
Use this chart in your work
Charts and tables may be reused with attribution. Please link to this page and credit the United Nations as the data source.
Embed the population pyramid
Cite this page
APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Albania Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/albania/
MLA
“Albania Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/albania/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Albania Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/albania/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Albania in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Albania's population in 2026 is projected at 2,751,025.
What is the median age in Albania?
The projected median age in Albania in 2026 is 37.8 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Albania?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 1.32 births per woman, below the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Albania's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will decline by about 19%, from 2.8M to 2.2M.
What share of Albania is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 18.3% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 27.9%.
How many babies are born in Albania each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 26,604 births and 24,242 deaths in 2026, about 73 births a day. Births exceed deaths by 2,362.
What is life expectancy in Albania for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 81.9 years for women and 78.3 years for men, a gap of 3.6 years in favour of women.
Does Albania have more immigrants or emigrants?
Albania is projected to lose about 22,595 more people through emigration than it gains in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of −807,725.
What is the sex ratio in Albania?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 97.7 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.