Internal population movements in Albania are increasingly dominated by women, especially girls and young women of study and working age.
Data published by INSTAT in the report "Women and Men 2025" show that during 2024, 16,289 women changed their residence within the country, compared to only 9,303 men.
The largest share of these movements is concentrated in the 20-29 age group. In the 20-24 age group alone, 3,080 women moved, while in the 25-29 age group the number reached 3,754. For men, in the same age groups the figures are significantly lower, 537 and 1,098, respectively.
Data shows that young women are becoming increasingly active in internal migration, a phenomenon related to moving to large cities for university studies, employment or better access to services.
Tirana remains the main attractive pole, especially for the administration, services, call center, technology, education and healthcare sectors, where women's employment is more concentrated.
The INSTAT report also highlights that internal movements fell overall in 2024 compared to the previous year, but the gender gap remains strong. In 2023, 19,805 women and 12,277 men had changed their residence.
The phenomenon is also gradually changing the social profile of cities.
Demographic experts link this trend to urbanization, delayed marriage, increased participation of women in higher education, and the search for economic independence. According to sociologist Gëzim Tusha, this shows that the suburbs are emptying out and new families are no longer being formed there.
Economically, according to him, this shows that the Albanian economy is increasingly concentrated in a few urban centers and in sectors where women have more employment or education opportunities.
At the same time, many rural areas and small towns are losing mainly their young female population, which subsequently affects fertility and local family structure./ Taken from monitor.al
