Poverty Line in Albania: A comparison in the share of Population living under the national Poverty Line in European countries

Open Data Albania is analyzing statistical data from INSTAT related to the absolute poverty indicator at the national poverty line. Poverty is a expressed quantitatively through indicators of per capita income and the ability of individuals to meet basic living needs. Although Albania does not have a minimum living wage recognized by law, INSTAT publishes information on the number and percentage of the population living below a certain income level.

If we examine the percentage of the people living in absolute poverty (below national poverty line) over the years, we see that in 2019 21.8% of the population officially lived below the poverty line, while information regarding figures for 2020 and 2021, have yet to be released by INSTAT. According to the World Bank Data, GDP projections based on Gross Domestic Product, consumption growth and other data sources suggest that there has been a slow decline in poverty in 2020. Recent events, including the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck the country at the end of 2019, causing 51 deaths and damage to civilian housing, as well as the recent pandemic has hampered poverty reduction.

Source: World Bank, INSTAT
Comments and Analysis: Open Data Albania

Albania, in the last twenty years, marks an average of 20% of its population living in absolute poverty. The lowest rate was scored in 2008, with respectively 12.4% living under the poverty line (373 137 persons), while the highest shared was registered ins 2002 with respectively 25.4% (813 196 persons).

Table: Number of people living in absolute poverty (based on the national poverty line) in Albania
Source: World Bank, INSTAT
Comments and Analysis: Open Data Albania

In 2019, Albania presents a share of 21.8% of the population living under the poverty line, similar to Montenegro (22.6%), Serbia (21.7%) and Latvia (21.6%). For the same year, Bulgaria marked the highest rate of people living under the poverty rate with 23.8% and Ukraine the lowest with 1.1%. However, we should bear in mind that the indicator is measured on the basis of the cap each country sets for the poverty line.

Source: World Bank
Comments and Analysis: Open Data Albania

It should be borne in mind that this indicator is measured on the basis of the poverty line that each country sets. As noted previously, Albania hasn’t legally recognized the living minimum, which makes for very subjective corroboration of the evidence and effectiveness of the policies for the social protection of the most vulnerable.

Download excel:Poverty Line in Albania: A comparison in the share of Population living under the national Poverty Line in European countries
Comments and Analysis: Open Data Albania
Contributed by: Griselda Ruçi
Translated by: Rezarta Cushaj