But, in the recent years, Albania is aging faster than other European countries.
Open Data Albania has conducted a research in relation to the average age of the population in the country and has analyzed the aging trend of this age, by making comparisons with other countries of Europe.
The analyses has spread over a period of 20 years based on the data of the three recent censuses. The data relating to European countries have been obtained by Eurostat.
Aranita Brahaj, directress of Open Data Albania says that in 2011, based on the Census indicators, Albania had an average age of 36.3 years old, while the European average is 41.2 years old.
In 2001, Albania had an average age of 30.6 years old and from 2001 to 2011 the population has aged on an average of 4.7 years. In the EU, the average aging during this decade was 2.9 years. Albania has aged faster during this decade. This indicator ranks it as the fastest aging country in Europe after Lithuania.
If the national age average is 35.3 years old, some prefectures offer a higher age average. Namely, Gjirokastra (an average of 39.69 years old), Korca, Berat and Vlora with an average age of 35.3 years old.
The average age of population in Tirana is 34.5 years old and in Durres, 34.6 years old.
Aging of population in the last decade relates to the number of low births and massive migration of young ages. Even average life expectancy plays a key role. “High birth rate in Diber and Kukes has managed to keep population relatively young in spite of massive migration”, says Mrs. Brahaj.
Figures over the aging rate of the population offer information over the need of social and economic policies to minimize negative effects that aging has on the population of a country.
Namely, the reform demanded for pension schemes and the fact that there’s not enough employment for young people, indicate the growing aging trend of the population in the country.