The number of children in Albania is declining, while investments in education and social protection continue to lag behind European Union standards. These are among the key findings of UNICEF’s latest report on Albania, which outlines the priorities for cooperation with the country for the 2027–2031 period.

According to the document, Albania has a population of around 2.4 million people, with children aged 0 to 17 accounting for only 19.1% of the population, approximately 460,000 in total. In 2011, children represented 26.4% of the population. UNICEF attributes this decline to low birth rates and emigration, stressing the need for greater investment in children and young people.

At the same time, the country has made progress in several areas. The percentage of children living at risk of poverty fell from 29.7% in 2019 to 26.6% in 2024. The share of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEET) also declined, from 27.9% in 2020 to 22.2% in 2024. Mortality among children under the age of five has continued to decrease as well.

However, UNICEF notes that Albania invests significantly less than EU member states. Public spending on education stands at just 2.6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), compared to the EU average of 4.6%. Social protection expenditure amounts to 9.6% of GDP, while the European average is 20.5%. Of these funds, only 5% are allocated to social care services, while municipalities spend less than 2% of their budgets on such services.

Children with disabilities, Roma and Egyptian children, as well as those living in rural areas, continue to face limited access to quality education, social services, and healthcare.

Inequality also remains a challenge. Women’s participation in the labour market is still 12.5 percentage points lower than that of men, while Albania continues to rank below the European Union average in terms of gender equality.