TIRANA, August 24 – The number of foreigners holding residence permits in Albania continued to rise in 2025, reaching 32,163 by the end of the year. The figure was 46.6% higher than in 2024, according to the Institute of Statistics.
Men accounted for 65% of residence permit holders, while women made up 35%. People aged 30–39 represented the largest age group, at 24.5%. Europe remained the main region of origin, with 17,022 residents or 52.9% of the total. The number rose 18.5% from 2024. Meanwhile, the number of Asian citizens increased 117.6% to 9,891.
Employment remained the main reason for residence permits, accounting for 55.1%. Family reunification followed with 19.8%, other reasons with 14.1%, humanitarian grounds with 7.9% and study with 3.1%.
In addition, applications for residence permits rose 43.5% in 2025. Citizens of India and the Philippines accounted for 26.6% of applications combined. Kosova and Italy topped the list of residence permit holders, with 19.5% and 12.6%, followed by India at 9% and the Philippines at 7.5%.
The Institute of Statistics also identified 1,926 irregular foreigners in 2025, from 1,540 in 2024.
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