Demographic dynamics and characteristics of urbanization in Albania in the third decade of transition: the determining steps in shaping the demographic-territorial model of transition

By, Dr. Gentian KAPRATA

Abstract
The third phase of urbanization of Albania in transition was shaped by: (i) external migration; (ii) decline in natural population growth; and (iii) internal migration. In the period 2014-2022, 178,094 more inhabitants left Albania than returned. This number has increased a lot in the last two years, which also shows the future trend of the phenomenon. Another contributor to this basic national phenomenon remains the level of natural population growth. During the years 2014-2022, Albania: (i) grew by 42,054 new inhabitants, as a result of natural growth (birth-death difference); and, this growth has generally come in a downward trend, where it is worth differentiating the year 2021 where the natural growth is negative. The phenomenon of population aging accompanied this transition decade. Internal migration led to large-scale urbanization of some areas and drastic depopulation of others. The internal migration scheme contributed to the further deepening of the demographic difference between the three main regions of the country: Greater Region Tirana-Durres; The Middle Region Fier-Vlora and the Abandoned Region that includes the other eight districts of the country. Internal migratory movements are also clearly visible at the inter-county level. For the period 2014-2016, the districts of Tirana, Fier, Durrës and Vlora experienced growth and hold the main weight of the total population, which is expressed by about 58%. Internal demographic movements continued to contribute to the deepening of demographic differences between the three regions of the country, even in the 2017-2019 period. Large districts will continue to remain so and grow further, while small districts will continue to shrink. Even in the following three years, 2020-2022, internal demographic movements continued to contribute to the deepening of demographic differences between the three regions of the country. These demographic dynamics established the demographic-territorial model of the country and the dominance of the District of Tirana over the other 11 districts of the country.

Keywords: demography, external migration, internal migration, natural population growth, population aging, level of urbanization, demographic-territorial model, population concentration, population abandonment.

How to cite: Kaprata, G. (2023). Demographic dynamics and characteristics of urbanization in Albania in the Third Decade of Transition: The determining steps in shaping the demographic-territorial model of transition. Ingenious, 3(2), 49–74.

https://doi.org/10.58944/uxlu6569