Albania: health and care

What is the life expectancy in Albania?

Life expectancy at birth in Albania was 79.8 years in 2024, according to the World Bank, up from 76.8 years in 2021.

The figure is the average number of years a newborn would live if that year's death rates stayed the same. INSTAT registered 21,394 deaths in 2025, 3.2% fewer than in 2024, according to its causes of death statistics, and Albania's median age was 45 years on 1 January 2026, according to its population estimate.

Official sources: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, Albania · INSTAT: Causes of death statistics, 2025 (PDF) · INSTAT: Population on 1 January 2026 (PDF)

What do most people die of in Albania?

Diseases of the circulatory system caused 52.9% of deaths registered in Albania in 2025, according to INSTAT's causes of death statistics. Chronic heart diseases made up 42.2% of that group.

Of the 21,394 deaths, 96.7% were from natural causes, 2.2% from accidents, 0.9% from suicide and 0.2% from homicide. The crude death rate was 910.5 per 100,000 people, against 929.8 in 2024. The statistics come from death certificates registered during the year.

Official sources: INSTAT: Causes of death statistics, 2025 (PDF)

What is the infant mortality rate in Albania?

Albania's infant mortality rate was 4.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025, the same as in 2024, according to INSTAT's causes of death statistics. 106 infant deaths were recorded, against 110 in 2024.

The rate counts deaths of babies before their first birthday. INSTAT's figure is based on registered deaths and births. Births have been falling: 5,083 were registered in the second quarter of 2026, 3.0% fewer than a year earlier, according to its demographic indicators.

Official sources: INSTAT: Causes of death statistics, 2025 (PDF) · INSTAT: Demographic indicators, Q2 2026 (PDF)

How many doctors does Albania have?

Albania had 1.88 doctors per 1,000 people in 2020, according to the World Bank, which publishes World Health Organization data. The rate was 1.65 in 2019 and 1.21 in 2016.

2020 is the most recent year in the series. The figure counts generalist and specialist physicians reported by national authorities. Health and welfare was the second most popular field of university study in 2025/26, with 22.2% of students, according to INSTAT's enrolment statistics.

Official sources: World Bank: Physicians per 1,000 people, Albania · INSTAT: Enrolment statistics 2025-2026 (PDF)

How long do people live in Albania?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in Albania was 79.8 years in 2024. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 79.5 years; Albania is 26th highest of 52. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 42nd highest.

How many babies die in Albania?

8.3 per 1,000: that is the infant mortality rate in Albania for 2024, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. The peak was 13.5 per 1,000 in 2005 and the low 7.6 per 1,000 in 2015. Europe & Central Asia median: 3.4 per 1,000; Albania is 8th highest of 51. World rank, highest first: 121st of 192.

How many women die in childbirth in Albania?

7.0 per 100,000: that is the maternal mortality ratio in Albania for 2023, according to the WHO. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 6.0 per 100,000, and Albania placed 24th highest of 51. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 156th highest.

What is Albania's health spending?

According to the WHO, current health spending in Albania was 7.1% of GDP in 2023. The peak was 7.5% of GDP in 2022 and the low 5.4% of GDP in 2008. It is 35th highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 7.5% of GDP. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 82nd highest.

How much do people in Albania pay for health care themselves?

In 2023, out-of-pocket health spending in Albania was 48.3%, according to the WHO. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 7th highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 22.0%. World rank, highest first: 37th of 191.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Albania?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2020, is 1.9 per 1,000. No year since 2006 has been higher. Europe & Central Asia median: 3.6 per 1,000; Albania is 46th highest of 47. Of 136 countries with 2020 data, 75th highest.

How many hospital beds does Albania have?

The WHO puts hospital beds per 1,000 people in Albania at 2.9 per 1,000 in 2020. The peak was 3.1 per 1,000 in 2006 and the low 2.8 per 1,000 in 2016. Europe & Central Asia median: 4.5 per 1,000; Albania is 39th highest of 47. Of 131 countries with 2020 data, 58th highest.

What is measles vaccine coverage in Albania?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 81.0%. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 94.0%; Albania is 46th highest of 51. Worldwide: 139th of 191.