Albania’s birthrate in decline

TIRANA, Dec 22 – Though still among the highest in its region, Albania’s birthrate is falling in the post-communist era.
According to the Albanian Institute of Statistics, in 2007, the country recorded an estimated 33,200 live births, compared to 52,000 in 2006. Since 1990 saw 82,000 births, the country’s birthrate is definitely in decline.
Job insecurity, lower number of marriages, a decline to a change in social values, create doubts about marriage and childbearing. Young professionals are eager to succeed in their careers, another reason to delay having children.
Health ministry sources link the drop in the birthrate to socio-demographic reasons, especially the emigration of the young, and abortions.
The general drop in Albania’s birthrate, coupled with deaths and high emigration, increased the population’s average age to 31.7 years compared to 29 in 2004 and 27 in 1990.
Albania’s birthrate is second to Turkey’s, followed by Macedonia’s and Montenegro’s.