Migratory flows declining in 2026/ Egyptians dominate entries into Albania

2026-03-23 15:06:00, Aktualitet CNA

Migratory flows along the Western Balkans route have declined in early 2026. According to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in January of this year, a total of 1,660 irregular entries were recorded in the region, a level about 37% lower compared to December 2025 and about 12% less than in the same period a year earlier.

Within the region, Albania remains one of the countries with a relatively low number of registrations, with 64 entries identified in January 2026, down by about 29% compared to the previous month.

The region remains a transit point

The IOM report on “Mixed Migration Flows in the Western Balkans” shows that the majority of irregular entries continue to be concentrated in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, two of the main nodes of the migration corridor towards the European Union. In January 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina registered 732 irregular entries, while Serbia registered 349. In other countries in the region, Montenegro reported 203 entries, while North Macedonia registered 250 cases. Kosovo registered 62 entries in this period. The monthly decrease in registrations in most countries in the region is mainly related to seasonal factors and the intensification of border controls, which usually reduce movements during the winter months.

Egyptians dominate in Albania

Regarding the origin of migrants entering Albania, the report shows that the vast majority come from Egypt. In December 2025, about 68% of registered migrants in the country were Egyptian nationals, while Syrians accounted for about 18% and Indian nationals for about 6%. In the rest of the region, other nationalities dominate, such as Afghans, Sudanese and Algerians, reflecting changes in migration routes and human trafficking networks.

Reception center capacities

At the regional level, 37 reception centers for migrants operate, with a total capacity of around 10,867 places. Currently, around 1,425 migrants are accommodated in these structures, according to the latest data in the report. In Albania, 10 reception centers have been identified with a total capacity of around 765 places, but only a very small number of migrants are accommodated in them, which shows that the country remains mainly a transit point and not a long-term destination.

Asylum requests

Data for 2025 also show that 743 asylum applications were filed in the Western Balkans region. Albania registered 38 of them, a much lower number compared to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo or Serbia. In the same period, authorities in the region also made decisions on granting refugee status, subsidiary protection or rejecting asylum applications, reflecting the complexity of managing migration flows in the Balkan corridor.

Overall, data from early 2026 suggest a temporary slowdown in migration flows in the region, however international organizations warn that migratory pressure along this route remains unstable and may increase again in the coming months. /Monitor