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2023, Tirana holds half of the Albanian economy, Kukës remains the poorest

2025-11-05 13:09:00, Ekonomi CNA

Year after year, economic activity continues to be strongly concentrated in the central region, which includes the capital, while the north remains the most underdeveloped area of ??the country, according to the latest INSTAT data on regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2023.

In total, Albania's GDP was estimated at 2.36 trillion lekë in current prices, with a real increase of 4.02% compared to 2022. About half of this value, a full 50.3%, was created in the Center region – where Tirana's economy dominates – while the north contributed 22.5% and the south 27.2%.

The capital continues to be the main engine of economic growth, contributing over 2 percentage points to national growth, much more than any other region. Tirana alone generated over 43% of the country's GDP and recorded a real growth of 4.7% in 2023. Following it, Fier region contributed +0.43 percentage points and Durrës +0.42.

On the other end of the spectrum, Kukes, Dibra and Gjirokastra had the lowest impact on economic growth – each with less than 0.1 percentage points.

Even according to GDP per capita, regional differences are profound. The national average reached 984 thousand lekë per person. Tirana stands at the top with 1,367 million lekë per capita, 39% above the average, while Durrës and Fier follow with 1,086 and 1,042 million lekë. Kukës ranks last, with only 549 thousand lekë per capita – 44% below the national average.

According to the analysis of the structure of the economy, the Center region dominates services, communication and finance activities, while the south has the largest share in agriculture. In the north, agriculture still accounts for a quarter of the economy, with high dependence on traditional activities and low participation of industry and modern services.

New INSTAT data confirms that regional inequalities remain one of the main challenges to the country's economic development, with an increasingly wealthy Tirana and a north that moves at a much slower pace.

In 2023, according to statistical regions at level 2, in the North statistical region, GDP per capita is 819 thousand Lekë. The GDP per capita of this region is 16.80% below the national average.

In the Center statistical region, GDP per capita is 1,199 thousand Lekë. The GDP per capita of this region resulted 21.86% above the national average. In the South statistical region, GDP per capita is 845 thousand Lekë. The GDP per capita of this region is 14.12% below the national average.

In 2023, the highest level of GDP per capita by statistical region at level 3 (Region), in 2023, was recorded in Tirana Region, with 1,367 thousand Lekë, being estimated at 38.90% above the national average.

Following it is Durrës Region with a GDP per capita of 1,086 thousand Lekë, estimated to be 10.31% above the national average, and Fier Region with 1,042 thousand Lekë, 5.82% above the national average.

The lowest level of GDP per capita by statistical region at level 3 (Region) in 2023 was estimated in the Kukës Region at around 549 thousand Lekë and the GDP per capita of this region is estimated to be 44.19% below the national average.

Further, with the lowest GDP per capita, Dibër County follows with about 595 thousand Lekë and the GDP per capita of this county is estimated at 39.53% below the national average, and Berat County with 599 thousand Lekë. The GDP per capita of this county is estimated at 39.18% below the national average./ Monitor.