World Bank survey: 28% of businesses report corruption with construction permits, 4 times more than the region

2026-04-28 07:15:28, Ekonomi CNA

World Bank survey: 28% of businesses report corruption with construction

The World Bank Enterprise Survey for 2025 found a significant increase in corruption with construction permits in Albania.

The latest release of the survey results showed that the construction sector remains the most critical area, with around 28% of businesses stating that they have been asked or expected to give gifts or informal payments to obtain a building permit. This figure is four times higher than the regional average of just 7%.

The results show a sharp increase in corruption compared to 2019, the Bank's previous survey. Six years ago, around 9% of businesses reported paying bribes for building permits, today this figure has tripled to 28%.

This increase shows that the construction sector has become a hotbed of corruption, where almost one in three businesses is forced to offer informal payments to continue operating.

According to the survey, the corruption situation is also problematic in business relations with the tax administration. The data shows that 12% of Albanian businesses have faced bribe requests during these contacts, a figure that again significantly exceeds the average for Europe and Central Asia, which stands at 5%.

This high trend of cashless payments, especially in processes vital to economic development such as construction permits and tax obligations, signals serious barriers to the proper functioning of the market by 2025.

The Bank's report also focused on the incidence of Bribery, which measures the percentage of businesses that have experienced at least one direct request for a bribe.

According to 2025 data, Albania has an incidence level of 15%, a figure that proves that corruption remains a widespread phenomenon in the country's business environment.

The prevalence of bribery in Albania is more than double the average for countries in Europe and Central Asia, where this incidence is only 6%. Even when compared to the group of upper-middle-income countries, where the average stands at 10%, Albania still remains at a disadvantage.

This shows that, despite reform efforts, businesses in Albania continue to face significantly higher levels of corruption than countries in the region and in economies with similar development. /Monitor

World Bank survey: 28% of businesses report corruption with construction