The economy dominates concerns in Albania/ 58% of adults list it as the main problem

2026-02-06 07:33:00, Ekonomi CNA

The economy dominates concerns in Albania/ 58% of adults list it as the main

Albania is part of the group of countries where over half of the population sees the economy as the main national problem, with 58% of adults citing high prices, low wages, and living standards as the dominant concern.

This data comes from a new global Gallup survey, presented at the World Governments Summit, which is based on responses from adults in 107 countries, who were asked to express in their own words what is the most important problem facing their country.

Globally, an average of 23% of adults cite the economy as the most important national issue. Residents of lower-income countries are more likely than those in high-income countries to identify the economy as the main problem.

The top three countries on this list belong to different regions and economic contexts, from high food insecurity in Malawi, to Venezuela's economic collapse amid political crisis, and Bolivia's struggles with inflation, but they all have in common a population that places economic concerns above all other problems.

By income level, in high-income countries, an average of 21% of citizens cite the economy or the inability to afford basic needs, such as food and shelter. This percentage rises to 31% in upper-middle-income countries, 36% in lower-middle-income countries, and 38% in low-income countries, where 14% specifically cite basic needs for food and shelter — far more than in any other income group. Report: 12 main categories of problems

Overall, citizens around the world group their concerns into 12 main categories. Only 1% declare that their country has no problems, while 4% refuse to answer or say they don't know.

Four topics dominate globally. Economic issues rank at the top, with a global average of 23%, followed by work and employment (10%), politics and governance (8%), and security and order (7%). Together, these account for about half of all responses.

Next in line are food and shelter (3%), social issues (3%), environment and climate change (3%), and health (3%). Another 2% mention education, 1% each mention immigration and infrastructure, while less than 1% identify the media as the main problem.

By region, the economy ranks first everywhere except North America (the United States and Canada), where politics is the main concern. In Asia-Pacific and Europe, political dissatisfaction ranks second, while in sub-Saharan Africa, the countries of the former Soviet Union, and the Middle East and North Africa, employment-related problems are most prominent.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, safety and order rank second, but fall to third in most other regions.

Essentially, the report shows that people judge national problems through personal experience: whether they manage to afford a living, find stable jobs, trust institutions, and feel safe, more than through macroeconomic indicators./ Monitor