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Albania, a record in Europe for the weight of bars and cafes in the economy, third in relation to population

2026-07-24 07:33:00, Ekonomi CNA

Albania, a record in Europe for the weight of bars and cafes in the economy,

In Albania, the bar-cafe has long become an almost unique business model in Europe: it is relatively easy to open, is found in every neighborhood, and occupies a very high share of private entrepreneurship, compared to other European countries.

Bars, restaurants and food services account for 12.28% of the total number of enterprises in Albania, the highest share among the European countries compared and about 2.6 times above the European Union average of 4.73%, according to Eurostat data for 2023, processed by "Monitor".

The difference with other countries is significant. After Albania comes Serbia, where food and beverage service activities account for 8.43% of enterprises, followed by Greece with 8.25%, Spain with 7.51%, Croatia with 7.28% and Turkey with 7.05%.

In North Macedonia, this sector accounts for 6.57% of businesses, in Cyprus 6.18%, while in Italy and Germany 5.83% and 5.81% respectively.

At the bottom of the ranking are countries where the economic structures are more oriented towards industry, technology and other services. In Lithuania, bars, restaurants and food activities account for only 1.19% of enterprises. In Estonia and Latvia the weight is 1.97%, in Poland 2.11%, while in Norway 2.26%.

More than 15 thousand bars, restaurants and food services

In Albania, there are 15,445 enterprises registered in the NACE 56 category, which includes restaurants, mobile food service activities, catering, bars, cafes and other beverage services.

The total number of Albanian enterprises in the economic activities covered by Eurostat statistics was 125,737. In this report, more than one in every eight Albanian businesses operates in the food and beverage sector.

If the 2,517 accommodation establishments are included, the total number of businesses in the accommodation and food services sector reaches 17,962, or 14.3% of the total, again the highest in Europe. Greece comes in second, including accommodation establishments, with 11.6%, followed by Serbia (9.2%) and Portugal (8.9%).

Albania third in Europe for the number of bars in relation to population

The high weight of the sector is not only related to the fact that Albania has a relatively small number of enterprises in total. Even when businesses are compared to the population, the country ranks among the first in Europe.

Albania has 6.63 bars, restaurants and food services for every 1,000 inhabitants, ranking third among the countries analyzed.

Greece leads with 7.4 enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants, followed by Portugal with 6.95. Following Albania are Cyprus with 6.02, Spain with 5.41, Italy with 4.57 and Croatia with 4.54.

The European Union average is only 3.5 establishments per 1,000 inhabitants. Albania thus has almost twice the number of bars and restaurants per inhabitant compared to the European average.

The difference is also large by region. Serbia has 2.69 businesses per 1,000 inhabitants, while North Macedonia has 2.43. Albania has about 2.5 times more enterprises of this type per inhabitant than

Serbia and about 2.7 times more than North Macedonia. The countries with the lowest indicators are Lithuania with 1.48, Latvia with 1.54, Poland with 1.58 and Romania with 1.61 enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants.

An early business model, now supported by tourism

The dominance of coffee shops is not a phenomenon created by the recent tourism boom. For decades, they have been among the most common activities in Albania, due to the relatively low start-up capital, easier market entry, and strong culture of coffee consumption and socializing outside the home.

In the absence of a developed industry and broader opportunities for productive investments, part of the small family capital has traditionally been oriented towards trade and services, especially bars and restaurants.

In recent years, this existing model has been supplemented by the demand created by the growth of tourism. The influx of foreign visitors has expanded the market for restaurants, bars, cafes and other food services, especially in Tirana, on the coast and in tourist destinations.

However, the effect remains uneven throughout the year. A large part of tourism demand is concentrated in the summer season, making businesses in tourist areas dependent on a few months of intense activity.

Many businesses, but fragmented market

A high number of enterprises does not necessarily mean that the sector has the same weight in economic production or value added.

Most bars and restaurants are small businesses, often family-run, with a limited number of employees and relatively low turnover. A market with many small operators creates strong competition, but also a high degree of fragmentation.

Businesses are facing rising costs for food, energy, rent and wages. Labor shortages have also become a major problem, forcing operators to raise wages, hire foreign nationals or limit activity.

The sector is also characterized by a high rate of market entry and exit. The relative ease of opening a store does not guarantee its longevity, especially in areas where supply far exceeds local demand./ Monitor