Although Albania does not have an industrial sector developed on the scale of Europe’s major economies, it ranks among the countries suffering the most severe health consequences from air pollution.
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With 129 premature deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, the country ranks fourth in Europe for mortality attributed to exposure to fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, according to Eurostat’s latest data for 2023.
Higher levels than Albania are recorded only in North Macedonia, with 146 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 139, and Serbia, with 132.
Albania’s rate is more than three times the European Union average, which stood at 41 premature deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023.
What the indicator measures
Eurostat’s indicator measures the number of premature deaths that can be attributed to exposure to fine airborne particles known as PM2.5.
These particles have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers. Because of their extremely small size, they can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause inflammation or worsen the condition of people suffering from heart and lung diseases.
Premature deaths are those that occur before the expected age of death, calculated according to life expectancy in each country, sex and age group. The estimates are based on the European Environment Agency’s methodology.
PM2.5 is generated mainly by the burning of solid fuels to heat homes, industrial activities and transport.
Exposure is linked not only to the presence of heavy industry, but also to heating methods, fuel quality, the age of vehicles, waste burning and geographical conditions that prevent pollution from dispersing.
The Balkans bear the heaviest burden
The data reveal a stark divide between the Balkans and northern and western Europe.
Albania is followed by Kosovo, with 121 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. Montenegro records 89 deaths, while Croatia has 75. Neighboring European Union countries also report high levels: Bulgaria has 104 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, Greece 98 and Romania 74.
At the other end of the ranking are the Nordic countries. Finland records just one premature death per 100,000 inhabitants, Sweden two, Estonia three and Norway four. In Iceland, the figure is zero.
Albania’s rate is around 129 times higher than Finland’s, more than six times higher than Portugal’s and almost five times higher than Germany’s.
Why North Macedonia has the highest level
North Macedonia tops the European ranking with 146 premature deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
According to the OECD, the average annual concentration of PM2.5 in the country reached 22.3 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021, the highest level in the Western Balkans and more than four times the World Health Organization guideline.
The main sources of pollution are the burning of lignite for energy production, industry, old and inadequately inspected vehicles, open-air waste burning and residential heating.
The World Bank estimates that residential heating is one of the most significant sources of pollution in the Western Balkans, particularly during winter. In North Macedonia and Kosovo, the residential sector generates almost half of PM2.5 emissions.
The geographical location of cities, especially Skopje, worsens the situation, as atmospheric conditions and the terrain encourage pollutants to accumulate near the surface.
The EU has halved deaths, but disparities remain wide
In the European Union, the number of premature deaths linked to PM2.5 has fallen significantly over the past two decades.
In 2005, fine particulate matter pollution was attributed to around 423,600 premature deaths in the EU. The figure fell to around 346,400 in 2007, 286,600 in 2018 and 182,400 in 2023.
Despite improvement at the European level, the gap between countries remains wide. Countries in Southeastern and Eastern Europe continue to bear a much greater health burden than Nordic and Western European countries.
The 2030 target
The indicator is linked to Sustainable Development Goal 11, which aims to make cities and communities more sustainable, specifically by reducing the negative environmental impact of cities, with particular attention to air quality.
The European target is to reduce the health impacts of air pollution, expressed through premature deaths from PM2.5, by at least 55% by 2030 compared with 2005.
The threshold set for the EU is around 190,600 deaths in 2030. With around 182,400 deaths recorded in 2023, the European Union as a whole has already fallen below the target level, but the situation varies significantly from one country to another./Monitor
