INSTAT: Assessing Emigration in Albania Remains Difficult, Several Data Sources Need to Be Combined

Measuring emigration in Albania remains a challenge in itself, beyond the phenomenon of population movement itself. According to a report prepared by INSTAT and presented at the Conference of European Statisticians of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the use of several data sources is essential in order to achieve more reliable results in estimating net migration.

Document ECE/CES/2026/28, published on June 10, 2026, presents what the authors describe as a “multisource approach to estimating net migration in Albania.” It examines how different statistical and administrative sources can be combined in order to improve the quality of the measurements.

In this report, the focus is not on the number of people leaving the country or those returning. The emphasis is on the methodological aspect, specifically on the accuracy and comparability of the data on which institutions rely to estimate net migration.

According to the authors, the complexity of measuring migration stems from the fact that no single source is able to fully capture population movements. For this reason, the study suggests integrating and harmonizing different sources to build more robust estimates.

“The aim of the study is to develop a more reliable and accurate estimate of net migration trends in Albania,” the document states.

The analysis is based on a comparison of data originating from different statistical and administrative systems. The report underlines that a multisource approach can help reduce discrepancies that arise when migration is measured by different institutions.

The authors assess that data quality is a key element in producing more accurate population statistics. If harmonized methods are lacking, differences between sources can affect both net migration estimates and the interpretation of demographic trends.

In the report, Albania is presented as a concrete example where combining sources can yield more reliable results than relying on a single information channel. According to the authors, the proposed approach aims to build a stronger foundation for future statistical estimates.

The document was presented as part of the proceedings of the Conference of European Statisticians, one of UNECE’s main forums for statistical methodologies.

The central message of the study is that improving the measurement of net migration requires not only the integration of different data sources, but also the development of more advanced estimation methods.

In conclusion, the authors stress that more accurate estimates of net migration require not only more data, but also more efficient ways of combining and interpreting it.