Population Ageing Affects Women More, Median Age Exceeds 45

Latest demographic data show a marked gap in the age structure between genders in Albania, with women being older on average than men.

According to official statistics published by INSTAT for 2024, the age that divides the male population into two equal halves is 43.1 years, while for women this indicator reaches 45.4 years, marking a difference of more than two years.

Our country was once known for having a young population compared with the continent, but the current reality is changing rapidly. The phenomenon of demographic ageing is becoming increasingly evident as birth rates decline and waves of emigration continue to take away younger generations. In this picture, women are feeling this transformation more strongly, with the median age exceeding the 45-year threshold for the first time.

The special report “Women and Men 2025” confirms that half of Albanian women are now over 45 years old, while the other half are below this threshold. Among men, this limit remains lower.

The main reason for this disparity lies neither in lower female emigration nor in the low number of births, but in women’s longer life expectancy. By living longer than men, they dominate the older age groups, thereby raising the overall median age for this gender.

This trend becomes more pronounced due to the shrinking of younger generations, a consequence of falling birth rates and continued departures. The study notes that in just one year, the median age of Albanian women increased by 0.7 years.

Overall, Albania’s population has continued its downward trajectory. At the end of 2024, the number of residents stood at 2.36 million, representing a 1.2% decline compared with a year earlier.

A breakdown by gender shows that the female population declined by 1%, while the male population fell by 1.3%. Although women still make up more than 50% of the total, their distribution is steadily shifting toward older age groups.

An additional factor accelerating the ageing process is emigration.

During the past year, net migration was negative for both genders, but the outflow of those leaving remains considerable. When working-age young people are the ones leaving and births decline year after year, the share of elderly people in the population rises automatically.

The economic implications of this phenomenon are tangible. An ageing population means a reduced workforce, increased pressure on the pension system, and growing needs for healthcare and long-term care.

For women, these consequences are even deeper, because longer life expectancy means more years spent in retirement or dependent on social and health services.

If these trends do not change, within a few decades Albania risks having a demographic profile in which older age groups dominate overwhelmingly, while young people become increasingly scarce. INSTAT statistics clearly show that this ageing is affecting women more severely.