While economic data speaks of an increase in Gross Domestic Product and the development of certain sectors, a large part of the Albanian population is experiencing a completely different reality. According to the latest Eurostat data (via Monitor.al ), Albania tops the list for Europe in terms of the highest percentage of the population at risk of poverty and social exclusion – with around 42% of Albanians living in difficult economic and social conditions.
Translated into numbers, this amounts to more than 1 million Albanians who are considered to suffer from a severe form of poverty. What does “severe poverty” mean in this context?
According to the standards set by Eurostat, a family is in this category if it cannot afford at least 7 out of 13 basic living conditions, which are divided into two groups: at the individual level and at the family level.
Some of the categories include:
- Delays in rent, loan or basic utility payments
- Inability to go on vacation for at least one week per year
- Lack of a meal with meat, fish or equivalent every two days
- Inability to afford an unexpected expense of 30,000 lek
- Cold house in winter due to inability to heat
- Inability to have a car for personal use
- Lack of functional furniture or the ability to replace it
Albania is at the top of the list for social exclusion and poverty, leaving behind other countries with similar challenges in the region.
These data point to a stark contrast between macroeconomic statistics and the reality of life for a large portion of citizens. Economic growth may be a fact, but if it does not translate into real improvement in daily life, then who does it really serve?
