Albania has recorded the sharpest population decline in Europe over the past 25 years, losing nearly one in every four residents since the beginning of the millennium, according to the latest data published by Eurostat.

Figures released by Eurostat, based on data from Albania’s national statistics agency INSTAT, show that Albania’s population stood at approximately 2.34 million on January 1, 2026, down from 3.06 million in 2000.

That represents a decline of around 721,000 people, or 23.6%, making Albania the European country with the largest population decrease during the period.

The figures, analyzed by Albanian business outlet Monitor, place Bulgaria second with a population decline of 21.6%.

Kosova ranks third, although its comparison begins in 2003, the earliest year for which comparable data is available. Since then, the country’s population has fallen by 19.3%.

Several other European countries have also experienced significant population losses over the same period. Lithuania recorded a decline of 17.8%, followed by Romania (15.2%), Croatia (13.8%), Serbia (13.2%), and Georgia (11.1%).

Elsewhere in the region, North Macedonia has seen its population shrink by 10%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded a 9.5% decline. Population losses were also reported in Hungary (7.2%), Poland (5%), Armenia (4%), Greece (3.8%), and Estonia (2.9%).

The data highlights a broader demographic trend across the Western Balkans, where most countries have experienced population decline driven by low birth rates, aging populations, and emigration.

Albania, however, remains the country with the fastest rate of population loss in Europe.

The only exception in the Western Balkans is Montenegro, whose population has grown by 3.3% since 2000, according to Eurostat data.