Massive migration from rural areas to Tirana and Durres, mothers that
grow their children without their fathers, who are working abroad to earn their living, new and old buildings, abandoned and uninhabited.
These are some of the characteristics of Albania that came out with the Census held in October. The preliminary data give few statistics, but now it is safe to say that massive emigration is the main cause of the falling birth rates among Albanians, while the absence of land and non agricultural jobs within the country are the main causes that send Albanians abroad.
While most of the country is left to senior citizens, the number of newborn males is higher than the females, except for Tirana and Durres, where it is the contrary.
The Albanians have built 290.000 residences in the last decade, but 33% of them are empty. In 2001, only 12% of the buildings were empty.
In Gjirokaster and Vlore, almost half of the residences are empty, due to the emigration. In Saranda and Vlore there are some apartments that are empty because the owners use them only for the summer holidays.
Only 46% of the Gjirokaster village houses have people in them, a massive movement that has also been noted in the villages of Vlore, Tirana and Durres.
The Albanian families have become smaller in the last 10 years.
From 4.2 persons per family in 2001, today there are 3.8 persons per family, mostly due to the emigration and not to a modern phenomenon, such as the young people living on their own.
The smallest average family is in Gjirokaster, with 3.4 members, while the biggest family is in Kukes, with 5.2 members in average.
Life style:
Family
Families in Kukes villages have 5.2 members in average, and this figure has increased in the last decade. In Vlore, Korce and Gjirokaster can be found the smallest families.
Residences
One third of the Albanian residences are abandoned. Many new ones have been built by emigrants, with the hopes that life in the country will improve one day. The biggest abandonment is in Gjirokaster and Vlore.
Population decrease
Gjirokaster has the most drastic population decrease, from 113.000 to 75.000 for the last decade.
Growth
Tirana and Durres are the only two areas with population growth. The population in Tirana grew from 598.000 to 764.000.
Emigration
More than 35.000 people have abandoned Albania each year in the last decade, leaving behind women, senior citizens and children.
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