Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
These metadata refer to the first results on the main demographic developments in the year of reference.
The first results on the main demographic developments in the reference year (T) contain the total usual resident population on 1 January of year T+1, total number of live births, total number of deaths, total number of immigrants, and total number of emigrants during the reference year (T).
3.2. Classification system
Not applicable.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
3.4.1 Please indicate the definition of:
Population
The mother's residence
The data deaths
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
X
X
X
3.4.2 Please describe the national definition of:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
The definition used is the 'usual resident population' and represents the number of inhabitants of a given area on 1st January
The birth of a child who breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of gestational age
The permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth has taken place (post-natal cessation of vital functions without capability of resuscitation)
Usual resident population definition
Usual resident population definition
3.4.3 Please provide details of the deviations of the national definition used from the usual residence definition.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
3.5. Statistical unit
Number of persons.
3.6. Statistical population
In case of survey as data source, please describe the target statistical population (one or more) which the data set refers to:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
X
X
3.7. Reference area
Data are available at national level of geographical detail.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Time series of resident population of Albania are annually published, form 2001 - 2024.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Counts of statistical units
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31st December). The reference period for vital events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Data collected by statistical units are considered strictly confidential and are used only for statistical and research purposes based on national Statistical Law No.17/2018 “On Official Statistics”, date March 10, 2008 and on Law No.9887, date March 10, 2008 “Personal Data Protection”. Article 31 on Statistics Law reads as follows: Data collected for the production of official statistics shall be treated by INSTAT as confidential and shall be used only in aggregated tables that will not identify the source information unit. Direct identification means when a statistical unit is directly identified from its name or address or any officially allocated and commonly known identification number. When data processing is made in a manner that allows the identification of the data subject, the data should immediately be encrypted in order for the subjects to be no longer identifiable.
Albanian Institute of Statistics protects and does not disseminate data it has obtained or it has access to, which enable the direct or indirect identification of the statistical units. Albania Institute of Statistics takes all appropriate preventive measures so as to render impossible the identification of individual statistical units by technical or other means that might reasonably be used by a third party. Statistical data that could potentially enable the identification of the statistical unit are disseminated by Albania Institute of Statistics if and only if:
These data have been treated, as it is specifically set out in the Regulation, in such a way that their dissemination does not prejudice statistical confidentiality or;
The statistical unit has given its consent, without any reservations, for the disclosure of data.
The confidential data that are transmitted to Albania Institute of Statistics are used exclusively for statistical purposes and the only persons who have the right to have access to these data are the personnel engaged in this task. Issues referring to the observance of statistical confidentiality are examined by the staff working in Albania Institute of Statistics. The responsibilities of this staff are to recommend on: which detailed level the statistical data can be disseminated, so as the identification, either directly or indirectly, of the surveyed statistical unit is not possible; the anonymization criteria for the microdata provided to users; the access granting to researchers on confidential data for scientific purposes.
8.1. Release calendar
Notifications about the dissemination of statistics are published in the release calendar, which is available on the website. The announcements and delays are per-announced in this calendar. In the case of delays, the date of the next publication and the explanation of the reasons for the delays are specified.
In line with the article 34 of Law No.17/2018 “On Official Statistics”, dated in April 17, 2018, disseminates statistics on INSTAT website and other media for simultaneous access, respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The following dissemination channels are used to release the results:
Website – online release
Written requests
Special publications
Data request, section available for external users
The dissemination of the population of 1st January data is done in annual basis.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
According to the calendar of publications, the data of the resident Population in Albania, 1 January are published annually with a separate publication, on specific dates, approximately 152 days after the reference date, 1 January of the current year. The publication is available on the official website of INSTAT, in the statistical database Px-Web, also distributed electronically to users.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
The data are presented and published at INSTATs website according to legislation and regular issues:
Population Statistics Sectortakes care about all documentation of the whole process of work of Population in Albania for internal purposes.
11.1. Quality assurance
INSTAT is committed to ensure the highest quality with respect to the compilation of statistical information. In accordance with the Statistics Law, INSTAT use statistical methods and processes in compliance with internationally recognized scientific principles and standards conduct ongoing analyses of the statistics with a view to quality improvements and ensure that statistics are as up to-date. In performing its tasks it follows the general principles of quality management from the European Statistics Code of Practice. INSTAT declares that it takes into account the following principles: impartiality, quality of processes and products, user orientation, employee orientation, effectiveness of statistical processes, reducing the workload for respondents. Quality controls and validation of data are actions carried out throughout the process. The staff is involved in different stages of index calculation, such as the data collection, data control, data input and other necessary control are all well trained. This helps the staff to know the enterprises and their responsibilities and keep an updated collaboration.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Annual estimation population is based on cohort component method. This is a standard demographic method, which uses various data sources for the base components of population change. The data sources used can be considered the best sources, in country and prefectures level. The information gained from administrative registers (births, deaths and internal movements) is considered comprehensive and reliable
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Users of Annual population estimation are classified as external and internal. Annual estimation population, is widely used by Ministries and public administrations that uses these data for economic and social policy planning purposes, universities (teachers/graduate and post graduate students), research organizations and simple users. The information about the user needs on the annual estimation population can be measured in different ways:
The frequency of page views for the relevant product in INSTAT website;
Discussion with different users about their needs;
Discussion with users, who personally contact and send their data requests to INSTAT or to the Population sector, about their specific needs.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The survey results for 2024 show that the overall quality of the topic " Population in Albania” has been rated 3.80 (76 %) on a scale from 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good). INSTAT organizes every year User Satisfaction Survey.
12.3. Completeness
Not available.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Please report on the reasons for any unreliability of the data on:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Net migration
Measuring migration.
Births taking place abroad, but not usual resident abroad.
Deaths taking place abroad but not usual resident abroad.
Based on LFS and last population projection data.
Based on LFS and last population projection data.
Based on LFS and last population projection data.
13.2. Sampling error
In case of survey as data source, please provide information on the part of the difference between a population value and an estimate thereof, derived from a random sample, which is due to the fact that only a subset of the population is enumerated.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrant
Emigrants
One of the potential sampling error data sources in the population estimation is the survey data usage, in our case the Labour Force Survey, for measuring international migration.
Not available.
Not available.
Although the sample selection has been updated with the 2023 Census data, issues may remain and be carried over into our calculations.
Although the sample selection has been updated with the 2023 Census data, issues may remain and be carried over into our calculations.
13.3. Non-sampling error
In case of survey as data source, please provide information on the error in survey estimates which cannot be attributed to sampling fluctuations.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not available.
Not available.
Not available.
Not available.
Not available.
14.1. Timeliness
Results of Population in Albania are published on INSTAT website 152 days after the end of the reference period (T+ 152 days).
The reference period of these results is January 1, 2025.
Reference period
January 01, 2025
Date of publication
December 06, 2025
Timeliness
162
14.2. Punctuality
Usually the publication data of “Population in Albania” has been punctual based on the publication calendar.
Reference period
January 01, 2025
Date of announcement
June 2, 2025
Date of publication
June 12, 2025
Time lag
10
15.1. Comparability - geographical
INSTAT prepares in detail and release population estimation in national and regional level (prefectures). The estimation in national and regional is based in the same methodology and is intended to be consistent. The annual population estimates on 1st January are disaggregated by NUTS 3 – 12 prefectures:
Berat
Dibër
Durrës
Elbasan
Fier
Gjirokastër
Korcë
Kukës
Lezhë
Shkodër
Tiranë
Vlorë
15.2. Comparability - over time
Please provide information on the length of comparable time series (indicate the first reference year for which data are availble), reference periods at which series occur, the reasons for the breaks and treatments of them.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
2001-2025
1990-2024
1990-2024
2011-2024
2011-2024
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Comparisons between different data sources continue to be present. The users often compare the estimations of population conducted by INSTAT with the population of Albanian citizens from the administrative Civil Register. These comparisons have to be treated carefully because the difference between them is in the definitions used. Though INSTAT estimates the population referring to the definition of the usual resident, the civil register counts every Albanian citizen, living or not in the territory of Albania in a moment in time exp: 1st January.
15.4. Coherence - internal
It is used the same population that follows the international regulations for all population components definitions. Population of previous year plus natural change (live births minus deaths) plus net migration (immigrants minus emigrants) equals the population on 1 January of this year.
The sector of Population Statistics and Census is part of the Directorate of Population and Social Statistics. The staff involved in the procedure of data collections, data control, update and maintains of statistics works full time.
Head Office 1 employed;
Specialist 3 employed.
Data received from administrative sources are free of cost. The co-operation agreements between INSTAT, General Directorate of Civil Registry offer the opportunity of transmit the data with no cost.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Revision policy of Population estimation is done in accordance with general revision policy and errors treatment policy introduced by INSTAT in the links below.
The same revision policy is applied nationally and in transmissions to Eurostat.
The population estimation were revised for the period after the 2011 Census, 2011-2017. The revision was conducted as a result of the partly change of the followed methodology and the improvement of administrative data used (internal movements) where it was necessary the correction of the previous years for the estimation of prefectures population. On the other hand, the inclusion in calculation of migration data from LFS for years 2015 and 2016 highlighted the need of revision of immigration figures for the previous years. The use of cohort component method needs an accurately population estimation in order to profit quality results. The revision of the data series after the last Census in 2011 was necessary in order to profit quality results in the estimation of 1st January 2017 Resident Population. Following the publication of the 2023 Census results, in order to ensure and produce high-quality statistics, was planed to conduct an esercise of rebase of the population estimates using available information based on 2023 Census.
18.1. Source data
Please report on the data sources used for the first reference year and inform of any changes thereto, to produce:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Estimation
Administrative data
Administrative data
Survey data and Population projection
Survey data and Population projection
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The data is collected quarterly and annually.
18.3. Data collection
Administrative data (live births and deaths) are send to INSTAT on quaterly basis by General Directory of Civil Status.
The migration data is collected through the quarterly Labour Force Survey and Migration Survey in Albania. The survey is filled through individual face to face interview. Important administrative data for the population sector are available from General Directorate of Civil Status.
18.4. Data validation
The comparison between actual data or with previous year data helps for the data validation.
18.5. Data compilation
The Population of Albania estimated on 1st January 2025 is based on the combined estimation between 1st January 2024 and demographic events (births and deaths) from General Directorate of Civil Status and international migration from Labour Force Survey.
18.6. Adjustment
Adjustments are done for the number of emigration and immigration data collected through LFS survey for which the age structure was corrected considering the last population projection data.
Not available.
These metadata refer to the first results on the main demographic developments in the year of reference.
The first results on the main demographic developments in the reference year (T) contain the total usual resident population on 1 January of year T+1, total number of live births, total number of deaths, total number of immigrants, and total number of emigrants during the reference year (T).
30 June 2025
3.4.1 Please indicate the definition of:
Population
The mother's residence
The data deaths
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
X
X
X
3.4.2 Please describe the national definition of:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
The definition used is the 'usual resident population' and represents the number of inhabitants of a given area on 1st January
The birth of a child who breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of gestational age
The permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth has taken place (post-natal cessation of vital functions without capability of resuscitation)
Usual resident population definition
Usual resident population definition
3.4.3 Please provide details of the deviations of the national definition used from the usual residence definition.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Number of persons.
In case of survey as data source, please describe the target statistical population (one or more) which the data set refers to:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
X
X
Data are available at national level of geographical detail.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31st December). The reference period for vital events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
Please report on the reasons for any unreliability of the data on:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Net migration
Measuring migration.
Births taking place abroad, but not usual resident abroad.
Deaths taking place abroad but not usual resident abroad.
Based on LFS and last population projection data.
Based on LFS and last population projection data.
Based on LFS and last population projection data.
Counts of statistical units
The Population of Albania estimated on 1st January 2025 is based on the combined estimation between 1st January 2024 and demographic events (births and deaths) from General Directorate of Civil Status and international migration from Labour Force Survey.
Please report on the data sources used for the first reference year and inform of any changes thereto, to produce:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Estimation
Administrative data
Administrative data
Survey data and Population projection
Survey data and Population projection
The dissemination of the population of 1st January data is done in annual basis.
Results of Population in Albania are published on INSTAT website 152 days after the end of the reference period (T+ 152 days).
The reference period of these results is January 1, 2025.
Reference period
January 01, 2025
Date of publication
December 06, 2025
Timeliness
162
INSTAT prepares in detail and release population estimation in national and regional level (prefectures). The estimation in national and regional is based in the same methodology and is intended to be consistent. The annual population estimates on 1st January are disaggregated by NUTS 3 – 12 prefectures:
Berat
Dibër
Durrës
Elbasan
Fier
Gjirokastër
Korcë
Kukës
Lezhë
Shkodër
Tiranë
Vlorë
Please provide information on the length of comparable time series (indicate the first reference year for which data are availble), reference periods at which series occur, the reasons for the breaks and treatments of them.
