The decline in birth rate in Albania cannot be stopped, even though the government for three years has started applying the monetary incentive for every baby that comes to life and is registered in the civil registry.

INSTAT reported this Thursday that, in the second quarter of the year, the number of births decreased by 10.6 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. For the entire first 6 months, the number of births decreased by 2%. The decline in births on the one hand and the increase in deaths on the other due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is leading the country's natural increase towards zero and very quickly at these rates towards negative values.

In the first 6 months across the country, a total of 11,999 babies were born with a decrease of 2 percent compared to the first 6 months of 2020. While the decline was greater in the second quarter of 2021 where 5,993 babies are born from 6,006 in it the same period of 2020.

In the second quarter 2021 two counties of the country have marked an increase in the number of births, while in the other ten the number of births has decreased, compared to the same period of 2020.

In the second quarter of 2021, the largest number of births is registered in the region of Tirana, with 1,999 births, while the smallest in the region of Gjirokastra, with 92 births.

The largest increase in the percentage of births, during the second quarter of 2021, compared to the same period of 2020 is occupied by the region of Kukes, with 11.5%. The largest decrease in the percentage of births, during the second quarter of 2021, compared to the same period of 2020 is occupied by the region of Gjirokastra, with - 31.3%.

Birth data, according to basic demographic characteristics, are provided by the General Directorate of Civil Status, which sends to INSTAT only the number of births of residents in Albania. INSTAT clarifies that all births of residents in Albania during the reference period are considered, not taking into account the births of residents outside Albania (emigrants), although they can be registered at the civil status offices, near their former residences.

The natural increase of the population (the difference between births and deaths) in the second quarter of 2021, decreased, compared to the same period of 2020: from 1,320 to 216 in 2021.

The number of births for the second quarter of 2021 is 5,993, marking a decrease of 10.6%, compared to the second quarter of 2020. The number of deaths for the second quarter of 2021 is 5,777, marking an increase of 7.3%, compared with the second quarter 2020.

In the second quarter of 2021, five regions of the country marked positive natural increase of the population, while in the other seven regions, the natural increase of the population is negative. In the second quarter of 2021, the highest value of natural increase is recorded in the region of Tirana, where the number of births exceeds by 590 the number of deaths, while the lowest is recorded in the region of Korça, where deaths exceed by 205 the number of births.