Every Albanian capable of work who leaves costs the country around Euro 14 thousand. A study on the emigration of young people in the Western Balkan countries conducted by the "Westminster Foundation for Democracy" shows that every departure is a lost cost for Albania's economy, both in terms of education and employment.

The study analyzes an average of 41,700 people per year who leave the country. When it comes to education costs, they reach up to Euro 500 million. The education of an Albanian, depending on the level of education, costs Euro 6,000 for primary school, Euro 9,300 for high school, Euro 18,000 for academic studies, and Euro 32,000 for doctoral studies. Euro 1 billion is recorded as a loss.

"If we assume that GDP is between Euro 18-19 billion, a simple calculation made from this figure in this study, about 5-6% of GDP is a loss. That Albania's economic growth would be much greater," said Arjan Gjonça, an immigration expert, for A2 CNN.

Albania's only benefit from the Albanians who left is remittances, which are not considered a positive indicator for the country.

Albania is currently facing one of the world's most severe brain drain crises, ranking among the top 10 nations globally for the emigration of highly skilled individuals. In 2026, the human capital flight remains a critical challenge, deeply impacting the country’s economy, healthcare, and educational landscape.