Albania's consolidated budget was in surplus of Lek 15.8 billion (Dollar 166.9 million/Euro 159 million) in the first month of 2025, unchanged from the prior-year period, finance ministry data showed on Monday.

Consolidated budget revenue rose 11.6% year-on-year to Lek 60.8 billion in January, while expenditures increased by 15.1% to Lek 45 billion, the Finance Ministry said in a monthly statement, quoting preliminary figures.

Tax revenue increased by an annual 10.5% to Lek 40.2 billion in the month under review. Albania's 2025 budget projects a deficit of 2.6% of GDP, with budget revenue estimated at Lek 754.6 billion and expenditures at Lek 822.7 billion. Albania's consolidated budget was in deficit of Lek 18.3 billion at the end of 2024.

Public debt at the end of 2024 dropped to 54.73% of the Gross Domestic Product, from 55.8% which was the forecast.

The drop in public debt to 54.73% of GDP also marks the lowest level since 2008, when the debt was 54.8% of GDP.

Official data from the statistical bulletin of the Ministry of Finance show a decrease of 17.94 points since 2015 when public debt reached its highest level, 72.67% of GDP.

Albania had a public debt of 72% in 1999, two years after the country experienced the financial collapse caused by Ponzi schemes.

Since then, the debt has been in constant decline from year to year until 2008, the year in which the debt increased for the first time in ten years.