The number of foreigners with residence permits in Albania continued to rise in 2025, reaching 32,163 people at the end of the year, or 46.6% more than in 2024.

According to the latest INSTAT publication, men make up 65% of foreigners with residence permits, while women make up 35%. The most represented age group is 30–39 years old, with 24.5% of the total.

Europe remains the continent with the largest number of foreign citizens with residence permits in Albania, with 17,022 people, or 52.9% of the total. Compared to 2024, their number has increased by 18.5%.

A significant increase was also recorded among citizens from Asia, by 117.6%, reaching 9,891 people. Meanwhile, the number of foreigners from America, Africa and Oceania increased by 73.4%, to 5,250 people.

Employment is the main reason for residence in Albania, accounting for 55.1% of residence permits. It is followed by family reunification with 19.8%, other reasons with 14.1%, and humanitarian purposes with 7.9%, and study with 3.1%.

According to INSTAT, applications for residence permits also increased. In 2025, they increased by 43.5% compared to 2024, while citizens from India and the Philippines together accounted for 26.6% of applications.

In terms of origin, Kosova and Italy lead the list of foreign citizens with residence permits in Albania, with 19.5% and 12.6% of the total, respectively. Next are India with 9% and the Philippines with 7.5%.

In absolute figures, in 2025 there are 6,284 citizens from Kosova, 4,065 from Italy, 2,886 from India and 2,401 from the Philippines. The largest increase compared to 2024 was recorded by citizens from the Philippines, with 136.1%, and from India, with 87.6%.

INSTAT also announced that during 2025, 1,926 irregular foreigners were identified, up from 1,540 in 2024.

The data were published as part of the publication "Foreigners in Albania, 2025", based on information from the Border and Migration Department of the General Directorate of the State Police and processed by INSTAT.