A World Bank survey showed a significant increase in corruption with construction permits in Albania.

The latest survey results showed that the construction sector remains the most critical area, with around 28% of businesses stating they were asked or expected to give gifts or informal payments to obtain a construction permit. This figure is four times higher than the regional average of just 7%.

The results show a strong increase in corruption compared to 2019, in the Bank’s previous survey. Six years ago, around 9% of businesses reported giving bribes for construction permits; today, this figure has tripled to reach 28%.

This increase shows that the construction sector has become a hotbed of corruption, with almost one in three businesses forced to offer informal payments to continue their activity.

According to the survey, the corruption situation is also problematic in business relations with the tax administration. The data show that 12% of Albanian businesses have faced bribe requests during these contacts, a figure that again significantly exceeds the average for Europe and Central Asia, which stands at 5%.

This high trend of bribery, especially in vital processes for economic development such as construction permits and tax obligations, signals serious barriers to the proper functioning of the market by 2025.

The Bank’s report also focused on the incidence of bribery, which measures the percentage of businesses that have experienced at least one direct request for a bribe.

According to 2025 data, Albania has an incidence level of 15%, a figure that proves that corruption remains a widespread phenomenon in the country’s business environment.

The prevalence of bribery in Albania is more than double the average for countries in Europe and Central Asia, where this incidence is only 6%. Even when compared to the group of upper-middle-income countries, where the average stands at 10%, Albania still remains at a disadvantage.

This shows that, despite reform efforts, businesses in Albania continue to face significantly higher levels of corruption than in other countries in the Region and in economies with similar development.