Children & Migration in Albania

Albania and its population have been significantly affected by migration since the early 1990s. A predominant trend has been that of Albanian citizens emigrating primarily towards wealthier countries in Europe, but also to North America and Australia. Albeit the main waves were recorded in the 1990s and in the 2000s, emigration from Albania continues nowadays, making Albania the country originating one of the highest migration flows in Europe. Emigration, however, is not the only form of movement affecting Albania. Immigration trends to the country are intensifying, albeit to a smaller extent than to other countries in Europe. Return migration – i.e. the return of both long- and short-term migrants – is another migration flow of high importance; whereas the most overlooked aspect of movements affecting Albania is internal migration, which has a significant impact on individuals concerned, their families, as well as institutions expected to assist them. Despite the limited data on migration in Albania, this phenomenon has an undoubted impact on its population, including children. Thus, Terre des hommes in Albania decided to conduct research in order to collect quantitative and qualitative data about contemporary migration trends in the country, about challenges and opportunities arising from them, and about current responses undertaken by national and local institutions. The research combined two main components: an analysis of the available literature on current migration trends, issues and responses; and interviews and focus groups with migrants, their families and other key informants at national and local level, in five municipalities of Albania considerably affected by migration over the past decades (Tirana, Shkodra, Lezha, Fier and Korca).