Albania has a higher share of young adults with tertiary education than the European Union average, surpassing Italy, Germany and its Western Balkan neighbors. However, the country continues to lag behind Europe in wages, economic opportunities and career prospects. The contrast highlights a growing challenge: countries with lower graduate rates are attracting Albanian professionals seeking better opportunities abroad.

According to Albania’s 2023 census, published by INSTAT, 43.2% of people aged 25–34 had completed tertiary education. Eurostat put the EU average at 43.1% that year. The 0.1-percentage-point gap gives Albania a slight lead, although the country still struggles to translate educational attainment into stronger economic prospects.

Italy recorded a tertiary education rate of 30.6% among young adults in 2023, 12.6 percentage points below Albania. Germany stood at 37.9%, trailing Albania by 5.3 points. Despite their lower graduate rates, both countries attract skilled Albanian workers through better employment prospects and higher incomes. Germany has also become an important destination for Albanian healthcare workers, IT specialists and other qualified professionals.

Albania also outperformed its regional neighbors. Serbia recorded 34.7% in 2023, followed by North Macedonia at 32.3% and Bosnia and Herzegovina at 26.6%. Montenegro recorded 40% in 2020, the year cited in the comparison. Across Europe, Ireland led with 62.7%, followed by Cyprus at 61.7% and Luxembourg at 60.2%. Romania ranked lowest at 22.5%.

The departure of skilled workers has become a structural concern, particularly in healthcare and specialized professions. An analysis by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, previously reported by Monitor, estimated that around 23% of Albanians with tertiary education lived abroad in 2023–2024, while return migration remained much more limited. The EU aims for at least 45% of people aged 25–34 to hold tertiary qualifications by 2030. Albania stood just 1.8 percentage points below that target in 2023, but retaining its graduates remains a major challenge./Monitor/