Korça County is facing a deepening demographic crisis, as declining birth rates and the departure of young people accelerate the aging and shrinking of its population. Figures for the first nine months of 2026 show a troubling picture: 1,456 deaths were recorded, while there were only 700 births. That is 756 more deaths than births. In the third quarter alone, deaths exceeded births by 220.
For sociologist Maria Dojçe, the figures reflect not only falling birth rates but also the continued departure of young people. She says the lack of industry, jobs and satisfactory wages is making it increasingly difficult to establish the conditions for a stable life in Korça.
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Emigration remains one of the main factors worsening the situation. Some young people who leave start families and settle in their host countries, gradually losing their ties to their birthplace. This trend risks further emptying the city and causing a shortage of workers in the years ahead. In response, the sociologist stresses the need for concrete social and economic policies that create jobs, security and prospects for young people. Only better living conditions and employment opportunities, she says, can curb departures and encourage young people to build their futures in their own country.
