Minister Ibrahimaj Highlights 3.61% Economic Growth and 50% Rise in Foreign Investment

Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj disclosed at a press conference that Albania’s economy expanded by 3.61% in the second quarter of 2026, and foreign direct investment inflows totaled €1.14 billion in the first half of the year.
Minister Ibrahimaj presented the most recent economic indicators, which indicate that Albania is experiencing continued economic growth, macroeconomic stability, and heightened interest from foreign investors.
Foreign direct investment inflows increased by 50.8% compared to the same period a year ago, while the stock of foreign direct investment increased by 15.3% to €18.42 billion, as indicated by the data.
The minister also emphasized the decrease in the public debt-to-GDP ratio, which decreased from 54% in the same period of 2025 to 49% in the second quarter of 2026.
The most significant development in GDP performance was observed in public administration, education, and health activities, which increased by 12.14% and contributed 1.38 percentage points to economic growth. Concurrently, real estate activities experienced a 7.20% increase, contributing 0.36 percentage points, while trade, transport, accommodation, and food service activities expanded by 5.53%, accounting for 0.98 percentage points.
Household consumption increased by 4.55%, government consumption by 4.15%, and investment by 1.76%, as measured by the expenditure components of GDP. Imports increased by 7.55%, while exports of commodities and services increased by 9.78%.
The unemployment rate for the second quarter was 8.3%, a 0.2 percentage point decrease from the same period in the previous year, according to labor market data. Employment rates reached 69.2%, while labor force participation was 76.3%.
The average monthly gross wages increased by 9.8% from the second quarter of 2025 to 92,150 ALL. Disposable income increased by 4% to 71,485 ALL, while remittances increased by 16.9% to €621 million in the first half of the year.
Additionally, there was an increase in business activity during the initial eight months of the year. The number of active businesses increased by 5.4% to 149,330, while 11,826 net new businesses were registered between January and August 2026, a 3.3% increase from the previous year. In comparison to the same period in 2025, the turnover of businesses increased by 285.5 billion ALL, or 10.9%.
Exports of merchandise amounted to 247.6 billion ALL during the first eight months of the year, a 6.3% increase from the previous year. Conversely, imports were 611.5 billion ALL, a 5.1% year-over-year increase. The trade deficit was 363.8 billion ALL, a 4.3% decrease from the first eight months of 2025.
The performance of these indicators, as per Minister Ibrahimaj, is indicative of the expansion of economic activity, improvements in fiscal indicators, and increased investment, which are conducive to the long-term continuation of economic growth.