IRI Survey Shows Albanians Strongly Support Europe...

Tirana, Albania-  A nationwide poll conducted by the International Republican Institute's (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research (CISR) shows that Albanians remain strongly pro-Western and committed to European integration. Ninety-six percent of respondents said they would vote to join the European Union (EU), and 68 percent identified the United States as Albania's most important political partner.

"Albanians clearly see their future alongside democratic partners in the West," said Stephen Nix, Senior Director for Europe and Eurasia at IRI. "They overwhelmingly favor integration with the EU and a strong relationship with the United States."

The survey also found that, in the period immediately before the current protests began, Albanians consistently identified economic issues as the country's most pressing challenges. Sixty-seven percent of respondents cited high prices and the cost of living as top concerns, while 35 percent cited unemployment.

Satisfaction with Albania's democratic development has declined over the past two years, with 40 percent of Albanians saying they are very or somewhat satisfied, down from 49 percent in 2024.

"Though issues of corruption or environmental protection have been highlighted in recent protests, underlying concerns such as the high cost of living and deteriorating democracy could be driving discontent," said Nix.

Methodology

The survey was conducted on behalf of IRI's Center for Insights in Survey Research by a local research firm. Data was collected using a computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) technique which administered face-to-face interviews throughout Albania at respondents' homes between April 9 and May 3, 2026. The sample consisted of 1,200 Albanians aged 18 and older and was weighted by age and educational attainment according to data from the 2023 Census. The margin of error for the mid-range of the full sample does not exceed 3.1 percentage points after adjusting for added variance from weighting. The response rate was 37 percent.

Note: Survey findings show public opinion during the collection period (April 9 - May 3, 2026) and do not necessarily reflect public sentiment expressed during or after the protests that began on May 23, 2026.