The Albanian Family Characteristics (Socio-Geographic) during the Transition Period (in the Southest Region of Albania)

Valbona Duri

doi:10.5901/ajis.2016.v5n3s1p487

Abstract

The evolution of the Albanian family, has had a direct impact not only on the reproductive potential of the population. For this reason its study is necessary. The situation of employment (possibilities or impossibilities for employment), income levels, economical structure and the development, education level, the level of urbanization, gender and age composition of the population the birth rate, family planning, mortality general and specific, emigration, the force of tradition, etc., are the main factors that have determined the socio-geographical characteristic features of Albanian society, during the transition political, economic and demographic period in Albania. -The substitution of the centrally planned socialist economy with the free market. -Economic crisis at the beginning of 1990. -The increase of the unemployment. -The reduction of income. -The family planning policy. -The flow of rural population to the cities. -The abandonment of the villages. -The emigration, -The aging demographic -The change of gender ratio (because of male emigration). -The traditional psychology, -The economic insecurity. These are the main factors that brought evident change in the Albanian family performance and characteristics, marriage, divorce rate and civil structure of the population too, in the south of Albania. This region is distinguished too for a clear profile emigration, because of the positioning of the neighboring country, Greece, and the presence of the Greek minority. The reduction of the total number of the families, marriages too, after 1990 in this area, has been analyzed under the influence of economical changes, which have been an important impact on the creation of new families; meanwhile, the index of divorce rate per 1000 inhabitants is increased, compared to 1989. At the end the Albanian families’ trend will depend on the performance of economic, social and demographic development in Albania. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2016.v5n3s1p487

Highlights

In Albania, during and after 1990, some political, economic and social changes occurred which greatly influenced the demographic developments
Albanian families came from a large unit of two or more pairs, and many family members, while it is replaced by smaller families with only two children per family
The impact of immigration in the country, mostly affecting the young generation followed by a low birth rate (from 31.1 ‰ to 7.0 ‰ 1960 (2011), was reinforced by a decline in marriage rates

Summary

Introduction

In Albania, during and after 1990, some political, economic and social changes occurred which greatly influenced the demographic developments. The impact of immigration in the country, mostly affecting the young generation followed by a low birth rate (from 31.1 ‰ to 7.0 ‰ 1960 (2011), was reinforced by a decline in marriage rates. Another factor to be mentioned was a high increase in divorce rates which contributed greatly to those factors. In comparison to other European countries, the fertility decline came late, but this process was conducted with the highest intensity This phenomenon is very striking, especially when it comes to a large family unit, reduced to only three family members (two parents plus a child). The reason is in the high birth rate of the rural population which is motivated or conditioned by the demand for labor as the result of non mechanized agriculture

District Urban area Rural area

Findings

Permet Tepelene