Demographic Transition and Economic Development in Albania

In consequence of rapidly declining mortality the Albanian population has increased rapidly during the postwar period. Since the birth rates are also declining at present, the growth rate of the population is slackening off. The substantial fertility differentials seem to indicate that the decline in fertility may continue and even be reinforced in the future. It that country which was until recently quite underdevelped, the decline in fertility is taking place simultaneously with rapid economic growth and social and cultural development embracing all categories of the population. This decline is occuring in spite of a more or less hostile attitude towards birth control. The Albanian experience thus seem to confirm very eloquently that real development leads to a rapid decline in fertility.