TIRANA, Sept. 25 /ATA/ – Albania recorded more than 9.4 million entries by foreign nationals in the first eight months of 2026, up 5.3% from the same period a year earlier, official data showed on Friday.

According to the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), 9,443,700 foreign entries were recorded from January through August, compared with 8,969,002 in the same period of 2025, an increase of about

475,000 entries.

Foreign arrivals in August rose 2% year-on-year to 2,429,532, from

2,381,864 a year earlier.

Total entries by Albanian and foreign nationals reached 3,459,588 in August, up 2.7% from the same month last year. Entries by Albanian citizens rose 4.4% to 1,030,056.

In the first eight months, entries by Albanian citizens rose 6.2% year-on-year to 6,008,853.

The pace of growth in foreign arrivals slowed in August after a stronger increase in July, when entries rose 7.1% year-on-year.

Foreign entries fell 1.5% in January and were broadly unchanged in February, before accelerating by 10.8% in March, 8.8% in April and 15.9% in May. Growth slowed to 1.3% in June before picking up again in July.

Despite the more moderate growth in August, foreign arrivals remained higher over the January-August period. Foreign departures in August rose 7.5% year-on-year to 2,516,707.

INSTAT said the figures are based on administrative data from Albania’s State Police and measure entries and departures through land, sea and air border crossing points.

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