Citizens increase consumer debts/ Tirana holds the main weight, Elbasan leads the growth
According to data from the Bank of Albania, consumer credit for individuals increased significantly in the first quarter of 2026. In total, consumer loans reached about 111.2 billion lek, up from 92.7 billion lek in the same period last year, marking an annual increase of about 20%.
The main weight of consumer credit is held by Tirana. In the capital, this category reached 60.1 billion lek, from 51.1 billion lek a year earlier, with an increase of 17.6%. This shows that more than half of consumer credit in the country is concentrated in Tirana.
However, the strongest growth was not recorded in the capital, but in Elbasan. In this region, consumer credit reached 4.21 billion lek, from 3.15 billion lek in the first quarter of 2025, increasing by 33.6%. After Elbasan comes Lezha, where consumer loans increased by 27.4%, to 2.22 billion lek.
High increases were also recorded in Durrës, where consumer credit reached 9.12 billion lekë, with an expansion of 24.9%. Shkodra and Vlora also recorded strong growth rates, with 23.9% and 23.8%, respectively, while Korça recorded an increase of 22.6%.
In Fier, consumer credit increased by 19.5%, reaching 4.07 billion lek, while in the group of other regions it reached 20.46 billion lek, or 20% more than a year ago.
The data shows that consumer credit has expanded in all regions of the country, with higher rates outside of Tirana. This indicates an increase in individuals' demand for financing for consumption, while the capital continues to hold the largest share in total consumer loans.
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