Household Budget Survey

The statistics on consumption provide descriptions of the level and the structure of consumption expenditures of private households and other indicators based on them.

The Household Budget Survey is a statistical survey which is carried out at the household level and gives an overview of the socio-economic situation of the Albanian households. The results of this survey are also used to update the Consumer Price Index and Final Consumption calculation households as an important aggregate of GDP by the expenditure method.

The Household Budget Survey was conducted for the first time in 1999-2000 and was representative only for urban areas, continuing later on in 2006-2007, 2008-2009 and since 2014 is continuously. From 2006-2007 the survey is spread in the whole Albanian territory including urban and rural areas and also representative in prefecture level.

Methodology Change

Based on the recommendations for implementations of international standards, INSTAT in collaboration with Swedish experts, studied the effect of changing the method of data collection from 2 weeks in 1 week diary of purchases.
Due to the change of data collection method the 2018 Household Budget Survey data have been revised which affected the consumption indicators.

The revisions due to methodological changes are based on the recommendations for implementations of international standards and the approved Statistical Revision Policy of INSTAT (http://www.instat.gov.al/media/2940/revision_policy_2016.pdf).

The revision of the data of 2018 enables the comparability of the 2019 data and onwards.

 

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Household Budget Survey, 2023
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Household Budget Survey, 2024

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DateStatisticsPeriod
06-10-2025 Household Budget Survey2024
Contact us
St. Vllazën Huta, Building 35,
Entrance 1, Tirana, ZIP Code 1017
Tel:
+355 4 2222 411
Fax:
+355 4 2228300
info@instat.gov.al
media@instat.gov.al

The Household Budget Survey is a statistical survey which is carried out at the household level and gives an overview of the socio-economic situation of the Albanian households. The results of this survey are also used to update the Consumer Price Index and Final Consumption calculation households as an important aggregate of GDP by the expenditure method. The Household Budget Survey was conducted for the first time in 1999-2000 and was representative only for urban areas, continuing later on in 2006-2007, 2008-2009 and since 2014 is continuously. From 2006-2007 the survey is spread in the whole Albanian territory including urban and rural areas and also representative in prefecture level.

In 2023 the sample designed for Household Budget Survey was 10,452 households. Due to the Population and Housing Census, the field work was interrupted during the September-November period, where 2,608 households were not interviewed. Thus, the survey was conducted over a 9-month period with a sample of 7,844 households. At the end of the survey, there were around 5,525 households interviewed distributed uniformly in the whole Albanian territory. The households’ response rate, calculated as the ratio of the number of interviewed households with the number of selected households, expressed as a percentage is 70.4 percent.

The sample selection follows a two-step procedure. The first step units (PSUs) are the Census homogeneous areas, with a proportional probability to the size of the Census area. In the second step, within each selected area in the first step, is selected by the method of systematic selection with equal probability a fixed number of 12 households. The selection in both steps is done in a random way by providing a representation also at the prefecture level. The total

household’s sample was divided into 4 sub-samples of three months which were geographically spread homogeneously throughout the year, to reflect the seasonal changes. Consequently, each month were interviewed about 871 households spread evenly in all selected areas so to ensure representativeness for each area each month of the year.

Data collection was based in two different ways of collection:

  • Filling a dairy from the households, where are recorded expenditures for purchasing products/services of consumption and when it was necessary filling a daily self-consumption dairy for 7 days, where are recorded only the products produced and consumed by the household itself during the same period, which values are estimated with the price that would be paid in the nearest shop/market.
  • Direct interview from the interviewer with a questionnaire where are included different questions about big expenditures and with a rare frequency, grouped and sorted according to specific topics. In the same questionnaire are included questions about socio-demographic data of household composition that will help in the analysis of household budget survey by household type.
  • The reference period of data collection for the 2023 survey, where the data of diary are collected with a reference period of 1 week.

Definitions:

Consumption expenditures of households includes any kind of purchases made for goods and services made by households, It excludes purchases of durable goods, investments, money given to the others and imputed rent,

Main groups of consumption expenditure are defined by Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP), 2012.

Reference period is the duration of a certain subject that the information is collected on. The survey uses different reference periods depending on the type of information that must be taken and objectives of each matter to be analysed.

Household is referred to a group of people, a related person or not, who live together in the same apartment or in a part of the house and share a partial or common economy.

Head of household is a person who is defined as the head for the purposes of the survey, (person who is the owner of the house or the person identified by other members of the family). If family members do not determine by themselves the person, he will normally be the person who contributes more to the income of the household.

Child is considered every person under 18 years old.

Annex 1 - Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP)

The Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP)

GROUPS

The description of products and services classified as household consumption.

1 - FOOD AND NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

The food products classified here are those generally purchased and produced for home consumption.

Wheat, corn, rice, flour and its sub-products, bread and other bakery products, meat, fish, other seafood, oil, fresh and canned fruits, fresh and canned vegetables, milk, cheese, butter, cottage cheese, eggs, mineral and sparkling water, fruit juices, coffee, tea, honey, sweet products, and also all products of this category produced and consumed by the household etc.

2  - ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, TOBACCO

The alcoholic beverages classified here are those generally purchased for home consumption.

Wine, beer, raki, whisky, all kinds of liqueurs, ouzo and other spirits beverages. Tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, cigarette paper, and other tobacco products like cigar paper, filter etc.

3  - CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR

In this group are included:

Garments, footwear, new or used, materials for garments, and the repair of garments etc.

Garments for men, women, children (3 to 13 years old) and infants (0 to 2 years old), either ready-made or custom made, in all materials (including leather, fur, plastic and rubber), daily using, for sports or work: slicker, rain robes, t-shirts, coat, jackets, vests, pants, suits, dresses, skirts, etc. Shirts, blouses, sweaters, slim fit T-shirts, shorts, swimsuit, tracksuit, jogging suits, pantyhose, etc. Vest, lingerie, socks, tights, bra, skirts, lingerie with lace, night dresses, belts, corset, knitted socks, etc. Pyjamas, nightshirts, bathing suits, jackets for home, etc. Children's garments and knitted socks for children.

4  - HOUSING, WATER ELECTRICITY, GAS AND OTHER FUELS

This group includes:

Paid rent,  maintenance and repair of the dwelling: like painting and repair, carpenters’ services,  materials for repair, payment for electricity bill, water bill, gas, garbage removal, and all payments related to the household home etc.

5 - FURNISHING, HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF THE DWELLING

This group includes:

All kinds of home textiles such as fabric textiles, curtains, sheets, blankets, towels, etc. Small electric appliances for home, equipment for food, machinery for coffee, kettle and other similar equipment, repair of household appliances. Glass, crystal, ceramic and porcelain sets, spoon sets, knifes and fork sets, silver sets. Equipment and tools for the garden and house. Payment for the gardener, cooker, babysitter, etc.

6 - HEALTH

This group includes:

Medicaments such as medicines for heart and blood pressure (adalat, propanolol), Antibiotics (penicillin, streptomycin, ampicillin), Analgesics (with calming effect) (algin, analgine, aspirin, etc.), Sedatives (for calming the nervous system), Rheumatics (brufen, voltaren, indometacin etc.), Medicines based on hormones (insulin, danyl, tiroidine etc.), Vitamins (B1, B6, B12, C, E, A+D, PP, K, A etj.) and medicaments for asthma. Medicaments for stomach and entrails. General Doctors, specialized doctors or interns. Dentists (adjustments, oral hygien, etc.) Laboratory (blood, urine, etc.), Other diagnostic controls (X-ray). Thermal baths, correction therapeutically gymnastics, taking nurses and paramedic (physiotherapy treatments).Services in general hospitals or specialized services of medical and rehabilitation centres in the country and abroad.

7 - TRANSPORT

This group includes:

Spare parts and accessories for personal transport such as tires for cars, bicycles and motorcycles, and other accessories for personal transport (plugs, batteries, etc.). Fuel such as (gasoline, diesel, benzene, gas, etc.). Oils, lubricants, anti-freezer, etc. Maintenance and repair of vehicles used for personal transportation. Renting the garage and parking spaces, car rental (without driver). Taxes for (bridges, parking in the city). Lessons for driver's licenses, tests, obtaining driver licenses, separate tickets, monthly (pass) on trains, special tickets, monthly (pass) to tram and metro, special tickets, monthly (pass) for interurban transport. Daily tickets, monthly or seasonal for individual transport etc.

8 - COMMUNICATION

This group includes:

Postal services (letters, postcards, telegrams, stamps). Private postal services and package delivery.  Repair of communication equipment (telephone, fax, etc.). Fixed telephones bill public telephones (including prepaid cards, mobile phones and subscription bills). Internet services at home, internet café services costs, services grouped into packages, other information transmission services.

9 – RECREATION AND CULTURE

This group includes:

Equipment for reception, recording and reproduction of sounds and picture. Mobile audio and visual equipment, other equipment for reception, recording and reproduction of sounds and picture. Photographic and cinematographic equipment and optical instruments, information processing equipment, recording equipment for media. Equipment for sports and games and other items for Recreation, gardens and pets, games, toys and entertainment facilities. Equipment for sport, camping and outdoor recreation, repair and maintenance fees .Plants and garden flower, pets, veterinary services and products related to pets. Participation, follow and entertainment in sport. Hire of equipment and accessories for sport and recreation. Television and radio license fees, subscriptions, newspapers, books and stationery. Binding services and E-book downloads, various printed material, stationery and drawing materials, package holydays within the country and abroad.

10 - EDUCATION

This group covers educational services only.

Classification of educational services is based on categories according to the level the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Includes:

Pre-primary and primary education

Elementary and primary education, 8/9 years of school and secondary education, Post-secondary education, University, Education not definable by levels.

11 - RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS

 

This group includes:

Restaurants, bars and dancing halls, fast food and take away food services, canteens, accommodation services such as (Hotels, motels, inns and similar accommodation services. Holiday centre, camping sites, hostels for young people and services alike, accommodation services to other institutions etc.

12 – MISCELLANEOUS GOODS AND SERVICES

This group includes:

Personal care treatments in beauty salons and personal care institutions for men and children, household electrical appliances for personal care, repair of electrical appliances for personal care. Appliances, articles and other products for personal care such as shaving razors and machines for cutting hair, scissors, nail-file, styling combs, shaving brush, hair brush, toothbrush, nail brush, pins for hair, curling tongs, personal scales, scales for children, etc. Articles for personal hygiene and well-being, specific products and beauty products such as soap, medical soap, cleansing oil and milk, shaving soap, shaving cream and shaving foam, toothpaste, shampoo and bathing products, toilet paper, tissues, cotton , baby wipes, toilet paper, sanitary towels, shower sponges, etc. Wellness and esoteric products (natural remedy, herbs, healing stones etc.) beauty products: lipstick, nail varnish, make-up and make-up removal products (including powder compacts, brushes and powder puffs), hair lacquers and lotions, pre-shave and after-shave products, sunbathing products, hair removers, perfumes and toilet waters, personal deodorants, bath products, etc. Jewels, clocks, watches, and their repair etc. Social protection, insurance, specified financial services, other unspecified services etc.