Albania, among the strongest startup growth in Europe/ StartupBlink ranks 75th in the world, with an annual expansion of 71.1%
StartupBlink has published a global index on innovation and the business environment for startups, where Albania has marked one of the strongest improvements in Europe. According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026, our country ranks 75th in the world, with an annual growth of 71.1%.
Albania has climbed eight places in the global rankings, registering the equal largest jump among European countries and the third largest in the world. With this performance, the country returns to the top 80 global startup ecosystems, while marking the fourth highest growth in Europe.
The Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, described this result as a confirmation of the reforms and investments undertaken in the innovation sector.
"Today Albania is a completely different story from that of a year ago. Ranking as the fourth fastest growing country in Europe is an international confirmation that our strategy is working: public investments, deep reforms and support for our entrepreneurs. The Albanian ecosystem of innovation and startups is becoming a real engine of the economy," said Ibrahimaj.
The improvement in the ranking comes after a series of measures taken over the last two years, such as the creation of the "Startup Albania" agency and the consolidation of innovation policies under the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation.
The report assesses that Albania has undertaken important reforms to improve the business climate, through simplifying procedures, reviewing regulations and increasing openness to foreign investment. The digitalization of registration and licensing processes has facilitated the launch of new businesses, creating a safer and more favorable environment for entrepreneurs, with Albania ranked 60th out of 125 countries analyzed in several specific indicators of the startup ecosystem. At the regional level, the country is positioned second, after Serbia.
However, the report highlights that access to capital and financial infrastructure remain among the main challenges. This category measures the availability of credit, access to investment and connection to the financial system. Despite this, indicators such as the corporate tax rate, trade openness and access to borrowing are assessed positively and contribute to the country's overall performance.
Tirana remains the only Albanian city included in StartupBlink's ranking. According to the report, expanding innovation centers and startups outside the capital is considered a top priority for the next phase of development of the Albanian ecosystem.
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