🇦🇱 Albania

Albania punches above its weight as a tourism destination — visitor numbers jumped 30% between 2019 and 2023, with the Albanian Riviera drawing comparisons to Croatia a decade ago but at a fraction of the price. This Balkan nation of 2.8 million has a $22 billion GDP and is an EU candidate country. It's one of the few majority-Muslim nations in Europe, though Albanians are famously secular. The country generates nearly 100% of its electricity from hydropower, making it one of the greenest grids in Europe. Tirana, the capital, has undergone a dramatic facelift — painted communist-era buildings in wild colors was just the start.

Tourism, remittances, and construction drive growth, which has averaged around 3.5% annually. Italy and Greece are the dominant trade partners, and remittances from the Albanian diaspora (estimated at 1.2 million in those two countries alone) account for about 5% of GDP. The country exports chrome, footwear, and textiles. A persistent challenge: the informal economy still represents an estimated 30-40% of total output.

Albania has over 170,000 concrete bunkers scattered across the country — dictator Enver Hoxha built them during the Cold War fearing invasion. Some have been converted into cafés, museums, and art installations. Albania also took in thousands of Afghan refugees in 2021 and hosts the Iranian opposition group MEK on its soil.

Albania's on an upward trajectory. EU accession talks, a tourism boom, and a young diaspora returning with capital all point to sustained growth — if corruption doesn't derail it.