According to a new report published by FAO and UN Women, women own only 11% of agricultural land in the country.

The report, titled “Monitoring and Reporting of Gender Equality in Land Ownership in Albania,” analyzes the progress and challenges in meeting the indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which measure women’s access to land and the legal framework that ensures equality in ownership.

The report states that statistical data remains incomplete, as the most recent agricultural census from 2012 did not include sex-disaggregated data. While INSTAT has now committed to collecting such data in future surveys, there are still methodological challenges that need to be addressed.

“Although the legal framework has improved and aligns with best practices, inconsistencies remain due to poor institutional coordination, as well as customary practices and social norms that continue to limit women’s effective land rights.”
The report emphasizes that land is not only a vital productive asset for rural communities, but also a cornerstone of women’s economic empowerment, resilience, and ability to respond to crises. Without equal access to land, women face barriers to obtaining credit, agricultural inputs, and participating in decision-making, undermining their livelihoods and hindering national development.

Albania is clearly committed to gender equality, aligning its national legislation with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and integrating land rights into the EU accession process. However, technical gaps, outdated data systems, and deeply rooted discriminatory practices continue to hinder progress in this area.

“When rural women have equal rights to land, families and communities thrive, food security improves, and economies grow. For Albania, strengthening gender equality in land ownership is essential both for EU accession and for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Raimund Jehle, FAO Representative in Albania.

“Ensuring equal rights for women to own and control land is essential for advancing gender equality and the sustainable development of Albania. This report provides a roadmap for making that a reality,” said Michele Ribotta, UN Women Representative in Albania.

Arban Morina, from the State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination (SASPAC), stated that “the economic empowerment of women in rural areas is closely linked to strengthening their land ownership rights. This assessment supports the ongoing monitoring of gender-sensitive policies related to agricultural land.”

Elona Sevrani, Director of the National Accounts Directorate at INSTAT, emphasized that “reliable, up-to-date, and gender-disaggregated data are essential for measuring land ownership and ensuring women’s rights to agricultural land (5.a.1), as well as for assessing whether the legal framework guarantees equal rights to land ownership and control.”

The report’s recommendations include investing in the collection of gender-disaggregated data and improving official statistics, raising public and institutional awareness about the importance of women’s access to land, and ensuring clear enforcement of the legal framework that guarantees equal rights for both men and women.

This report was prepared as part of the GREAT project – Gender Equality, Rural Development, and Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and with the support of the Italian Government.

The report is released at a pivotal moment for Albania, as the nation advances its pursuit of European Union integration and the fulfillment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Ensuring rural women have equal access to land is seen as a key prerequisite for achieving inclusive and sustainable growth. /j.p/sm/