Current pre-university enrollment total and year-on-year change.
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Education in Albania
DATA2025/26
9-year basic education · 399,258 pre-university students · INSTAT
Albania's education structure is unusually clear in the national statistics documentation. Basic education starts at age six, lasts nine years and is split into grades 1 to 5 for primary education and grades 6 to 9 for lower secondary education. INSTAT reports 399,258 students in pre-university education in 2025/2026, down 1.7% from the previous school year. Upper secondary education then includes general and vocational routes.
Basic education
9 years
Pre-university students
399,258*
Change year on year
-1.7%*
Graduates
82,640*
Albania Education System
| Stage / measure | Structure | Current interpretation | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | Before basic education | Part of pre-university education. | Not part of the nine-year basic cycle. |
| Primary | Grades 1 to 5 | First cycle of basic education. | Compulsory. |
| Lower secondary | Grades 6 to 9 | Second cycle of basic education. | Compulsory. |
| Upper secondary | General and vocational routes | Follows basic education. | Separate from the nine-year basic cycle. |
| Tertiary | Higher education institutions | Reported separately by INSTAT. | Post-secondary progression. |
* Reference period is shown with the figure.
Compulsory basic education
INSTAT defines basic education as a nine-year cycle beginning at age six. The first five grades are primary education and grades 6 to 9 form the upper cycle, or lower secondary education. Pupils are required to attend basic education up to age 16.
Current enrollment scale
The newest INSTAT release reports 399,258 students in pre-university education in the 2025/2026 academic year. That was 1.7% fewer than in the previous school year. The figure is a current national administrative total and is kept separate from tertiary education.
Graduation data
INSTAT recorded 82,640 graduates across formal education in 2024/2025. Of that total, 33.5% were in basic education, 31.4% in upper secondary education, 0.1% in post-secondary non-tertiary education and 35.0% in tertiary education. The graduation distribution should not be read as enrollment shares.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is compulsory basic education in Albania?
Nine years, covering grades 1 to 9.
At what age does basic education start?
INSTAT states that basic education is compulsory from age six.
How many pre-university students were enrolled in 2025/2026?
INSTAT reported 399,258 students.
How is basic education divided?
Primary education covers grades 1 to 5, followed by lower secondary education in grades 6 to 9.
What comes after basic education?
Upper secondary education includes general and vocational education.
Are the 2024/2025 graduate figures the same as enrollment?
No. Graduation counts and enrollment counts measure different populations and reference periods.
Sources and Methodology
Official definitions of basic education, grade structure and compulsory age.
Formal-education graduate total and level distribution.