According to the OECD report “Economic Convergence Report for the Western Balkans 2026,” Albania has the lowest density of roads and railways in the region. It is also the only Western Balkan economy where road network density has declined over the past decade. The railway network has experienced the sharpest contraction in the region, falling by more than 28% compared with the 2014–2016 period.
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With just 13 kilometres of roads per 100 square kilometres of territory, Albania ranks last among the six Western Balkan economies. Montenegro has the highest density, with 74 kilometres per 100 square kilometres. While the indicator has generally remained stable in the other countries of the region, Albania recorded a decline during the period examined by the OECD.
Albania also records the lowest level for railways: 0.9 kilometres of track per 100 square kilometres. Serbia leads the region with 4 kilometres per 100 square kilometres. The report notes that the density of Albania’s railway network has decreased by more than 28% compared with 2014–2016, the sharpest decline in the Western Balkans.
Railway problems are also reflected in freight transport. The OECD ranks Albania and Kosovo among the economies where this activity is almost negligible. As a result, the overwhelming majority of freight transport relies on roads, while the use of railways as a logistical and commercial alternative remains limited, unlike the more significant role they play in EU countries.
Infrastructure and Connectivity is the cluster in which Albania ranks last in the Western Balkans. The OECD notes that, although the region has made progress in several infrastructure areas, the gap with neighbouring EU countries remains wide, and Albania has the weakest performance among the economies in the region.
The OECD views transport as one of the main obstacles to closer integration with the EU. In the “Infrastructure and Connectivity” cluster, Albania scored 33 points, compared with the EU average of 100, ranking sixth out of the six Western Balkan economies. Road density reaches only 7.6% of the EU level, while railway density stands at 16.1%.
However, the indicators are not weak in every area. 4G coverage in Albania is practically at the EU level, while electricity costs have improved significantly. These achievements have not been sufficient to offset shortcomings in physical transport. The OECD describes transport in the country as underdeveloped, with negligible freight activity by rail and the lowest broadband speed in the region.
