Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Albania instead of North Carolina, you would:

Health

live 3.4 years longer

In North Carolina, the average life expectancy is 76 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In Albania, that number is 79 years (77 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

make 69.5% less money

North Carolina has a GDP per capita of $59,308 as of 2024, while in Albania, the GDP per capita is $18,100 as of 2023.

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be 3.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In North Carolina, 3.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Albania, that number is 11.6% as of 2023.

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be 81.8% more likely to live below the poverty line

In North Carolina, 12.1% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Albania, however, that number is 22.0% as of 2020.

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Basic Needs

be 10.9% less likely to have internet access

In North Carolina, approximately 88.7% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Albania, about 79.0% do as of 2021.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Compare further: North Carolina vs. Albania

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Albania is 29.0% cheaper than North Carolina
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Size Comparison · See true size
North Carolina is about 4.4 times bigger than Albania.
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Albania: At a glance

Albania is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 27,398 sq km. Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939, and occupied by Germany in 1943. Communist partisans took over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR (until 1960), and then with China (to 1978). In the early 1990s, Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997; however, each of Albania's post-communist elections have been marred by claims of electoral fraud. The 2009 general elections resulted in a coalition government, the first such in the country's history. In 2013, general elections achieved a peaceful transition of power and a second successive coalition government. Albania joined NATO in April 2009 and is a potential candidate for EU accession. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, it has slowed, and the country is still one of the poorest in Europe. A large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure remain obstacles.
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How big is Albania compared to North Carolina? See an in-depth size comparison.

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