Albania ranks first in Western Balkans for environment

Albania ranked 46th among 177 countries in the 2026 Environmental Performance Index, the highest position in the Western Balkans.

The country also recorded the region’s largest improvement over the past decade and ranked 21st worldwide on climate performance.

But the same index placed it 104th for ecosystem vitality and 91st for biodiversity and habitat protection.

Prime Minister Edi Rama used the overall ranking to push back against criticism of his government’s environmental record.

His comments followed protests over development projects in protected coastal areas.

Rama acknowledged that the government had made mistakes and said further changes were needed.