The Living Standards Measurement Survey (LSMS) is a multi-purpose household survey conducted to measure living conditions and poverty situation, and to help policymakers in monitoring and developing social programs. LSMS has been carried out in Albania in the context of continuing monitoring of poverty and the creation of policy evaluation system in the framework of the National Strategy for Development and Integration (previously the National Strategy for Economic and Social Development). The first Albania LSMS was conducted in 2002, followed by 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008 surveys. In 2008, 3,600 households participated in the survey.