Abstract
This study examines cross-country differences in sustainability attitudes within the Western Balkans, focusing on Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Using survey data from 100 respondents (25 per country), we assessed perceptions of environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainability, as well as perceived challenges, benefits, and practical implementation. The analysis employed the Kruskal–Wallis H test and Dunn’s post-hoc comparisons to identify statistically significant differences and estimate effect sizes. The findings are complemented using the results of the Chi-square test. Results indicate that while sustainability is highly valued in all four countries, notable variations emerge in environmental priorities, with North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina reporting the highest ecological awareness, Serbia showing balanced attention across all dimensions, and Albania demonstrating positive attitudes, but lower levels of practical implementation. Differences in economic and social aspects were not statistically significant, suggesting shared regional priorities in these domains. These findings provide a statistical basis for tailoring education and skills policies to support sustainable growth, strengthen social cohesion, and enhance regional cooperation in line with the goals of a just transition and the sustainable, digital transformation of the region.