Communications: Internet country code
.xk
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
89.44% (2018 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
7 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
383,763 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
35 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
593,000 (2022 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
wheat, corn, berries, potatoes, peppers, fruit; dairy, livestock; fish
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$2.547 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$1.951 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$241.2 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$501.6 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$547.4 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$530.2 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$378.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$600.5 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$447.2 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$541.1 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$818.351 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$983.283 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$785.09 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$932.5 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$3.660 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$785.739 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
0.924367 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
0.752945 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
0.752728 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
0.901296 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
0.903421 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
0.885206 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
0.846773 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
0.893216 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
0.877475 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
0.845377 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
0.950916 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
0.924710 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
0.924367 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
mattress materials, iron alloys, metal piping, scrap iron, building plastics (2021)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$1.582 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$1.664 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$1.414 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$1.592 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$1.962 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$2.289 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$2.316 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$1.674 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$3.138 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$3.579 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$4.156 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$4.675 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
41.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
12.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
84.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-72.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
33.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
6.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
26.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
45.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$17,864 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$11.149 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$28.482 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
26.5 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
26.7 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
44.2 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
44.6 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
40.2 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
57.4 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
49.4 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
38.3 (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
32.9% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
0.4% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, iron rods, electricity, cigars, packaged medicines (2021)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$3.234 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$3.247 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$3.421 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$3.812 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$4.512 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$4.459 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$4.161 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$6.128 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$6.661 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$7.362 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$8.067 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
-0.54% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.27% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.49% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
1.05% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
2.68% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
0.20% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
3.35% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
11.58% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
4.94% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.62% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
500,300 (2017 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
17.60% (2015 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
19.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$14.866 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$15.585 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$16.277 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$16.801 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$19.429 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$18.855 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$22.080 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$23.025 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$23.962 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$25.019 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
5.92% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
5.57% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.83% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
3.41% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
4.76% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-5.34% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
10.75% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.28% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.07% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.57% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$8,200 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$8,715 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$9,157 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$9,381 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$10,861 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$10,533 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$12,362 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$13,951 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$15,804 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$1.058 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$1.099 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$971.4 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$1.436 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
18% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
17.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
17.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$1.937 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$770.6 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$637.8 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$819.6 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$881.2 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$965.8 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$1.095 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$1.244 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$1.248 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$1.245 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$1.31 billion (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
6.931 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
20,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
6.924 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
1.564 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
87.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
6.571 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
2.442 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
3.449 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
1.555 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
789.167 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
52.085 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
16,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
5.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
2.439 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
7.444 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns; Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation; maximum rainfall between October and December
Environment: Environmental issues
air pollution from power plants and lignite mines; water scarcity and pollution; land degradation
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
52.8% (2018 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
41.7% (2018 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
5.5% (2018 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
50.32% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
319,000 tons (2024 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than Delaware
Geography: Area: land
10,887 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Gjeravica/Deravica 2,656 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim (located on the border with Albania) 297 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
450 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
42 35 N, 21 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
the 41-km (25-mi) Nerodimka River divides into two branches, each of which flows into a different sea: the northern branch flows into the Sitnica River, which via the Ibar, Morava, and Danube Rivers ultimately flows into the Black Sea; the southern branch flows via the Lepenac and Vardar Rivers into the Aegean Sea
Geography: Irrigated land
NA
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Albania 112 km; North Macedonia 160 km; Montenegro 76 km; Serbia 366 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
714 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
52.8% (2018 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
41.7% (2018 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
5.5% (2018 est.)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
(Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Europe
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Population distribution
population clusters exist throughout the country, with the largest in the east in and around the capital of Pristina
Geography: Terrain
flat fluvial basin at an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m
Government: Administrative divisions
38 municipalities ( komunat , singular - komuna (Albanian); opstine , singular - opstina (Serbian)); Decan (Decani), Dragash (Dragas), Ferizaj (Urosevac), Fushe Kosove (Kosovo Polje), Gjakove (Dakovica), Gjilan (Gnjilane), Gllogovc (Glogovac), Gracanice (Gracanica), Hani i Elezit (Deneral Jankovic), Istog (Istok), Junik, Kacanik, Kamenice (Kamenica), Kline (Klina), Kllokot (Klokot), Leposaviq (Leposavic), Lipjan (Lipljan), Malisheve (Malisevo), Mamushe (Mamusa), Mitrovice e Jugut (Juzna Mitrovica) [South Mitrovica], Mitrovice e Veriut (Severna Mitrovica) [North Mitrovica], Novoberde (Novo Brdo), Obiliq (Obilic), Partesh (Partes), Peje (Pec), Podujeve (Podujevo), Prishtine (Pristina), Prizren, Rahovec (Orahovac), Ranillug (Ranilug), Shterpce (Strpce), Shtime (Stimlje), Skenderaj (Srbica), Suhareke (Suva Reka), Viti (Vitina), Vushtrri (Vucitrn), Zubin Potok, Zvecan
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Government: Capital: etymology
the town takes its name from the river; the origin of the river's name is unclear but could come from a pre-Slavic language
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
42 40 N, 21 10 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Kosovo
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the government, by the president of the republic, or by one fourth of Assembly deputies; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, including two-thirds majority vote of deputies representing non-majority communities, followed by a favorable Constitutional Court assessment
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1974, 1990; latest (post-independence) draft finalized 2 April 2008, signed 7 April 2008, ratified 9 April 2008, entered into force 15 June 2008
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Kosovo
Government: Country name: etymology
name may derive from the Serbian word kos , meaning "blackbird," or from a personal name
Government: Country name: local long form
Republika e Kosoves (Albanian)/ Republika Kosovo (Serbian)
Government: Country name: local short form
Kosove (Albanian)/ Kosovo (Serbian)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Anu PRATTIPATI (since January 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
PristinaACS@state.gov https://xk.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Arberia/Dragodan, Rr. 4 KORRIKU Nr. 25, Pristina
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[383] 38-604-890
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
9520 Pristina Place, Washington DC 20521-9520
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[383] 38-59-59-3000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
3612 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Ilir DUGOLLI (since 13 January 2022)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s)
Des Moines (IA)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
embassy.usa@rks-gov.net U.S. Embassies of the Republic of Kosovo (ambasadat.net)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 735-0609
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 450-2130
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet elected by the Assembly
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu (since 4 April 2021)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2021: Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu elected president in third ballot; Assembly vote - Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu (Guxo!) 71 votes; Albin KURTI (LVV) elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 67 for, 30 against 2017: Ramush HARADINAJ (AAK) elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 61 for, 1 abstention, 0 against (opposition boycott) 2016: Hashim THACI elected president in third ballot; Assembly vote - Hashim THACI (PDK) 71 votes
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president indirectly elected for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; if a candidate does not reach this threshold in the first two ballots, the candidate winning a simple majority vote in the third ballot is elected; prime minister indirectly elected by the Assembly
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Acting Prime Minister Albin KURTI (since 15 April 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
3-4 April 2021
Government: Flag
description: a dark blue field with a gold-colored silhouette of Kosovo in the center, with six five-pointed white stars in a slight arc over it meaning: each star represents one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo: Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma, and Bosniaks
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: International organization participation
FIFA, IBRD, IDA, IFC, IMF, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF (observer)
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges and organized into Appeals Panel of the Kosovo Property Agency and Special Chamber); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 7 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges nominated by the Kosovo Judicial Council, a 13-member independent body staffed by judges and lay members, and also responsible for overall administration of Kosovo's judicial system; judges appointed by the president of the Republic of Kosovo; judges appointed until mandatory retirement age; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the Kosovo Assembly and appointed by the president of the republic to serve single, 9-year terms
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Court of Appeals (organized into 4 departments: General, Serious Crime, Commercial Matters, and Administrative Matters); Basic Court (located in 7 municipalities, each with several branches)
Government: Legal system
civil law system
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
2025
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Assembly (Kuvendi i Kosoves/Skupstina Kosova)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
2/14/2021
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
120 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Self-Determination Movement (LVV) (58), Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) (19), Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) (15), Serb List (10), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) (8), other (10)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
34%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 2008; Kosovo chose not to include lyrics in its anthem to avoid offending the country's minority ethnic groups
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
no lyrics/Mendi MENGJIQI
Government: National coat of arms
uses the national colors of blue, gold, and white, and is featured on the country’s flag; the golden map symbolizes a rich and peaceful Kosovo, with a blue background that represents the country’s aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration; the six white stars stand for the major ethnic groups in Kosovo: Albanians, Serbs, Bosniaks, Turks, Roma (including Ashkali and Egyptians), and Gorani
Government: National color(s)
blue, gold, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Medieval Monuments in Kosovo
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 17 February (2008)
Government: National symbol(s)
six five-pointed white stars
Government: Political parties
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK Ashkali Party for Integration or PAI Civic Initiative for Freedom, Justice, and Survival Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK New Democratic Party or NDS Progressive Movement of Kosovar Roma or LPRK Romani Initiative Self-Determination Movement (Lëvizja Vetevendosje or Vetevendosie) or LVV or VV Serb List or SL Social Democratic Union or SDU Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo or KDTP Unique Gorani Party or JGP Vakat Coalition or VAKAT
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
The Ottoman Empire took control of Kosovo in 1389 after defeating Serbian forces. Large numbers of Turks and Albanians moved to the region, and by the end of the 19th century, Albanians had replaced Serbs as the majority ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired control of Kosovo during the First Balkan War of 1912, and after World War II, Kosovo became an autonomous province of Serbia in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). Increasing Albanian nationalism in the 1980s led to riots and calls for Kosovo's independence, but in 1989, Belgrade -- which has in turn served as the capital of Serbia and Yugoslavia -- revoked Kosovo's autonomous status. When the SFRY broke up in 1991, Kosovo Albanian leaders organized an independence referendum, and Belgrade's repressive response led to an insurgency. Kosovo remained part of Serbia, which joined with Montenegro to declare a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in 1992. In 1998, Belgrade launched a brutal counterinsurgency campaign, with some 800,000 ethnic Albanians expelled from their homes in Kosovo. After international mediation failed, a NATO military operation began in March 1999 and forced Belgrade to withdraw its forces from Kosovo. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) placed Kosovo under the temporary control of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Negotiations in 2006-07 ended without agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, though the UN issued a comprehensive report that endorsed independence. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared Kosovo independent. Serbia continues to reject Kosovo's independence, but the two countries began EU-facilitated discussions in 2013 to normalize relations, which resulted in several agreements. Additional agreements were reached in 2015 and 2023, but implementation remains incomplete. In 2022, Kosovo formally applied for membership in the EU, which is contingent on fulfillment of accession criteria, and the Council of Europe. Kosovo is also seeking UN and NATO memberships.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) was established in 2009 as a small (1,500 personnel), lightly armed disaster response force; the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) was charged with assisting in the development of the KSF and bringing it up to standards designated by NATO; the KSF was certified as fully operational by the North Atlantic Council in 2013, indicating the then 2,200-strong KSF was entirely capable of performing the tasks assigned under its mandate, which included non-military security functions that were not appropriate for the police, plus missions such as search and rescue, explosive ordnance disposal, control and clearance of hazardous materials, firefighting, and other humanitarian assistance tasks in 2019, Kosovo approved legislation that began a process to transition the KSF by 2028 into a professional military (the Kosovo Armed Forces) led by a General Staff and comprised of a Land Force, a National Guard, a Logistics Command, and a Doctrine and Training Command; it would have a strength of up to 5,000 with about 3,000 reserves; at the same time, the KSF’s mission was expanded to include traditional military functions, such as territorial defense and international peacekeeping; the KSF’s first international mission was the deployment of a small force to Kuwait in 2021 the NATO-led KFOR has operated in the country as a peace support force since 1999; in addition to assisting in the development of the KSF, KFOR is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment and ensuring freedom of movement for all citizens; as of 2025, it had approximately 4,700 troops from more than 30 countries (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Kosovo Security Force (KSF; Forca e Sigurisë së Kosovës or FSK): Land Force, National Guard (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 3,300 Kosovo Security Forces, including about 800 reserves (2024)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the KSF is equipped with small arms and light vehicles and has relied on limited amounts of donated equipment from several countries, particularly Türkiye and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.79% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.78% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.80% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.80% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.83% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.02% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.85% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.15% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.27% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.48% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
any citizen of Kosovo over the age of 18 is eligible to serve in the Kosovo Security Force; upper age for enlisting is 30 for officers, 25 for other ranks, although these may be waived for recruits with key skills considered essential for the KSF (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
22.7% (male 233,010/female 216,304)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
68.9% (male 712,403/female 649,932)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
8.4% (2024 est.) (male 72,579/female 92,865)
People and Society: Birth rate
14.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
61.6% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
12.1 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
8.2 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
45.1 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
33 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Albanians 92.9%, Bosniaks 1.6%, Serbs 1.5%, Turk 1.1%, Ashkali 0.9%, Egyptian 0.7%, Gorani 0.6%, Romani 0.5%, other/unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.89 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
21.5 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
24.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
21 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Albanian (official) 94.5%, Bosnian 1.7%, Serbian (official) 1.6%, Turkish 1.1%, other 0.9% (includes Romani), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
Libri i fakteve boterore, burimi i pazevendesueshem per informacione elementare (Albanian) Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
80.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
76.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
218,782 PRISTINA (capital) (2020)
People and Society: Median age: female
32.4 years
People and Society: Median age: male
31.7 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Kosovan
People and Society: Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Physician density
0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
People and Society: Population
1,594,353 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
population clusters exist throughout the country, with the largest in the east in and around the capital of Pristina
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.73% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
959,101
People and Society: Population: male
1,017,992
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.08 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.1 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.78 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.08 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.54 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
50.32% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
15,582 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
2 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Z6
Transportation: Heliports
11 (2025)
Transportation: Railways: total
437 km (2020)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.