Kosovo

Republic of Kosovo

LOCATION

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.

Location: Southeastern Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia
Geographic coordinates: 42 35 N, 21 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 10,887 sq km
land: 10,887 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 714 km
border countries: Albania 112 km; North Macedonia 160 km; Montenegro 76 km; Serbia 366 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
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
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
Elevation: highest point: Gjeravica/Deravica 2,656 m
lowest point: Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim (located on the border with Albania) 297 m
mean elevation: 450 m
Natural resources: nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite
Land use: agricultural land: 52.8% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.)
forest: 41.7% (2018 est.)
other: 5.5% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: population clusters exist throughout the country, with the largest in the east in and around the capital of Pristina
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

Population: total: 1,977,093 (2024 est.)
male: 1,017,992
female: 959,101
Nationality: noun: Kosovan
adjective: Kosovan
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.)
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.)
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.
Religions: Muslim 95.6%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Orthodox 1.5%, other 0.1%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.7% (male 233,010/female 216,304)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 712,403/female 649,932)
65 years and over: 8.4% (2024 est.) (male 72,579/female 92,865)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 45.1 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 33 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 12.1 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 8.2 (2024 est.)
Median age: total: 32.3 years (2025 est.)
male: 31.7 years
female: 32.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.73% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 14.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population clusters exist throughout the country, with the largest in the east in and around the capital of Pristina
Major urban areas - population: 218,782 PRISTINA (capital) (2020)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 24.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 71 years
female: 75.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.89 (2025 est.)
Physician density: 0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 61.6% (2020 est.)

Environmental issues: air pollution from power plants and lignite mines; water scarcity and pollution; land degradation
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
Land use: agricultural land: 52.8% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.)
forest: 41.7% (2018 est.)
other: 5.5% (2018 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 7.444 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 2.439 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 319,000 tons (2024 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Kosovo
conventional short form: Kosovo
local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Albanian)/ Republika Kosovo (Serbian)
local short form: Kosove (Albanian)/ Kosovo (Serbian)
etymology: name may derive from the Serbian word kos, meaning "blackbird," or from a personal name
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Pristina (Prishtine, Prishtina)
geographic coordinates: 42 40 N, 21 10 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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
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
Legal system: civil law system
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
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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kosovo
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu (since 4 April 2021)
head of government: Acting Prime Minister Albin KURTI (since 15 April 2025)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Assembly
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
most recent election date: 3-4 April 2021
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 against2017: 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
expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch: legislature name: Assembly (Kuvendi i Kosoves/Skupstina Kosova)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 120 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 2/14/2021
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)
percentage of women in chamber: 34%
expected date of next election: 2025
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)
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
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)
Political parties: Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAKAshkali Party for Integration or PAICivic Initiative for Freedom, Justice, and SurvivalDemocratic League of Kosovo or LDKDemocratic Party of Kosovo or PDKNew Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDKNew Democratic Party or NDS Progressive Movement of Kosovar Roma or LPRKRomani InitiativeSelf-Determination Movement (Lëvizja Vetevendosje or Vetevendosie) or LVV or VVSerb List or SLSocial Democratic Union or SDUTurkish Democratic Party of Kosovo or KDTPUnique Gorani Party or JGPVakat Coalition or VAKAT
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ilir DUGOLLI (since 13 January 2022)
chancery: 3612 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 450-2130
FAX: [1] (202) 735-0609
email address and website: embassy.usa@rks-gov.netU.S. Embassies of the Republic of Kosovo (ambasadat.net)
consulate(s) general: New York
consulate(s): Des Moines (IA)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Anu PRATTIPATI (since January 2025)
embassy: Arberia/Dragodan, Rr. 4 KORRIKU Nr. 25, Pristina
mailing address: 9520 Pristina Place, Washington DC 20521-9520
telephone: [383] 38-59-59-3000
FAX: [383] 38-604-890
email address and website: PristinaACS@state.govhttps://xk.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: FIFA, IBRD, IDA, IFC, IMF, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF (observer)
Independence: 17 February 2008 (from Serbia)
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 February (2008)
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 itmeaning: each star represents one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo: Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma, and Bosniaks
National symbol(s): six five-pointed white stars
National color(s): blue, gold, white
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
National anthem(s): title: "Europe"
lyrics/music: no lyrics/Mendi MENGJIQI
history: adopted 2008; Kosovo chose not to include lyrics in its anthem to avoid offending the country's minority ethnic groups
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Medieval Monuments in Kosovo

Economic overview: small-but-growing European economy; non-EU member but unilateral euro user; very high unemployment, especially youth; vulnerable reliance on diaspora tourism services, curtailed by COVID-19 disruptions; unclear public loan portfolio health
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $25.019 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $23.962 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $23.025 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $16,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $14,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $13,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $11.149 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.9% (2024 est.)
industry: 26.2% (2024 est.)
services: 45.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 84.3% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 12.3% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 33.8% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 41.9% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -72.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, corn, berries, potatoes, peppers, fruit; dairy, livestock; fish
Industries: mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances, foodstuffs and beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 500,300 (2017 est.)
Population below poverty line: 17.6% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 49.4 (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.4% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 32.9% (2021 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 17.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 17.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 18% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.951 billion (2020 est.)
expenditures: $2.547 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2016: 19.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2023: -$785.09 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$983.283 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$818.351 million (2021 est.)
Exports: Exports 2023: $4.156 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $3.579 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $3.138 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: United States 16%, Albania 15%, North Macedonia 12%, Germany 8%, Italy 8% (2021)
Exports - commodities: mattress materials, iron alloys, metal piping, scrap iron, building plastics (2021)
Imports: Imports 2023: $7.362 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $6.661 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $6.128 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 13%, Turkey 13%, China 10%, Serbia 7%, Italy 6% (2021)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, iron rods, electricity, cigars, packaged medicines (2021)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.31 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.245 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.248 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023: $785.739 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 0.951 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 0.877 (2020 est.)

Electricity: installed generating capacity: 1.555 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 6.571 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 2.442 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 3.449 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 789.167 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 87.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: production: 6.924 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 6.931 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 20,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 1.564 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 16,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 52.085 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 383,763 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 593,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2022 est.)
Internet country code: .xk
Internet users: percent of population: 89% (2018 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: Z6
Airports: 2 (2025)
Heliports: 11 (2025)
Railways: total: 437 km (2020)

Military and security forces: Kosovo Security Force (KSF; Forca e Sigurisë së Kosovës or FSK): Land Force, National Guard (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 3,300 Kosovo Security Forces, including about 800 reserves (2024)
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 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)
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 tasksin 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)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 15,582 (2024 est.)