Kosovo
Republic of KosovoRepublika e Kosoves (Albanian)/
parliamentary republicIndependence 17 February 2008 (from Serbia)
Kosovo as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 117 fields, one of 18 editions from 2008 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Southeastern Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia
17 fieldsLand useshare of 10,887 sq km
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
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
People and Society
21 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2011 est.)
Religions(2011 est.)
Nationality
- noun:
- Kosovan
- adjective:
- Kosovan
note: Kosovo, a neutral term, is sometimes also used as a noun or adjective as in Kosovo Albanian, Kosovo Serb, Kosovo minority, or Kosovo citizen
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.
note: these estimates may under-represent Serb, Romani, and other ethnic minority languages because they are based on the 2011 Kosovo national census, which excluded northern Kosovo (a largely Serb-inhabited region) and was partially boycotted by Serb and Romani communities in southern Kosovo
Population distribution
population clusters exist throughout the country, with the largest in the east in and around the capital of Pristina
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
Environment
5 fieldsLand use(2018 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
Carbon dioxide 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.)
Government
Parliamentary republic; President Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu (since 4 April 2021); Acting Prime Minister Albin KURTI (since 15 April 2025)
24 fieldsCountry 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
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
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
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:
- ; 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
- 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
- expected date of next election:
- 2026
note: Prime Minister Albin KURTI resigned on 15 April 2025; a replacement has not yet been selected
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
note: 20 seats reserved for ethnic minorities -- 10 for Serbs and 10 for other minorities
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: ;
- Basic Court (located in 7 municipalities, each with several branches)
note: in 2015, the Kosovo Assembly approved a constitutional amendment that established the Kosovo Relocated Specialist Judicial Institution, also referred to as the Kosovo Specialist Chambers or "Special Court";
the court, located at the Hague in the Netherlands, began operating in 2016 and has jurisdiction to try crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other crimes under Kosovo law that occurred in the 1998-2000 period
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
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:
- [email protected]; U.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:
- [email protected]; https://xk.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
FIFA, IBRD, IDA, IFC, IMF, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF (observer)
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
note: one of two national flags that uses a map as a design element; the flag of Cyprus is the other
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:
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
Economy
28 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2024 est.)
Budget(2020 est.)
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
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture:
- 6.9% (2024 est.)
- industry:
- 26.2% (2024 est.)
- services:
- 45.7% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industries
mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances, foodstuffs and beverages, textiles
Population below poverty line
17.6% (2015 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
49.4 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Remittances
17.5% of GDP (2023 est.) · 17.2% of GDP (2022 est.) · 18% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Current account balance
-$785.09 million (2023 est.) · -$983.283 million (2022 est.) · -$818.351 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports
$4.156 billion (2023 est.) · $3.579 billion (2022 est.) · $3.138 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
mattress materials, iron alloys, metal piping, scrap iron, building plastics (2021); top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$7.362 billion (2023 est.) · $6.661 billion (2022 est.) · $6.128 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, iron rods, electricity, cigars, packaged medicines (2021)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.31 billion (2024 est.) · $1.245 billion (2023 est.) · $1.248 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Debt - external
$785.739 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.924 (2024 est.) · 0.925 (2023 est.) · 0.951 (2022 est.) · 0.845 (2021 est.) · 0.877 (2020 est.) note: Kosovo, which is neither an EU member state nor a party to a formal EU monetary agreement, uses the euro as its de facto currency
Energy
5 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 1.555 million kW(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.)
Communications
4 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2018–22 est.)
Transportation
4 fieldsMilitary and Security
Kosovo Security Force (KSF; Forca e Sigurisë së Kosovës or FSK): Land Force, National Guard (2025) | note: the Kosovo Police are under the Ministry of Internal Affairs
6 fieldsPersonnel strengthsone square, 100 people · (2024)
Military and security forces
Kosovo Security Force (KSF; Forca e Sigurisë së Kosovës or FSK): Land Force, National Guard (2025) note: the Kosovo Police are under the Ministry of Internal Affairs
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 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)
Terrorism
1 fieldTerrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Kosovo.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/kosovo.