Kosovo

Southeastern Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia

42 35 N, 21 00 E

Europe

10,887 sq km

10,887 sq km

0 sq km

Slightly larger than Delaware

714 km

Albania 112 km; North Macedonia 160 km; Montenegro 76 km; Serbia 366 km

0 km (landlocked)

None (landlocked)

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

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

Gjeravica/Deravica 2,656 m

Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim (located on the border with Albania) 297 m

450 m

Nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite

52.8% (2018 est.)

Arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.)

Permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)

Permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.)

41.7% (2018 est.)

5.5% (2018 est.)

NA

(Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Population clusters exist throughout the country, with the largest in the east in and around the capital of Pristina

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

1,977,093 (2024 est.)

1,017,992

959,101

Kosovan

Kosovan

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.)

Albanian (official) 94.5%, Bosnian 1.7%, Serbian (official) 1.6%, Turkish 1.1%, other 0.9% (includes Romani), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)

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.

Muslim 95.6%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Orthodox 1.5%, other 0.1%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)

22.7% (male 233,010/female 216,304)

68.9% (male 712,403/female 649,932)

8.4% (2024 est.) (male 72,579/female 92,865)

45.1 (2024 est.)

33 (2024 est.)

12.1 (2024 est.)

8.2 (2024 est.)

32.3 years (2025 est.)

31.7 years

32.4 years

0.73% (2025 est.)

14.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population clusters exist throughout the country, with the largest in the east in and around the capital of Pristina

218,782 PRISTINA (capital) (2020)

1.08 male(s)/female

1.08 male(s)/female

1.1 male(s)/female

0.78 male(s)/female

1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

21 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

24.2 deaths/1,000 live births

21.5 deaths/1,000 live births

73.1 years (2024 est.)

71 years

75.5 years

1.85 children born/woman (2025 est.)

0.89 (2025 est.)

0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

61.6% (2020 est.)

Air pollution from power plants and lignite mines; water scarcity and pollution; land degradation

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

52.8% (2018 est.)

Arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.)

Permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)

Permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.)

41.7% (2018 est.)

5.5% (2018 est.)

7.444 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

5.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

2.439 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

319,000 tons (2024 est.)

Republic of Kosovo

Kosovo

Republika e Kosoves (Albanian)/ Republika Kosovo (Serbian)

Kosove (Albanian)/ Kosovo (Serbian)

Name may derive from the Serbian word kos, meaning "blackbird," or from a personal name

Parliamentary republic

Pristina (Prishtine, Prishtina)

42 40 N, 21 10 E

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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

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

Civil law system

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

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

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

No

At least one parent must be a citizen of Kosovo

Yes

5 years

18 years of age; universal

President Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu (since 4 April 2021)

Acting Prime Minister Albin KURTI (since 15 April 2025)

Cabinet elected by the Assembly

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

3-4 April 2021

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

2026

Assembly (Kuvendi i Kosoves/Skupstina Kosova)

Unicameral

120 (all directly elected)

Proportional representation

Full renewal

4 years

2/14/2021

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)

34%

2025

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)

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

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)

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

Ambassador Ilir DUGOLLI (since 13 January 2022)

3612 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

[1] (202) 450-2130

[1] (202) 735-0609

Embassy.usa@rks-gov.net U.S. Embassies of the Republic of Kosovo (ambasadat.net)

New York

Des Moines (IA)

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Anu PRATTIPATI (since January 2025)

Arberia/Dragodan, Rr. 4 KORRIKU Nr. 25, Pristina

9520 Pristina Place, Washington DC 20521-9520

[383] 38-59-59-3000

[383] 38-604-890

PristinaACS@state.gov https://xk.usembassy.gov/

FIFA, IBRD, IDA, IFC, IMF, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF (observer)

17 February 2008 (from Serbia)

Independence Day, 17 February (2008)

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

Six five-pointed white stars

Blue, gold, white

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

"Europe"

No lyrics/Mendi MENGJIQI

Adopted 2008; Kosovo chose not to include lyrics in its anthem to avoid offending the country's minority ethnic groups

1 (cultural)

Medieval Monuments in Kosovo

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

$25.019 billion (2024 est.)

$23.962 billion (2023 est.)

$23.025 billion (2022 est.)

4.4% (2024 est.)

4.1% (2023 est.)

4.3% (2022 est.)

$16,400 (2024 est.)

$14,200 (2023 est.)

$13,000 (2022 est.)

$11.149 billion (2024 est.)

1.6% (2024 est.)

4.9% (2023 est.)

11.6% (2022 est.)

6.9% (2024 est.)

26.2% (2024 est.)

45.7% (2024 est.)

84.3% (2024 est.)

12.3% (2024 est.)

33.8% (2024 est.)

0% (2024 est.)

41.9% (2024 est.)

-72.3% (2024 est.)

Wheat, corn, berries, potatoes, peppers, fruit; dairy, livestock; fish

Mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances, foodstuffs and beverages, textiles

4% (2024 est.)

500,300 (2017 est.)

17.6% (2015 est.)

49.4 (2021 est.)

0.4% (2021 est.)

32.9% (2021 est.)

17.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

17.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

18% of GDP (2021 est.)

$1.951 billion (2020 est.)

$2.547 billion (2020 est.)

19.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

-$785.09 million (2023 est.)

-$983.283 million (2022 est.)

-$818.351 million (2021 est.)

$4.156 billion (2023 est.)

$3.579 billion (2022 est.)

$3.138 billion (2021 est.)

United States 16%, Albania 15%, North Macedonia 12%, Germany 8%, Italy 8% (2021)

Mattress materials, iron alloys, metal piping, scrap iron, building plastics (2021)

$7.362 billion (2023 est.)

$6.661 billion (2022 est.)

$6.128 billion (2021 est.)

Germany 13%, Turkey 13%, China 10%, Serbia 7%, Italy 6% (2021)

Refined petroleum, cars, iron rods, electricity, cigars, packaged medicines (2021)

$1.31 billion (2024 est.)

$1.245 billion (2023 est.)

$1.248 billion (2022 est.)

$785.739 million (2023 est.)

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.)

1.555 million kW (2023 est.)

6.571 billion kWh (2023 est.)

2.442 billion kWh (2023 est.)

3.449 billion kWh (2023 est.)

789.167 million kWh (2023 est.)

87.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

6.924 million metric tons (2023 est.)

6.931 million metric tons (2023 est.)

13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

20,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

1.564 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

16,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

52.085 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

383,763 (2022 est.)

7 (2022 est.)

593,000 (2022 est.)

35 (2022 est.)

.xk

89% (2018 est.)

Z6

2 (2025)

11 (2025)

437 km (2020)

Kosovo Security Force (KSF; Forca e Sigurisë së Kosovës or FSK): Land Force, National Guard (2025)

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Approximately 3,300 Kosovo Security Forces, including about 800 reserves (2024)

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)

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)

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)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

15,582 (2024 est.)