Kosovo

**Kosovo** (/ˈkɒsəvoʊ, ˈkoʊ-/; Albanian: _Kosova_ or _Kosovë_, <small>pronounced</small> [kɔˈsɔva] or [kɔˈsɔvə]; Serbian Cyrillic: Косово, <small>pronounced</small> [kôsoʋo]), is a partially recognised country located in Southeastern Europe. Until 2008, Kosovo was a part of Serbia. On 17 February 2008, Kosovo declared independence and said it was now a separate country. Since then, 104 UN member countries have recognised Kosovo as an independent state.

## History

From the 4th century BC, the area that is now Kosovo was part of the Kingdom of Dardania. In the 10st century BC, it was annexed by the Roman Empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Kosovo's territory was ruled by several different countries over time, such as the Byzantine Empire and later the First Bulgarian Empire.

In the 13th century, Kosovo became part of Serbia. After the First and Second Battles of Kosovo in 1389 and 1448, Kosovo was taken over by the Ottoman Empire. After the Balkan Wars, which ended in 1913, Kosovo became a province of Yugoslavia.

### Modern history

When Yugoslavia broke apart, Kosovo remained within Serbia. However, tensions between the Albanian and Serbian communities led to the Kosovo War. In February 2008, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia.

## Geography

Kosovo covers an area of 10,887 km<sup>2</sup> (4,203 sq mi). It is a landlocked region in the center of the Balkans. Kosovo shares borders with Serbia to the north and east, North Macedonia to the southeast, Albania to the southwest, and Montenegro to the west.

Kosovo has many different types of land and scenery for its size. In the center, there are large plains and fields called Metohija and Kosovo. In the southwest and southeast, there are high mountains known as the Prokletije and Šar Mountains.

Most of Kosovo has a continental climate. Some areas are also influenced by the Mediterranean climate and Alpine climate. The weather is affected by the nearby Adriatic Sea in the west, the Aegean Sea in the south, and the European mainland to the north.

The coldest places are in the mountains in the west and southeast. The warmest places are in the far south, near the border with Albania.

### Government

Kosovo is a parliamentary republic. This means that the leader of the political party with the most seats in the Assembly becomes the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.

The President of Kosovo is the head of state. The president is chosen by the Assembly every five years. The president mostly has ceremonial duties and does not have executive powers.

### Subdivisions

Kosovo is divided into seven districts. Each district is centered around a major city.

The districts are:

- District of Peja
- District of Mitrovica
- District of Pristina
- District of Gjilan
- District of Gjakova
- District of Prizren
- District of Ferizaj

Each district is divided into smaller areas called municipalities (local government areas). There are 38 municipalities in total.

## Protection

The Kosovo Security Force is the national army of Kosovo. The president is the commander-in-chief of the army.

The Kosovo Police is the main police force in the country.

## Economy

Kosovo is a developing country. In 2018, about one out of every six people lived below the poverty line. Also, about one out of every three people who could work did not have a job.

Kosovo has a lot of natural resources. These include lead, zinc, silver, nickel, cobalt, copper, iron, and bauxite.

Kosovo does most of its trade with Albania, Italy, Switzerland, China, Germany, and Turkey.

The official currency of Kosovo is the Euro.

## Education

Education in the country is mostly public and paid for by the government. The Ministry of Education is in charge of the schools. There are two main parts of education: primary and secondary education, and higher education.

### Stages of Education

Primary and secondary education are divided into four main stages:
- Preschool education
- Primary and lower secondary education
- Upper secondary education
- Special education

Higher education is for students who finish secondary school and want to study more at universities or colleges.

## Demographics

The official results of the censuses in Kosovo about ethnic groups and nationality from after World War II to 1991 are below. The numbers of Albanians in the 1991 census were only guesses based on censuses in the past. Most Albanians did not do the 1991 census. Today, most people in Kosovo are Albanian.

|rowspan="2"|Ethnic group|colspan="2"|1948 census|colspan="2"|1953 census|colspan="2"|1961 census|colspan="2"|1971 census|colspan="2"|1981 census|colspan="2"|1991 census||||||||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Albanians|style="text-align:right;"|498,244|style="text-align:right;"|68.5|style="text-align:right;"|524,559|style="text-align:right;"|64.9|style="text-align:right;"|646,605|style="text-align:right;"|67.1|style="text-align:right;"|916,168|style="text-align:right;"|73.7|style="text-align:right;"|1,226,736|style="text-align:right;"|77.4|style="text-align:right;"|1,596,072|style="text-align:right;"|81.6|
|Serbs|style="text-align:right;"|171,911|style="text-align:right;"|23.6|style="text-align:right;"|189,869|style="text-align:right;"|23.5|style="text-align:right;"|227,016|style="text-align:right;"|23.5|style="text-align:right;"|228,264|style="text-align:right;"|18.4|style="text-align:right;"|209,498|style="text-align:right;"|13.2|style="text-align:right;"|194,190|style="text-align:right;"|9.9|
|Muslims|style="text-align:right;"|9,679|style="text-align:right;"|1.3|style="text-align:right;"|6,241|style="text-align:right;"|0.8|style="text-align:right;"|8,026|style="text-align:right;"|0.8|style="text-align:right;"|26,357|style="text-align:right;"|2.1|style="text-align:right;"|58,562|style="text-align:right;"|3.7|style="text-align:right;"|66,189|style="text-align:right;"|3.4|
|Montenegrins|style="text-align:right;"|28,050|style="text-align:right;"|3.9|style="text-align:right;"|31,343|style="text-align:right;"|3.9|style="text-align:right;"|37,588|style="text-align:right;"|3.9|style="text-align:right;"|31,555|style="text-align:right;"|2.5|style="text-align:right;"|27,028|style="text-align:right;"|1.7|style="text-align:right;"|20,365|style="text-align:right;"|1.1|
|Croats|style="text-align:right;"|5,290|style="text-align:right;"|0.7|style="text-align:right;"|6,201|style="text-align:right;"|0.8|style="text-align:right;"|7,251|style="text-align:right;"|0.8|style="text-align:right;"|8,264|style="text-align:right;"|0.7|style="text-align:right;"|8,718|style="text-align:right;"|0.6|style="text-align:right;"|8,062|style="text-align:right;"|0.4|
|Yugoslavs|style="text-align:right;"||style="text-align:right;"||style="text-align:right;"||style="text-align:right;"||style="text-align:right;"|5,206|style="text-align:right;"|0.5|style="text-align:right;"|920|style="text-align:right;"|0.1|style="text-align:right;"|2,676|style="text-align:right;"|0.2|style="text-align:right;"|3,457|style="text-align:right;"|0.2|
|Romani|style="text-align:right;"|11,230|style="text-align:right;"|1.5|style="text-align:right;"|11,904|style="text-align:right;"|1.5|style="text-align:right;"|3,202|style="text-align:right;"|0.3|style="text-align:right;"|14.593|style="text-align:right;"|1.2|style="text-align:right;"|34,126|style="text-align:right;"|2.2|style="text-align:right;"|45,760|style="text-align:right;"|2.3|
|Turks|style="text-align:right;"|1,315|style="text-align:right;"|0.2|style="text-align:right;"|34,583|style="text-align:right;"|4.3|style="text-align:right;"|25,764|style="text-align:right;"|2.7|style="text-align:right;"|12,244|style="text-align:right;"|1.0|style="text-align:right;"|12,513|style="text-align:right;"|0.8|style="text-align:right;"|10,445|style="text-align:right;"|0.5|
|Macedonians|style="text-align:right;"|526|style="text-align:right;"|0.1|style="text-align:right;"|972|style="text-align:right;"|0.1|style="text-align:right;"|1,142|style="text-align:right;"|0.1|style="text-align:right;"|1,048|style="text-align:right;"|0.1|style="text-align:right;"|1,056|style="text-align:right;"|0.1|style="text-align:right;"||style="text-align:right;"||
|Others or not said|style="text-align:right;"|1,577|style="text-align:right;"|0.2|style="text-align:right;"|2,469|style="text-align:right;"|0.3|style="text-align:right;"|2,188|style="text-align:right;"|0.2|style="text-align:right;"|4,280|style="text-align:right;"|0.3|style="text-align:right;"|3,454|style="text-align:right;"|0.2|style="text-align:right;"|11,656|style="text-align:right;"|0.6|

### Divisions

|No.|District|Capital|Area (km²)|Population|Municipalities|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|1|District of Peja|Peja|1,365|174,235|Peja, Burim, Klina|
|2|District of Mitrovica|Mitrovica|2,077|272,247|Leposaviq, Mitrovica, North Mitrovica, Skenderaj, Vushtrri, Zubin Potok, Zveçan|
|3|District of Prishtina|**Pristina**|2,470|477,312|Drenas, Graçanica, Fushë Kosovë, Lipjan, Artana, Kastriot, Podujevo, Prishtina|
|4|District of Gjilan|Gjilan|1,206|180,783|Gjilan, Kamenica, Kllokot, Partesh, Ranillug, Vitia|
|5|District of Gjakova|Gjakova|1,129|194,672|Deçan, Gjakova, Junik, Rahovec|
|6|District of Prizren|Prizren|1,397|331,670|Dragash, Malisheva, Mamusha, Prizren, Suhareka|
|7|District of Ferizaj|Ferizaj|1,030|185,806|Ferizaj, Hani i Elezit, Kaçanik, Shtime, Shtërpcë|

## Recognition

Kosovo is recognised by 107 out of 193 member countries of the United Nations. These 107 countries say that Kosovo is a real country and a sovereign state.

Serbia says it has sovereignty (power) over Kosovo and does not recognise Kosovo's independence.

Three other places also recognise Kosovo. These are Taiwan (which also has limited recognition), and the non-sovereign constituent countries Niue and the Cook Islands.

Out of 46 members of the Council of Europe, 34 recognise Kosovo. Also, 14 out of 22 members of the Arab League, 9 out of 15 of the Caribbean Community, 22 out of 27 members of the European Union, and 27 out of 31 members of NATO recognise Kosovo.

## Related pages

- Pristina
- European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo
- 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence

## References and sources

- History of Kosovo and Metohija
- The Rastko Project
- Coordination Center of SCG and the Republic of Serbia for Kosovo
- Eastern Orthodox Resource Centre
- Hugo Roth, _Kosovo Origins_ : an historian's comprehensive overview

## Bibliography

- Dušan T. Bataković, _The Kosovo Chronicles_, Plato Books, Belgrade 1992.
- R. Petrović, M. Blagojević, _The Migration of the Serbs and Montenegrins from Kosovo and Metohija_, SASA, Belgrade 1992,
- Dušan T. Bataković, _Kosovo. La spirale de la haine_, L'Age d'Homme,  Lausanne 1998.
- _Kosovo-Kosova. Confrontation or Coexistence_, Nijmegen: University of Nijmegen & Political Cultural Centre 042 1996.
- _Kosovo. Avoiding Another Balkan War_,Thanos Veremis & Evangelos Kofos, (eds.), Athens:Eliamep & University of Athens, 1998.
- _Kosovo. Contending Voices on Balkan Interventions_, William Joseph Buckley, ed.,William B. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan &  Cambridge U. K 2000
- Jean-Arnault Dérens,  _Kosovo. Année zéro_, préface de Marek Antoni Nowick,i Paris: Paris-Méditerranée, 2004.

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Republic of Kosovo
- **common name**: Kosovo
- **image flag**: Flag of Kosovo.svg
- **image coat**: Emblem of the Republic of Kosovo.svg
- **symbol**: Emblem of Kosovo
- **symbol type**: Emblem
- **image map**: Europe-Republic of Kosovo.svg
- **map caption**: Location in Europe
- **national anthem**: "Europe (anthem), Europe"

- **languages2 type**: Regional languages
- **ethnic groups year**: 2005
- **capital**: <sup>a</sup>
- **status**: List of states with limited recognition, Disputed
* International recognition of Kosovo, Recognised by 108 out of 193 member states of the United Nations
* Claimed by Serbia as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, UN Security Council resolution 1244)
- **largest city**: capital
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary Parliamentary republic, parliamentary constitutional republic
- **leader title1**: President of Kosovo, President
- **leader name1**: Vjosa Osmani
- **leader title2**: Prime Minister of Kosovo, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Albin Kurti
- **leader title3**: Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo, Chairman of the Assembly
- **leader name3**: Glauk Konjufca
- **legislature**: Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Assembly
- **area km2**: 10,887
- **area rank**: 171st
- **area sq mi**: 4,212
- **percent water**: 1.0
- **population estimate**: 1,585,259
- **population estimate rank**: 152nd
- **population estimate year**: 2024
- **population census year**: 2011
- **population density km2**: 159
- **population density sq mi**: 412
- **gdp ppp year**: 2020
- **gdp ppp**: $23.524 billion
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $13,017
- **gdp nominal year**: 2020
- **gdp nominal**: $8.402 billion
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $4,649
- **gini year**: 2017
- **gini change**: increase
- **gini**: 29.0
- **gini rank**: 121
- **hdi year**: 2016
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi**: 0.742
- **currency**: Euro (Euro sign, €)<sup>b</sup>
- **currency code**: EUR
- **time zone**: Central European Time, CET
- **utc offset**: +1
- **time zone dst**: Central European Summer Time, CEST
- **utc offset dst**: +2
- **drives on**: Right- and left-hand traffic, right
- **calling code**: Telephone numbers in Kosovo, +383
- **iso3166code**: XK
- **cctld**: .xk (proposed)
- **established event1**: Kosovo Vilayet and
 Independence from Ottoman Empire
- **established date1**: 1877
- **established event2**: Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo, Autonomous Province
- **established date2**: 31 January 1946
- **established event3**: Republic of Kosova
- **established date3**: 2 July 1990
- **established event4**: Kumanovo Agreement
- **established date4**: 9 June 1999
- **established event6**: United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, UN Administration
- **established date6**: 10 June 1999
- **established event7**: 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence, Declaration of independence
- **established date7**: 17 February 2008
- **established event8**: International Steering Group for Kosovo, End of Steering Group supervision
- **established date8**: 10 September 2012
- **established event9**: Brussels Agreement (2013), Brussels Agreement
- **established date9**: 19 April 2013
- **footnote a**: Pristina is the official capital. Prizren is the historic capital of Kosovo.
- **footnote b**: Adopted unilaterally; Kosovo is not a formal member of the eurozone.
- **footnote c**: XK is a "user assigned" ISO 3166 code not designated by the standard, but used by the European Commission, Switzerland, the Deutsche Bundesbank and other organisations. However, ISO 3166-2:RS, ISO 3166-2:RS-KM remains in use.
- **date format**: dd.mm.yyyy
- **religion year**: 2011