2012 Edition

Background

The central Balkans were part of the Roman and Byzantine Empires before ethnic Serbs migrated to the territories of modern Kosovo in the 7th century. During the medieval period, Kosovo became the center of a Serbian Empire and saw the construction of many important Serb religious sites, including many architecturally significant Serbian Orthodox monasteries. The defeat of Serbian forces at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 led to five centuries of Ottoman rule during which large numbers of Turks and Albanians moved to Kosovo. By the end of the 19th century, Albanians replaced the Serbs as the dominant ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired control over Kosovo from the Ottoman Empire during the First Balkan War of 1912. After World War II, Kosovo became an autonomous province of Serbia in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (S.F.R.Y.) with status almost equivalent to that of a republic under the 1974 S.F.R.Y. constitution. Despite legislative concessions, Albanian nationalism increased in the 1980s, which led to riots and calls for Kosovo's independence. At the same time, Serb nationalist leaders, such as Slobodan MILOSEVIC, exploited Kosovo Serb claims of maltreatment to secure votes from supporters, many of whom viewed Kosovo as their cultural heartland. Under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia instituted a new constitution in 1989 that revoked Kosovo's status as an autonomous province of Serbia. Kosovo Albanian leaders responded in 1991 by organizing a referendum that declared Kosovo independent. Under MILOSEVIC, Serbia carried out repressive measures against the Albanians in the early 1990s as the unofficial Kosovo government, led by Ibrahim RUGOVA, used passive resistance in an attempt to try to gain international assistance and recognition of an independent Kosovo. Albanians dissatisfied with RUGOVA's passive strategy in the 1990s created the Kosovo Liberation Army and launched an insurgency. Starting in 1998, Serbian military, police, and paramilitary forces under MILOSEVIC conducted a brutal counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians. Approximately 800,000 Albanians were forced from their homes in Kosovo during this time. International attempts to mediate the conflict failed, and MILOSEVIC's rejection of a proposed settlement led to a three-month NATO military operation against Serbia beginning in March 1999 that forced Serbia to agree to withdraw its military and police forces from Kosovo. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) placed Kosovo under a transitional administration, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), pending a determination of Kosovo's future status. A UN-led process began in late 2005 to determine Kosovo's final status. The negotiations ran in stages between 2006 and 2007, but ended without agreement between Belgrade and Pristina. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared Kosovo independent. Since then, over 85 countries have recognized Kosovo, and it has joined the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Serbia continues to reject Kosovo's independence and in October 2008, it sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality under international law of Kosovo's declaration of independence. The ICJ released the advisory opinion in July 2010 affirming that Kosovo's declaration of independence did not violate general principles of international law, UN Security Council Resolution 1244, or the Constitutive Framework. The opinion was closely tailored to Kosovo's unique history and circumstances.

Area

10,887 sq km 10,887 sq km 0 sq km

total

10,887 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Delaware

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim 297 m (located on the border with Albania) Gjeravica/Deravica 2,656 m

highest point

Gjeravica/Deravica 2,656 m

lowest point

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

Geographic coordinates

42 35 N, 21 00 E

Land boundaries

702 km Albania 112 km, Macedonia 159 km, Montenegro 79 km, Serbia 352 km

border countries

Albania 112 km, Macedonia 159 km, Montenegro 79 km, Serbia 352 km

total

702 km

Location

Southeast Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural resources

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

Terrain

flat fluvial basin with an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m

Age structure

26.9% (male 256,700/ female 236,975) 66.3% (male 636,804/ female 581,729) 6.8% (male 52,357/ female 71,964) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

26.9% (male 256,700/ female 236,975)

15-64 years

66.3% (male 636,804/ female 581,729)

65 years and over

6.8% (male 52,357/ female 71,964) (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

Albanians 92%, other (Serb, Bosniak, Gorani, Roma, Turk, Ashkali, Egyptian) 8% (2008)

Languages

Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Bosnian, Turkish, Roma

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 91.9% 96.6% 87.5% (2007 Census)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

87.5% (2007 Census)

male

96.6%

total population

91.9%

Median age

27.1 years 26.7 years 27.5 years (2012 est.)

female

27.5 years (2012 est.)

male

26.7 years

total

27.1 years

Nationality

Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovac (Serbian) Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovski (Serbian) Kosovan, a neutral term, is sometimes also used as a noun or adjective

adjective

Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovski (Serbian)

noun

Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovac (Serbian)

Population

1,836,529 (July 2012 est.)

Religions

Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic

Sex ratio

1.08 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female 1.1 male(s)/female 0.73 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.73 male(s)/female

at birth

1.08 male(s)/female

total population

1.06 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.08 male(s)/female

Administrative divisions

37 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/Dardana (Kamenica), Kline (Klina), Kllokot (Klokot), Leposaviq (Leposavic), Lipjan (Lipljan), Malisheve (Malisevo), Mamushe (Mamusa), Mitrovice (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

Capital

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

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

42 40 N, 21 10 E

name

Pristina (Prishtine, Prishtina)

time difference

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

Constitution

adopted by the Kosovo Assembly 9 April 2008; effective 15 June 2008

Country name

Republic of Kosovo Kosovo Republika e Kosoves (Republika Kosovo) Kosova (Kosovo)

conventional long form

Republic of Kosovo

conventional short form

Kosovo

local long form

Republika e Kosoves (Republika Kosovo)

local short form

Kosova (Kosovo)

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Tracey Ann JACOBSON Arberia/Dragodan, Nazim Hikmet 30, Pristina, Kosovo use embassy street address [381] 38 59 59 3000 [381] 38 549 890

chief of mission

Ambassador Tracey Ann JACOBSON

embassy

Arberia/Dragodan, Nazim Hikmet 30, Pristina, Kosovo

FAX

[381] 38 549 890

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[381] 38 59 59 3000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Akan ISMAILI 1101 30th Street NW, Suites 330/340, Washington, DC 20007 202-380-3581 202-380-3628 New York

chancery

1101 30th Street NW, Suites 330/340, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Akan ISMAILI

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

202-380-3628

telephone

202-380-3581

Executive branch

President Atifete JAHJAGA (since 7 April 2011); Prime Minister Hashim THACI (since 9 January 2008) ministers; elected by the Kosovo Assembly the president is elected for a five-year term by the Kosovo Assembly; election last held on 7 April 2011; note - the prime minister elected by the Kosovo Assembly Atifete JAHJAGA elected in one round (JAHJAGA 80, Suzana NOVOBERDALIU 10); Hashim THACI reelected prime minister by the Assembly

cabinet

ministers; elected by the Kosovo Assembly

chief of state

President Atifete JAHJAGA (since 7 April 2011);

election results

Atifete JAHJAGA elected in one round (JAHJAGA 80, Suzana NOVOBERDALIU 10); Hashim THACI reelected prime minister by the Assembly

elections

the president is elected for a five-year term by the Kosovo Assembly; election last held on 7 April 2011; note - the prime minister elected by the Kosovo Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Hashim THACI (since 9 January 2008)

Flag description

centered on a dark blue field is the geographical shape of Kosovo in a gold color surmounted by six white, five-pointed stars arrayed in a slight arc; each star represents one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo: Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma, and Bosniaks

centered on a dark blue field is the geographical shape of Kosovo in a gold color surmounted by six white, five-pointed stars arrayed in a slight arc; each star represents one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo

Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma, and Bosniaks

Government type

republic

Independence

17 February 2008 (from Serbia)

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

IBRD, IDA, IFC, IMF, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Appellate Court; basic courts; Constitutional Court the Law on Courts, which went into effect on 1 January 2011, provided for a reorganization of the court system; the Kosovo Constitution dictates that the Supreme Court of Kosovo is the highest judicial authority, and provides for a Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) that proposes to the president candidates for appointment or reappointment as judges and prosecutors; the KJC is also responsible for decisions on the promotion and transfer of judges and disciplinary proceedings against judges; at least 15 percent of Supreme Court and district court judges shall be from non-majority communities

Legal system

evolving legal system; mixture of applicable Kosovo law, UNMIK laws and regulations, and applicable laws of the Former Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia that were in effect in Kosovo as of 22 March 1989

Legislative branch

unicameral national Assembly (120 seats; 100 seats directly elected, 10 seats guaranteed for ethnic Serbs, 10 seats guaranteed for other ethnic minorities; members to serve four-year terms) last held on 12 December 2010 with runoff elections in a few municipalities in January 2011 (next expected to be held in 2015) percent of vote by party - PDK 30.1%, LDK 23.9%, VV 12.4%, AAK 10.6%, KKR 7.1%, SLS 7.1%, JSL 3.5%, KDTP 2.7%, VAKAT 1.8%, and BSDAK 0.9%; seats by party - PDK 34, LDK 27, VV 12, AAK 11, KKR 8, SLS 8, JSL 4, KDTP 3, VAKAT 2, LB 2, BSDAK 1, NDS 1, PAI 1, SDSKIM 1, PREBK 1, IRDK 1, AKR 1, PDAK 1, GIG 1

election results

percent of vote by party - PDK 30.1%, LDK 23.9%, VV 12.4%, AAK 10.6%, KKR 7.1%, SLS 7.1%, JSL 3.5%, KDTP 2.7%, VAKAT 1.8%, and BSDAK 0.9%; seats by party - PDK 34, LDK 27, VV 12, AAK 11, KKR 8, SLS 8, JSL 4, KDTP 3, VAKAT 2, LB 2, BSDAK 1, NDS 1, PAI 1, SDSKIM 1, PREBK 1, IRDK 1, AKR 1, PDAK 1, GIG 1

elections

last held on 12 December 2010 with runoff elections in a few municipalities in January 2011 (next expected to be held in 2015)

National anthem

"Europe" none/Mendi MENGJIQI adopted 2008; Kosovo chose to not include lyrics in its anthem so as not to offend minority ethnic groups in the country

lyrics/music

none/Mendi MENGJIQI

name

"Europe"

National holiday

Independence Day, 17 February (2008)

Political parties and leaders

Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo or PShDK [Uke BERISHA]; Alliance for a New Kosovo or AKR [Behgjet PACOLLI]; Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ]; Alliance of Independent Social Democrats of Kosovo and Metohija or SDSKIM [Ljubisa ZIVIC]; Ashkali Party for Integration or PAI; Bosniak Party of Democratic Action of Kosovo or BSDAK; Bosniak Vakat Coalition or DSV [Sadik IDRIZI]; Citizens' Initiative of Gora or GIG [Murselj HALJILJI]; Coalition for New Kosovo or KKR; Democratic Action Party or SDA [Numan BALIC]; Democratic League of Dardania or LDD [Nexhat DACI]; Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Isa MUSTAFA]; Democratic Party of Ashkali of Kosovo or PDAK [Berat QERIMI]; Democratic Party of Bosniaks [Dzezair MURATI]; Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK [Hashim THACI]; Independent Liberal Party or SLS [Slobadan PETROVIC]; Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party or KDTP [Mahir YAGCILAR]; Movement for Self-Determination (Vetevendosje) or VV [Albin KURTI]; Movement for Unification or LB; New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK [Xhevdet NEZIRAJ]; New Democratic Party or NDS [Predrag JOVIC]; Serb National Party or SNS [Mihailo SCEPANOVIC]; Serbian Democratic Party of Kosovo and Metohija or SDS KiM [Slavisa PETKOVIC]; Serbian Kosovo and Metohija Party or SKMS [Dragisa MIRIC]; Serbian National Council of Northern Kosovo and Metohija or SNV [Milan IVANOVIC]; Social Democratic Party of Kosovo or PSDK [Agim CEKU]; Socialist Party of Kosovo or PSK [Ilaz KADOLLI]; United Roma Party of Kosovo or PREBK [Haxhi Zylfi MERXHA]; United Serb List or JSL

Political pressure groups and leaders

Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedom (human rights); Organization for Democracy, Anti-Corruption and Dignity Rise! [Avni ZOGIANI]; Serb National Council (SNV); The Speak Up Movement [Ramadan ILAZI]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$1.74 billion $2.06 billion (2011 est.)

expenditures

$2.06 billion (2011 est.)

revenues

$1.74 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.86% (31 December 2011 est.) 14.31% (31 December 2010 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.88 billion (2012 est.) -$900 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$326 million (2011 est.) $900 million (2010 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

30 (FY05/06) (FY05/06)

Economy - overview

Over the past few years Kosovo's economy has shown significant progress in transitioning to a market-based system and maintaining macroeconomic stability, but it is still highly dependent on the international community and the diaspora for financial and technical assistance. Remittances from the diaspora - located mainly in Germany, Switzerland, and the Nordic countries - are estimated to account for about 18% of GDP, and donor-financed activities and aid for approximately 10%. Kosovo's citizens are the poorest in Europe with an average annual per capita income (PPP) of $7,400. Unemployment, around 45%, is a significant problem that encourages outward migration and a significant informal, unreported economy. Most of Kosovo's population lives in rural towns outside of the capital, Pristina. Inefficient, near-subsistence farming is common - the result of small plots, limited mechanization, and lack of technical expertise. With international assistance, Kosovo has been able to privatize a majority of its state-owned-enterprises. Minerals and metals - including lignite, lead, zinc, nickel, chrome, aluminum, magnesium, and a wide variety of construction materials - once formed the backbone of industry, but output has declined because of ageing equipment and insufficient investment. A limited and unreliable electricity supply due to technical and financial problems is a major impediment to economic development, but Kosovo has received technical assistance to help improve accounting and controls and, in 2012, privatized its distribution network. The US Government is cooperating with the Ministry for Energy and Mines and the World Bank to prepare commercial tenders for the construction of a new power plant, rehabilitation of an old plant, and the development of a coal mine that could supply both. In July 2008, Kosovo received pledges of $1.9 billion from 37 countries in support of its reform priorities, but the global financial crisis has limited this assistance and also negatively affected remittance inflows. In June 2009, Kosovo joined the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, and Kosovo began servicing its share of the former Yugoslavia's debt. In order to help integrate Kosovo into regional economic structures, UNMIK signed (on behalf of Kosovo) its accession to the Central Europe Free Trade Area (CEFTA) in 2006. Serbia and Bosnia previously had refused to recognize Kosovo's customs stamp or extend reduced tariff privileges for Kosovo products under CEFTA, but both countries resumed trade with Kosovo in 2011. The official currency of Kosovo is the euro, but the Serbian dinar is also used illegally in Serb enclaves. Kosovo's tie to the euro has helped keep core inflation low. Kosovo maintained a budget surplus until 2011, when government expenditures climbed sharply.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7838 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 est.) 755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.)

Exports

$419 million (2011 est.) $400 million (2010 est.) (2010 est.)

Exports - commodities

mining and processed metal products, scrap metals, leather products, machinery, appliances, prepared foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco, vegetable products, textile and textile articles

GDP - composition by sector

12.9% 22.6% 64.5% (2009 est.)

agriculture

12.9%

industry

22.6%

services

64.5% (2009 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,400 (2011 est.) $6,700 (2011 est.) $6,400 (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.8% (2012 est.) 5% (2011 est.) 3.9% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.3 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$13.56 billion (2012 est.) $13.07 billion (2011 est.) $12.45 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Imports

$3.3 billion (2011 est.) $2.7 billion (2010 est.) (2010 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, livestock, wood, petroleum, chemicals, machinery, minerals, textiles, stone, ceramic and glass products and electrical equipment

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.3% (2011 est.) 3.5% (2010 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

35% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

800,000 includes those estimated to be employed in the grey economy (2011 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

23.6% NA% NA% (2010)

agriculture

23.6%

industry

NA%

services

NA% (2010)

Population below poverty line

30% (2010 est.)

Public debt

5.5% of GDP (2011) 6.2% of GDP (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$21.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $24.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

27.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate

45.3% (2011 est.) 45.4% (2010 est.) Kosovo has a large informal sector that may not be reflected in these data

Crude oil - proved reserves

NA bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

5.674 billion kWh (2011)

Electricity - production

5.16 billion kWh (2011)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007)

Natural gas - proved reserves

NA cu m (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

NA bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

106,300 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular

562,000 (2007)

Airports

8 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

2 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

total

4

under 914 m

2 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

4 (2012)

total

4

under 914 m

4 (2012)

Heliports

2 (2012)

Railways

430 km 430 km 1.435-m gauge (2007)

total

430 km

Roadways

1,964 km 1,706 km 258 km (2009)

total

1,964 km

unpaved

258 km (2009)

Manpower fit for military service

430,926 389,614 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

389,614 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

430,926

Military branches

Kosovo Security Force (FSK) (2010)

Disputes - international

Serbia with several other states protest the US and other states' recognition of Kosovo's declaration of its status as a sovereign and independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of Kosovo-Serbia boundary; several thousand NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in Kosovo; Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008

Refugees and internally displaced persons

17,853 (main wave of displacement was in 1999 when ethnic Serbs fled; IDPs consist of an estimated 54% Serbs, 40% Albanians, and 5% Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptians) (2012)

IDPs

17,853 (main wave of displacement was in 1999 when ethnic Serbs fled; IDPs consist of an estimated 54% Serbs, 40% Albanians, and 5% Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptians) (2012)