Country Profile: Kosovo

Kosovo is a parliamentary republic situated in Southeastern Europe, bordered by Serbia and North Macedonia. With a population of approximately 1.98 million people, it has a predominantly Albanian demographic. Economically, Kosovo is classified as a small but growing economy, reliant on diaspora tourism and facing challenges such as high unemployment rates, particularly among youth. Governed under a civil law system, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a status still contested, particularly by Serbia.

Geography

Kosovo is located in Southeastern Europe, landlocked between Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Albania. The country features a diverse terrain, including flat basins and mountainous regions, with its highest point being Gjeravica at 2,656 meters. The climate is characterized by cold winters with heavy snow and hot, dry summers, influenced by both continental and Mediterranean air masses.

• 10,887 sq km – total area
• 714 km – total land boundaries
• 42.8% (2018 est.) – forest cover
• 52.8% (2018 est.) – agricultural land usage
• 0 km – coastline (landlocked)

People and Society

As of 2024, Kosovo's population is estimated at 1,977,093, with a significant majority being Albanians (92.9%). The capital city, Pristina, is the country's most populous area. The society is diverse in terms of ethnic groups, languages, and religions, with Islam being the predominant faith.

• 32 years – median age (2024 est.)
• 14.4 births/1,000 population – birth rate (2024 est.)
• 73.1 years – life expectancy at birth (2024 est.)
• 22.7% – population aged 0-14 years
• 45.1 – total dependency ratio (2024 est.)

Economy

Kosovo has a small but expanding economy, heavily reliant on remittances, particularly from its diaspora. In 2024, the GDP is estimated at $25.019 billion with a per capita GDP of $16,400. The agricultural sector contributes about 6.9% to the GDP, while the services sector dominates at 45.7%. High unemployment remains a critical challenge, especially among the youth.

• 4.4% – projected GDP growth rate (2024 est.)
• 1.5% – inflation rate (2024 est.)
• 17.6% – population below the poverty line (2015 est.)
• 18% of GDP – remittances in 2021
• $1.31 billion – foreign exchange reserves (2024 est.)

Government

Kosovo is a parliamentary republic, with Pristina as its capital. The country’s governance is defined by a civil law system and its constitutional framework was established after its declaration of independence. The President and the Prime Minister are elected indirectly by the Assembly.

• 38 municipalities – administrative divisions
• 120 seats – national Assembly
• 18 years – voting age
• 1.5% of GDP – military expenditures (2024 est.)
• First Assembly election – held on 14 February 2021

Military and Security

The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) is primarily responsible for the military and security of the nation, operating with a mandate of non-military security functions as well. The KSF is working towards a transition into a professional military by 2028.

• 1.5% of GDP – military expenditures (2024 est.)
• 3,300 – personnel in the KSF (2024 est.)
• 1 – civilian police under Ministry of Internal Affairs
• 4,700 troops – NATO-led KFOR in Kosovo (2025)

Energy

Kosovo's energy sector is predominantly based on fossil fuels, and the country has a high reliance on coal for electricity generation. In 2023, electricity consumption reached 6.571 billion kWh, while carbon dioxide emissions stood at 7.444 million metric tons.

• 87.3% – electricity generation from fossil fuels (2023 est.)
• 1.555 million kW – installed electricity capacity (2023 est.)
• 6,924 million metric tons – coal production (2023 est.)
• 16,000 bbl/day – refined petroleum consumption (2023 est.)

Environment

Environmental challenges in Kosovo include air pollution, water scarcity, and land degradation. The region has a diverse climate and land use pattern, with a significant portion of the land allocated for agriculture and forestry.

• 52.8% (2018 est.) – agricultural land usage
• 319,000 tons – municipal solid waste generated annually (2015 est.)
• 8.94 megatons – carbon dioxide emissions (2016 est.)
• 41.7% (2018 est.) – forest cover

Transportation

Kosovo has a developing transportation infrastructure, including a limited number of airports and railways. In 2025, there are plans for two airports and several heliports to enhance connectivity.

• 437 km – total railway length (2020)
• 2 – airports (2025)
• 11 – heliports (2025)

Communications

Telecommunications in Kosovo have seen growth, especially in mobile subscriptions. The majority of the population has access to the internet, and fixed-line subscriptions are also prevalent.

• 1,777,859 – mobile cellular subscriptions (2022 est.)
• 383,763 – fixed-line subscriptions (2022 est.)
• 89% – internet user penetration (2018 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	1,977,093 (2024 est.)
Area	10,887 sq km
Real GDP	$25.019 billion (2024 est.)	Purchasing power parity
Energy consumption	52.085 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth rate	14.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Unemployment	High (exact % not specified)	Particularly among youth
Life expectancy	73.1 years (2024 est.)
Military expenditures	1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions	7.444 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Total fertility rate	1.87 children born/woman (2024 est.)