01
Physical geography
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.
Local timePristina ·
Europe / Southeast Europe · Card 027
Kosovo
Kosovo is a landlocked territory in the Balkans that declared independence in 2008. It is recognized by many states, while Serbia and others dispute its independence. Its capital is Pristina.
Find Kosovo
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Pristina
- Languages
- Albanian & Serbian
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Population
- 1.6 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 10,908 km²4,211.60 square miles
- Declaration
- 2008Independence is not universally recognized.
Kosovo in context
Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Pristina; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include Albanian, Serbian.
03
Location
Southeastern Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia.
Flag
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
History & status
Kosovo was an autonomous province within Serbia in Yugoslavia. Conflict in the late 1990s was followed by international administration from 1999. Kosovo declared independence in 2008. Many states recognize it, while Serbia and others do not; it is not a UN member.
-
International administration follows the conflict
-
Kosovo declares independence
-
Kosovo joins the World Bank and IMF
Economy
Main activities
Services, trade, construction and small businesses dominate activity. Remittances from the diaspora support households. Mining, metals and agriculture also contribute, while imports exceed exports.
Industry and production
mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances, foodstuffs and beverages, textiles
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people1.62025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1,249,555 | 1.250 |
| 1980 | 1,604,818 | 1.605 |
| 1990 | 1,973,790 | 1.974 |
| 2000 | 1,802,493 | 1.802 |
| 2010 | 1,788,743 | 1.789 |
| 2020 | 1,790,151 | 1.790 |
| 2025 | 1,576,876 | 1.577 |
Real GDP, 2008–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars9.32025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 4,580,658,931 | 4.581 |
| 2009 | 4,811,288,427 | 4.811 |
| 2010 | 5,048,963,715 | 5.049 |
| 2011 | 5,368,048,641 | 5.368 |
| 2012 | 5,459,960,153 | 5.460 |
| 2013 | 5,751,565,656 | 5.752 |
| 2014 | 5,944,174,362 | 5.944 |
| 2015 | 6,295,845,465 | 6.296 |
| 2016 | 6,646,635,812 | 6.647 |
| 2017 | 6,967,379,569 | 6.967 |
| 2018 | 7,204,732,570 | 7.205 |
| 2019 | 7,547,447,330 | 7.547 |
| 2020 | 7,144,392,851 | 7.144 |
| 2021 | 7,912,104,735 | 7.912 |
| 2022 | 8,250,624,054 | 8.251 |
| 2023 | 8,586,228,667 | 8.586 |
| 2024 | 8,978,885,247 | 8.979 |
| 2025 | 9,301,422,197 | 9.301 |
Government
Kosovo’s institutions operate as a parliamentary republic, with an elected Assembly, a president and a prime minister leading the government. Its sovereignty remains internationally disputed. Serbia considers Kosovo part of its territory.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Kosovo.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Kosovo?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.