Kosovo vs. Serbia
Introduction
Kosovo | Serbia | |
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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 Serbs as the dominant ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired control over the region from the Ottoman Empire during the First Balkan War of 1912. After World War II, Kosovo's present-day boundaries were established when Kosovo became an autonomous province of Serbia in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (S.F.R.Y.). Despite legislative concessions, Albanian nationalism increased in the 1980s, which led to riots and calls for Kosovo's independence. The Serbs - many of whom viewed Kosovo as their cultural heartland - instituted a new constitution in 1989 revoking Kosovo's autonomous status. Kosovo's Albanian leaders responded in 1991 by organizing a referendum declaring Kosovo independent. Serbia undertook repressive measures against the Kosovar Albanians in the 1990s, provoking a Kosovar Albanian insurgency. Beginning in 1998, Serbia conducted a brutal counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians (some 800,000 ethnic Albanians were forced from their homes in Kosovo). After international attempts to mediate the conflict failed, a three-month NATO military operation against Serbia beginning in March 1999 forced the Serbs to agree to withdraw their 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 2006-07 negotiations ended without agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, though the UN issued a comprehensive report on Kosovo's final status that endorsed independence. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared Kosovo independent. Since then, close to 100 countries have recognized Kosovo, and it has joined numerous international organizations. In October 2008, Serbia 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. Demonstrating Kosovo's development into a sovereign, multi-ethnic, democratic country the international community ended the period of Supervised Independence in 2012. Kosovo held its most recent national and municipal elections in 2017. Serbia continues to reject Kosovo's independence, but the two countries agreed in April 2013 to normalize their relations through EU-facilitated talks, which produced several subsequent agreements the parties are engaged in implementing, though they have not yet reached a comprehensive normalization of relations. Kosovo seeks full integration into the international community, and has pursued bilateral recognitions and memberships in international organizations. Kosovo signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU in 2015, and was named by a 2018 EU report as one of six Western Balkan countries that will be able to join the organization once it meets the criteria to accede. Kosovo also seeks memberships in the UN and in NATO. | The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Communist Partisans resisted the Axis occupation and division of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945 and fought nationalist opponents and collaborators as well. The military and political movement headed by Josip Broz "TITO" (Partisans) took full control of Yugoslavia when their domestic rivals and the occupiers were defeated in 1945. Although communists, TITO and his successors (Tito died in 1980) managed to steer their own path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half decades. In 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Republic of Serbia and his ultranationalist calls for Serbian domination led to the violent breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in April 1992 and under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia led various military campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." These actions ultimately failed and, after international intervention, led to the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. MILOSEVIC retained control over Serbia and eventually became president of the FRY in 1997. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a Serbian counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo. The MILOSEVIC government's rejection of a proposed international settlement led to NATO's bombing of Serbia in the spring of 1999. Serbian military and police forces withdrew from Kosovo in June 1999, and the UN Security Council authorized an interim UN administration and a NATO-led security force in Kosovo. FRY elections in late 2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and the installation of democratic government. In 2003, the FRY became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics. Widespread violence predominantly targeting ethnic Serbs in Kosovo in March 2004 led to more intense calls to address Kosovo's status, and the UN began facilitating status talks in 2006. In June 2006, Montenegro seceded from the federation and declared itself an independent nation. Serbia subsequently gave notice that it was the successor state to the union of Serbia and Montenegro. In February 2008, after nearly two years of inconclusive negotiations, Kosovo declared itself independent of Serbia - an action Serbia refuses to recognize. At Serbia's request, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in October 2008 sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on whether Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence was in accordance with international law. In a ruling considered unfavorable to Serbia, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion in July 2010 stating that international law did not prohibit declarations of independence. In late 2010, Serbia agreed to an EU-drafted UNGA Resolution acknowledging the ICJ's decision and calling for a new round of talks between Serbia and Kosovo, this time on practical issues rather than Kosovo's status. Serbia and Kosovo signed the first agreement of principles governing the normalization of relations between the two countries in April 2013 and are in the process of implementing its provisions. In 2015, Serbia and Kosovo reached four additional agreements within the EU-led Brussels Dialogue framework. These included agreements on the Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities; telecommunications; energy production and distribution; and freedom of movement. President Aleksandar VUCIC has promoted an ambitious goal of Serbia joining the EU by 2025. Under his leadership as prime minister, in 2014 Serbia opened formal negotiations for accession. |
Geography
Kosovo | Serbia | |
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Location | Southeast Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia | Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary |
Geographic coordinates | 42 35 N, 21 00 E | 44 00 N, 21 00 E |
Map references | Europe | Europe |
Area | total: 10,887 sq km land: 10,887 sq km water: 0 sq km | total: 77,474 sq km land: 77,474 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | slightly larger than Delaware | slightly smaller than South Carolina |
Land boundaries | total: 714 km border countries (4): Albania 112 km, Macedonia 160 km, Montenegro 76 km, Serbia 366 km | total: 2,322 km border countries (8): Bosnia and Herzegovina 345 km, Bulgaria 344 km, Croatia 314 km, Hungary 164 km, Kosovo 366 km, Macedonia 101 km, Montenegro 157 km, Romania 531 km |
Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | 0 km (landlocked) |
Maritime claims | none (landlocked) | none (landlocked) |
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 | in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well-distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns) |
Terrain | 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 | extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills |
Elevation extremes | highest point: Gjeravica/Deravica 2,656 m lowest point: Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim (located on the border with Albania) 297 m mean elevation: 450 m | highest point: Midzor 2,169 m lowest point: Danube and Timok Rivers 35 m mean elevation: 442 m |
Natural resources | nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite | oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, chromite, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, arable land |
Land use | agricultural land: 52.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.) forest: 41.7% (2018 est.) other: 5.5% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 57.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 37.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 16.8% (2018 est.) forest: 31.6% (2018 est.) other: 10.5% (2018 est.) |
Irrigated land | NA | 950 sq km (2012) |
Environment - current issues | air pollution (pollution from power plants and nearby lignite mines take a toll on people's health); water scarcity and pollution; land degradation | air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube; inadequate management of domestic, industrial, and hazardous waste |
Geography - note | the 41-km long 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 | landlocked; controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East |
Population distribution | population clusters exist throughout the country, the largest being in the east in and around the capital of Pristina | a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations |
Demographics
Kosovo | Serbia | |
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Population | 1,935,259 (July 2021 est.) | 6,974,289 (July 2021 est.) note: does not include the population of Kosovo |
Age structure | 0-14 years: 24.07% (male 241,563/female 223,568) 15-24 years: 16.95% (male 170,566/female 157,063) 25-54 years: 42.56% (male 433,914/female 388,595) 55-64 years: 8.67% (male 85,840/female 81,782) 65 years and over: 7.75% (male 63,943/female 85,940) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 14.07% (male 508,242/female 478,247) 15-24 years: 11.04% (male 399,435/female 374,718) 25-54 years: 41.19% (male 1,459,413/female 1,429,176) 55-64 years: 13.7% (male 464,881/female 495,663) 65 years and over: 20% (male 585,705/female 816,685) (2020 est.) |
Median age | total: 30.5 years male: 30.2 years female: 30.8 years (2020 est.) | total: 43.4 years male: 41.7 years female: 45 years (2020 est.) |
Population growth rate | 0.67% (2021 est.) | -0.48% (2021 est.) |
Birth rate | 15.05 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 8.74 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Death rate | 6.91 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 13.49 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Net migration rate | -1.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Sex ratio | at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
Infant mortality rate | total: 35.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 37.99 deaths/1,000 live births female: 33.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 5.67 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.69 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
Life expectancy at birth | total population: 72.99 years male: 70.8 years female: 75.35 years (2021 est.) | total population: 76.56 years male: 73.67 years female: 79.64 years (2021 est.) |
Total fertility rate | 1.92 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 1.47 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | NA | <.1% (2020 est.) |
Nationality | noun: Kosovar (Albanian) adjective: Kosovo note: Kosovo, a neutral term, is sometimes also used as a noun or adjective as in Kosovo Albanian, Kosovo Serb, Kosovo minority, or Kosovo citizen | noun: Serb(s) adjective: Serbian |
Ethnic groups | 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.) note: these estimates may under-represent Serb, Romani, and some other ethnic minorities because they are based on the 2011 Kosovo national census, which excluded northern Kosovo (a largely Serb-inhabited region) and was partially boycotted by Serb and Romani communities in southern Kosovo | Serb 83.3%, Hungarian 3.5%, Romani 2.1%, Bosniak 2%, other 5.7%, undeclared or unknown 3.4% (2011 est.) note: most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5-11% of Serbia's population |
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | NA | 3,300 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children |
Religions | Muslim 95.6%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Orthodox 1.5%, other 0.1%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.) | Orthodox 84.6%, Catholic 5%, Muslim 3.1%, Protestant 1%, atheist 1.1%, other 0.8% (includes agnostics, other Christians, Eastern, Jewish), undeclared or unknown 4.5% (2011 est.) note: most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census |
HIV/AIDS - deaths | NA | <100 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children |
Languages | Albanian (official) 94.5%, Bosnian 1.7%, Serbian (official) 1.6%, Turkish 1.1%, other 0.9% (includes Romani), unspecified 0.1%; note - in municipalities where a community's mother tongue is not one of Kosovo's official languages, the language of that community may be given official status according to the 2006 Law on the Use of Languages (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Libri i Fakteve Boterore, burimi vital per informacione elementare. (Albanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | Serbian (official) 88.1%, Hungarian 3.4%, Bosnian 1.9%, Romani 1.4%, other 3.4%, undeclared or unknown 1.8%; note - Serbian, Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, and Ruthenian (Rusyn) are official in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina; most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Knjiga svetskih cinjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
Education expenditures | NA | 3.6% of GDP (2018) |
Major cities - population | 216,870 PRISTINA (capital) (2019) | 1.402 million BELGRADE (capital) (2021) |
Government
Kosovo | Serbia | |
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Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Kosovo conventional short form: Kosovo local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Republika Kosovo) local short form: Kosove (Kosovo) etymology: name derives from the Serbian "kos" meaning "blackbird," an ellipsis (linguistic omission) for "kosove polje" or "field of the blackbirds" | conventional long form: Republic of Serbia conventional short form: Serbia local long form: Republika Srbija local short form: Srbija former: People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain, but seems to be related to the name of the West Slavic Sorbs who reside in the Lusatian region in present-day eastern Germany; by tradition, the Serbs migrated from that region to the Balkans in about the 6th century A.D. |
Government type | parliamentary republic | parliamentary republic |
Capital | name: Pristina (Prishtine, Prishtina) geographic coordinates: 42 40 N, 21 10 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name may derive from a Proto-Slavic word reconstructed as "pryshchina," meaning "spring (of water)" | name: Belgrade (Beograd) geographic coordinates: 44 50 N, 20 30 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the Serbian "Beograd" means "white fortress" or "white city" and dates back to the 9th century; the name derives from the white fortress wall that once enclosed the city |
Administrative divisions | 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 | 119 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina) and 26 cities (gradovi, singular - grad) municipalities: Ada*, Aleksandrovac, Aleksinac, Alibunar*, Apatin*, Arandelovac, Arilje, Babusnica, Bac*, Backa Palanka*, Backa Topola*, Backi Petrovac*, Bajina Basta, Batocina, Becej*, Bela Crkva*, Bela Palanka, Beocin*, Blace, Bogatic, Bojnik, Boljevac, Bor, Bosilegrad, Brus, Bujanovac, Cajetina, Cicevac, Coka*, Crna Trava, Cuprija, Despotovac, Dimitrov, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Golubac, Gornji Milanovac, Indija*, Irig*, Ivanjica, Kanjiza*, Kladovo, Knic, Knjazevac, Koceljeva, Kosjeric, Kovacica*, Kovin*, Krupanj, Kucevo, Kula*, Kursumlija, Lajkovac, Lapovo, Lebane, Ljig, Ljubovija, Lucani, Majdanpek, Mali Idos*, Mali Zvornik, Malo Crnice, Medveda, Merosina, Mionica, Negotin, Nova Crnja*, Nova Varos, Novi Becej*, Novi Knezevac*, Odzaci*, Opovo*, Osecina, Paracin, Pecinci*, Petrovac na Mlavi, Plandiste*, Pozega, Presevo, Priboj, Prijepolje, Prokuplje, Raca, Raska, Razanj, Rekovac, Ruma*, Secanj*, Senta*, Sid*, Sjenica, Smederevska Palanka, Sokobanja, Srbobran*, Sremski Karlovci*, Stara Pazova*, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Svrljig, Temerin*, Titel*, Topola, Trgoviste, Trstenik, Tutin, Ub, Varvarin, Velika Plana, Veliko Gradiste, Vladicin Han, Vladimirci, Vlasotince, Vrbas*, Vrnjacka Banja, Zabalj*, Zabari, Zagubica, Zitiste*, Zitorada; cities: Beograd, Cacak, Jagodina, Kikinda*, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Leskovac, Loznica, Nis, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad*, Pancevo*, Pirot, Pozarevac, Sabac, Smederevo, Sombor*, Sremska Mitrovica*, Subotica*, Uzice, Valjevo, Vranje, Vrsac*, Zajecar, Zrenjanin* note: the northern 37 municipalities and 8 cities - about 28% of Serbia's area - compose the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and are indicated with * |
Independence | 17 February 2008 (from Serbia) | 5 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 1217 (Serbian Kingdom established); 16 April 1346 (Serbian Empire established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Serbian independence); 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) established) |
National holiday | Independence Day, 17 February (2008) | Statehood Day, 15 February (1835), the day the first constitution of the country was adopted |
Constitution | history: previous 1974, 1990; latest (postindependence) draft finalized 2 April 2008, signed 7 April 2008, ratified 9 April 2008, entered into force 15 June 2008; note - amendment 24, passed by the Assembly in August 2015, established the Kosovo Relocated Specialist Institution, referred to as the Kosovo Specialist Chamber or "Specialist Court," to try war crimes allegedly committed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army in the late 1990s amendments: 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; amended several times, last in 2020 | history: many previous; latest adopted 30 September 2006, approved by referendum 28-29 October 2006, effective 8 November 2006 amendments: proposed by at least one third of deputies in the National Assembly, by the president of the republic, by the government, or by petition of at least 150,000 voters; passage of proposals and draft amendments each requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Assembly; amendments to constitutional articles including the preamble, constitutional principles, and human and minority rights and freedoms also require passage by simple majority vote in a referendum |
Legal system | civil law system; note - the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) retained limited executive powers within the Kosovo judiciary for complex cases from 2008 to 2018 | civil law system |
Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal |
Executive branch | chief of state: President Vjosa OSMANI (since 4 April 2021); note: President Hashim THACI (since 7 April 2016) resigned 5 November 2020 head of government: Prime Minister Albin KURTI (since 22 February 2021) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Assembly elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly for a 5-year term; if a candidate does not attain a two-thirds threshold in the first two ballots, the candidate winning a simple majority vote in the third ballot is elected (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3-4 April 2021 (next to be held in 2026); prime minister indirectly elected by the Assembly election results: Vjosa OSMANI elected president in the third ballot; Assembly vote - Vjosa OSMANI (VV) 71 votes; Albin KURTI (VV) elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 67-30 | chief of state: President Aleksandar VUCIC (since 31 May 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Ana BRNABIC (since 29 June 2017) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 2 April 2017 (next to be held in 2022); prime minister elected by the National Assembly election results: Aleksandar VUCIC elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Aleksandar VUCIC (SNS) 55.1%, Sasa JANKOVIC (independent) 16.4%, Luka MAKSIMOVIC (independent) 9.4%, Vuk JEREMIC (independent) 5.7%, Vojislav SESELJ (SRS) 4.5%, Bosko OBRADOVIC (Dveri) 2.3%, other 5.0%, invalid/blank 1.6%; Prime Minister Ana BRNABIC reelected by the National Assembly on 5 October 2020 |
Legislative branch | description: unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi i Kosoves/Skupstina Kosova (120 seats; 100 members directly elected by open-list proportional representation vote with 20 seats reserved for ethnic minorities - 10 for Serbs and 10 for other ethnic minorities; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 14 February 2021 (next to be held in 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - VV 50%, PDK 16.9%, LDK 12.7%, AAK 7.1%, Serb List 5.1%, other 8.2%; seats by party - VV 58, PDK 19, LDK 15, Serb List 10, AAK 8, other 10; composition - NA | description: unicameral National Assembly or Narodna Skupstina (250 seats; members directly elected by party list proportional representation vote in a single nationwide constituency to serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 21 June 2020 (originally scheduled for 26 April 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic) (next to be held in 2024) election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - For Our Children 60.7%, SPS-JS 10.4%, SPAS 3.8%, SVM 2.2%, Straight Ahead 1%, Albanian Democratic Alternative .8%, SDA .8%, other 20.3%; seats by party/coalition For Our Children 188, SPS-JS 32, SPAS 11, SVM 9, Straight Ahead 4, Albanian Democratic Alternative 3, SDA 3; composition (preliminary) - men 165, women 85, percent of women 30% note: seats by party as of May 2019 - SNS 91, SRS 22, SPS 20, DS 13, SDPS 10, PUPS 9, Dveri 6, JS 6, LDP 4, SDS 4, SVM 4, other 36, independent 25; composition - men 157, women 93, percent of women 37.2% |
Judicial branch | highest courts: 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) judge selection and term of office: 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 subordinate courts: 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) note: in August 2015, the Kosovo Assembly approved a constitutional amendment that establishes the Kosovo Relocated Specialist Judicial Institution, also referred to as the Kosovo Specialist Chambers or "Special Court"; the court, located at the Hague in the Netherlands, began operating in late 2016 and has jurisdiction to try crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other crimes under Kosovo law that occurred in the 1998-2000 period | highest courts: Supreme Court of Cassation (consists of 36 judges, including the court president); Constitutional Court (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court justices proposed by the High Judicial Council (HJC), an 11-member independent body consisting of 8 judges elected by the National Assembly and 3 ex-officio members; justices appointed by the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges elected - 5 each by the National Assembly, the president, and the Supreme Court of Cassation; initial appointment of Supreme Court judges by the HJC is 3 years and beyond that period tenure is permanent; Constitutional Court judges elected for 9-year terms subordinate courts: basic courts, higher courts, appellate courts; courts of special jurisdiction include the Administrative Court, commercial courts, and misdemeanor courts |
Political parties and leaders | Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ] Alternativa [Mimoza KUSARI-LILA] Ashkali Party for Integration or PAI Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK [Kadri VESELI] Independent Liberal Party or SLS [Slobodan PETROVIC] Initiative for Kosovo or NISMA [Fatmir LIMAJ] Movement for Self-Determination (Vetevendosje) or VV [Albin KURTI] New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo New Democratic Party New Kosovo Alliance or AKR [Behgjet PACOLLI] Romani Initiative Serb List [Goran RAKIC] Social Democratic Party of Kosovo or PSD [Shpend AHMETI] Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo or KDTP [Mahir YAGCILAR] Unique Gorani Party [Adem HODZA] Vakat Coalition or VAKAT [Rasim DEMIRI] | Albanian Democratic Alternative (coalition of ethnic Albanian parties) Shaip KAMBERI Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM [Istvan PASZTOR] Democratic Party or DS [Zoran LUTOVAC] Democratic Party of Macedonians or DPM [Nenad KRSTESKI] Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS [Milos JOVANOVIC] Dveri [Bosko OBRADOVIC] For Our Children (electoral alliance includes SNS, PS, PUPS, PSS, SNP, SPO, NSS) [Aleksandar VUCIC] Justice and Reconciliation Party or SPP [Muamer ZUKORLIC] (formerly Bosniak Democratic Union of Sandzak or BDZS) Movement of Socialists or PS [Aleksandar VULIN] Party of Democratic Action of the Sandzak or SDA [Sulejman UGLJANIN] Party of United Pensioners of Serbia or PUPS [Milan KRKOBABIC] People's Party or NARODNA [Vuk JEREMIC] People's Peasant Party or NSS [Marijan RISTICEVIC] Serbian Patriotic Alliance or SPAS [Aleksandar SAPIC] Serbian People's Party or SNP [Nenad POPOVIC] Serbian Progressive Party or SNS [Aleksandar VUCIC] Serbian Radical Party or SRS [Vojislav SESELJ] Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO [Vuk DRASKOVIC] Social Democratic Party or SDS [Boris TADIC] Social Democratic Party of Serbia or SDPS [Rasim LJAJIC] Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS [Ivica DACIC] Straight Ahead (electoral coalition includes SPP, DPM) Strength of Serbia or PSS [Bogoljub KARIC] Together for Serbia or ZZS [Nebojsa ZELENOVIC] United Serbia or JS [Dragan MARKOVIC] note: Serbia has more than 110 registered political parties and citizens' associations |
International organization participation | IBRD, IDA, IFC, IMF, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF (observer) | BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Valdet SADIKU (since 9 March 2021) chancery: 2175 K Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 450-2130 FAX: [1] (202) 735-0609 email address and website: https://www.ambasada-ks.net/us/?page=2,1 consulate(s) general: New York consulate(s): Des Moines (IA) | chief of mission: Ambassador Marko DJURIC (since 18 January 2021) chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333 FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933 email address and website: info@serbiaembusa.org http://www.washington.mfa.gov.rs/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York |
Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Philip KOSNETT (since 3 December 2018) embassy: Arberia/Dragodan, Rr. 4 KORRIKU Nr. 25, Pristina mailing address: 9520 Pristina Place, Washington DC 20521-9520 telephone: [383] 38-59-59-3000 FAX: [383] 38-604-890 email address and website: PristinaACS@state.gov https://xk.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony GODFREY (since 24 October 2019) embassy: 92 Bulevar kneza Aleksandra Karadjordjevica, 11040 Belgrade mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070 telephone: [381] (11) 706-4000 FAX: [381] (11) 706-4481 email address and website: belgradeacs@state.gov https://rs.usembassy.gov/ |
Flag description | centered on a dark blue field is a gold-colored silhouette of Kosovo 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 note: one of only two national flags that uses a map as a design element; the flag of Cyprus is the other | three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white - the Pan-Slav colors representing freedom and revolutionary ideals; charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the hoist side; the principal field of the coat of arms represents the Serbian state and displays a white two-headed eagle on a red shield; a smaller red shield on the eagle represents the Serbian nation, and is divided into four quarters by a white cross; interpretations vary as to the meaning and origin of the white, curved symbols resembling firesteels (fire strikers) or Cyrillic "C's" in each quarter; a royal crown surmounts the coat of arms note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia |
National anthem | name: Europe lyrics/music: no lyrics/Mendi MENGJIQI note: adopted 2008; Kosovo chose to exclude lyrics in its anthem so as not to offend the country's minority ethnic groups | name: "Boze pravde" (God of Justice) lyrics/music: Jovan DORDEVIC/Davorin JENKO note: adopted 1904; song originally written as part of a play in 1872 and has been used as an anthem by the Serbian people throughout the 20th and 21st centuries |
International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
National symbol(s) | six, five-pointed, white stars; national colors: blue, gold, white | white double-headed eagle; national colors: red, blue, white |
Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kosovo dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Serbia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years |
Economy
Kosovo | Serbia | |
---|---|---|
Economy - overview | Kosovo's economy has shown 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 17% of GDP and international donor assistance accounts for approximately 10% of GDP. With international assistance, Kosovo has been able to privatize a majority of its state-owned enterprises. Kosovo's citizens are the second poorest in Europe, after Moldova, with a per capita GDP (PPP) of $10,400 in 2017. An unemployment rate of 33%, and a youth unemployment rate near 60%, in a country where the average age is 26, encourages emigration and fuels 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 a lack of technical expertise. Kosovo enjoys lower labor costs than the rest of the region. However, high levels of corruption, little contract enforcement, and unreliable electricity supply have discouraged potential investors. The official currency of Kosovo is the euro, but the Serbian dinar is also used illegally in Serb majority communities. Kosovo's tie to the euro has helped keep core inflation low. Minerals and metals production - including lignite, lead, zinc, nickel, chrome, aluminum, magnesium, and a wide variety of construction materials - once the backbone of industry, has declined because of aging equipment and insufficient investment, problems exacerbated by competing and unresolved ownership claims of Kosovo's largest mines. A limited and unreliable electricity supply is a major impediment to economic development. The US Government is cooperating with the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) and the World Bank to conclude a commercial tender for the construction of Kosovo C, a new lignite-fired power plant that would leverage Kosovo's large lignite reserves. MED also has plans for the rehabilitation of an older bituminous-fired power plant, Kosovo B, and the development of a coal mine that could supply both plants. In June 2009, Kosovo joined the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, the Central Europe Free Trade Area (CEFTA) in 2006, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in 2012, and the Council of Europe Development Bank in 2013. In 2016, Kosovo implemented the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) negotiations with the EU, focused on trade liberalization. In 2014, nearly 60% of customs duty-eligible imports into Kosovo were EU goods. In August 2015, as part of its EU-facilitated normalization process with Serbia, Kosovo signed agreements on telecommunications and energy distribution, but disagreements over who owns economic assets, such as the Trepca mining conglomerate, within Kosovo continue. Kosovo experienced its first federal budget deficit in 2012, when government expenditures climbed sharply. In May 2014, the government introduced a 25% salary increase for public sector employees and an equal increase in certain social benefits. Central revenues could not sustain these increases, and the government was forced to reduce its planned capital investments. The government, led by Prime Minister MUSTAFA - a trained economist - recently made several changes to its fiscal policy, expanding the list of duty-free imports, decreasing the Value Added Tax (VAT) for basic food items and public utilities, and increasing the VAT for all other goods. While Kosovo's economy continued to make progress, unemployment has not been reduced, nor living standards raised, due to lack of economic reforms and investment. | Serbia has a transitional economy largely dominated by market forces, but the state sector remains significant in certain areas. The economy relies on manufacturing and exports, driven largely by foreign investment. MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of international economic sanctions, civil war, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure and industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left the economy worse off than it was in 1990. In 2015, Serbia's GDP was 27.5% below where it was in 1989. After former Federal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC was ousted in September 2000, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government implemented stabilization measures and embarked on a market reform program. Serbia renewed its membership in the IMF in December 2000 and rejoined the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Serbia has made progress in trade liberalization and enterprise restructuring and privatization, but many large enterprises - including the power utilities, telecommunications company, natural gas company, and others - remain state-owned. Serbia has made some progress towards EU membership, gaining candidate status in March 2012. In January 2014, Serbia's EU accession talks officially opened and, as of December 2017, Serbia had opened 12 negotiating chapters including one on foreign trade. Serbia's negotiations with the WTO are advanced, with the country's complete ban on the trade and cultivation of agricultural biotechnology products representing the primary remaining obstacle to accession. Serbia maintains a three-year Stand-by Arrangement with the IMF worth approximately $1.3 billion that is scheduled to end in February 2018. The government has shown progress implementing economic reforms, such as fiscal consolidation, privatization, and reducing public spending. Unemployment in Serbia, while relatively low (16% in 2017) compared with its Balkan neighbors, remains significantly above the European average. Serbia is slowly implementing structural economic reforms needed to ensure the country's long-term prosperity. Serbia reduced its budget deficit to 1.7% of GDP and its public debt to 71% of GDP in 2017. Public debt had more than doubled between 2008 and 2015. Serbia's concerns about inflation and exchange-rate stability preclude the use of expansionary monetary policy. Major economic challenges ahead include: stagnant household incomes; the need for private sector job creation; structural reforms of state-owned companies; strategic public sector reforms; and the need for new foreign direct investment. Other serious longer-term challenges include an inefficient judicial system, high levels of corruption, and an aging population. Factors favorable to Serbia's economic growth include the economic reforms it is undergoing as part of its EU accession process and IMF agreement, its strategic location, a relatively inexpensive and skilled labor force, and free trade agreements with the EU, Russia, Turkey, and countries that are members of the Central European Free Trade Agreement. |
GDP (purchasing power parity) | $20.396 billion (2019 est.) $19.579 billion (2018 est.) $18.86 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $126.625 billion (2019 est.) $121.464 billion (2018 est.) $116.239 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
GDP - real growth rate | 3.7% (2017 est.) 4.1% (2016 est.) 4.1% (2015 est.) | 4.18% (2019 est.) 4.4% (2018 est.) 2.05% (2017 est.) |
GDP - per capita (PPP) | $11,368 (2019 est.) $10,895 (2018 est.) $10,530 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2016 US dollars | $18,233 (2019 est.) $17,395 (2018 est.) $16,556 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 11.9% (2017 est.) industry: 17.7% (2017 est.) services: 70.4% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 9.8% (2017 est.) industry: 41.1% (2017 est.) services: 49.1% (2017 est.) |
Population below poverty line | 17.6% (2015 est.) | 23.2% (2018 est.) |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 22% (2015 est.) | lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 23.8% (2011) |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2.6% (2019 est.) 1% (2018 est.) 1.4% (2017 est.) | -0.1% (2019 est.) -1.1% (2018 est.) 2% (2017 est.) |
Labor force | 500,300 (2017 est.) note: includes those estimated to be employed in the gray economy | 3 million (2020 est.) |
Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 4.4% industry: 17.4% services: 78.2% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 19.4% industry: 24.5% services: 56.1% (2017 est.) |
Unemployment rate | 30.5% (2017 est.) 27.5% (2016 est.) note: Kosovo has a large informal sector that may not be reflected in these data | 14.1% (2017 est.) 15.9% (2016 est.) |
Distribution of family income - Gini index | 29 (2017 est.) 24.1 (2014 est.) | 36.2 (2017 est.) 28.2 (2008 est.) |
Budget | revenues: 2.054 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.203 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 17.69 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 17.59 billion (2017 est.) note: data include both central government and local goverment budgets |
Industries | mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances, foodstuffs and beverages, textiles | automobiles, base metals, furniture, food processing, machinery, chemicals, sugar, tires, clothes, pharmaceuticals |
Industrial production growth rate | 1.2% (2016 est.) | 3.9% (2017 est.) |
Agriculture - products | wheat, corn, berries, potatoes, peppers, fruit; dairy, livestock; fish | maize, wheat, sugar beet, milk, sunflower seed, potatoes, soybeans, plums/sloes, apples, barley |
Exports | $428 million (2017 est.) $340 million (2016 est.) | $15.92 billion (2017 est.) $13.99 billion (2016 est.) |
Exports - commodities | mining and processed metal products, scrap metals, leather products, machinery, appliances, prepared foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco, vegetable products, textiles and apparel | insulated wiring, tires, corn, cars, iron products, copper (2019) |
Exports - partners | Albania 16%, India 14%, North Macedonia 12.1%, Serbia 10.6%, Switzerland 5.6%, Germany 5.4% (2017) | Germany 12%, Italy 10%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 7%, Romania 6%, Russia 5% (2019) |
Imports | $3.223 billion (2017 est.) $2.876 billion (2016 est.) | $20.44 billion (2017 est.) $17.63 billion (2016 est.) |
Imports - commodities | foodstuffs, livestock, wood, petroleum, chemicals, machinery, minerals, textiles, stone, ceramic and glass products, electrical equipment | crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, natural gas, refined petroleum (2019) |
Imports - partners | Germany 12.4%, Serbia 12.3%, Turkey 9.6%, China 9.1%, Italy 6.4%, North Macedonia 5.1%, Albania 5%, Greece 4.4% (2017) | Germany 13%, Russia 9%, Italy 8%, Hungary 6%, China 5%, Turkey 5% (2019) |
Debt - external | $2.388 billion (2019 est.) $2.409 billion (2018 est.) | $30.927 billion (2019 est.) $30.618 billion (2018 est.) |
Exchange rates | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.885 (2017 est.) 0.903 (2016 est.) 0.9214 (2015 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) | Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar - 112.4 (2017 est.) 111.278 (2016 est.) 111.278 (2015 est.) 108.811 (2014 est.) 88.405 (2013 est.) |
Public debt | 21.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 19.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | 62.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 73.1% of GDP (2016 est.) |
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $683.9 million (31 December 2016 est.) $708.7 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $11.91 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $10.76 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
Current Account Balance | -$467 million (2017 est.) -$533 million (2016 est.) | -$2.354 billion (2017 est.) -$1.189 billion (2016 est.) |
GDP (official exchange rate) | $7.926 billion (2019 est.) | $51.449 billion (2019 est.) |
Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 73.2 (2020) Starting a Business score: 95.9 (2020) Trading score: 94.2 (2020) Enforcement score: 64.7 (2020) | Overall score: 75.7 (2020) Starting a Business score: 89.3 (2020) Trading score: 96.6 (2020) Enforcement score: 63.1 (2020) |
Taxes and other revenues | 29% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 42.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -2.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 0.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 49.5% male: 44.2% female: 60.4% (2019 est.) | total: 27.5% male: 26.1% female: 29.9% (2019 est.) |
GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 84.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 13.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 29% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 27% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -53.8% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 78.2% (2017 est.) government consumption: 10.1% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 18.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 52.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -61.3% (2017 est.) |
Gross national saving | 24.4% of GDP (2019 est.) 20.7% of GDP (2018 est.) 22.7% of GDP (2017 est.) | 18.2% of GDP (2019 est.) 18.7% of GDP (2018 est.) 15.5% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
Kosovo | Serbia | |
---|---|---|
Electricity - production | 5.638 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 36.54 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - consumption | 3.957 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 29.81 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - exports | 885.7 million kWh (2017 est.) | 6.428 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - imports | 557 million kWh (2016 est.) | 5.068 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 17,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 40,980 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 123 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Oil - proved reserves | 0 bbl NA (2017 est.) | 77.5 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
Natural gas - proved reserves | 0 cu m NA (2017 est.) | 48.14 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) |
Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 509.7 million cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - consumption | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 2.718 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 2.01 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
Electricity - installed generating capacity | 1.573 million kW (2016 est.) | 7.342 million kW (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from fossil fuels | 97% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 65% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 35% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from other renewable sources | 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - production | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 74,350 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - consumption | 14,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 74,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - exports | 192 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 15,750 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - imports | 14,040 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 18,720 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Electricity access | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) |
Telecommunications
Kosovo | Serbia | |
---|---|---|
Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 117,317 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6.11 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 2,565,392 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36.43 (2019 est.) |
Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 620,186 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32.3 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 8,453,887 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120.06 (2019 est.) |
Internet country code | .xk note: assigned as a temporary code under UN Security Council resolution 1244/99 | .rs |
Internet users | total: 1,706,150 percent of population: 89.44% (July 2018 est.) | total: 5,192,501 percent of population: 73.36% (July 2018 est.) |
Telecommunication systems | general assessment: EU pre-accession process supported progress in the telecom industry with a regulatory framework, European standards, and a market of new players encouraging development; two operators dominate the sector; under-developed telecom infrastructure leads to low fixed-line penetration; little expansion of fiber networks for broadband; expansion of LTE services (2020) (2020)domestic: fixed-line stands at 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular 32 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 383 note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: Serbia's integration with the EU helped regulator reforms and promotion of telecom; EU development loans for broadband to rural areas; pandemic spurred use of mobile data and other services; wireless service is available through multiple providers; national coverage is growing rapidly; best telecom services are centered in urban centers; 4G/LTE mobile network launched; 5G tests ongoing with Ericsson and Huawei (2021) (2020)domestic: fixed-line 29 per 100 and mobile-cellular 96 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 381 note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
Transportation
Kosovo | Serbia | |
---|---|---|
Railways | total: 333 km (2015) standard gauge: 333 km 1.435-m gauge (2015) | total: 3,809 km (2015) standard gauge: 3,809 km 1.435-m gauge (3,526 km one-track lines and 283 km double-track lines) out of which 1,279 km electrified (1,000 km one-track lines and 279 km double-track lines) (2015) |
Roadways | total: 2,012 km (2015) paved: 1,921 km (includes 78 km of expressways) (2015) unpaved: 91 km (2015) | total: 44,248 km (2016) paved: 28,000 km (16,162 km state roads, out of which 741 km highways) (2016) unpaved: 16,248 km (2016) |
Airports | total: 6 (2013) | total: 26 (2013) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 3 (2019) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 | total: 10 (2017) over 3,047 m: 2 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 3 (2013) under 914 m: 3 (2013) | total: 16 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 10 (2013) under 914 m: 5 (2013) |
Heliports | 2 (2013) | 2 (2012) |
National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 0 (2020) | number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 43 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,262,703 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 17.71 million mt-km (2018) |
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | Z6 | YU |
Military
Kosovo | Serbia | |
---|---|---|
Military branches | Kosovo Security Force (KSF): Land Force Command; Logistics Command; Doctrine and Training Command; National Guard Command (2021) | Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Land Forces (includes Riverine Component, consisting of a river flotilla on the Danube), Air and Air Defense Forces, Serbian Guard; Ministry of Interior: Gendarmerie (2021) note: the Guard is a brigade-sized unit that is directly subordinate to the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff |
Military service age and obligation | service is voluntary; must be over the age of 18 and a citizen of Kosovo; 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 (2019) | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished January 2011 (2021) |
Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 0.8% of GDP (2019) 0.8% of GDP (2018) 0.8% of GDP (2017) 0.8% of GDP (2016) 0.8% of GDP (2015) | 2.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2019) 1.6% of GDP (2018 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2016) |
Military and security service personnel strengths | the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) has approximately 3,500 personnel; note - Kosovo plans for the KSF to eventually number around 5,000 troops (2021) | information varies; approximately 25,000 active duty troops (15,000 Land Forces; 5,000 Air/Air Defense; 5,000 other) (2020) |
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the KSF is equipped with small arms and light vehicles only; it relies on donations and since 2013 has received donated equipment from Turkey and the US (2020) | the inventory of the Serbian Armed Forces consists of Russian and Soviet-era weapons systems; since 2010, most of its weapons imports have come from Russia (2020) |
Transnational Issues
Kosovo | Serbia | |
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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; NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo authority continue to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all Kosovo citizens; Kosovo and North Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008; Kosovo ratified the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro in March 2018, but the actual demarcation has not been completed | 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 UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in Kosovo; Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute |
Refugees and internally displaced persons | IDPs: 16,000 (primarily ethnic Serbs displaced during the 1998-1999 war fearing reprisals from the majority ethnic-Albanian population; a smaller number of ethnic Serbs, Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptians fled their homes in 2,004 as a result of violence) (2020) note: 6,761 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-July 2021) | refugees (country of origin): 17,972 (Croatia), 8,198 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (2019) IDPs: 196,995 (most are Kosovar Serbs, some are Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptian (RAE); some RAE IDPs are unregistered) (2021) stateless persons: 2,144 (includes stateless persons in Kosovo) (2020) note: 779,905 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-August 2021); Serbia is predominantly a transit country and hosts an estimated 6,165 migrants and refugees as of April 2021 |
Environment
Kosovo | Serbia | |
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Air pollutants | carbon dioxide emissions: 8.94 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.54 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 24.27 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 45.22 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.96 megatons (2020 est.) |
Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0.38% of GDP (2018 est.) |
Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0.31% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0.25% of GDP (2018 est.) |
Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 319,000 tons (2015 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.84 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 13,984 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.8% (2015 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook