 Ethnic Composition
* Minorities include Serbs, Gorans or Bosniacs (Muslim Slavs), Roms, and Turks. Religious Composition
Note: Population-related statistics for Kosovo are estimated. The 1999 conflict in the region has skewed previous statistics due to the massive shifts in population across national borders and the uncertain state of both Serbian and Kosovan refugees... |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Languages SpokenAlbanian, Serbo-Croatian, Turkish. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education and LiteracyDue to the disintegration of the former state of Yugoslavia and the ensuing conflicts, there are no accurate figures regarding the literacy rates of Kosovo. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Labor ForceTotal: 180,000 (estimate)By occupation:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Geography |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Land Mass Total10,887 square kilometers |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LandIt is a geographical basin, situated at an altitude of about 500 meters, surrounded by mountains, and divided by a central north/south ridge into two sub-regions of roughly equal size and population. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Demographics |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PopulationDetailed demographic data is not available - but the total 1998 population is believed to have been slightly above 2.2 million people, including 82 to 90 percent ethnic Albanians. Kosovo is divided into 29 municipalities and about 1,500 villages. It is mainly rural, with about two thirds of the population living in villages, and only nine towns with over 20,000 inhabitants (about 30 percent of the population).. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Age structureThe population of Kosovo is by far the youngest in Europe, with about half the people below the age of 20. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Growth Rate20,000 est. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GDP Per CapitaPre-war GDP is unknown, since official estimates (at about US$400 per capita) did not account for a large share of the economy: the informal sector activities. Still, Kosovo was clearly by far the poorest part of FRY. Current GDP is estimated at US$1100.* Information provided by the European Commission / World Bank Program for Reconstruction and Recovery in Kosovo |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Economy & Trade |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 As of mid-1999, the postwar economy of Kosovo lay in ruins. Home to some of the richest agricultural land in the Balkans, as well as enormous mineral deposits, Kosovo has great potential for an economic revival. Long repressed both economically and politically by its Serbian neighbors, Kosovo found itself under the control of the United Nations. The NATO attacks on Serbia that brought about this change did not prevent Kosovo's Serbian persecutors from devastating the Kosovan economic landscape. As a result, Kosovo was almost totally lacking in most forms of infrastructure. A good deal of its male workforce and intelligentsia was also destroyed or exiled during the conflict. While the members of the U.N. pledged a good deal of funding to rebuild Kosovo, it will take more than international agency money. Kosovo's potential will be greatly restricted by the reluctance of private foreign investment to take a chance on a fledgling state threatened both by internal political conflict as well as a centuries-old feud with its neighbors. This state-within-a-state had no currency of its own, and it used the Deutschmark until the advent of the Euro. Although it is difficult to get accurate figures on the Kosovan economy, analysts are predicting 4.5 percent GDP growth in 2003, but unemployment and weak infrastructure will put a drag on future growth. Adding to Kosovo's growing list of problems is its close association with one of the worst economies in the Balkans: Albania. However, hope has also emerged from the ashes. The GDP is currently estimated at approximately US$1100. On top of that, a massive inflow of remittances of the large Kosovar-Albanian community in the world provides an added US$300. Kosovo is not a strikingly poor country, especially when compared to some of its neighbours. Although there is a substantial part of the population that lives below the poverty line, generally people are faring "okay". Remittances and returnees that have lived and worked abroad for a long time have led to a massive boom in building of big houses all over the country. The major challenge is getting import-replacing manufacturing started up. Meanwhile, international aid is being phased out, and the Kosovar budget is becoming independent. The budget was approximately US$650 Million in 2002, fully self supported from taxes and (mainly) VAT and duties. Kosovo is a consumption oriented economy. People are industrious and commercially pro-active, and, if given the opportunity, will start a shop or agency of some kind to fuel the economy to self sufficiency. A major hindrance to business development was the lack of legal framework, such as bankruptcy law, title law, title registry etc. However, these are rapidly being implemented, thereby creating an interesting business climate. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top Export PartnersE.U., United States, Albania. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top Import PartnersE.U., United States. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top ExportsLive animals, agricultural products, minerals. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top ImportsMachinery, fuel, chemicals, consumer goods, and processed food. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Business Workweek |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Holidays |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Official Holidays
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||