Kosovo
Europe Β· Capital: Pristina
How it is run: Kosovo is a territory or observer, so some decisions about it are made elsewhere. The research links below explain who is in charge.
Kosovo is home to 1.6 million people in Southeast Europe, where people speak Albanian, Serbian.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
1.6 million people
That is about 195 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
10,908 kmΒ²
About the size of a small US state such as Vermont or New Hampshire.
ποΈ How crowded
About 145 people per square kilometre β busy towns with countryside in between.
π Size in its region
35th most people in Europe
38th largest by land in Europe.
π£οΈ Official languages
Albanian, Serbian
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Euro (β¬)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
78.2 years on average
One of the healthier countries β good hospitals and clean water make a big difference.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$7,899
A lower-middle-income country: incomes are rising, but many families still farm or work informally.
π’ Living in cities
50.9% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
20% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+383
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.xk
π§ People here are called
Kosovar
π·οΈ Name at home
Kosova Β· ΠΠΎΡΠΎΠ²ΠΎ
Also written: Π Π΅ΠΏΡΠ±Π»ΠΈΠΊΠ° ΠΠΎΡΠΎΠ²ΠΎ.
π Coast or inland
Landlocked β no coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Not a UN member
Neighbours & borders π€
Kosovo is landlocked β it has no coastline, so anything arriving by sea must cross a neighbour's border first.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Kosovo
French
Kosovo
Arabic
ΩΩΨ³ΩΩΩ
Chinese
η§η΄’ζ²
Japanese
γ³γ½γ
Russian
Π Π΅ΡΠΏΡΠ±Π»ΠΈΠΊΠ° ΠΠΎΡΠΎΠ²ΠΎ
Portuguese
Kosovo
German
Kosovo
Put it in perspective π
- Russia β the most populated country in Europe β has about 91.0Γ as many people as Kosovo.
- Kosovo covers roughly 104 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Kosovo lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 788 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Kosovo is a territory linked to another country, so some decisions are made elsewhere.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Kosovo
ποΈ Capital
Pristina
π Region
Europe Β· Southeast Europe
π€ Country code
XK
ποΈ UN status
Not a UN member state
π© Independence
Linked territory
More about Kosovo π
π§ Where on the map
42.7Β° N, 21.2Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+1 β when it is noon in London it is about 13:00 in Pristina.
- Kosovo sits in the temperate zone, the belt where most of the world's farms and big cities are.
- π½π° is the flag of Kosovo. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is XK.
- Kosovo is not a full UN member state, so it doesn't get its own vote in the General Assembly.
- Kosovo shares its part of the world with Bulgaria. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- The capital of Kosovo is Pristina β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Kosovo has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Being landlocked means paying neighbours to move goods to the sea. What deal would you offer a neighbour if you led Kosovo?
- If Kosovo spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Kosovo?
Pristina
Which money do people spend in Kosovo?
Euro (β¬)
How many countries share a land border with Kosovo?
4 β Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia.
Roughly how many people live in Kosovo?
1.6 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.