Net migration in Kosovo
Kosovo: Net migration was -18,380 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Kosovo, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Kosovo stood at -18,380.
That represents a change of up 17.1% on the previous year and up 66.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Kosovo peaked at 7,565 in 1979 and was at its lowest, -294,789, in 1998.
Kosovo ranks 172nd of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Kosovo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3,231 | — |
| 1961 | 440 | -86.4% |
| 1962 | 279 | -36.6% |
| 1963 | -38 | -113.6% |
| 1964 | 1,178 | -3200.0% |
| 1965 | 2,403 | +104.0% |
| 1966 | 4,107 | +70.9% |
| 1967 | 5,731 | +39.5% |
| 1968 | -15,224 | -365.6% |
| 1969 | -12,878 | -15.4% |
| 1970 | -11,776 | -8.6% |
| 1971 | -1,638 | -86.1% |
| 1972 | -2,834 | +73.0% |
| 1973 | -1,846 | -34.9% |
| 1974 | -377 | -79.6% |
| 1975 | 1,188 | -415.1% |
| 1976 | 3,115 | +162.2% |
| 1977 | 4,875 | +56.5% |
| 1978 | 6,851 | +40.5% |
| 1979 | 7,565 | +10.4% |
| 1980 | 7,255 | -4.1% |
| 1981 | -1,170 | -116.1% |
| 1982 | -4,343 | +271.2% |
| 1983 | -4,883 | +12.4% |
| 1984 | -3,741 | -23.4% |
| 1985 | -1,096 | -70.7% |
| 1986 | -449 | -59.0% |
| 1987 | 282 | -162.8% |
| 1988 | -15,870 | -5727.7% |
| 1989 | -14,531 | -8.4% |
| 1990 | -15,797 | +8.7% |
| 1991 | -3,485 | -77.9% |
| 1992 | 829 | -123.8% |
| 1993 | 660 | -20.4% |
| 1994 | 443 | -32.9% |
| 1995 | -764 | -272.5% |
| 1996 | -4,187 | +448.0% |
| 1997 | -4,655 | +11.2% |
| 1998 | -294,789 | +6232.7% |
| 1999 | -168,484 | -42.8% |
| 2000 | -9,150 | -94.6% |
| 2001 | -1,989 | -78.3% |
| 2002 | -27,289 | +1272.0% |
| 2003 | -27,491 | +0.7% |
| 2004 | -29,433 | +7.1% |
| 2005 | -31,137 | +5.8% |
| 2006 | -31,202 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | -31,597 | +1.3% |
| 2008 | -32,053 | +1.4% |
| 2009 | -31,556 | -1.6% |
| 2010 | -29,433 | -6.7% |
| 2011 | -9,064 | -69.2% |
| 2012 | -3,403 | -62.5% |
| 2013 | -16,367 | +381.0% |
| 2014 | -39,586 | +141.9% |
| 2015 | -55,524 | +40.3% |
| 2016 | -8,937 | -83.9% |
| 2017 | -5,428 | -39.3% |
| 2018 | -21,386 | +294.0% |
| 2019 | -28,829 | +34.8% |
| 2020 | 2,815 | -109.8% |
| 2021 | -38,584 | -1470.7% |
| 2022 | -28,588 | -25.9% |
| 2023 | -28,754 | +0.6% |
| 2024 | -22,178 | -22.9% |
| 2025 | -18,380 | -17.1% |
Kosovo compared with similar countries
- Kosovo's -18,380 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2,815, 6.5× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Kosovo's -18,380 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 166. (57 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Kosovo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | -6232.7% | -4,655 | -294,789 |
| 1988 | -5727.7% | 282 | -15,870 |
| 1964 | +3200.0% | -38 | 1,178 |
| 2021 | -1470.7% | 2,815 | -38,584 |
| 2002 | -1272.0% | -1,989 | -27,289 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1,077 | -15,224 | 5,731 | 10 |
| 1970s | 512.3 | -11,776 | 7,565 | 10 |
| 1980s | -3,855 | -15,870 | 7,255 | 10 |
| 1990s | -49,023 | -294,789 | 829 | 10 |
| 2000s | -25,290 | -32,053 | -1,989 | 10 |
| 2010s | -21,796 | -55,524 | -3,403 | 10 |
| 2020s | -22,278 | -38,584 | 2,815 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kosovo
More financial sector data for Kosovo
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), annual growth rate 17.34 % change on previous year (2024)
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.5007 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), per capita 3,518 current LCU per person (2024)
- Net foreign assets (current LCU), annual growth rate -3.14 % change on previous year (2024)
- Net foreign assets (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.2147 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Net foreign assets (current LCU), per capita 1,508 current LCU per person (2024)
- Net migration, annual growth rate 17.13 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Kosovo?
- Net migration in Kosovo was -18,380 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Kosovo?
- The highest recorded value was 7,565 in 1979.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Kosovo?
- The lowest recorded value was -294,789 in 1998.
- How does Kosovo rank for net migration?
- Kosovo ranks 172nd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Kosovo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kosovo data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.