Kosovo: Net migration

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Kosovo's net migration rose 3,798 on 2024 (from -22,178 to -18,380).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −754.03 and a typical year strayed about 67,716 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 159,334 in 2000 and the biggest yearly fall was 290,134 in 1998. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 16% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Kosovo had the 172nd highest value of the 217 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Kosovo in the 2025 ranking

• Hungary — 169th of 217: -16,331
• Ghana — 170th of 217: -17,079
• Ecuador — 171st of 217: -17,219
• Tajikistan — 173rd of 217: -21,606
• Cuba — 174th of 217: -22,244
• West Bank and Gaza — 175th of 217: -23,156

What this measures

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.

Limitations: International migration is the component of population change most difficult to measure and estimate reliably. Thus, the quality and quantity of the data used in the estimation and projection of net migration varies considerably by country. Furthermore, the movement of people across international boundaries, which is very often a response to changing socio-economic, political and environmental forces, is subject to a great deal of volatility. Refugee movements, for instance, may involve large numbers of people moving across boundaries in a short time.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 66 values

Net migration in nearby economies

• Albania — -24,230 (2025)
• Andorra — 843 (2025)
• Armenia — -29,013 (2025)
• Austria — 11,254 (2025)
• Azerbaijan — 8,731 (2025)
• Belarus — -3,020 (2025)
• Belgium — 31,989 (2025)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — -6,994 (2025)
• Bulgaria — -2,961 (2025)
• Channel Islands — 675 (2025)
• Croatia — -3,481 (2025)
• Cyprus — 7,749 (2025)
• Czechia

More social protection & labor data for Kosovo

• Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate) — 18.25% (2024)
• Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) — 7.68% (2024)
• Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) — 10.83% (2024)
• Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) (national estimate) — 18.39% (2024)
• Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (national estimate) — 49.52% (2024)
• Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate) — 33.84% (2024)
• Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) — 22.49% (2024)
• Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Kosovo's net migration?

-18,380 in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is down 668.86% from 3,231 in 1960. The highest value was 7,565 in 1979 and the lowest -294,789 in 1998.

How does Kosovo rank?

172nd highest of 217 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in net migration unusual for Kosovo?

In 2025, Kosovo's net migration rose 3,798 on 2024 (from -22,178 to -18,380). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −754.03 and a typical year strayed about 67,716 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Where does this data come from?

The World Bank's World Development Indicators, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SM.POP.NETM, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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