History of Kosovo in Timeline

Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with partial diplomatic recognition. It borders Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and North Macedonia. Its capital and largest city is Pristina. Kosovo covers an area of 10,887 km2 and has a population of approximately 1.6 million. The country features varied terrain, including high plains, rolling hills, and mountains, with a primarily continental climate influenced by Mediterranean and Alpine patterns.

May 1901: Albanian pillaging

In May 1901, Albanians pillaged and partially burned the cities of Novi Pazar, Sjenica and Pristina, and killed many Serbs near Pristina and in Kolašin (now North Kosovo).

1910: Albanian Revolts

In 1910, Kosovo was the site of one of the Albanian revolts against the Ottoman Empire.

1912: Serbian Colonisation of Kosovo

Between 1912 and 1941, a large-scale Serbian colonisation of Kosovo was undertaken by the Belgrade government.

1912: Albanian Revolts and Ottoman Rule Ends

In 1912, Kosovo experienced another Albanian revolt and the Ottoman Empire's rule came to an end after nearly five centuries.

1912: Serbia Takeover

In 1912, Serbia took over Kosovo, leading to concerted Serbian colonisation efforts in Kosovo.

1912: Serbian Authorities Promotion

In 1912, Serbian authorities promoted Serbian settlement and assimilation of Albanians, leading to a mass exodus of Albanians from Kosovo.

1912: End of Ottoman Rule

In 1912, after centuries of rule, the Ottoman Empire lost control of Kosovo.

1912: Albanian Revolt Against the Ottoman Empire

In the spring of 1912, Albanians revolted against the Ottoman Empire, leading to weaknesses in the Ottoman ranks and the start of the First Balkan War.

1913: Kosovo Ceded to Kingdom of Serbia

In 1913, following the Balkan Wars, Kosovo was ceded to the Kingdom of Serbia.

1913: Treaty of London and Massacres

In 1913, the Treaty of London was signed, ceding Metohija to Montenegro and eastern Kosovo to Serbia, also marking massacres during the Balkan Wars.

1915: Serbian Army Retreat

In the winter of 1915–16, during World War I, Kosovo saw the retreat of the Serbian army as Kosovo was occupied by Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary.

1918: Allied Powers Push

In 1918, the Allied Powers pushed the Central Powers out of Kosovo.

1919: Land Reform Impact

In 1919, Albanians and other Muslims were forced to emigrate, mainly with the land reform which struck Albanian landowners.

April 1922: New Administration System

On 26 April 1922, a new administration system split Kosovo among three districts of the Kingdom.

1929: Kingdom of Yugoslavia Transformation

In 1929, the country was transformed into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Kosovo's territories were reorganised.

1935: Agreement with Yugoslavia

In 1935, an agreement between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Turkey was signed on the expatriation of Albanians to Turkey.

1938: Agreement with Yugoslavia

In 1938, an agreement between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Turkey was signed on the expatriation of Albanians to Turkey, but the expatriation did not occur due to the outbreak of World War II.

1941: Education Denial

Between 1912 and 1941, Kosovar Albanians' right to receive education in their own language was denied.

1941: Axis Invasion of Yugoslavia

In 1941, following the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia, most of Kosovo was assigned to Italian-controlled Albania, with the remainder controlled by Germany and Bulgaria.

August 1945: Law Disallowing Colonist Return

In August 1945, a new law disallowed the return of colonists who had taken land from Albanian peasants.

1945: Autonomous Region Formation

In 1945, the existing province took shape as the Autonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija.

1956: Show Trial in Pristina

In 1956, a show trial was held in Pristina in which Albanian Communists of Kosovo were convicted of being infiltrators from Albania.

1959: Final Demarcation

In 1959, the Autonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija reached its final demarcation.

1964: Government Investigation

In 1964, an official investigation conducted by the Yugoslav government recorded war-related fatalities in Kosovo between 1941 and 1945.

1966: Ouster of Ranković

After the ouster of Ranković in 1966, decentralisation reforms led to substantial autonomy in Kosovo and Vojvodina.

1969: Establishment of Kosovafilm

In 1969, the parliament of Kosovo established Kosovafilm, a state institution for the production, distribution, and showing of films.

1974: Constitution of Yugoslavia

By the 1974 Constitution of Yugoslavia, Kosovo was granted major autonomy.

1974: Concerns Over Albanian Nationalism

In the aftermath of the 1974 constitution, concerns over the rise of Albanian nationalism in Kosovo rose.

1978: League of Prizren Anniversary

In 1978, widespread celebrations occurred for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the League of Prizren.

February 1979: Founding of the Kosova National Art Gallery

In February 1979, the Kosova National Art Gallery was founded and named after Muslim Mulliqi.

March 1981: Kosovar Albanian Student Protests

Beginning in March 1981, Kosovar Albanian students of the University of Pristina organized protests seeking that Kosovo become a republic within Yugoslavia and demanding their human rights. The protests were violently suppressed by the police and army, with many protesters arrested.

1981: Albanian Protests

In 1981, protests by Albanians over the status of Kosovo resulted in violence and purges in the Communist Party.

1982: Kosovo artist represented Yugoslavia in Eurovision

In 1982, Viktorija, the only artist from Kosovo, represented Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song Contest as part of Aska.

1985: Conversion to Protestantism

In 2008, Protestant pastor Artur Krasniqi claimed that "as many as 15,000" Kosovar Albanians had converted to Protestantism since 1985.

1986: Serbian Orthodox Church Claim of Genocide

In 1986, the Serbian Orthodox Church made an official claim that Kosovo Serbs were being subjected to an Albanian program of 'genocide'. This claim, though later discredited, contributed to rising tensions in the region.

1989: Reduction of Kosovo's Autonomous Status

In 1989, Serbian President Slobodan Milošević significantly reduced Kosovo's special autonomous status within Serbia and initiated cultural oppression of the ethnic Albanian population, leading to a non-violent separatist movement among Kosovar Albanians.

1989: Peak exports from Rahovec wine facility

In 1989, the Rahovec wine production facility reached its peak, exporting 40 million litres of wine, mainly to the German market.

July 1990: Proclamation of the Republic of Kosova

In July 1990, Kosovo Albanians proclaimed the existence of the Republic of Kosova, signaling a move towards independence.

1990: Dissolution of Kosovafilm

In 1990, Kosovafilm was taken over by the Serbian authorities and dissolved.

1990: Deterioration of Healthcare due to Low GDP

In 1990, Kosovo's healthcare system suffered as the low GDP worsened existing limitations.

1990: Kosovar artists present art in prestigious centers

Until 1990, artists from Kosovo presented their art in many prestigious worldwide renowned centres.

May 1992: Election of Ibrahim Rugova as President

In May 1992, Ibrahim Rugova was elected as the president of the self-declared Republic of Kosova.

September 1992: Declaration of Sovereignty and Independence

In September 1992, the Republic of Kosova declared itself a sovereign and independent state, further solidifying its push for autonomy.

1992: Albania recognises the Republic of Kosova

In 1992, Albania's parliament voted to recognise the Republic of Kosova, making it the only country to do so at that time.

November 1995: Exclusion from the Dayton Agreement

In November 1995, the status of Kosovo was not resolved as part of the Dayton Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War, leading to growing unrest among the Kosovo Albanian population.

1996: Kosovo Liberation Army Attacks

By 1996, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) launched attacks against the Yugoslav Army and Serbian police in Kosovo, escalating the conflict and overshadowing the non-violent resistance movement.

September 1998: Lake Radonjić Massacre

In September 1998, Serbian police collected 34 bodies of people believed to have been seized and murdered by the KLA at Lake Radonjić near Glođane in what became known as the Lake Radonjić massacre.

December 1998: Resumption of Fighting and Račak Massacre

In December 1998, the ceasefire in Kosovo broke down, and fighting resumed, culminating in the Račak massacre. This event attracted further international attention to the conflict.

1998: Kosovo War

In 1998, the Kosovo War began, escalating tensions between Albanian and Serb communities.

1998: Peak of Kosovo's population before the Kosovo War

Kosovo's population peaked at an estimated 2.2 million in 1998 before the Kosovo War and subsequent migration caused a decrease.

June 1999: NATO Intervention and Population Displacement

Between 24 March and June 10 1999, NATO intervened by bombing Yugoslavia, aiming to force Milošević to withdraw his forces from Kosovo. Combined with continued skirmishes between Albanian guerrillas and Yugoslav forces the conflict resulted in a further massive displacement of population in Kosovo.

June 1999: Reestablishment of Kosovafilm

In June 1999, Kosovafilm was reestablished after Yugoslav withdrawal from the region.

June 1999: ICTY Indictments for Crimes During Kosovo War

In June 1999, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) indicted nine senior Yugoslav officials, including Milošević, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed between January and June 1999.

June 1999: KFOR enters Kosovo

On 12 June 1999, the Kosovo Force (KFOR) entered Kosovo, one day after the United Nations Security Council adopted the UNSC Resolution 1244.

June 1999: UN Security Council Resolution 1244

On June 10, 1999, the UN Security Council passed UN Security Council Resolution 1244, placing Kosovo under transitional UN administration (UNMIK) and authorizing Kosovo Force (KFOR), a NATO-led peacekeeping force.

1999: Destruction of Cultural Heritage during Kosovo Conflict

During the 1999 conflict in Kosovo, many buildings representing Kosovo's heritage were destroyed or damaged.

1999: Yugoslav Army Withdrawal and UN Mission

In 1999, the Kosovo War resulted in the withdrawal of the Yugoslav army and the establishment of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.

1999: War in Kosovo

The War in Kosovo in 1999, affected the services, industry and agriculture sectors.

2000: Increase in Archaeological Expeditions

Since 2000, an increase in archaeological expeditions has revealed many previously unknown sites in Kosovo, including Stone Age cave dwellings.

November 2001: First Elections for the Assembly of Kosovo

In November 2001, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe supervised the first elections for the Assembly of Kosovo.

October 2004: Formation of New Governing Coalition

After Kosovo-wide elections in October 2004, the LDK and AAK formed a new governing coalition that did not include PDK and Ora.

2004: UNESCO recognised the Visoki Dečani monastery as World Heritage Site

In 2004, UNESCO recognised the Visoki Dečani monastery as a World Heritage Site for its outstanding universal value.

2004: Monuments attacked during ethnic violence

In 2004, cultural monuments in Kosovo came under attack during ethnic violence.

2004: Kosovo Unrest

In 2004, prolonged negotiations over Kosovo's future status, sociopolitical problems and nationalist sentiments culminated in the Kosovo unrest. This resulted in casualties, injuries, and damage to property and religious sites.

2005: Value of minerals in Kosovo estimated

In 2005, the Directorate for Mines and Minerals and the World Bank estimated that Kosovo had €13.5 billion worth of minerals.

February 2006: Start of International Negotiations on Kosovo's Status

In February 2006, international negotiations began, led by UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari, to determine the final status of Kosovo, as envisaged under UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

2006: Property inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger

In 2006, the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to difficulties in its management and conservation stemming from the region's political instability.

February 2007: Delivery of Ahtisaari's Draft Status Proposal

In February 2007, Martti Ahtisaari delivered a draft status settlement proposal to leaders in Belgrade and Pristina, forming the basis for a draft UN Security Council Resolution proposing 'supervised independence' for Kosovo.

July 2007: Discarding of Draft Resolution Backing Ahtisaari's Proposal

On July 20, 2007, the United States, United Kingdom and other European members of the Security Council formally discarded a draft resolution backing Ahtisaari's proposal, failing to secure Russian backing.

November 2007: Parliamentary Elections and Victory Claim by Hashim Thaçi

Parliamentary elections were held on November 17, 2007. After early results, Hashim Thaçi claimed victory for PDK and stated his intention to declare independence.

February 2008: Postponement of Independence Declaration

A declaration of independence by Kosovar Albanian leaders was postponed until the end of the Serbian presidential elections on February 4, 2008, due to concerns it could boost support for the nationalist candidate.

February 2008: Albania recognises the Republic of Kosovo

In February 2008, Albania was among the first countries to officially announce its recognition of the Republic of Kosovo.

February 2008: Declaration of Independence

On 17 February 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia.

October 2008: UN General Assembly Request for Advisory Opinion

On October 8, 2008, the UN General Assembly resolved, on a proposal by Serbia, to ask the International Court of Justice to render an advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence.

2008: Kosovo Police assumes law enforcement responsibilities

Following the independence of Kosovo in 2008, the Kosovo Police assumed the primary law enforcement responsibilities within the country.

2008: Kosovar Albanians convert to Protestantism

In 2008, Protestant pastor Artur Krasniqi claimed that "as many as 15,000" Kosovar Albanians had converted to Protestantism since 1985.

2008: EULEX gains acceptance

In 2008, despite initial opposition, EULEX gained acceptance from Serbia and the UN Security Council.

2008: Preparations for the formation of the Kosovo Security Force

In 2008, under the leadership of NATO, the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) began preparations for the formation of the Kosovo Security Force.

2008: Kosovo's Declaration of Independence

Since the declaration of independence in 2008, Kosovo has made substantial advancements in international sports.

2008: Financial Crisis Onset

Since the onset of the 2008 financial crisis, Kosovo has experienced solid economic growth.

2009: Establishment of Kosovo's Security Force

Kosovo's Security Force was established in 2009 with the goal of becoming self-sufficient, while KFOR's operations are gradually reducing.

July 2010: International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion

On July 22, 2010, the International Court of Justice rendered its advisory opinion, holding that Kosovo's declaration of independence was not in violation of international law or UNSCR 1244.

2010: Dokufest voted as one of 25 best international documentary festivals

In 2010, Dokufest was voted as one of the 25 best international documentary festivals.

2011: New York Times includes Kosovo on list of places to visit

In 2011, The New York Times included Kosovo in its list of 41 places to visit.

2011: Religious affiliation in Kosovo

In the 2011 census, 95.6% of the population of Kosovo was counted as Muslim and 3.7% as Christian including 2.2% as Roman Catholic and 1.5% as Eastern Orthodox.

February 2012: Asterisk Agreement

On 24 February 2012, the "asterisk agreement" was agreed in an 11-point arrangement, allowing Kosovo to participate in international forums under the title "Kosovo*" with a footnote.

2012: Rona Nishliu finished 5th in Eurovision

In 2012, singer Rona Nishliu finished 5th in the Eurovision Song Contest.

2012: ICO concluded operations

The International Civilian Office (ICO) concluded its operations in 2012 after fulfilling its obligations.

April 2013: Brussels Agreement Reached

On April 19, 2013, Serbia and Kosovo reached the Brussels Agreement, brokered by the EU, allowing the Serb minority in Kosovo to have its own police force and court of appeals.

2013: Brussels Agreement stipulates formation of new municipalities

According to the Law of Kosovo and the Brussels Agreement of 2013, new municipalities with Serb majority populations were formed.

2013: Nevena Božović in Eurovision

In 2013, Nevena Božović represented Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest as a member of Moje 3.

2013: Brussels Agreement

In 2013, Serbia accepted the governing authority of Kosovo institutions as part of the Brussels Agreement.

2014: Kosovo submits film for Academy Award

In 2014, Kosovo submitted their first film, "Three Windows and a Hanging", for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Loading Video...

2014: Construction of R6 Motorway started

In 2014, construction started on the R6 Motorway, which links Pristina with the border of North Macedonia.

2014: Government announces plans for a Ministry of Defence

In 2014, the government officially announced its decision to establish a Ministry of Defence by 2019, aiming to transform the Kosovo Security Force into the Kosovo Armed Forces to meet NATO standards.

2015: Kosovo's Participation in the European Games

In 2015, Kosovo began participating in the European Games, amassing four medals.

2015: Kosovo's UNESCO membership bid fails

In 2015, Kosovo's bid to become a member of UNESCO fell three votes short of the two-thirds majority required to join the organization.

2016: Kosovo admitted to UEFA and FIFA

In 2016, Kosovo achieved full membership status in both the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

2016: Kosovo's First Olympic Games and Medals

In 2016, Kosovo participated in its first Olympic Games, securing its first medals.

2017: Lindita represented Albania in Eurovision

In 2017, Lindita represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest.

2017: Construction of R7.1 Motorway began

In 2017, construction began on the R7.1 Motorway in Kosovo.

December 2018: Legislation enacted to transform the Kosovo Security Force into an army

In December 2018, the government enacted legislation to redefine the mandate of the Kosovo Security Force, transforming it into an army.

2018: Kosovo in UEFA Nations League

During the 2018 edition of the UEFA Nations League, Kosovo concluded the tournament atop their League D group.

2018: Kosovo's Participation in the Mediterranean Games

In 2018, Kosovo commenced participation in the Mediterranean Games, achieving success with a total of ten medals.

2018: Poverty and unemployment rates

In 2018, the International Monetary Fund reported that approximately one-sixth of the population lived below the poverty line and one-third of the working age population was unemployed, the highest rate in Europe.

December 2019: Energy agreement between Kosovo and Albania

In December 2019, Kosovo and Albania signed an agreement to establish a joint energy bloc. This agreement allows for the exchange of energy reserves between the two countries, with Kosovo expecting to save €4 million per year.

2019: Establishment of a Ministry of Defence

By 2019, the establishment of a Ministry of Defence was set in motion, ensuring the necessary infrastructure and oversight for the newly formed armed forces.

2019: Population distribution by ethnicity

In 2019, Albanians constituted 92% of the population of Kosovo, followed by ethnic Serbs (4%), Bosniaks (2%), Turks (1%), Romani (1%), and the Gorani (<1%).

2019: Nevena Božović represented Serbia in Eurovision

In 2019, Nevena Božović represented Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest as a solo act.

2019: Construction of R6 Motorway finished

In 2019, construction of the R6 Motorway was completed. The motorway links Pristina with the border of North Macedonia.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score

Kosovo had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.19/10, ranking it 107th globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Agriculture accounts for GDP

While agriculture accounts for only 6.6% of GDP, albeit an increase of 0.5 percentage points from 2019, it forms 18.7% of Kosovo's workforce, the highest proportion of agricultural employment in the region after Albania.

2020: Limited trust between ethnic groups in Kosovo

A 2020 research report funded by the EU shows that there is a limited scale of trust and overall contact between the major ethnic groups in Kosovo.

2021: Protests and Demonstrations

During 2021 protests and demonstrations took place in Kosovo.

2021: Kosovo's population estimated by the Agency of Statistics

In 2021, the Agency of Statistics estimated Kosovo's population to be approximately 1,774,000.

2021: Kosovo engaged in formulating a voluntary NDC

Since 2021, Kosovo has been actively engaged in the process of formulating a voluntary Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), with assistance provided from Japan.

December 2022: Application to the European Union

In December 2022, Kosovo filed a formal application to become a member of the European Union.

December 2022: Formal Application to Become a Member of the European Union

On December 15, 2022, Kosovo filed a formal application to become a member of the European Union.

2022: Protests and Demonstrations

During 2022 protests and demonstrations took place in Kosovo.

February 2023: Meeting in Brussels to Normalize Ties

Presidents of Serbia and Kosovo organized a meeting in Brussels on February 27, 2023, to create and agree upon an 11-point agreement on implementing a European Union-backed deal to normalise ties between the two countries.

March 2023: Agreement on Normalizing Ties in Ohrid

Presidents of Serbia and Kosovo organized a meeting in Ohrid on March 18, 2023, to agree upon an 11-point agreement on implementing a European Union-backed deal to normalise ties between the two countries, including recognising "each other's documents such as passports and license plates".

2023: Kosovo ranks among the top ten countries for perceived safety

According to the Global Safety Report by Gallup, which assesses personal security worldwide through the Law and Order Index Scores for 2023, Kosovo ranked among the top ten countries globally in terms of perceived safety and law enforcement effectiveness.

2023: Foreign Relations of Kosovo

As of 2023, 104 out of 193 United Nations member states recognise the Republic of Kosovo.

2023: Protests and Demonstrations

During 2023 protests and demonstrations took place in Kosovo.

2023: Kosovo establishes goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

In 2023, Kosovo established a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 16.3% as part of its broader objective to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2050.

2023: Kosovo ranks 56th in Press Freedom Index

In 2023, Kosovo was ranked 56th out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index report.

2023: Kosovo Security Force active members

In 2023, the Kosovo Security Force had over 5,000 active members, using vehicles and weapons acquired from a number of NATO countries.

2023: Life expectancy and fertility rate statistics

In 2023, the overall life expectancy at birth in Kosovo is 79.68 years, and the estimated total fertility rate is 1.88 children born per woman.

January 2024: Kosovo nationals exempt from visa requirements within the Schengen Area

From 1 January 2024, Kosovo nationals became exempt from visa requirements within the Schengen Area for periods of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

January 2024: End of Demonstrations with Recognition of Vehicle Registration Plates

The 2022–23 demonstrations in Kosovo ended on January 1, 2024, when each country recognised each other's vehicle registration plates.

2024: Kosovo ranked 29th in the World Happiness Report

According to the World Happiness Report 2024, Kosovo is ranked 29th among 143 nations assessed.

April 2025: Recognition of Independence

As of April 16, 2025, 116 UN states recognized Kosovo's independence, including all of its immediate neighbors, with the exception of Serbia; 10 states have subsequently withdrawn that recognition.

2030: Kosovo scheduled to host the 2030 games

Forthcoming, Kosovo is scheduled to host the 2030 games, marking a significant opportunity for the nation in the realm of international sports.

2050: Target year for carbon neutrality

In 2023, Kosovo established a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 16.3% as part of its broader objective to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2050.