History of Kosovo in Timeline

Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with partial diplomatic recognition. It shares borders with Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and North Macedonia. Its area covers 10,887 km2 with a population of nearly 1.6 million, predominantly ethnic Albanians. The terrain varies from high plains to mountains, with a mainly continental climate influenced by Mediterranean and alpine weather patterns. Pristina is its capital and largest city, with other major urban centers including Prizren, Ferizaj, Gjilan, and Peja.

May 1901: Albanians pillage cities

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.

1910: Albanian revolts

In 1910, Kosovo experienced one of the Albanian revolts.

1912: Metohija ceded to the Kingdom of Montenegro and eastern Kosovo ceded to the Kingdom of Serbia

After the Ottomans' defeat in the First Balkan War, the 1913 Treaty of London was signed with Metohija ceded to the Kingdom of Montenegro and eastern Kosovo ceded to the Kingdom of Serbia.

1912: Serbian Colonization of Kosovo

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

1912: Albanian revolt against the Ottoman Empire

In 1912, Albanians under Hasan Prishtina revolted against the Ottoman Empire, defeating them and forcing them to accept demands for autonomy, which never materialized, leading to the Balkan Wars.

1912: Ottoman Empire loses Kosovo

In 1912, Kosovo was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire until it was ceded to the Kingdom of Serbia after the Balkan Wars.

1913: Kosovo ceded to the Kingdom of Serbia

After the Balkan Wars in 1913, Kosovo was ceded to the Kingdom of Serbia.

1913: Treaty of London signed

After the Ottomans' defeat in the First Balkan War, the 1913 Treaty of London was signed with Metohija ceded to the Kingdom of Montenegro and eastern Kosovo ceded to the Kingdom of Serbia.

1915: Serbian army retreats

In the winter of 1915, 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 Central Powers out of Kosovo

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

1919: Land reform affects Albanian landowners

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: Kosovo, Raška, and Zeta.

1929: Transformation into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia

In 1929, the country was transformed into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and the territories of Kosovo were reorganized among the Banate of Zeta, the Banate of Morava, and the Banate of Vardar.

1935: Agreement with Turkey on Albanian expatriation

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

1938: Second agreement with Turkey on Albanian expatriation

In 1938, a second agreement between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Turkey was signed on the expatriation of Albanians to Turkey.

1941: Kosovar Albanians' right to education denied

Between 1912 and 1941, Kosovar Albanians' right to receive education in their own language was denied alongside other non-Slavic or unrecognised Slavic nations of Yugoslavia, as the kingdom only recognised the Slavic Croat, Serb, and Slovene nations as constituent nations of Yugoslavia.

1941: Axis invasion of Yugoslavia

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

August 1945: Law disallows return of colonists

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

1945: Autonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija takes shape

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 in Pristina convicted multiple Albanian Communists of Kosovo of being infiltrators from Albania.

1959: Final demarcation of the Autonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija

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

1964: Yugoslav 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, reformers in Yugoslavia attained decentralization of powers, creating autonomy in Kosovo and recognizing a Muslim Yugoslav nationality.

1969: Establishment of Kosovafilm

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

1974: Constitution

After the ouster of Ranković in 1966, the agenda of pro-decentralisation reformers in Yugoslavia succeeded in the late 1960s in attaining substantial decentralisation of powers, creating substantial autonomy in Kosovo and Vojvodina, and recognising a Muslim Yugoslav nationality.

1974: Kosovo granted major autonomy

By the 1974 Constitution of Yugoslavia, Kosovo was granted major autonomy, including its own administration, assembly, and judiciary, as well as representation in the collective presidency and the Yugoslav parliament.

1978: Celebrations of the League of Prizren anniversary

In 1978, widespread celebrations occurred for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the League of Prizren, raising concerns over Albanian nationalism in Kosovo.

February 1979: Foundation of the Kosova National Art Gallery

In February 1979, the Kosova National Art Gallery was founded as the highest institution of visual arts in Kosovo, named after Muslim Mulliqi.

March 1981: Kosovar Albanian student protests

In March 1981, Kosovar Albanian students at the University of Pristina organized protests demanding Kosovo become a republic within Yugoslavia and seeking human rights. These protests were suppressed by the police and army, leading to many arrests.

1981: Protests by Albanians

In 1981, protests by Albanians over the status of Kosovo resulted in violence, the crushing of the protests, purges in the Communist Party, and the rescinding of rights granted to Albanians.

1982: Viktorija represented Yugoslavia in Eurovision

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

1985: Protestant conversions

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 claims 'genocide'

In 1986, the Serbian Orthodox Church published an official claim that Kosovo Serbs were being subjected to an Albanian program of 'genocide'.

1989: Peak Exports from Rahovec Facility

At its peak in 1989, the exports from the Rahovec wine production facility amounted to 40 million litres and were mainly distributed to the German market.

1989: Kosovo's Autonomous Status Reduced

In 1989, Serbian President Slobodan Milošević reduced Kosovo's special autonomous status within Serbia, initiating cultural oppression of the ethnic Albanian population.

July 1990: Proclamation of the Republic of Kosova

In July 1990, Kosovo Albanians proclaimed the existence of the Republic of Kosova.

1990: Kosovafilm taken over and dissolved by Serbian authorities

In 1990, Kosovafilm was taken over by Serbian authorities and dissolved after producing seventeen feature films, numerous short films, and documentaries.

1990: Low GDP during 1990 worsened healthcare situation

In 1990, Kosovo's healthcare capabilities were further limited due to low GDP, which worsened the situation.

1990: Kosovar artists seek alternatives due to regime restrictions

Until 1990, artists from Kosovo were often unable to display their art in galleries due to the restrictive regime, leading them to seek alternative exhibition methods.

May 1992: Ibrahim Rugova Elected President

In May 1992, Ibrahim Rugova was elected president of the Republic of Kosova.

September 1992: Declaration of Sovereignty and Independence

In September 1992, the Republic of Kosova declared itself a sovereign and independent state.

1992: Albania Recognizes Republic of Kosova

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

November 1995: Dayton Agreement

In November 1995, the Dayton Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War, did not resolve the status of Kosovo, 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, which resulted in the Kosovo War.

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: Fighting Resumes in Kosovo

In December 1998, fighting resumed in Kosovo, after a ceasefire failed, culminating in the Račak massacre, which garnered international attention.

1998: Kosovo War

In 1998, the Kosovo War began, resulting in major violence between Kosovo's Albanian and Serb communities.

1998: Kosovo's population peaked

Kosovo's population peaked at an estimated 2.2 million in 1998, before decreasing because of the Kosovo War and subsequent migration.

June 1999: NATO Intervention and Yugoslav Withdrawal

In June 1999, NATO intervened by bombing Yugoslavia to force Milošević to withdraw his forces from Kosovo, resulting in a massive displacement of the population.

June 1999: Reestablishment of Kosovafilm

In June 1999, after Yugoslav withdrawal from the region, Kosovafilm was reestablished to revive the film industry in Kosovo.

June 1999: ICTY Prosecutions

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.

June 1999: UN Security Council Resolution 1244

On 10 June 1999, the UN Security Council passed UN Security Council Resolution 1244, placing Kosovo under transitional UN administration (UNMIK) and authorising Kosovo Force (KFOR).

June 1999: KFOR Enters Kosovo

On 12 June 1999, the Kosovo Force (KFOR), a NATO-led international peacekeeping force, entered Kosovo following the adoption of UNSC Resolution 1244.

1999: Destruction of heritage buildings during the Kosovo conflict

During the 1999 conflict in Kosovo, many heritage buildings were destroyed or damaged, particularly in the Dukagjini region where at least 500 kullas were attacked.

1999: Establishment of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo

In 1999, the Kosovo War concluded, leading to 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 stagnated the economy of Kosovo.

2000: Increase in archaeological expeditions

Since 2000, an increase in archaeological expeditions has revealed many previously unknown sites in Kosovo.

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, leading to Ibrahim Rugova's election as president and Bajram Rexhepi as Prime Minister.

October 2004: New Governing Coalition Formed

After Kosovo-wide elections in October 2004, the LDK and AAK formed a new governing coalition, leading to Ramush Haradinaj becoming Prime Minister, while Ibrahim Rugova retained the position of President.

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

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

2004: Kosovo Unrest

In 2004, prolonged negotiations over Kosovo's future status, sociopolitical problems, and nationalist sentiments culminated in the Kosovo unrest. 11 Albanians and 16 Serbs were killed, 900 people were injured, and several houses, public buildings and churches were damaged or destroyed.

2004: Attacks on monuments during ethnic violence

In 2004, the monuments, including Visoki Dečani monastery and others, came under attack during the ethnic violence.

2005: Estimated Mineral Wealth

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

February 2006: International Negotiations Begin

In February 2006, international negotiations began to determine the final status of Kosovo, led by UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari.

2006: World Heritage in Danger

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

February 2007: Ahtisaari Delivers Status Proposal

In February 2007, Martti Ahtisaari delivered a draft status settlement proposal to leaders in Belgrade and Pristina, suggesting 'supervised independence' for Kosovo.

July 2007: Draft Resolution Discarded

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

November 2007: Parliamentary Elections Held

On 17 November 2007, parliamentary elections were held in Kosovo. Hashim Thaçi claimed victory for PDK and announced his intention to declare independence.

February 2008: Albania Recognizes Republic of Kosovo

In February 2008, Albania was among the first countries to officially recognize the Republic of Kosovo's independence.

February 2008: Declaration of Independence Postponed

In February 2008, a declaration of independence by Kosovar Albanian leaders was postponed until after the Serbian presidential elections.

February 2008: Kosovo Declares Independence

On 17 February 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.

October 2008: UN General Assembly Resolution

On 8 October 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 Kosovo's independence in 2008, the Kosovo Police assumed primary law enforcement responsibilities within the country.

2008: EULEX Gained Acceptance

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

2008: Claims of Protestant Conversions

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

2008: Preparations for Kosovo Security Force Formation

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

2008: Financial Crisis Impact

Kosovo's GDP has mostly grown since its declaration of independence, despite the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent European debt crisis.

2008: Kosovo's Declaration of Independence

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

2009: Establishment of Kosovo's Security Force

Kosovo's Security Force was established in 2009, with the intention of it becoming self-sufficient over time.

July 2010: ICJ Advisory Opinion

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

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

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

2011: New York Times Includes Kosovo on List of Places to Visit

The New York Times included Kosovo on the list of 41 places to visit in 2011.

February 2012: Asterisk agreement

On 24 February 2012, the "asterisk agreement" was agreed in an 11-point arrangement between Pristina and Belgrade, mediated by the European Union.

2012: Rona Nishliu finished 5th in the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest

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

2012: ICO Concludes Operations

In 2012, the ICO concluded its operations in Kosovo after fulfilling its obligations.

April 2013: Brussels Agreement Reached

On 19 April 2013, the governments of 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

According to the Brussels Agreement of 2013, new municipalities with Serb majority populations were stipulated to be formed.

2013: Nevena Božović represented Serbia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

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

2014: Kosovo submitted their first film for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

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

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2014: Construction of the R6 Motorway started

In 2014, construction started on the R6 Motorway, a key infrastructure project linking Pristina with North Macedonia.

2014: Kosovo Announces Ministry of Defence Establishment

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

2015: Kosovo's Involvement in the European Games began

In 2015, Kosovo began its participation in the European Games, amassing four medals during the event.

2015: 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.

2016: Kosovo gained full membership status in UEFA and FIFA

In 2016, Kosovo achieved full membership in both UEFA and FIFA, enabling the national football team to compete in international competitions.

2016: Kosovo's inaugural participation in the Olympic Games

In 2016, Kosovo participated in the Olympic Games for the first time, securing its first medals and achieving a significant milestone.

2017: Lindita represented Albania in Eurovision in 2017

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

2017: Construction of the R7.1 Motorway began

In 2017, the construction of the R7.1 Motorway, a part of Kosovo's developing road network, began.

December 2018: Kosovo Security Force Mandate Redefined

In December 2018, the Kosovo government enacted legislation to redefine the mandate of the Kosovo Security Force, transitioning it into an army, and initiating the establishment of a Ministry of Defence.

2018: UEFA Nations League

During the 2018 edition of the UEFA Nations League, the national football team of Kosovo concluded the tournament atop their League D group, maintaining an unbeaten record of four victories and two draws.

2018: Kosovo commenced participation in the Mediterranean Games

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

2018: Poverty and Unemployment Rates Reported

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 in Kosovo.

December 2019: Joint Energy Bloc Agreement

In December 2019, an agreement was signed to create a joint energy bloc between Kosovo and Albania, allowing for the exchange of energy reserves.

2019: Agriculture's GDP

Agriculture accounted for 6.6% of GDP in 2019, an increase of 0.5 percentage points from the previous year.

2019: Nevena Božović represented Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest

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

2019: Construction of the R6 Motorway finished

In 2019, the construction of the R6 Motorway, which connects Pristina with the border of North Macedonia, was completed.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Ranking

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

2019: Establishment of Ministry of Defence Aims

The establishment of a Ministry of Defence was aimed to transform the existing Kosovo Security Force into the Kosovo Armed Forces by 2019.

2020: Limited Trust Between Ethnic Groups

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

In 2021, a number of protests and demonstrations took place in Kosovo.

2021: Kosovo Engages 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: Kosovo applies for EU membership

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

2022: Protests and Demonstrations

In 2022, a number of protests and demonstrations took place in Kosovo.

February 2023: Meeting in Brussels

In Brussels on 27 February 2023, Presidents of Serbia and Kosovo met to discuss an 11-point agreement to normalise ties.

March 2023: Meeting in Ohrid

In Ohrid on 18 March 2023, Presidents of Serbia and Kosovo agreed upon an 11-point agreement on implementing a European Union-backed deal to normalise ties.

2023: Kosovo Ranks Among Top Ten Countries in Perceived Safety

According to the Global Safety Report by Gallup in 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 recognize the Republic of Kosovo.

2023: Kosovo Establishes Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Goal

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, as reported by Reporters Without Borders.

2023: Protests and Demonstrations

In 2023, a number of protests and demonstrations took place in Kosovo.

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 at Birth

In 2023, the overall life expectancy at birth in Kosovo is 79.68 years; 77.38 years for males and 81.87 years for females.

January 2024: Kosovo Nationals Exempt from Schengen Area Visa Requirements

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

January 2024: End of Vehicle Registration Plate Dispute

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

2024: Kosovo's World Happiness Report Ranking

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

2024: Kosovo's Population Census

According to the last census of 2024 by the Kosovo Agency of Statistics, Kosovo's population is 1,585,566.

2024: Ethnic Composition

In 2024, Albanians constituted around 92% of the population of Kosovo, followed by ethnic Serbs (2.3%), Bosniaks (1.7%), Ashkali and Balkan Egyptians (1.7%), Turks (1.2%), Romani (<1%), and the Gorani (<1%).

2024: Pristina International Airport passenger traffic

In 2024, Pristina International Airport handled a total of 4,082,481 passengers, highlighting its significance as Kosovo's primary air travel hub.

2024: Religious Affiliation

In the 2024 census, 93.5% of the population of Kosovo were Sunni Muslims, 2.3% were Eastern Orthodox and 1.8% Roman Catholics.

April 2025: Recognition of Kosovo's Independence

As of 16 April 2025, 116 UN states had recognized Kosovo's independence, although some states have subsequently withdrawn that recognition.

2030: Kosovo is 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: Kosovo Aims 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.