History of Kosovo in Timeline

Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with partial diplomatic recognition. Bordered by Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and North Macedonia, it covers 10,887 km2 and has a population of nearly 1.6 million, predominantly ethnic Albanians. Its terrain is varied, featuring plains, hills, and mountains reaching over 2,500m. Kosovo's climate is mainly continental with Mediterranean and Alpine influences. Pristina is its capital and largest city, with other major urban centers including Prizren, Ferizaj, Gjilan, and Peja.

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.

1910: Albanian revolts

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

1912: Serbian Colonisation

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

1912: Balkan War Takeover

During the Balkan Wars in 1912, Serbia took over the province and over 100,000 Albanians left Kosovo and about 50,000 were killed in the massacres that accompanied the war. Soon, there were concerted Serbian colonisation efforts in Kosovo during various periods between Serbia's 1912 takeover of the province and World War II, causing the population of Serbs in Kosovo to grow by about 58,000 in this period.

1912: Assimilation into Serbian society

From 1912, Serbian authorities promoted creating new Serb settlements in Kosovo as well as the assimilation of Albanians into Serbian society, causing a mass exodus of Albanians from Kosovo.

1912: Ceded to the Kingdom of Serbia

In 1912, after the Balkan Wars, Kosovo was ceded to the Kingdom of Serbia.

1912: Albanian revolt against the Ottoman Empire

In the spring of 1912, Albanians under the lead of Hasan Prishtina revolted against the Ottoman Empire, creating weaknesses that led to the First Balkan War.

1913: Treaty of London

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.

1913: Ceded to the Kingdom of Serbia

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

1915: Retreat of the Serbian army

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 the Central Powers out of Kosovo

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

1919: Land reform

In 1919, Albanians and other Muslims were forced to emigrate, mainly due to 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: Kingdom of Yugoslavia

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

1935: Agreements with Turkey

In 1935, an agreement between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Turkey was signed on the expatriation of 240,000 Albanians to Turkey.

1938: Agreements with Turkey

In 1938, an agreement between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Turkey was signed on the expatriation of 240,000 Albanians to Turkey.

1941: Serbian Colonisation

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

1941: Axis invasion of Yugoslavia

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

August 1945: Law Disallowing Return

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

1945: Autonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija

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 for being infiltrators from Albania and gave them long prison sentences.

1959: Final Demarcation

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

1964: Yugoslav government investigation

In 1964, an official investigation conducted by the Yugoslav government recorded nearly 8,000 war-related fatalities in Kosovo between 1941 and 1945, 5,489 of them Serb or Montenegrin and 2,177 Albanian.

1966: Ouster of Ranković

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

1969: Establishment of Kosovafilm

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

1974: Yugoslav Constitution

By the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution, Kosovo was granted major autonomy, allowing it to have its own administration, assembly, and judiciary; as well as having a membership in the collective presidency and the Yugoslav parliament, in which it held veto power.

1974: Aftermath of the 1974 constitution

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

1978: Celebrations of the League of Prizren

In 1978, there were widespread celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the League of Prizren, raising concerns over Albanian nationalism.

February 1979: Kosova National Art Gallery founded

In February 1979, the Kosova National Art Gallery, now known as the National Gallery of Kosovo, was founded as the highest institution of visual arts in Kosovo.

March 1981: Kosovar Albanian student protests

In March 1981, Kosovar Albanian students at the University of Pristina organized protests to demand that Kosovo become a republic within Yugoslavia and to advocate for their human rights. These protests were met with a brutal response from the police and army, leading to numerous arrests of protesters.

1981: Protests by Albanians

In 1981, protests by Albanians over the status of Kosovo resulted in Yugoslav territorial defence units being brought into Kosovo, a state of emergency being declared, and the protests being crushed.

1982: Viktorija represents Yugoslavia in Eurovision

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

1985: Beginning of Protestant converts in Kosovo

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

1986: Claims of genocide

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

1989: Reduction of Kosovo's autonomy

In 1989, Serbian President Slobodan Milošević significantly reduced Kosovo's autonomous status within Serbia through intimidation and political maneuvering. This also involved cultural oppression of the ethnic Albanian population, leading to a non-violent separatist movement by Kosovar Albanians.

1989: Peak wine exports from Rahovec facility

In 1989, the Rahovec wine production facility in Kosovo reached its peak, exporting 40 million litres of wine, primarily 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.

1990: Dissolution of Kosovafilm

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

1990: Low GDP during 1990

Low GDP during 1990 worsened the situation even more regarding Kosovo's capabilities to develop a modern health care system.

May 1992: Election of Ibrahim Rugova as 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 the Republic of Kosova

In 1992, Albania was the only country whose parliament voted to recognise the Republic of Kosova.

November 1995: Status of Kosovo not resolved

In November 1995, the status of Kosovo was not resolved as part of the Dayton Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War.

1996: KLA attacks begin

By 1996, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) launched attacks against the Yugoslav Army and Serbian police in Kosovo, leading to the Kosovo War.

September 1998: Lake Radonjić massacre

In September 1998, Serbian police discovered 34 bodies at Lake Radonjić near Glođane (Gllogjan), believed to be victims of the KLA, in what became known as the Lake Radonjić massacre.

December 1998: Fighting resumes; Račak massacre

In December 1998, the ceasefire in Kosovo broke down and fighting resumed, culminating in the Račak massacre, which drew significant international attention to the conflict.

1998: Kosovo War

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

1998: Peak population of Kosovo

The country's population rose steadily over the 20th century and peaked at an estimated 2.2 million in 1998.

June 1999: NATO intervention ends

Between 24 March and 10 June 1999, NATO intervened by bombing Yugoslavia, aiming to force Milošević to withdraw his forces from Kosovo. By June, Milošević agreed to a foreign military presence in Kosovo and the withdrawal of his troops.

June 1999: Reestablishment of Kosovafilm

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

June 1999: Indictments by ICTY

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

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

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 authorizing Kosovo Force (KFOR), a NATO-led peacekeeping force. The resolution affirmed the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia.

1999: Destruction of cultural heritage during Kosovo conflict

During the 1999 conflict in Kosovo, many buildings representing Kosovo's cultural heritage 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 with the withdrawal of the Yugoslav Army and the establishment of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.

1999: War in Kosovo

The economy of Kosovo is a transitional economy. It suffered from the combined results of political upheaval, the Serbian dismissal of Kosovo employees and the following War in Kosovo in 1999.

2000: Increase in archaeological expeditions

Since 2000, an increase in archaeological expeditions has revealed many previously unknown sites in Kosovo, with the earliest documented traces associated with the Stone Age.

November 2001: First Assembly of Kosovo elections

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

October 2004: Kosovo-wide elections

After Kosovo-wide elections in October 2004, the LDK and AAK formed a new governing coalition.

2004: Visoki Dečani monastery recognised as World Heritage Site

In 2004, UNESCO recognised 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 resulted in the Kosovo unrest. 11 Albanians and 16 Serbs were killed, 900 people were injured, and numerous buildings were damaged or destroyed.

2005: Estimated value of Kosovo's minerals

As of 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 on final status

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

2006: Medieval Monuments in Kosovo inscribed on List of World Heritage in Danger

In 2006, the Medieval Monuments in Kosovo were inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to political instability impacting management and conservation.

February 2007: Ahtisaari delivers status proposal

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

July 2007: Draft resolution discarded

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

November 2007: Parliamentary elections held

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

February 2008: Postponement of declaration of independence

A declaration of independence by Kosovar Albanian leaders was postponed until the end of the Serbian presidential elections on 4 February 2008, fearing a premature declaration could boost support for the nationalist candidate in Serbia.

February 2008: Albania recognizes the Republic of Kosovo

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

February 2008: Kosovo declares independence

On 17 February 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.

February 2008: Declaration of independence

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

October 2008: UN General Assembly resolution on Kosovo's independence

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: Financial crisis affects Kosovo

Despite declining foreign assistance, the GDP has mostly grown since its declaration of independence despite the 2008 financial crisis.

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: EULEX gains acceptance

In 2008, EULEX gained acceptance from Serbia and the UN Security Council, operating under the UNMIK mandate with operational independence.

2008: Protestant converts in Kosovo

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

2008: KFOR and KPC preparations for the Kosovo Security Force

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

2008: Kosovo's declaration of independence

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

2008: Financial crisis

Since the onset of the 2008 financial crisis, Kosovo has experienced significant economic growth, as measured by international financial institutions.

2009: Kosovo's Security Force established

In 2009, Kosovo's Security Force was established, with KFOR operations gradually reducing until the force becomes self-sufficient.

July 2010: ICJ advisory opinion on Kosovo's independence

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 or UNSCR 1244.

2010: Vascular plant species recorded

As of 2010, there were 1,800 recorded vascular plant species in Kosovo, with an expected actual number of 2,500 species due to the complex interaction of geology and hydrology creating a wide variety of habitat conditions for flora growth.

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

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

2011: Kosovo listed in The New York Times

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

February 2012: Asterisk agreement

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

2012: Rona Nishliu finishes 5th in Eurovision

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

2012: ICO concludes operations

The ICO concluded operations in 2012 after fulfilling obligations, while EULEX continues to operate within Kosovo and international law.

April 2013: Brussels Agreement reached

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

2013: Nevena Božović represents Serbia in Junior Eurovision

In 2013, Nevena Božović represented Serbia in the Junior 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 first film for Academy Award

In 2014, Kosovo submitted its 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 R6 Motorway began

In 2014, construction began on the R6 Motorway in Kosovo, linking Pristina with North Macedonia.

2014: Government announces plans to establish a Ministry of Defence

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

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.

2015: Kosovo's involvement in the European Games began

In 2015, Kosovo's involvement in the European Games began, during which the nation amassed four medals.

2016: Kosovo becomes full member of UEFA and FIFA

In 2016, Kosovo achieved full membership status in both UEFA and FIFA, enabling its participation in international football competitions.

2016: Kosovo's inaugural participation in the Olympic Games

In 2016, Kosovo had its inaugural participation in the Olympic Games, securing its first medals.

2016: Shok nominated for Academy Award

In 2016, the movie Shok was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 88th Academy Awards.

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2017: Lindita represents 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 Kosovo Security Force into an army

In December 2018, the government enacted legislation to redefine the mandate of the Kosovo Security Force, effecting its transformation into an army.

2018: Kosovo finishes atop League D group in UEFA Nations League

During the 2018-19 edition, Kosovo concluded the UEFA Nations League atop their League D group, securing promotion to a higher competitive tier.

2018: Kosovo commenced participation in the Mediterranean Games

In 2018, Kosovo commenced participation in the Mediterranean Games, obtaining ten medals.

2018: International Monetary Fund reports poverty and unemployment

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: Kosovo and Albania energy agreement

In December 2019, Kosovo and Albania's energy transmission operators signed an agreement to establish a joint energy bloc, expected to save Kosovo €4 million annually through energy reserve exchanges.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

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

2019: Nevena Božović represents Serbia in Eurovision as a solo act

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

2019: Completion of R6 Motorway

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

2019: Government plans to establish a Ministry of Defence

In 2019, the government officially announced its decision to establish a Ministry of Defence by 2019, with the aim of transforming the existing Kosovo Security Force into the Kosovo Armed Forces.

2019: Increase in agriculture's contribution to GDP

While agriculture accounts for only 6.6% of GDP in 2019, albeit an increase of 0.5 percentage points from 2019, it forms 18.7% of Kosovo's workforce.

2020: Research report shows 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

Protests and demonstrations took place in Kosovo during 2021, some of which involved weapons and resulted in deaths on both sides.

2021: Kosovo engages in formulating a voluntary NDC

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

December 2022: Kosovo files application to become a member of the European Union

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

December 2022: Application to the European Union

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

2022: Demonstrations in Kosovo

The demonstrations and protests in Kosovo continued between 2022 and 2023

February 2023: Meeting to normalise ties

Presidents of Serbia and Kosovo organised a meeting in Brussels on 27 February 2023 to discuss an agreement on implementing a European Union-backed deal to normalise ties between the two countries.

March 2023: Agreement on normalising ties

Presidents of Serbia and Kosovo organised a meeting in Ohrid on 18 March 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 establishes greenhouse gas reduction goal

In 2023, Kosovo has 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 among top ten countries in perceived safety

In 2023, according to the Global Safety Report by Gallup, Kosovo is included among the top ten countries globally in terms of perceived safety and law enforcement effectiveness.

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 Kosovo

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.

2023: Protests and demonstrations

Protests and demonstrations took place in Kosovo during 2023, some of which involved weapons and resulted in deaths on both sides.

January 2024: Kosovo nationals exempt from visa requirements for Schengen Area

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: Vehicle registration plates recognition

On 1 January 2024, the demonstrations in Kosovo between 2021 and 2023 ended when Kosovo and Serbia recognized each other's vehicle registration plates.

2024: Kosovo's World Happiness Report ranking

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

2024: Kosovo's most recent census

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

2024: Ethnic composition of Kosovo

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%).