Kosovo's registered resident population stands at 1,602,515, dropping by 12% compared to the previous census in 2011, according to the final results of the 2024 population census released on December 19 by the country’s statistics office.

This is attributed to the fact that many Kosovars leave the country to work abroad in search of a better life, a trend that persists in other Balkan countries as well.

The census, initially scheduled for 2023, was postponed to April 2024.

Kosovo Albanians make up around 90% of the population, while ethnic Serbs account for just over 3%. However, this is primarily attributed to the ethnic Serbs in Kosovo boycotting the census.

The data reveal a near-equal gender distribution, with 50.2% of the population identified as male and 49.8% as female. The average age of Kosovo’s residents is 34.84 years.

Kosovo’s population density has decreased to 146.9 inhabitants per km² from 159.5 in 2011.

The census also highlighted significant changes in household composition and housing. The number of households has risen to 366,595 in 2024 from 297,090 in 2011.

However, the average household size has declined, with an average of 4.33 members per household in 2024 compared to 5.9 members in 2011.

Pristina, Prizren, and Ferizaj municipalities recorded the highest number of housing units, reflecting urbanisation trends.

The census faced challenges in the four northern municipalities of Leposaviq, Zubin Potok, Zvecan, and Mitrovica, which are predominantly populated by ethnic Serbs as  despite a partial registration effort, a large-scale boycott was reported in these areas.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, after a violent conflict, with Belgrade continuing to refuse recognition of its former province's independence.