Kosovo Population
Europe & Central Asia · 153rd most populous · Upper middle income
Population right now (estimate)
1,569,977
The population of Kosovo is about 1,569,977 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 1.6 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.02% of the world's people.
Kosovo is ranked 153rd of 217 by population. The population is shrinking, by about 0.37% a year. It peaked around 1997 at 2.2 million and is projected to fall to 1.5 million by 2050. Since 1960 (985 thousand) it has grown by 60%. 51% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
1.6 million
Yearly change
−0.37%
World rank
153rd
Share of world
0.02%
Density
—
Land area
—
Life expectancy
78.2 yrs
Births per woman
1.54
GDP per capita
$7,899
GDP
$12.5B
Population of Kosovo, 1960–2050
Kosovo population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 984,846 | — | — |
| 1970 | 1,249,555 | +1.47% | — |
| 1980 | 1,604,818 | +2.89% | — |
| 1990 | 1,973,790 | +1.41% | — |
| 2000 | 1,802,493 | −3.69% | — |
| 2010 | 1,788,743 | −0.33% | — |
| 2020 | 1,790,151 | +0.07% | — |
| 2024 | 1,594,353 | −5.25% | — |
| 2026proj. | 1,570,983 | −0.37% | — |
| 2030proj. | 1,565,905 | −0.00% | — |
| 2040proj. | 1,575,043 | +0.01% | — |
| 2050proj. | 1,541,843 | −0.38% | — |
Kosovo vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 113 times as many people as Kosovo.
Kosovo population: questions and answers
What is the population of Kosovo in 2026?
About 1,570,983 (1.6 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is Kosovo's population growing?
No — it is falling by about 0.37% a year (2026).
What will the population of Kosovo be in 2050?
About 1.5 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Kosovo?
Pristina.
What is the life expectancy in Kosovo?
78.2 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.