Europe News
BACKGROUNDER: Kosovo - Europe's highest birth rate, smallest GDP
Nov 14, 2007, 2:10 GMT
Pristina - Kosovo holds parliamentary and local elections, both for the third time since NATO ended a bloody conflict by ousting Serbian security forces and a UN administration took over in 1999.
The Albanians eagerly hope to finally gain independence from Belgrade, but the recognition of the province as the world's newest state remained elusive despite expectations.
Apart from bordering Albania proper, Kosovo straddles three countries with sizeable Albanian minorities - Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia. In the latter two, Kosovo's unresolved status and porous borders have helped foment insurgencies over the past eight years.
The next crucial date is December 10, when the ongoing, again futile talks of Belgrade and Pristina on Kosovo's status, are scheduled to end and the big powers to decide on independence, no independence or just more uncertainty.
Kosovo facts:
Size - 10,908 square kilometres (quarter-size of Denmark)
Neighbours - Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania
Population - 2.1 million (estimate)
Major cities - Pristina (capital), Prizren, Pec, Kosovska Mitrovica, Gnjilan, Urosevac, Djakovica
Ethnic groups - Albanians (92 per cent), Serbs (5.3 per cent), Bosniaks, Turks, Roma (2.7 per cent)
Age - 0-14 years 33 per cent, 15-64 61 per cent, 65+ 6 per cent
Birth rate - higher than 2.5 per cent, highest in Europe
Economy - estimated GDP growth 3-4 per cent, per capita GDP estimated at 1,500 dollars; currency euro. Roughly one-fifth of the two 2-billion-euro (3 billion dollars) GDP is generated by foreign aid, 45 per cent of revenues in Kosovo is made up of remittance from diaspora and UN programmes.
Unemployment - 30-50 per cent, by various estimates
Main economic sectors - wood and metal industry
The Kosovo peacekeeping force, led by NATO: 15,000 troops, down from more than 50,000 in 1999.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Europe
- 1. Pope in Easter message calls for peace and religious tolerance
- 2. Magnificent Messi leads Barcelona to ninth straight win
- 3. Pope leads Easter vigil, calls for "true enlightenment"
- 4. Barcelona increase pressure on Real with romp in Zaragoza
- 5. Pope Benedict XVI leads Easter Vigil
Older Talkback
page: 1
I am interested to know where do the statistics come from. As far as we know there have been no reliable statistics about the population of Kosovo, let alone other economic and social aspects of it.
I like how they say '' ESTIMATE ''.
kosovo has been hit hard by the internal turmoil, in my professional opinion as a person who has largely studied the history of that area, I would say that these estimates are some of the closest I have seen to my own. Those who are not fimiliar with the area should not be critiquing such an estimate without their own knowledge of the area
Hi to monstersandcritics,
Your info. about Kosovo is very interesting. However, did you know
that this tremendously high birth rate is only due to the extreme natality of Albanians in this region. They have more than trippled during
the past four or so decades, while other ethnicities have been reasonably
stable ! This ought to be declared as a biological 'Aggression by reproduction' - and sanctioned by World community. Dankusti
In my last item I said that UN ought to 'sunction' the behavior of
Albanians in Kosovo - in terms of their using high birth rate as aggression against other ethnic groups of the region. I ment to say that they ought to be punished, one way or another, by trying to 'outnumber' others in that region - simply by reproduction ! At the same time, they are over 45% unemployed, and therefore either used as 'child solgiers' to
continue their attacks on Serbs, Romas and others, or having to be 'helped' by international community.
It is long overdue that Albanians in Kosovo ought to be required to act as responsible citizens of that region, which should remain a part of Serbia. And be educated that in todays overcrowded World, having more than TWO child per woman's life is socially irresponcible.
I'd like to hear other's ideas on THIS urgent subject ! Dankusti
we are happy now.we know that we have problems here but we are not hungry any more.i lived in the hills on open sky hiding from serbian soldiers.
i eat just one time day i drink rain.im happy that im live so i dont care
if i dont have ipod,sony playstation 3 and overweight
To the Serbs who whine about other growing in population: You are the 4th oldest pop in the world, with as many 0-15 years old as 60 years ones!!! The fourth oldest and have a Third world economy. Just because you don't to have children, don't blame others.
Having children is normal Serbs. Using abortion as birth control has caught up with you, and that is your problem. Kosova was at least 75% Albanian when you got it in 1912 thanks to Russia
Albanians have quadrupled over 4-5 decades, they r in conflicts like all the time with Serbs. The highest birth rate in Europe. In 1945 there were approx 2 M albanians, today almost 9 M. A huge impact for Balkan and people living there.
I ve been in shithole Albania once(Kosovarian = Albanians), they really have not pleasent to look at faces, prior I thought it was just a Serb propaganda though.
I hope Serbs will have their revenge in a course of time. No offence to Albanians, but they dont deserve Kosovo.
What is funny is that nice looking Serbs r dying out when fuckface albanians r quadrupling :D
I would like to see ur face revisionist!/Maybe u have pretty face because u took a blowjob to the serbs and vice versa
All of those pussies that are Serbian don't deserve to talk. You pussies know what u did and should man up. Just because were having mad children shouldn't be any of your business. Don't get mad just because we won our independence and were now finally free. So fuck you. Kosova
page: 1
wow !Nov 14th, 2007 - 17:28:52
that's a lot of Kosovarians !
Report this comment