Graçanica, Novëbërda and Kllokoti have more Albanians than Serbs

The last population census has revealed that three municipalities where Serbs were the majority are now dominated by Albanians. They are Graçanica, Novobërda and Kllokoti. Demographers point to the reason for this change. They say that in these municipalities there is movement of the population and the dominance of the elderly in the ranks of the Serbs

Although they are known as municipalities inhabited by a majority of Serbs, Graçanica, Novobërda and Kllokoti are dominated by Albanians, the results of the 2024 census, conducted by the Statistics Agency, have shown.

Compared to the population census of 2011, the Municipality of Graçanica has 6149 more Albanians. The result shows that the difference between Albanians and Serbs is 63. Thus, in this municipality there are 8.623 Albanians and 8.560 Serbs. The difference is much bigger in the other two municipalities. 

3 thousand 801 Albanians and 606 Serbs live in Kllokot, while 3 thousand 801 Albanians and 606 Serbs live in Novobërdë. Demographer Mimoza Dushi shows the reasons why these municipalities are dominated by Albanians.

"The Serbian population in Kosovo is not the population with the middle age group, it is the population that is getting old, that's why those properties of the Serbian population happen to be sold. But the middle-aged, working-age Serbian population is not very active in Kosovo, not enough as we prefer, so the elderly population dominates, so they don't see a perspective in Kosovo," she said.

Sociologist Genc Xërxa says that the migration of the Serbian population has influenced the municipalities with a Serbian majority to be dominated by Albanians.

"We have different demographic movements or migrations, now in many areas, knowing the cadastral areas or different properties within certain municipalities, which were ethnically part of a nationality, day by day it is coming to the mixing and equipping of different properties in those circles. Most of the non-Serb communities see it as a development or as a perspective, to be part of that municipality, and this has definitely had an impact, but they are also the factors of the migration of the Serbian population towards Serbia or other European countries", he said.

According to the results of the census, 2.626 Albanians and 8.080 Serbs live in the Municipality of Shtërpce, while 3.221 Serbs and 13 Albanians live in that of Partesh.

In the four northern municipalities, where Serbs are concentrated, the registration process has been boycotted. 

The Kosovo Statistics Agency on Thursday published the first final results of the population census. Based on these results, Kosovo has 1.602.515 inhabitants.

The first final data published by the Statistics Agency of Kosovo show that there are about 150 fewer inhabitants compared to the 2011 census.

According to statistics, the ethnic structure of the country remains largely unchanged: 91.76% of the population are Albanians, 2.31% Serbs and in a lower percentage - Bosniaks, Turks, Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians. 

The religious structure of Kosovo is dominated by the Islamic faith, while the Orthodox and Catholic communities represent the largest groups of religious minorities.

According to the results, compared to 2011, the age group of 0-14 years has suffered a decrease of 6.07%, the age group of 15-64 years has recorded an increase of 1.83%, while the age group over 65 years has recorded an increase of 4.26.

The rural rate has decreased from 62% in 2011 to 49.8% in 2024. 

According to the results, for the first time, the urban population (50.2%) exceeds the rural population with (49.8%).
The population census for 2024 took place from April 5 to May 24, while the diaspora census continues until the end of the year.