ANALYSIS: Shrinkage and aging of the population, what the census showed in Kosovo

The Statistics Agency of Kosovo published on Friday the preliminary results of the population census, according to which Kosovo currently has over one million and 586 thousand inhabitants, without the diaspora, from which about 600 thousand people have been registered so far.

The acting director of the Statistics Agency, Avni Kastrati, said that the final data, expected to be published in December of this year, may differ from the preliminary data by only one to three percent.

"It is worth noting that nine municipalities had an increase in population, while another 29 had a decrease. The municipality that has grown the most during this period, by about 84 percent, is Fushë Kosova," said Mr. Kastrati.

In addition to the shrinking of the population, which is estimated to be about eight percent compared to the last census in 2011, this year's data also speak of an aging population, since the average age has increased from about 29 years to about 34 years.

"The population of the 15 to 64-year-old age group dominates with 66.5 percent, so there is an increase in this age group compared to 2011. Meanwhile, there is a contraction of the zero to 15-year-old age group and there is a double-digit increase for the first time in Kosovo of the population over the age of 65", said Mr. Kastrati.

Arnhild Spence, United Nations development coordinator, said that such changes require new investments in Kosovo.

"We know that the demographic structure of Kosovo is changing with a significant increase in the elderly population, this is a good sign because it means that health in Kosovo is better, people have healthier lifestyles and live longer. But this will require a completely new investment in the health sector in Kosovo to take care of this category of society", said Ms. Spence.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that the population census was a priority project for his government, stressing that its results will lay the basis for informed decision-making that will shape the future of Kosovo.

"The extraction of numerous, complete and accurate data will enable all users and decision-makers, starting from the local and central level, but also for donor organizations and prospective investors to guide the best policies and services for citizens. Without accurate data, that is, without quality statistics, decisions can be inaccurate and of poor quality," he said.

The census process was largely boycotted in the Serb-majority northern part of Kosovo following the call of the largest political entity of the Kosovo Serbs, founded and supported by Belgrade - Lista Serbe.

However, Mr. Kastrati said that the Agency has data for this part as well and they will be included in the final results.

According to the Law on population, household and housing registration, any person can be fined from 30 to 2 thousand euros, if he refuses to provide the information requested by the registrar.

"As you have heard, there were some municipalities that did not fully support the registration process. The Statistics Agency could impose the applicable law on these matters, but chose not to, choosing dialogue to persuade citizens and often assisting enumerators in certain municipalities with their own resources and not just relied on the resources of these municipalities. The choice of diplomacy instead of the immediate implementation of the law in such cases we consider impressive", said Eduard Jongstra, Regional Adviser of the United Nations Population Fund.

The municipalities inhabited by a majority of Serbs did not even participate in the last population census in Kosovo, which took place 13 years ago and where one million and 740 thousand inhabitants participated.

The next population census in Kosovo will take place in 2031./VOA