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Until 2008 Kosovo was a part of Serbia. On 17 February 2008 Kosovo declared independence and said it was now a separate country. Since then 104 UN member countries have recognised Kosovo as an independent state.

 

Discover essential Kosovo quick facts including population demographics economy languages and more. Get a comprehensive overview of Kosovo's key information in this detailed guide.

 

A bloody crackdown by Serbian forces on Kosovo Albanian separatists in 1998-1999 ended after NATO intervention. Kosovo declared independence on 17 February 2008; its independence is recognized by about half of the UN member states (101 out of 193; plus Taiwan Cook Islands and Niue.)

 

Kosovo has been an independent nation since 2008. While Kosovo?s government and institutions have sole responsibility for administration of the state the international presence remains active including police and NATO military forces.

 

In the early 20th century Kosovo was incorporated into Serbia (later part of Yugoslavia). By the second half of the century the largely Muslim ethnic Albanians outnumbered the predominantly Eastern Orthodox Serbs in Kosovo and interethnic tensions frequently roiled the province.

 

Kosovo [a] officially the Republic of Kosovo [b] is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with partial diplomatic recognition. It is bordered by Albania to the southwest Montenegro to the west Serbia to the north and east and North Macedonia to the southeast.