Declining birth rate in Kosovo, experts call for institutional action

Declining birth rate in Kosovo, experts call for institutional action

In recent years, the birth rate has declined in Kosovo. Economic factors, population migration, careers, and changing lifestyles are considered to be among the reasons why parents are having fewer or no children at all. University professor Mimoza Dushi, a demographer, does not see this decline as very worrying, while professor Besim Gallopeni says that pro-natalist policies are lacking in Kosovo.

During 2024 in Kosovo, according to data from the Agency of Statistics, a total of 21 thousand 487 births were registered, while 10 thousand 230 births were registered abroad. Compared to previous years, there has been a decrease in the birth rate. KAS, in a response to Radio Kosova, said that in 2023, 21 thousand 654 births were registered, in 2022, 22 thousand 632, in 2021, 22 thousand 830 and in 2020, 21 thousand 907 were registered.

Professor of Demography at the University of Pristina, Mimoza Dushi, told Radio Kosova that it is a fact that the birth rate has started to fall, but she does not see this as worrying, due to the fact that the decline in birth rates is a global trend. Dushi emphasized that as a society in transition, the lifestyle in Kosovo has also started to change.

“We are a developing country, which means that we are in transition. In transition, all demographic components change, births, deaths, there are population movements and society always changes and evolves under the influence of economic factors. The position of women in society has changed, the social status of men and women, the size of the family changes, therefore the demand for the number of offspring changes. Today we have women at higher levels of education, we have them employed, they have become an economic factor and the higher the income, the lower the number of children. The level of education, positions, income levels have changed and women are more career-oriented”, Dushi told Radio Kosova, broadcast by RTKlive.

According to data found by Professor Dushi, in the last two years there have been around 31 thousand births in Kosovo.

“We had a decline until 2022, while in the last two years we have an increase of 2 thousand more births within the year. For the population to remain at the replacement level, a married couple must give birth to at least 2,1 children, which means that every tenth married couple must give birth to three children, so that the population neither increases nor decreases. If it increases to 2.2; 2.3; 2.4, then the population is increasing. Whereas, 2.53, is the norm because not the entire population participates in reproduction. A part of the population, 7 percent, is biologically a sterile population, which does not participate in reproduction, then there is the part of the population that will give up on births, the part of the population that does not want to enter into marriage. So, all of these affect the reduction of the birth rate,” she added.

Dushi emphasized that the problem with statistics in Kosovo is also the registration of those born in the diaspora, as they are also registered in Kosovo based on the mother’s birthplace. While she made a comparison with European countries, according to her the difference is that in Kosovo, birth has not yet been abandoned.

“In the Scandinavian countries of Europe, over 50 percent of children are born out of wedlock. While we, from 7 to 8 children in the 50s, have dropped to two children, but we have not given up on them. We still maintain the norms of traditional society, that our young people have not yet given up on marriage and have not given up on marriage. We are still at the replacement level and we have the highest birth rate in Europe,” she said.

According to demographer Dushi, countries with low birth rates develop policies that stimulate the population to have a higher number of births.

“The incentive is not 10 euros, 30 or 40 euros for a birth, this is not called a policy. The policy is maternity leave for both parents, it is free education for children, the policy is like other countries that have income for children from the moment they are born until the age of 18. So, these are policies, where the burden of raising a child is taken by the state,” she underlines.

Meanwhile, Sociology professor Besim Gallopeni told Radio Kosovo that the decline in birth rates is a phenomenon widely seen in many countries, including Kosovo, and is related to a number of factors.

“External migration, especially of young people and young couples, has significantly affected the population base that contributes to the birth rate or population growth in general. Changes in lifestyle and family values should also be mentioned, including factors such as postponing marriage or entering marriage later and the average age of marriage has increased to over 30 for both sexes. This directly affects the reproductive period of the population. Economic and social conditions are other factors that affect, as many young people today make plans about how they are able to build a stable economic and social base and contribute to the development of the family through the raising, feeding and education of their children,” he said, RTKlive reports.

Gallopeni also spoke about the lack of pro-natalist policies.

“Kosovo still does not have a population policy that would positively impact the maintenance of demographic stability and subsequently social, economic, cultural and other stability,” he said.

According to Gallup, demographic movements in Kosovo have also had a significant impact on the birth rate.

“All this has led to us having about 11 thousand births within a year or less than two children per woman, which means that we are in a very critical phase of demographic growth. Also, if we refer to the population census, we understand that Kosovo has lost over 200 thousand inhabitants within a little more than a decade,” he said.

Gallopen also spoke about the possible consequences of the decline in the birth rate.

“Many schools will close due to a lack of students, many rural settlements will shrink, perhaps even disappear due to a lack of population, and the elderly population will certainly increase, which burdens the economic base and the state budget. This means that we will not be able to cover our workforce needs in the future. This is a very big concern,” he said.

Gallopeni called on the relevant institutions to gather experts as soon as possible to make population policies in the interest of the country.