Population census underway in Kosovo
A census of population, households, and housing has begun in the Balkan country of Kosovo, which will continue until May 17.
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The Kosovo Agency of Statistics (ASK) has been allocated 12 million euros by the Kosovo government and international organizations for the census process, which will be carried out between April 5 and May 17 with the participation of approximately 4,000 enumerators.
The census is expected to include, for the first time, the municipalities in northern Kosovo where Serbs predominantly reside.
While Kosovar officials have called on Serbs in the region to participate in the census process, Kosovar Serb representatives have argued that the process should be boycotted.
PENALTY ANNOUNCED
Those who do not wish to participate in the population census will face a fine ranging from 30 to 2,000 euros.
The ASK will announce the first unofficial results of the population census in 3 months. Additionally, through a lottery to be held as part of the process, the citizen who provides the closest estimate regarding the population will win a prize of 10,000 euros.
On the other hand, for the first time in the census, citizens will be allowed to declare damages caused by the Kosovo War in 1998-1999.
The last population census in Kosovo was conducted in 2011. The census, which was planned to be held in 2021, was postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The census, which was postponed twice more in 2023 because preparations could not be completed, was decided to be held between April 5 and May 17, 2024.
MORE THAN 18 THOUSAND TURKS LIVE THERE
According to the results of the 2011 population census, 1 million 739 thousand 825 people live in Kosovo, and Albanians make up 92.9 percent of the country's population; however, this rate does not include the Serbs in the north of the country who boycotted the last population census.
According to the last census, 18 thousand 738 Turks live in the country.