Human development

Human development indicators

Area 10,908 square kilometers
Population Estimated total resident population is 1,900,000 (60% in urban and 40% in rural areas), while between 350,000 and 400,000 Kosovans live abroad.
Language Official languages are Albanian, English and Serbian
Religion Primarily Muslim, but often non-practicing
Other religions: Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic
Municipality Kosovo has 30 municipalities with different levels of development; per capita income in the wealthiest municipalities is up to three times greater than in the poorest municipalities.
HDI With an HDI of 0.734, Kosovo stands at the lower end of the medium level of the human development spectrum with HDI Rank of 101.
Poverty Levels Just over 47% of the population lives in poverty, while 13% live in extreme poverty.
Life Expectancy at Birth 68.8 years (67.8 for men and 69.9 for women).
Illiteracy Rate 6% (3% for males and 9% for females).
Computers 10% of households own computers (6% in rural areas and 15% in urban areas).
Economic Indicators GDP 1,640 million Euros, GNP 1,973 million Euros, per capita GDP 848 Euros, per capita GNP 1,021 Euros, GDP per capita (PPP US$)-2.660.
Estimated GDP Growth 4.5 main source of economic growth are remittances from abroad, trade and construction.
Income According to UNDP HDS (2004) annual per capita income is 1051 Euros, People in Prishtina/ Pristina earn 1586 while people in Shtime/ Stimlje earn 623 Euros.
Unemployment and Labour Force According to the UNDP HDS 2004, the unemployment rate is 44 % (39 % among male and 58 % among female), labor force participation is 52 % (75 % for male and 31% female).

MDG Challenges

The eradication of poverty is of primary concern, followed by reducing levels of child and infant mortality and cases of tuberculosis, which rank among the highest in Europe. Gender equality �particularly increasing educational opportunities for women and female enrolment in secondary schools and improving maternal health care �are other key challenges for realizing the MDGs.

Tools for measuring human development rank Kosovo at the bottom of the Balkans and among the least developed societies in Europe. Massive investments in vocational training, women�s empowerment, and job creation are required to prevent Kosovans from slipping further behind.

Gaps in income and other human welfare indicators are widening among Kosovo�s 30 municipalities, accelerating brain drain from rural to urban centers at an alarming pace. Creative policy responses that provide incentives to rural Kosovans�particularly youth�are essential to reverse this worrying trend.
Despite considerable progress since 1999, Kosovo faces a stagnant �democracy deficit� today, undermining the legitimacy of its young institutions. Each day reaffirms that without a broadening of the channels for more meaningful dialogue and governance, more March 2004 tragedies could occur, and Kosovans will suffer severe development setbacks.

Declining voter turnout, weak internal democratic processes within political parties, limited public debate on of justice and security institutions, and confusion over competencies and accountability between the center and municipalities are some of the key challenges to effective democratic governance in Kosovo.

Vulnerable people are the �missing link� for achieving full participation and representation in Kosovo. From uneducated women and unemployed youth to minorities that fear for their safety and the disabled and elderly who require personal care, it is the responsibility of all Kosovans to ensure that their issues are prioritized by government and civil society.

Kosovo�s primary challenge is to deepen and widen democratic governance to improve the living conditions and development choices of ordinary people. To achieve this, citizen�s rights and responsibilities must be defined and promoted, key policy and institutional reforms should be introduced to expand participation and representation, and an implementation strategy should be established to guide democratization and human development progress.

The reforms presented in chapter six are grouped into three distinct categories: i) Expanding participation and representation through governmental transformation; ii) Building alliances in civil society, the media and the private sector for greater civic participation and representation; iii) Electoral system reforms to improve geographic representation, increase direct accountability, stimulate parties to seek the support of specific voter groups, and enhance internal party democratization;

Parliamentary reforms to ensure the supremacy of the Assembly of Kosovo over the Executive, both legally and practically, as the chief source of legitimate democratic authority under its agreed areas of competencies
Central-Municipal Government reforms to improve citizen participation and public service delivery through the decentralization of specific political, financial and administrative authorities;
Promoting Gender Equality in the Work Place and the Home through arrangements that empower women, such as paternity leave, affirmative action in employment practices, gender sensitive security services, and a gender sensitive curricula in schools;
Improving Inter-ethnic relations through increased visibility in the media and in local communities of Kosovan Albanian and Serb civil society and political leaders cooperating on practical issues;
Encouraging a free and independent media that empowers citizens with information to make informed, constructive decisions and hold powerful leaders accountable;
Breaking down economic barriers that impede local entrepreneurship and job creation through increased access to finance and business skills;
Promoting local capacity building and a more open democracy that unleashes the leadership and talents of all Kosovans. In particular, expand local capacity-building efforts in key priority areas of the PISG through methods that reduce dependency on international agencies and their advisors.