Kosovar diaspora
Encyclopedia
The term Kosovan diaspora refers to the estimated population of Kosovan people in the world migrated outside of Kosovo
.
Since the vast majority (some 92%) of Kosovans are Kosovar Albanians, the Kosovan diaspora is for the most part a section of the Albanian diaspora
.
Also since the Republic of Kosovo
declared independence only in 2008 and is not recognized by all states, many emigrants from Kosovo do not have a Kosovan passport and appear as Serbian nationals in the statistics of their host countries.
While a limited number of migrant worker
s emigrated from Kosovo from as early as the 1960s,
substantial emigration from Kosovo to Western Europe, especially to Germany
and Switzerland
, took place during the Yugoslav War and the subsequent Kosovo War
during the 1990s.
The CIA Factbook estimates that payments from the diaspora account for 14% of Kosovo's GNP, or some USD 740 million per year.
In official statistics of Swiss demographics, Kosovans are listed under "former Serbia and Montenegro" as of 2010, since while Switzerland recognizes the Republic of Kosovo, only a minority of Kosovans in Switzerland had acquired a Kosovar passport by 2009.
In 1998, the number of people from "Serbia and Montenegro" registered in Switzerland was at 242,000. By 2009, the number had decreased to 187,000, mostly due to naturalizations.
Of the 242,000 registered in 1998, an estimated 160,000 to 200,000 were Kosovar Albanians.
The number of Kosovar Albanians in Germany is estimated at about 300,000, in Switzerland at about 200,000 (of which about 40,000 have been naturalized as Swiss citizens). This makes them the third largest immigrant community in Switzerland (following the Italians at ca. 300,000 and the Germans
at ca. 225,000), accounting for about 2% of Swiss resident population.
Besides the Albanian majority, there is also a notable minority of Kosovar Roma
living in Western Europe. In 2009, German authorities declared their intention to deport 14,000 Kosovars to the Republic of Kosovo. Of these, about 10,000 were Roma.
In Switzerland, only about one fifth of the estimated 200,000 Kosovar Albanians entered the country as asylum seekers during the Kosovo War. The majority of those immigrating during the 1990s did not need to apply for asylum as they fell under Swiss legislation for family reunification
.
The Swiss Federal Office for Migration in 2010 published a study on the Kosovar community in Switzerland.
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
.
Since the vast majority (some 92%) of Kosovans are Kosovar Albanians, the Kosovan diaspora is for the most part a section of the Albanian diaspora
Albanian diaspora
The Albanian diaspora encompasses Albanians outside of Albania and Kosovo.The greatest concentrations are found in Turkey, Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece and Italy...
.
Also since the Republic of Kosovo
Republic of Kosovo
Kosovo , officially the Republic of Kosovo is a partially recognised state and a disputed territory in the Balkans...
declared independence only in 2008 and is not recognized by all states, many emigrants from Kosovo do not have a Kosovan passport and appear as Serbian nationals in the statistics of their host countries.
While a limited number of migrant worker
Migrant worker
The term migrant worker has different official meanings and connotations in different parts of the world. The United Nations' definition is broad, including any people working outside of their home country...
s emigrated from Kosovo from as early as the 1960s,
substantial emigration from Kosovo to Western Europe, especially to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, took place during the Yugoslav War and the subsequent Kosovo War
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
during the 1990s.
The CIA Factbook estimates that payments from the diaspora account for 14% of Kosovo's GNP, or some USD 740 million per year.
In official statistics of Swiss demographics, Kosovans are listed under "former Serbia and Montenegro" as of 2010, since while Switzerland recognizes the Republic of Kosovo, only a minority of Kosovans in Switzerland had acquired a Kosovar passport by 2009.
In 1998, the number of people from "Serbia and Montenegro" registered in Switzerland was at 242,000. By 2009, the number had decreased to 187,000, mostly due to naturalizations.
Of the 242,000 registered in 1998, an estimated 160,000 to 200,000 were Kosovar Albanians.
The number of Kosovar Albanians in Germany is estimated at about 300,000, in Switzerland at about 200,000 (of which about 40,000 have been naturalized as Swiss citizens). This makes them the third largest immigrant community in Switzerland (following the Italians at ca. 300,000 and the Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
at ca. 225,000), accounting for about 2% of Swiss resident population.
Besides the Albanian majority, there is also a notable minority of Kosovar Roma
Roma in Kosovo
Roma in Kosovo are Serbian Roma , polylingual Roma and Albanian Roma who self-identify as Ashkali or Balkan Egyptians...
living in Western Europe. In 2009, German authorities declared their intention to deport 14,000 Kosovars to the Republic of Kosovo. Of these, about 10,000 were Roma.
In Switzerland, only about one fifth of the estimated 200,000 Kosovar Albanians entered the country as asylum seekers during the Kosovo War. The majority of those immigrating during the 1990s did not need to apply for asylum as they fell under Swiss legislation for family reunification
Family reunification
Family reunification is a recognized reason for immigration in many countries. The presence of one or more family members in a certain country, therefore, enables the rest of the family to immigrate to that country as well....
.
The Swiss Federal Office for Migration in 2010 published a study on the Kosovar community in Switzerland.