More natality in Kosovo, AKS and MPBs with different birth statistics

According to data published by the Kosovo Statistics Agency, in 2022 there are 22 thousand and 632 births in Kosovo, in 2021 there were 22 thousand and 830 births, in 2020, 21 thousand and 907 births, in 2019 there are 21 thousand and 798 births, in 2018 there are 22 thousand and 761 births, in 2017 23 thousand and 402 birth, in 2016 there are 23 thousand 416 birth.

And in 2015 there are 24 thousand and 594 births, in 2014 there were registered 25 thousand and 929, and in 2013 there are 29 thousand and 327 births, in 2012 there are 27 thousand and 743 births, and in 2011 there were 34 thousand and 262 births. Two years after the war, 2001 was 33 thousand births, and in the first year of the war, 55 thousand and 175 were born in 1990.

Unlike the AKS, according to Interior Ministry data sent to Kosova Prees, the number of births is higher for the past four years. According to the Ministry, in 2023 there are 40 thousand 838 births, in 2022 there were recorded 40 thousand and 517, while 44 thousand and 11 were registered in 2021, and 33 thousand and 118 were registered in 2020.

There are 33 thousand and 118 births in 2020, in 2021 there are 44,000 and 11 births, in 2022 there are 40 thousand 517, and in 2023 there are 40 thousand and 838 birth”, a written answer by MPB.

But, Kosova priss has demanded additional answers from both institutions ( The AKS and MPBs for this difference in figures, but by MPB, they haven't returned until the AKS has shown the difference with these birth statistics. .

The senior official of vital statistics at the Kosovo Statistics Agency, Arjeta Soeva, tells Kosovo that the methodology of this institution is different from that of the MPB. According to her, birth data collection takes place for those births that took place within a year, while the MPB says that it also records what was born in any other year, regardless of when it was submitted for registration.

The “Data statistics, because ASC methodology for birth data collection and birth reporting is different from MPB methodology... AKS records all calendar year births, now 2024 including 2023, and that's all it publishes. If there's a 2022 birth we don't publish it, it's late for us. And the MPB, the Civil Recording Agency, respectively, accepts it, and the child born in 2015, it is recorded, it does not return, it has to register, and it publishes the birth of 2024, not born. We take that they're born, they take those who are registered within the calendar year”, says Soeva in a phone response.

For this distinction in statistical data, Kosovo Economic Ode Chairman Lulzim Rafuna says that it is necessary that MPB and ASK to identify the problems of non-communications. According to him, it is now a good opportunity because of the population census - that is, within it, to take the data even for children.

You need to identify what the problem is, why the MPB is the highest number known to all those born to MPB and receive birth certificate, I can't understand why the AKS is the least number, but I need to identify what the problem is. Now there's also a good opportunity because of population registration, and under it the data is also taken for children”, Rafuna says.

Despite the Kosovo government at the end of 2021, it has made a decision to subsidise children and lechoon mothers, nature has again marked decline.

The decline in birth rates is estimated to be one of the biggest concerns and problems for Kosovo, over the next years economically.

Sociologist Bekim Selisha until she lists the causes that have contributed to the decline of nighthood, points out that the state must work harder in this regard.

“Remits from the state are very low, and employment is not highly favourable. So if there's a kid with a cost, it's not enough 10 euros, it's not what it was in 99... Now there are other jobs that need to be done from the nursery from now on, there's not a child growing up with a few tools”, says Selisha.

OEK leader Lulzim Rafuna tells Kosovo Pres that the government must take measures to increase natality in Kosovo, otherwise this will negatively affect the development of the economy in the country.

The nighttime range certainly affects because it's not good for the country to have the lowest nighting and all countries take measures to lift the nightliness, as it also has greater consumer power. So, in terms of impact on the economy, the nighty downturn is not a good signal, and our demand is that the country's institutions take steps to stimulate nightiness in our country. All the countries of the region, but also those of the EU, have special packages that help young people have children, and increase the number of children. So we should work on this”, Rafuna says.

Under the decision taken by the Ministry of Finance for subsidies, children up to two years old receive assistance of 20 euros. However, others up to 16 years of age receive 10 euros a month.

With this subvention, unemployed lehons receive the same amount as 170 euros per six months, until the Lebanons employed for three months receive the same amount.

Population registration has started on 5 April 2024 and is expected to last until May 17th of this year across the country. Meanwhile, the last census in Kosovo was 13 years ago, in 2011.