Willingness to Leave Kosovo Rises: From 16% in 2024 to 28% in 2026

The number of citizens who would choose to leave Kosovo permanently if given the opportunity has increased since the previous public opinion survey. This is according to research conducted by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in May 2026.

In the survey, 28 percent of respondents said they would move to another country, compared with 16 percent in December 2024. Of those surveyed, 62 percent said they would continue living in Kosovo, while 8 percent had not made a decision.

Despite the increased willingness to emigrate, the share of citizens who would choose to remain in Kosovo continues to be significantly larger than that of those who would leave.

Data by age show that the inclination to move abroad is highest among young people. In the 18-24 age group, 44 percent said they would leave, while 46.3 percent said they would remain in Kosovo. Among citizens aged 25-34, 37.1 percent would emigrate, while 50.8 percent would continue living in the country.

Willingness to leave declines significantly with age. Among people aged 45-54, only 22.3 percent would emigrate. This figure falls to 15.2 percent among those aged 55-64 and to 11.6 percent among citizens aged 65 and over.

The results show no major differences between men and women. Living in another country would be the preferred option for 28.5 percent of men and 26.5 percent of women. Meanwhile, 61 percent of men and 62.5 percent of women said they would remain in Kosovo.