KOSOVO OFFICE OF STATISTICS, IOM AND UNFPA ANNOUNCE PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF BIGGEST POPULATION SURVEY IN KOSOVO SINCE ENTRY OF KFOR

Press Release
POP/770

KOSOVO OFFICE OF STATISTICS, IOM AND UNFPA ANNOUNCE PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF BIGGEST POPULATION SURVEY IN KOSOVO SINCE ENTRY OF KFOR

NEW YORK, 26 April (UNFPA) -- The Kosovo Office of Statistics, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) carried out a sample demographic and reproductive health survey in Kosovo from November 1999 to February 2000. It included sampling to reflect the characteristics of the Kosovar population and to provide reliable information on vital data, housing, household size and structure, migration and reproductive health. The Institute of Demographic Studies of Bordeaux IV University is now analysing the data.

The survey is the most important one since the entry into the province of Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops. It covers 7,343 households, comprising 40,918 people, and is the most reliable source of information available so far in Kosovo. The final report will be published in June, with a detailed analysis that will be made available to local and international institutions and organizations. The main points to be drawn from the available preliminary results are as follows:

Kosovo’s population differs from the rest of Europe in many ways: half the population is less than 25 years of age; many Kosovars reside outside the province (25 per cent of them between 20 and 40 years of age); average household size is large; half the active population is unemployed; 36 per cent of the men state that they are financially supported by a private person; fertility rates have been decreasing for the last 20 years, despite low contraceptive use (this could be due to a high abortion rate); the ration of male births is much higher than statistically expected.

The impact of the war: 40 per cent of the population left Kosovo during the war, while 20 per cent were internally displaced. Of those who left Kosovo, half spent time in refugee centres; around 9000 deaths occurring during the 12 months prior to the survey were due to the war. Seventy-five per cent of them were men. Nearly 90 per cent of those deaths occurred between March and May 1999, resulting in a 50 per cent decrease in natural population growth.

Women and children: at 25 per 1,000, infant mortality is one of the highest in Europe, reaching 35 per 1,000 during the 12 months before the survey; antenatal care is inadequate -- 15 per cent of pregnant women do not see a health-care worker, 30 per cent of the women only benefit from one or two antenatal care visits; 20 per cent of deliveries took place at home without professional help; the level of education is significantly lower in women below the age of 50 (most did not reach secondary level education.

- 2 - Press Release POP/770 27 April 2000

The project has been implemented by the Kosovo Office of Statistics, IOM and UNFPA. The UNFPA contribution to the project was made possible by the generous support of the Canadian International Development Agency. Another goal of the project was to support statistical and academic institutions in Kosovo. The IOM, UNFPA and Canadian International Development Agency will continue to provide their support to population and development issues in Kosovo.

For more information, please contact: UNFPA New York, Corrie Shanahan, tel., 212-297-5023, e-mail, shanahan@unfpa.org; or Alanna Armitage, tel., 212-297-5289, e-mail, armitage@unfpa.org

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