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International recognition of Kosovo facts for kids

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CountriesRecognizingKosovo
Map of states that have recognised Kosovo's independence (as of February 26, 2024). The grey color shows Kosovo. Green shows countries that recognize Kosovo as independent. Light grey shows countries that have not recognized Kosovo. Red shows countries that recognized Kosovo but later might have changed their minds.


The country of Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. But not all governments around the world agree on whether Kosovo is a truly independent country. The government of Serbia, for example, does not officially recognize Kosovo as its own country. However, Serbia and Kosovo have started to work together more on economic matters since 2020. They have also agreed not to stop each other from joining the European Union.

As of today, many countries recognize Kosovo. Out of all the countries in the United Nations, about half of them see Kosovo as independent. This includes 22 out of 27 countries in the European Union and 28 out of 32 countries in NATO. Some big countries like Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States recognize Kosovo. But other big countries like Argentina, Brazil, China, India, and Russia do not.

In 2013, Serbia and Kosovo started to improve their relationship with an agreement called the Brussels Agreement. In 2020, they agreed to work together on money and business. Serbia also promised to stop trying to convince other countries to withdraw their recognition of Kosovo for one year. At the same time, Kosovo agreed not to try to join new international groups for that same year. In 2023, they made another agreement. Serbia promised not to stop Kosovo from joining international organizations. Serbia also agreed to accept Kosovo's official documents like passports and diplomas.

Understanding Kosovo's Independence

Many countries have different opinions about Kosovo's independence. Some countries worry that Kosovo's declaration of independence was made without everyone agreeing. They are also concerned it might set a difficult example for other regions in the world.

Why Countries Disagree

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is a powerful group within the UN. Its five main members have a "veto power," meaning they can block decisions. Three of these members (France, the UK, and the US) recognize Kosovo's independence. But China is worried about it, and Russia, which is a close friend of Serbia, says Kosovo's independence is against the law.

In 2008, Russia, China, and India asked Serbia and Kosovo to talk more to find a solution.

Even though EU countries decide on their own whether to recognize Kosovo, the EU has sent a special mission called EULEX to Kosovo. This mission helps keep the peace and makes sure laws are followed. The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, decided to change the UN's mission in Kosovo to work with EULEX. He said the UN would stay neutral about Kosovo's status.

In 2008, the UNSC allowed the EULEX mission to start its work. EULEX took over police, justice, and customs duties from the UN.

[[Image frame | caption= Recognition of Kosovo by UN member states over time (total members 193). The dark blue line shows countries that formally recognized Kosovo. The light grey line shows other states. | width = 400 | content =

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In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its opinion on Kosovo's declaration of independence. In 2010, the ICJ said that Kosovo's declaration of independence did not break international law. They explained that international law does not forbid declarations of independence.

Within the EU, France and Germany strongly support Kosovo's independence. But Spain and Greece are against it. Spain's view is linked to its own regions that want more independence. Greece's view is linked to its history with Serbia and a situation in Cyprus.

How Kosovo and Serbia are Working Together

Serbia believes Kosovo is part of its own land. When Kosovo declared independence, Serbia reacted strongly. They called back their ambassadors from countries that recognized Kosovo. They also accused Kosovo's leaders of serious crimes.

In 2013, Serbia and Kosovo made an agreement to improve their relationship. This agreement could help both of them join the European Union someday. They also exchanged special officers to help with communication.

However, things became difficult in 2018. Kosovo put a 100% tax on goods from Serbia. This tax was removed in 2020.

In September 2020, with help from the United States, Serbia and Kosovo agreed to improve their economic ties. Serbia also agreed to stop trying to convince other countries to withdraw their recognition of Kosovo for one year. Kosovo agreed not to apply for new memberships in international organizations for the same time.

In February 2023, Serbia and Kosovo agreed to a new plan to normalize their relationship. Serbia promised not to stop Kosovo from joining international organizations. They also agreed to recognize Kosovo's national symbols and official documents like passports and vehicle plates.

In December 2023, Serbia announced that cars with Kosovo license plates could freely enter Serbia starting January 1, 2024.

What the International Court of Justice Said

In 2008, Serbia asked the International Court of Justice to look into whether Kosovo's declaration of independence was legal. On October 8, 2008, the UN General Assembly voted to support Serbia's request.

On July 22, 2010, the court gave its opinion. By a vote of 10 to 4, the court said that Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008 did not break international law. They said that international law does not have a rule against declarations of independence. The court also said that the declaration did not go against a UN Security Council resolution from 1999.

Countries That Recognize Kosovo

Countries that have stronger ties with the United States are more likely to recognize Kosovo. Countries with stronger ties to Russia are less likely to.

UN Member States That Recognize Kosovo

Here is a list of countries that are members of the United Nations and recognize Kosovo as an independent state:

No. Country Date of recognition
1  Costa Rica 17 February 2008
2–8  Afghanistan 18 February 2008
 Albania
 France
 Senegal
 Turkey
 United Kingdom
 United States
9  Australia 19 February 2008
10–11  Latvia 20 February 2008
 Germany
12–15  Estonia 21 February 2008
 Italy
 Denmark
 Luxembourg
16  Peru 22 February 2008
17  Belgium 24 February 2008
18  Poland 26 February 2008
19  Switzerland 27 February 2008
20  Austria 28 February 2008
21  Ireland 29 February 2008
22  Sweden 4 March 2008
 Netherlands
24  Iceland 5 March 2008
 Slovenia
26  Finland 7 March 2008
27–28  Canada 18 March 2008
 Japan
29–31  Monaco 19 March 2008
 Hungary
 Croatia
32  Bulgaria 20 March 2008
33  Liechtenstein 25 March 2008
34–35  South Korea 28 March 2008
 Norway
36  Marshall Islands 17 April 2008
37  Burkina Faso 23 April 2008
38  Lithuania 6 May 2008
39  San Marino 12 May 2008
40  Czech Republic 21 May 2008
41  Liberia 30 May 2008
42  Colombia 4 August 2008
43  Belize 7 August 2008
44  Malta 22 August 2008
45  Samoa 15 September 2008
46  Portugal 7 October 2008
47–48  Montenegro 9 October 2008
 Republic of Macedonia
49  United Arab Emirates 14 October 2008
50  Malaysia 30 October 2008
51  Federated States of Micronesia 5 December 2008
52  Panama 16 January 2009
53  Maldives 19 February 2009
54  Palau 6 March 2009
55  Gambia 7 April 2009
56  Saudi Arabia 20 April 2009
57  Comoros 14 May 2009
58  Bahrain 19 May 2009
59  Jordan 7 July 2009
60  Dominican Republic 10 July 2009
61  New Zealand 9 November 2009
62  Malawi 14 December 2009
63  Mauritania 12 January 2010
64  Swaziland 12 April 2010
65  Vanuatu 28 April 2010
66  Djibouti 8 May 2010
67  Somalia 19 May 2010
68  Honduras 3 September 2010
69  Kiribati 21 October 2010
70  Tuvalu 18 November 2010
71  Qatar 7 January 2011
72  Guinea-Bissau 10 January 2011
73  Oman 4 February 2011
74  Andorra 8 June 2011
75  Guinea 12 August 2011
76  Niger 15 August 2011
77  Benin 18 August 2011
78  Saint Lucia 19 August 2011
79  Gabon 15 September 2011
80  Côte d'Ivoire 16 September 2011
81  Kuwait 11 October 2011
82  Haiti 10 February 2012
83  Brunei 25 April 2012
84  Chad 1 June 2012
85  Timor-Leste 20 September 2012
86  Fiji 19 November 2012
87  Saint Kitts and Nevis 28 November 2012
88  Pakistan 24 December 2012
89  Tanzania 29 May 2013
90  Guyana 13 June 2013
91  Yemen 11 June 2013
92  Egypt 26 June 2013
93  Thailand 24 September 2013
94  Grenada 25 September 2013
95  Libya 25 September 2013
96  Tonga 20 January 2014
97  Lesotho 11 February 2014
98  El Salvador 18 October 2014
99  Antigua and Barbuda 20 May 2015
100  Suriname 8 July 2016
101  Singapore 1 December 2016
102  Bangladesh 27 February 2017
103  Barbados 15 February 2018
104  Israel 4 September 2020

Non-UN Countries That Recognize Kosovo

Here are other countries that are not part of the United Nations but recognize Kosovo:

No. Country Date of recognition
1  Republic of China (Taiwan) 19 February 2008
2  Cook Islands 18 May 2015
3  Niue 23 June 2015

Countries That Once Recognized Kosovo, But Maybe Not Anymore

Some countries have recognized Kosovo in the past, but later it was reported that they might have changed their minds. This has caused some disagreements.

No. Country Date of
Recognition Withdrawal
1  Burundi 16 October 2012 15 February 2018
2  Papua New Guinea 3 October 2012 5 July 2018
3  Dominica 11 December 2012 2 November 2018
4  Solomon Islands 13 August 2014 28 November 2018
5  Madagascar 24 November 2017 7 December 2018
6  Togo 11 July 2014 28 June 2019
7  Central African Republic 22 July 2011 24 July 2019
8  Ghana 23 January 2012 7 November 2019
9  Nauru 23 April 2008 13 November 2019
10  Sierra Leone 11 June 2008 2 March 2020

Serbia's government has claimed that more countries have withdrawn their recognition. However, Kosovo's government often says these claims are "fake news" or "Serbian propaganda."

For example, Ghana recognized Kosovo in 2012. Even though some reports in 2019 said Ghana withdrew its recognition, Ghana's embassy in Turkey is still connected to Kosovo.

The Comoros recognized Kosovo in 2009. In 2018, some sources said they withdrew recognition. But in 2021, a former Kosovo president shared a document from Comoros saying they still recognize Kosovo.

In 2018, Serbia claimed Lesotho withdrew its recognition. But Lesotho's Prime Minister said this was false and confirmed they still recognized Kosovo. In 2023, Kosovo's President met with Lesotho's King, showing they want to work together.

Guinea-Bissau withdrew recognition in 2017 but then changed its mind in 2018. They sent a note to Kosovo saying the withdrawal was not valid.

After reports of withdrawal in 2018, Liberia officially stated that these reports were false. They said they had not ended their diplomatic relations with Kosovo.

Suriname recognized Kosovo in 2016. Serbia claimed Suriname withdrew recognition in 2017. But in 2022, Kosovo's Foreign Minister met with Suriname's Foreign Minister to talk about working together. However, in 2023, Suriname's minister said his country supports Serbia's land.

Serbia claimed in 2019 that Palau withdrew its recognition. But in 2022 and 2023, officials from Kosovo and Palau met and confirmed their good relations.

There have been confusing reports about Oman. In 2011, Kosovo said Oman recognized them. Later, a Kosovo official said Oman had not. But in 2022, Oman's foreign ministry officially mentioned meeting with the "Republic of Kosovo," which suggests they do recognize it.

In 2023, Serbia's president claimed nine more countries had withdrawn recognition. Kosovo's foreign ministry said they had no information about this. Diplomats from Kosovo met with officials from some of these countries, who said they had not withdrawn recognition. For example, the president of the Maldives sent greetings to Kosovo for its independence day in 2024, confirming their recognition.

Countries That Do Not Recognize Kosovo

Not recognizing a country does not always mean a state has problems with it. Some countries simply do not make official statements of recognition. They might believe that voting for a country to join the UN is enough.

UN Member States That Do Not Recognize Kosovo

Here are some of the UN member states that have not recognized Kosovo:

Country Position
 Algeria Algeria believes international laws must be followed. They have said Kosovo is part of Serbia.
 Angola Angola supports Serbia's right to keep its land whole.
 Argentina Argentina will not recognize Kosovo. They worry it could set a bad example for their own claim over the Falkland Islands. They believe countries should respect each other's land.
 Armenia Armenia has not recognized Kosovo. They say they cannot recognize Kosovo until they recognize another region called Nagorno-Karabakh.
 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan sees Kosovo's declaration as against international law. They do not recognize its independence.
 Bahamas The Bahamas is waiting for Serbia and Kosovo to finish their talks before deciding.
 Belarus Belarus supports Serbia's right to its land. They have called Kosovo's independence illegal.
 Bhutan Bhutan is still thinking about whether to recognize Kosovo.
 Bolivia Bolivia does not recognize Kosovo. They compare it to regions in their own country that want more freedom.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina is divided. Some leaders want to recognize Kosovo, but others do not. This is because some parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina might want to separate too.
 Botswana Botswana is waiting for the European Union to make a decision.
 Brazil Brazil has not recognized Kosovo. They believe any changes should happen through the United Nations.
 Cambodia Cambodia does not want to encourage regions to break away from countries. They worry about other regions like South Ossetia.
 Cameroon Cameroon has been careful about recognizing Kosovo. They voted against Kosovo joining Interpol in 2018.
 Cape Verde Cape Verde will wait until the United Nations Security Council agrees on Kosovo's status.
 Chile Chile is still looking at the situation and discussions in the UN and EU.
 China China supports Serbia's view on Kosovo. They see it as similar to their own claim over Taiwan.
 Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo has not recognized Kosovo.
 Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo has not recognized Kosovo.
 Cuba Cuba's former leader, Fidel Castro, said Kosovo's independence was dangerous. He worried it could cause problems for countries like Spain or the UK, which have their own regions that want to separate.
 Cyprus Cyprus will never recognize Kosovo's independence if it is outside the UN rules. They recognize travel documents from Kosovo.
 Ecuador Ecuador believes countries should follow UN rules and international law.
 Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea has said it supports Kosovo's independence. However, in 2022, they confirmed they had not changed their position of not recognizing Kosovo.
 Eritrea Eritrea has not decided whether to recognize Kosovo.
 Ethiopia Ethiopia has not recognized Kosovo. In 2014, during a disagreement with Serbia, Ethiopia said it might recognize Kosovo.
 Georgia Georgia's Foreign Minister said they would not recognize Kosovo. This is because Georgia has its own regions that want to separate.
 Greece Greece does not recognize Kosovo's independence. They voted against Kosovo joining Interpol in 2018. Greece does recognize travel documents from Kosovo.
 Guatemala Guatemala has objected to recognizing Kosovo because of Russia's concerns.
 India India has always refused to recognize Kosovo's independence.
 Indonesia Indonesia has not recognized Kosovo. They voted against Kosovo joining Interpol in 2018.
 Iran Iran has not recognized Kosovo's independence.
 Iraq Iraq's representative to the UN has said Kosovo deserves to be recognized. But Iraq has not yet made a decision.
 Jamaica Jamaica has refused to recognize Kosovo. They said they would not change their decision.
 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan is against Kosovo's independence. They believe borders are set and will not recognize new states.
 Kenya Kenya has not recognized Kosovo. But in 2023, Kenya accepted Kosovo passports as valid travel documents. Kenya's foreign minister also said his country is ready to formally recognize Kosovo.
 North Korea North Korea supports Serbia's right to keep its land whole.
 Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan will not recognize Kosovo's independence. They see it as a dangerous example for other regions.
 Laos Laos believes all sides should respect UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which sees Kosovo as a Serbian province.
 Lebanon Lebanon supports Serbia's right to its land.
 Mali Mali's government denied recognizing Kosovo after a document appeared to show they did. They said the document was fake.
 Mauritius Mauritius has not recognized Kosovo. They are worried it could affect their own efforts to get back the Chagos Islands.
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico Mexico is still studying the situation. They do not plan to recognize Kosovo.
Flag of Moldova.svg Moldova Moldova has "deep concerns" about Kosovo's declaration. They will not recognize its independence. Moldova is working on accepting Kosovo passports for travel.
 Mongolia Mongolia has said it would think about recognizing Kosovo's independence.
 Morocco Morocco has found it difficult to recognize Kosovo because of its own situation with Western Sahara.
 Mozambique Mozambique is waiting for the right moment to decide. They said they would reconsider recognizing Kosovo.
 Myanmar Myanmar was reported to have recognized Kosovo in 2014, but Kosovo officials denied receiving any such note.
 Namibia Namibia has no plans to recognize Kosovo. They believe a peaceful solution should be found.
 Nepal Nepal has not decided whether to recognize Kosovo. They are careful because of other sensitive situations in their region.
 Nicaragua Nicaragua is "observing" the situation. They have friends who agree and disagree with Kosovo's independence.
 Nigeria Nigeria will not recognize Kosovo. This decision is based on Nigeria's own history of civil war.
 Paraguay Paraguay has not officially recognized Kosovo.
 Philippines The Philippines is not willing to recognize Kosovo. They worry it could make peace talks with Muslim groups in their own country more difficult.
 Romania Romania voted not to recognize Kosovo's independence. However, in 2015, the Prime Minister said things had changed and a new decision could be made. Romania recognizes travel documents from Kosovo.
 Russia Russia strongly opposes Kosovo's independence. But in 2014, when Russia recognized Crimea's independence, it used Kosovo's declaration as an example that such declarations are not against international law.
 Rwanda Rwanda has not recognized Kosovo. They are waiting for the African Union to have a unified position.
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The Prime Minister of St. Vincent & the Grenadines has said that if people want independence, they should have it. They are reviewing the issue.
 São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe's government recognized Kosovo in 2012, but the President later said this was not valid. Kosovo insists the recognition is still valid.
 Serbia Serbia does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state.
 Seychelles The Seychelles has said they are not against Kosovo's independence and would consider recognizing it.
 Slovakia Slovakia has not recognized Kosovo. But they have hinted that their position could change if Serbia agrees to it. Slovakia recognizes travel documents from Kosovo.
 South Africa South Africa has mixed views on Kosovo's independence.
 South Sudan South Sudan has not officially recognized Kosovo. However, their president has said his country supports Kosovo's right to build its state. In 2024, South Sudan's foreign minister met with Kosovo's president, and the South Sudanese ministry referred to her as "President of the Republic of Kosovo."
 Spain Spain has not recognized Kosovo. This is because they worry about their own regions that want independence. However, Spain now recognizes passports from Kosovo for travel in the Schengen area.
 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka sees Kosovo's independence as a violation of UN rules. They worry it could set a dangerous example.
 Sudan Sudan opposes Kosovo's independence.
 Syria Syria opposes the recognition of Kosovo's independence. They believe in political solutions and are against any divisions.
 Tajikistan Tajikistan will not recognize Kosovo's independence. They see it as a danger to Europe.
 Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago has said they understand how important recognition is for Kosovo. They will look into the request for recognition.
 Tunisia Tunisia's Foreign Minister has said his government is seriously thinking about recognizing Kosovo.
 Turkmenistan Turkmenistan has said it would consider recognizing Kosovo at the right time.
 Uganda Uganda has not recognized Kosovo. In 2023, Uganda's President was thanked by Serbia for supporting Serbia's land.
 Ukraine Ukraine has not recognized Kosovo's independence.
 Uruguay Uruguay has said it will never recognize Kosovo's independence. They believe solutions should come through talks and agreement.
 Uzbekistan Uzbekistan has not yet made a final decision on Kosovo.
 Venezuela Venezuela does not recognize Kosovo's independence. Its former president, Hugo Chávez, accused the US of supporting Kosovo to weaken Russia.
 Vietnam Vietnam supports solving Kosovo-related issues through the UN. They believe in respecting national land and ensuring benefits for all countries involved.
 Zambia Zambia has not decided its position. They are worried about setting a precedent for their own regions that want independence.
 Zimbabwe Zimbabwe has said it would consider recognizing Kosovo.

Other Groups and Their Views

Some other groups and regions also have opinions on Kosovo's independence.

Country Position
 Abkhazia Abkhazia sees Kosovo's independence as an example of "double standards." They believe they have an even stronger right to be independent.
 Holy See The Holy See (Vatican City) does not recognize Kosovo. They support Serbia's land and unity.
 Northern Cyprus Northern Cyprus welcomed Kosovo's independence but does not plan to recognize it.
 Palestine Palestinian officials have different views. Some believe Palestine should declare independence like Kosovo. Others say Palestine needs to end its occupation first.
 Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic says that the quick recognition of Kosovo shows unfair "double standards" because their own situation has not been solved.
 Somaliland Somaliland feels that Kosovo's independence opens the door for them to also become independent.
 South Ossetia South Ossetia believes they have a stronger right to be a state than Kosovo. They say Kosovo got independence after NATO attacked Serbia.
Flag of Transnistria (state).svg Transnistria Transnistria believes Kosovo's independence sets a new way for solving conflicts. They think this new way should apply to all similar conflicts.

Positions Taken by International Organizations

International organizations themselves do not officially recognize countries. Instead, their member countries do. However, these organizations can express opinions or decide whether to allow a partially recognized state to join them.

International organisation Position
 Arab League The Arab League has discussed Kosovo. Many Arab states support Kosovo, and there might be a gradual move towards recognition.
 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) CARICOM members decided to recognize Kosovo together. Each country would then announce it separately.
Europe Council of Europe (CoE) Kosovo plans to join the Council of Europe. If 2/3 of the member countries vote yes, Kosovo will be accepted. In 2023, Kosovo completed the first step to join.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Kosovo became a member of the EBRD in 2012. In 2013, Kosovo and the EBRD signed an agreement on working together on money matters.
 European Union (EU) The EU does not officially recognize states, its member countries do. Most EU countries recognize Kosovo. The EU sent a mission to Kosovo to help with law and order. The European Parliament has encouraged all EU countries to recognize Kosovo.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) In 2008, the IMF said that Kosovo had separated from Serbia and was a new independent state. Kosovo became a full member of the IMF in 2009.
Interpol Kosovo has tried to join Interpol, a global police organization, three times. In 2018, it did not get enough votes to become a member.
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) NATO says its mission in Kosovo will continue based on UN rules. This will not change unless the UN Security Council decides something else.
 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) The OIC welcomed Kosovo's independence. They encouraged their member countries to consider recognizing Kosovo.
OSCE flag.svg Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) The OSCE has asked Kosovo's government to protect minorities. Serbia has said it will oppose Kosovo joining the OSCE.
 United Nations (UN) Russia asked for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council when Kosovo declared independence. But the council members could not agree. For Kosovo to join the UN, all five permanent members of the Security Council must agree. Only three of them (UK, France, and US) recognize Kosovo.
Member states (104 / 193)
World Bank Kosovo became a full member of the World Bank in 2009.
World Customs Organization Kosovo became a full member of the World Customs Organization in 2017.

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