Countries That Recognize Kosovo 2022

As the Republic of Kosovo, it is a semi-recognized state in southeast Europe striving to break away from Serbia. Despite being one of Europe’s most impoverished nations, Kosovo proclaimed independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008.

As a result of Serbia’s continued claim to Kosovo, Kosovo has so far been refused full recognition by the United Nations and EU. As a former member of Yugoslavia, Serbia’s stance is paradoxical, given that Serbia and Montenegro divorced peacefully in 2006 after years of tension.

It is estimated that Kosovo will be an independent state by 119 countries as of July 2022. Some of the recognitions, however, are vague or contested, and numerous other countries have revoked their recognition owing to political pressure from nations that prefer Serbia’s position over that of Kosovo.

99 nations recognize Kosovo as an independent state as a consequence. (Full information is provided in the table below the text on this page.)

Recognized as an independent state by the international community:*

*See the following table for a complete listing of countries in each category.

Belgrade’s response to Kosovo’s declaration of independence

Immediately after Kosovo declared independence, Serbia reacted by indicting the country’s leaders on charges of high treason, bringing the matter before the International Court of Justice, and recalling Serbia’s embassy personnel to nations that had recognized the newly independent state.

According to international law, the International Court of Justice declared in 2010 that Kosovo’s declaration of independence was valid, although Serbia has disputed that ruling.

Relations between Serbia and Kosovo became warmer over time, despite the initial hostility. Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic agreed to deploy a liaison officer to Kosovo due to EU discussions on Kosovo’s status in December 2012.

In April 2013, Kosovo and Serbia signed the Brussels Agreement, which declared that Belgrade (Serbia’s capital) recognized Pristina (Kosovo’s capital) as having administrative control over Kosovo and that Belgrade would consider Pristina a legitimate governmental authority.

Also See: Countries That Recognize Israel 2022

This agreement led to a swap of liaison officials in June 2013 and allowed both countries to ultimately become EU members.

In November 2018, Kosovo slapped a 100 percent import tariff on all Serbian products, putting a crimp on ties between Serbia and Kosovo. Kosova ceased collecting taxes on 1 April 2020.

Other partly recognized countries

As far as unrecognized nations go, Kosovo isn’t alone: Some more nations that aren’t yet recognized by the international community (and hence aren’t in the United Nations) are Palestine, Israel, Western Sahara, and Taiwan.