Youth migration has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges facing Kosovo today, with far-reaching implications for the country’s economic development, social
stability, and political future. As young Kosovars increasingly seek better opportunities abroad, the nation faces a potential crisis of human capital loss, often
referred to as “brain drain.” This phenomenon threatens to undermine Kosovo’s long term prospects by depleting its most dynamic and innovative demographic group—its youth. The exodus of young people is driven by a complex interplay of economic, political, social, and educational factors, each of which plays a significant role in
shaping the decisions of Kosovo’s young population to migrate.
The central argument of this paper is that addressing youth migration is not only critical for Kosovo’s immediate stability but also for its future as a thriving, self sustaining nation. The migration of young people is symptomatic of deeper structural issues within the country, including high unemployment, political instability, inadequate social services, and an education system that fails to meet the aspirations of the youth. These challenges are compounded by the slow progress of Kosovo’s European integration process, which further diminishes the optimism of young
Kosovars about their future prospects within the country
