The population of Kosovo is aging, according to the Active Aging Index presented by the Kosovo Agency of Statistics. According to this index, 11 percent of the population is currently over the age of 65. This measurement highlights the urgent need to strengthen the elderly care system.
Although known for its youthful population, Kosovo is not exempt from the global aging trajectory, as stated during the presentation of the Active Aging Index on Friday.
The index, presented by the Kosovo Agency of Statistics and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Office in Kosovo, showed that 11 percent of the population in Kosovo is currently over 65 years old.
Visare Mujko-Nimani, head of the UNFPA office in Kosovo, emphasized that population aging requires immediate attention and action to strengthen the elderly care system.
“This demographic shift is happening faster than expected, requiring immediate and proactive attention. Although Kosovo’s demographic profile is younger, the growing population of elderly people indicates an urgent need for improvements in services and policies tailored to this generation,” she said.
The index, the first of its kind in Kosovo, aims to measure the opportunities and challenges faced by the population over 55 years old to assist policymakers in developing effective strategies.
In this regard, pensioner associations have called for more support from institutions.
“We need many things, not just a pension, but other support as well. We have our association, we do many activities, we are in good health, and we can contribute even more,” said Selvete Shala, a member of the Pensioners’ Association.
Antigona Spojani, coordinator of the Social Welfare Program at the Red Cross of Kosovo, said the number of elderly people who are isolated is also increasing.
“In the Red Cross lists, across 27 Red Cross branches in 27 municipalities of Kosovo, including other municipalities where we do not have a branch, we have registered 742 elderly people who are isolated and need continuous assistance,” she said.
KOHA has reported that pensioners are also discriminated against in accessing healthcare services. They are denied certain services at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (QKUK), and in some cases, they are forced to pay hundreds of euros for services.
