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Topic 01 of 18 · Country Index 2026

Kosovo: Governance & Institutions

How well is the state actually run?

Kosovo is placed 93rd of 194 countries on governance & institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Government Effectiveness -0.121 (2025); Corruption Perceptions Index 43 (2025).

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Governance & Institutions

93rd

of 194 countries placed

Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics

Not placed in the Country Index 2026 overall: measured on too few topics.

01The evidence

The 4 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Kosovo on governance & institutions — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.

Why these keys
  1. Key 1 of 4

    Government Effectiveness

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0

    -0.121

    Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)

    Higher is better

    Kosovo: -0.121. Across the 209 countries in this edition, values run from -2.251 (South Sudan) to 2.092 (Singapore); the world median is 0.101.

    World median
    0.101
    Best in Southern Europe
    1.379 Andorra
    Land neighbours
    Albania 0.471 · North Macedonia 0.197 · Montenegro 0.471 · Serbia 0.033
  2. Key 2 of 4

    Statistical Performance Indicators

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    No reading

    SPI overall score (0–100)

    Higher is better

    World Bank Group publishes no 2024 figure for Kosovo, so the standing rests on the other keys.

    Across the 188 countries in this edition, values run from 27.12 (South Sudan) to 94.14 (Norway); the world median is 69.3.

    World median
    69.3
    Best in Southern Europe
    91.82 Spain
    Land neighbours
    Albania 83.65 · North Macedonia 87.17 · Montenegro 73.89 · Serbia 80.49
  3. Key 3 of 4

    Corruption Perceptions Index

    Transparency International

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)

    43

    CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)

    Higher is better

    Ranked 76th of 181 by Transparency International

    Kosovo: 43. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 9 (Somalia) to 89 (Denmark); the world median is 39.

    World median
    39
    Best in Southern Europe
    58 Slovenia
    Land neighbours
    Albania 39 · North Macedonia 40 · Montenegro 46 · Serbia 33
  4. Key 4 of 4

    Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index

    V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    0.638

    Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)

    Higher is better

    Kosovo: 0.638. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.003 (Nicaragua) to 0.988 (Australia); the world median is 0.676.

    World median
    0.676
    Best in Southern Europe
    0.937 Spain
    Land neighbours
    Albania 0.689 · North Macedonia 0.459 · Montenegro 0.715 · Serbia 0.415

03In context

Kosovo beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 194 countries on governance & institutions, never a place within the region.

Southern Europe
1st194thNot placed · 30 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on governance & institutions

Kosovo and the countries it borders

Standing among all 194; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingGovernment EffectivenessGovernance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)Statistical Performance IndicatorsSPI overall score (0–100)Corruption Perceptions IndexCPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexJudicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
Albania=63rd0.470783.65390.689
Montenegro=63rd0.471073.89460.715
North Macedonia70th0.196787.17400.459
Kosovo93rd-0.1213—430.638
Serbia=101st0.032880.49330.415

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

04Context, no vote

Where Kosovo is ahead of the world, and behind

33 more statistics filed under governance & institutions, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median21

Statistics on which Kosovo does better than the middle country measured.

  • Country Policy and Institutional AssessmentWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.2463.967▲ Improved since 2015

    Kosovo: 3.967 · world median 3.246 · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.617 to 4.225; higher is better.

    Position 2nd of 78 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Global Indicators of Regulatory Governance ScoreWorld Bank Group · 2018 · world median 2.254.75No earlier reading

    Kosovo: 4.75 · world median 2.25 · Regulatory governance score (0–5, where 5 is the most transparent rule-making). World Bank Group, 2018 edition, data for 2018.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2018 dataset

  • Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.8100No earlier reading

    Kosovo: 100 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.7597.7No earlier reading

    Kosovo: 97.7 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Debt Service on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 12.937.178▲ Improved since 2014

    Kosovo: 7.178 · world median 12.93 · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.285 to 96.2; lower is better.

    Position 90th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Bribery IncidenceWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 7.2692.057No earlier reading

    Kosovo: 2.057 · world median 7.269 · Firms asked for a bribe at least once in six dealings with officials (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 64.26; lower is better.

    Position 144th of 175 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Women, Business and the LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 81.2591.88▼ Worsened since 2015

    Kosovo: 91.88 · world median 81.25 · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.125 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 38th of 190 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • GovTech Maturity IndexWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.630.851▲ Improved since 2022

    Kosovo: 0.851 · world median 0.63 · GTMI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.01 to 0.997; higher is better.

    Position 43rd of 196 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Equal Protection IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6510.745▲ Improved since 2015

    Kosovo: 0.745 · world median 0.651 · Equal protection index (0–1); higher = rights and freedoms protected more equally across social groups and classes. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.027 to 0.986; higher is better.

    Position 56th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Civic Space RatingsCIVICUS · 2025 · world median 50.4667No earlier reading

    Kosovo: 67 · world median 50.46 · Civic space score (0–100). CIVICUS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.17 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 72nd of 198 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Political Corruption IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5180.348▲ Improved since 2015

    Kosovo: 0.348 · world median 0.518 · Political corruption index (0–1; higher = more corrupt). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.004 to 0.968; lower is better.

    Position 109th of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • V-Dem Electoral Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4970.631No real change since 2015

    Kosovo: 0.631 · world median 0.497 · Electoral democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.016 to 0.913; higher is better.

    Position 68th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 43.9438.61No real change since 2014

    Kosovo: 38.61 · world median 43.94 · External debt stocks (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.213 to 350.57; lower is better.

    Position 68th of 110 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.963No earlier reading

    Kosovo: 63 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Liberal Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3530.457No real change since 2015

    Kosovo: 0.457 · world median 0.353 · Liberal democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.009 to 0.884; higher is better.

    Position 71st of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Neopatrimonial Rule IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4450.346▲ Improved since 2015

    Kosovo: 0.346 · world median 0.445 · Neopatrimonial rule index (0–1; higher = more personalised rule). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.008 to 0.989; lower is better.

    Position 105th of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Social Protection CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 52.160.8No earlier reading

    Kosovo: 60.8 · world median 52.1 · Population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Meritocratic Appointment in the State AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3090.49▲ Improved since 2015

    Kosovo: 0.49 · world median 0.309 · Original latent estimate (≈ −2.9 to +3.6); higher = more appointments on merit. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.442 to 3.584; higher is better.

    Position 78th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.1020.11▲ Improved since 2015

    Kosovo: 0.11 · world median -0.102 · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.199 to 2.012; higher is better.

    Position 96th of 211 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Rigorous and Impartial Public AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3330.485▼ Worsened since 2015

    Kosovo: 0.485 · world median 0.333 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +4.0); higher = a more rigorous and impartial administration. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -3.552 to 3.99; higher is better.

    Position 82nd of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0220.078▲ Improved since 2015

    Kosovo: 0.078 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.

    Position 97th of 206 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

Behind the world median8

Statistics on which Kosovo does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.498.1No earlier reading

    Kosovo: 98.1 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.197-0.26▲ Improved since 2015

    Kosovo: -0.26 · world median -0.197 · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.259; higher is better.

    Position 111th of 211 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Open Data InventoryOpen Data Watch · 2024 · world median 5956▼ Worsened since 2015

    Kosovo: 56 · world median 59 · ODIN overall score (0–100). Open Data Watch, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 19 to 90; higher is better.

    Ranked 90th of 168 by Open Data Watch.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-0.2▲ Improved since 2015

    Kosovo: -0.2 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.

    Position 117th of 209 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • State Authority over TerritoryV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 95.391.5▲ Improved since 2015

    Kosovo: 91.5 · world median 95.3 · Territory under effective state control (% of official territory). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 47.56 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Firms Expecting to Make Informal Payments to Public OfficialsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.40314.6No earlier reading

    Kosovo: 14.6 · world median 6.403 · Firms saying firms like theirs pay officials informally to get things done (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 55.03; lower is better.

    Position 52nd of 178 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • State Capacity IndexJonathan K. Hanson (University of Michigan) and Rachel Sigman (Naval Postgraduate School) · 2015 · world median 0.487-0.274▲ Improved since 2008

    Kosovo: -0.274 · world median 0.487 · Latent estimate of state capacity (≈ −2.3 to +3.0, centred near 0); higher = a more capable state. Jonathan K. Hanson (University of Michigan) and Rachel Sigman (Naval Postgraduate School), 2015 edition, data for 2015.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.697; higher is better.

    Position 140th of 166 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2015 dataset

  • State Fiscal Source of RevenueV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.179-0.53No real change since 2015

    Kosovo: -0.53 · world median 1.179 · Original latent estimate (≈ −2.9 to +3.1); higher = broader taxation. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -1.716 to 3.135; higher is better.

    Position 159th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

No better end4

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.0130.74No earlier reading

    Kosovo: 30.74 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.

    Position 13th of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Public Sector Wage BillWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 7.9758.071Moved since 2012

    Kosovo: 8.071 · world median 7.975 · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.977 to 42.65.

    Position 83rd of 168 · derived, counted from the highest value.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • General Government ConsumptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 16.2113.43Moved since 2015

    Kosovo: 13.43 · world median 16.21 · General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 5.445 to 38.94.

    Position 87th of 132 · derived, counted from the highest value.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Senior Management Time Spent on Government RegulationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.7954.295No earlier reading

    Kosovo: 4.295 · world median 6.795 · Senior management time spent dealing with government regulation (% of a typical week). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.025 to 31.33.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing

05Country Index 2026

Governance & Institutions among Kosovo’s 8 topics

Governance & Institutions is Kosovo’s 4th best-placed topic of 8. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.

On the profile
  1. Health & Wellbeing61st of 200
  2. Economy & Innovation60th of 176
  3. Democracy & Civil Liberties75th of 198
  4. Governance & Institutions93rd of 194
  5. Gender & Equalityjoint 95th of 183
  6. Peace & Security93rd of 177
  7. Digital & Technology112th of 198
  8. Poverty & Inequality121st of 159

No standing on Work & Labour, Education & Knowledge, Development & Human Capital, Environment & Sustainability, Risk & Resilience, Mobility & Trade, Food & Agriculture, Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.

06The top of the list

Who leads on governance & institutions

The three countries placed highest of 194, and the leaders Kosovo can most readily be measured against.

All 194 countries
  1. 1

    Denmark

    Northern Europe

    1st of 194 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    New Zealand

    Australia and New Zealand

    2nd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain, greyscale

  3. 3

    Sweden

    Northern Europe

    3rd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: User:Pieter Kuiper · Public domain, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Europe

    Denmark1st4/4 keys
  2. Highest in Southern Europe

    Spain=23rd4/4 keys
  3. This page

    Kosovo93rd3/4 keys

Positions out of 194 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.

08Questions

Kosovo on governance & institutions: questions answered

Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.

How does Kosovo rank on governance & institutions?

Kosovo is placed 93rd of 194 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Government Effectiveness, Corruption Perceptions Index and Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest Government Effectiveness figure for Kosovo?

-0.121 in 2025 (governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.101.

What is the latest Corruption Perceptions Index figure for Kosovo?

43 in 2025 (cPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)), according to Transparency International. The world median in the same edition was 39.

How does Kosovo compare with Serbia on governance & institutions?

Serbia is placed joint 101st of 194, and Kosovo 93rd. Government Effectiveness: Serbia 0.033, Kosovo -0.121; Corruption Perceptions Index: Serbia 33, Kosovo 43; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index: Serbia 0.415, Kosovo 0.638.

How have Kosovo’s governance & institutions figures changed?

Government Effectiveness rose from -0.501 in 2006 to -0.121 in 2025; Corruption Perceptions Index rose from 34 in 2012 to 43 in 2025; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index fell from 0.772 in 2000 to 0.638 in 2025.

Which governance & institutions statistics are missing for Kosovo?

No current reading is published for Kosovo on Agriculture Orientation Index, Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Central Bank Independence Index, Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN), Foundational ID Ownership, Government AI Readiness Index, Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Statistical Performance Indicators and Trade Union Density. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.

09Method

Method, sources and how to cite

What this topic does not measure

Governance is not democracy. Free elections, civil liberties and press freedom belong to the Democracy & Civil Liberties topic, and a country can place well on one and poorly on the other. How openly official data is published sits here as context, beside the statistical capacity that is a key. Nor does this topic measure the size of government or how much it spends — the share of the economy run by the state is published on this page as context, with no better end.

About governance & institutions, in full

How the Governance & Institutions standing is decided

A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.

The governance & institutions method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 33 statistics on this page come from 7 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.

The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photographs

Kosovo’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Kosovo: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/kosovo/governance

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