Roma Community

The largest Roma community is concentrated in Prizren, while sizable Roma communities are also located in Gračanica/Graçanicë,Pejë/Peć and Mitrovica/Mitrovicë South. Smaller Roma communities are located throughout the rest of Kosovo.

The Roma community is believed to be descendents from migrants from Central India. Although small numbers of Roma are thought to have arrived in South-Eastern Europe before the 14th century, the bulk of the migration of Roma to this region took place in the 14th and 15th centuries AD.

The Roma community shares cultural similarities and socio-economic issues with the Egyptian and Ashkali communities in Kosovo. However, Kosovo, through its institutions and legislation, recognizes these communities as a distinct and separate communities and treats them as such. Roma communities can be found throughout the region and the rest of Europe, as well as in smaller numbers in other regions of the world. The Roma community in Kosovo is nominally Sunni Muslim, sedentary and urban. 

The International Romani Day, 8 April, is recognised as an official Kosovo Memorial Day.

Most Roma speak Romani as their native tongue. Romani belongs to the Indo-European language family, and it is related to languages spoken in northern India. Kosovo’s public education system offers no education in the Romani language. Depending on where they live, Roma speak either Serbian and/or Albanian as a second language. Although, in Gračanica/Graçanicë is an official language. 

The Roma community has one (1) seat guaranteed in the Kosovo Assembly, and one (1) additional seat is awarded to the Roma, the Ashkali or the Egyptian community with the highest overall votes. The community also nominates two (2) members of the CCC.