Behrami: Conversions from Islam to Catholicism are sporadic

Demographer Sami Behrami states that conversions from Islam to Catholicism in Kosovo are sporadic and individual cases that do not affect the religious composition of the population.

“Data from this year’s census has yet to be released. According to the 2011 census, Kosovo’s population is made up of 93% Muslims, over 2% Catholics, nearly 3% Orthodox Christians, while other religions account for around 1%. There are reports in the media suggesting changes in this structure, but I believe these are sporadic cases that do not influence the overall religious makeup of the population,” Behrami says.

He expects that the results from the most recent census, including religious affiliation, will be published by late December and is confident that the 2024 data will not differ significantly from those of 2011.

“For religious affiliation to shift even by 1%, at least 15,000 people would need to change their affiliation, which is currently impossible in Kosovo. Switching religious affiliation is permitted and legal in Kosovo, and individuals exercise their constitutional and legal rights to do so, often for personal reasons. However, this has become more of a media issue. I don’t believe there is a political agenda behind it, although, unfortunately, politicians could exploit it,” Behrami concludes.