Gjakova
Gjakova
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City and municipality | |
The city at night Saint Paul and Saint Peter's Church | |
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Flag Seal | |
Gjakova Location of the town of Gjakova within Kosovo Gjakova Gjakova (Europe) | |
| Coordinates: 42°23′N 20°26′E / 42.383°N 20.433°E | |
| Country | Kosovo |
| District | Gjakova |
| Municipality | Gjakova |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ardian Gjini (AAK) |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 586.91 km2 (226.61 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 4th in Kosovo |
| Elevation | 375 m (1,230 ft) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Municipality | 78,699 |
| • Rank | 6th in Kosovo |
| • Density | 134.09/km2 (347.29/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 41,809 |
| Demonym(s) | Albanian: Gjakovar (m), Gjakovare (f) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 50000 |
| Area code | +383 390 |
| Vehicle registration | 07 |
Gjakova (pronounced [ɟakova]) or Đakovica (Serbian Cyrillic: Ђаковица, pronounced [ˈdʑakoʋitsa]) is the sixth-largest city in Kosovo and seat of the Gjakova Municipality and the Gjakova District. According to the 2024 census, the municipality of Gjakova has 78,699 inhabitants.
Geographically, Gjakova lies in the south-western part of Kosovo, approximately midway between the cities of Peja and Prizren. It is approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) inland from the Adriatic Sea. The city is situated some 208 kilometres (129 mi) north-east of Tirana, 145 kilometres (90 mi) north-west of Skopje, 80 kilometres (50 mi) west of the capital Pristina, 435 kilometres (270 mi) south of Belgrade and 263 kilometres (163 mi) east of Podgorica.
Gjakova has been inhabited since prehistoric times. During the Ottoman period, it emerged as a key trading hub along the route connecting Shkodra and Constantinople. At its peak, Gjakova was regarded as one of the most advanced commercial centres in the Balkans.