Serbia

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 1,730,496 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2020 est.)

Internet country code

.rs

Internet users

total: 5.589 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 81% (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: Serbia s telecom industry has been liberalized in line with the principles of the EU s regulatory framework for communications, focused on encouraging competition in telecom products and services, and ensuring universal access; considerable network investment has been undertaken in Serbia by incumbent and alternative operators in recent years, despite economic difficulties; this has helped to stimulate internet usage, which has also been bolstered by improved affordability as prices are reduced through competition; the pandemic has stimulated consumer take up of services, particularly mobile data; the government s various initiatives to improve rural broadband availability have also been supported by European development loans; Serbia s high mobile services, partly the result of multiple SIM card use, has weighed on revenue growth in recent years, placing further pressure on operators to develop business models which encourage consumer use of mobile data services also in response to the continued substitution of fixed-line for mobile voice calls; the regulator has yet to auction 5G-suitable frequencies, though operators are already investing in their networks in preparation for this next growth frontier; during 2021 the regulator resumed the process towards a 5G spectrum auction, which had been delayed owing to the onset of the covid-19 pandemic (2022) domestic: fixed-line over 37 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 124 per 100 persons (2021) international: country code - 381

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2.539 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 8.621 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products

maize, wheat, sugar beets, milk, sunflower seeds, potatoes, plums, apples, barley, soybeans (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 22.9% of household expenditures (2022 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 8.4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

revenues: $26.077 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $23.693 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: BB+ (2019) Moody's rating: Ba3 (2017) Standard & Poors rating: BB+ (2019) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Current account balance

-$1.954 billion (2023 est.) -$4.457 billion (2022 est.) -$2.654 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

upper middle-income Balkan economy; current EU accession candidate; hit by COVID-19; pursuing green growth development; manageable public debt; new anticorruption efforts; falling unemployment; historic Russian relations; energy import-dependent

Exchange rates

Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar - 108.403 (2023 est.) 111.662 (2022 est.) 99.396 (2021 est.) 103.163 (2020 est.) 105.25 (2019 est.)

Exports

$44.343 billion (2023 est.) $39.905 billion (2022 est.) $34.035 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

insulated wire, copper ore, plastic products, electricity, rubber tires (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Germany 13%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 7%, Italy 7%, Hungary 6%, Romania 4% (2022) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$75.187 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 67.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 15.9% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.7% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -1.3% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 59.9% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -64.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 5.2% (2023 est.) industry: 26.4% (2023 est.) services: 51.2% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

33.1 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 25.9% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$48.216 billion (2023 est.) $47.395 billion (2022 est.) $39.476 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

electricity, crude petroleum, natural gas, plastic products, packaged medicine (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Germany 11%, China 8%, Hungary 8%, Russia 7%, Italy 6% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

3.62% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

automobiles, base metals, furniture, food processing, machinery, chemicals, sugar, tires, clothes, pharmaceuticals

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.37% (2023 est.) 11.98% (2022 est.) 4.09% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

3.333 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

21.2% (2020 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

62.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$162.213 billion (2023 est.) $158.214 billion (2022 est.) $154.28 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

2.53% (2023 est.) 2.55% (2022 est.) 7.73% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$24,500 (2023 est.) $23,700 (2022 est.) $22,600 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

7.68% of GDP (2023 est.) 8.97% of GDP (2022 est.) 7.29% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$27.569 billion (2023 est.) $20.68 billion (2022 est.) $18.617 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues

25.11% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

8.68% (2023 est.) 8.68% (2022 est.) 10.06% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 24.3% (2023 est.) male: 23.2% (2023 est.) female: 26.1% (2023 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Carbon dioxide emissions

42.933 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 27.399 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 10.06 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from consumed natural gas: 5.474 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

production: 35.129 million metric tons (2022 est.) consumption: 38.297 million metric tons (2022 est.) exports: 9,000 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 1.641 million metric tons (2022 est.) proven reserves: 7.514 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 8.075 million kW (2022 est.) consumption: 30.678 billion kWh (2022 est.) exports: 5.613 billion kWh (2022 est.) imports: 8.236 billion kWh (2022 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.494 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 68.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) wind: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) hydroelectricity: 27.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) biomass and waste: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

89.037 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

production: 353.376 million cubic meters (2022 est.) consumption: 2.939 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) imports: 2.652 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) proven reserves: 48.139 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 82,000 bbl/day (2022 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 77.5 million barrels (2021 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 21.74 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 45.22 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.96 megatons (2020 est.)

Climate

in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well-distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns)

Environment - current issues

air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube; inadequate management of domestic, industrial, and hazardous waste

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Djerdap (2023)

Land use

agricultural land: 57.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 37.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 16.8% (2018 est.) forest: 31.6% (2018 est.) other: 10.5% (2018 est.)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Revenue from coal

0.25% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.38% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

162.2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.) (note - includes Kosovo)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 680 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 3.99 billion cubic meters (2020 est.) agricultural: 660 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 57.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Kosovo

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.84 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 13,984 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.8% (2015 est.)

Area

total : 77,474 sq km land: 77,474 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate

in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well-distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point: Midzor 2,169 m lowest point: Danube and Timok Rivers 35 m mean elevation: 442 m

Geographic coordinates

44 00 N, 21 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East

Irrigated land

520 sq km (2020)

Land boundaries

total: 2,322 km border countries (8): Bosnia and Herzegovina 345 km; Bulgaria 344 km; Croatia 314 km; Hungary 164 km; Kosovo 366 km; North Macedonia 101 km; Montenegro 157 km; Romania 531 km

Land use

agricultural land: 57.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 37.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 16.8% (2018 est.) forest: 31.6% (2018 est.) other: 10.5% (2018 est.)

Location

Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary

Major rivers (by length in km)

Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Natural resources

oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, chromite, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, arable land

Population distribution

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

Terrain

extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills

Administrative divisions

117 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina) and 28 cities (gradovi, singular - grad) municipalities: Ada*, Aleksandrovac, Aleksinac, Alibunar*, Apatin*, Arandelovac, Arilje, Babusnica, Bac*, Backa Palanka*, Backa Topola*, Backi Petrovac*, Bajina Basta, Batocina, Becej*, Bela Crkva*, Bela Palanka, Beocin*, Blace, Bogatic, Bojnik, Boljevac, Bosilegrad, Brus, Bujanovac, Cajetina, Cicevac, Coka*, Crna Trava, Cuprija, Despotovac, Dimitrov, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Golubac, Gornji Milanovac, Indija*, Irig*, Ivanjica, Kanjiza*, Kladovo, Knic, Knjazevac, Koceljeva, Kosjeric, Kovacica*, Kovin*, Krupanj, Kucevo, Kula*, Kursumlija, Lajkovac, Lapovo, Lebane, Ljig, Ljubovija, Lucani, Majdanpek, Mali Idos*, Mali Zvornik, Malo Crnice, Medveda, Merosina, Mionica, Negotin, Nova Crnja*, Nova Varos, Novi Becej*, Novi Knezevac*, Odzaci*, Opovo*, Osecina, Paracin, Pecinci*, Petrovac na Mlavi, Plandiste*, Pozega, Presevo, Priboj, Prijepolje, Raca, Raska, Razanj, Rekovac, Ruma*, Secanj*, Senta*, Sid*, Sjenica, Smederevska Palanka, Sokobanja, Srbobran*, Sremski Karlovci*, Stara Pazova*, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Svrljig, Temerin*, Titel*, Topola, Trgoviste, Trstenik, Tutin, Ub, Varvarin, Velika Plana, Veliko Gradiste, Vladicin Han, Vladimirci, Vlasotince, Vrbas*, Vrnjacka Banja, Zabalj*, Zabari, Zagubica, Zitiste*, Zitorada cities: Beograd (Belgrade), Bor, Cacak, Jagodina, Kikinda*, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Leskovac, Loznica, Nis, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad*, Pancevo*, Pirot, Pozarevac, Prokuplje, Sabac, Smederevo, Sombor*, Sremska Mitrovica*, Subotica*, Uzice, Valjevo, Vranje, Vrsac*, Zajecar, Zrenjanin* note: the northern 37 municipalities and 8 cities - about 28% of Serbia's area - compose the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and are indicated with *

Capital

name: Belgrade (Beograd) geographic coordinates: 44 50 N, 20 30 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the Serbian "Beograd" means "white fortress" or "white city" and dates back to the 9th century; the name derives from the white fortress wall that once enclosed the city

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Serbia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years

Constitution

history: many previous; latest adopted 30 September 2006, approved by referendum 28-29 October 2006, effective 8 November 2006 amendments: proposed by at least one third of deputies in the National Assembly, by the president of the republic, by the government, or by petition of at least 150,000 voters; passage of proposals and draft amendments each requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Assembly; amendments to constitutional articles including the preamble, constitutional principles, and human and minority rights and freedoms also require passage by simple majority vote in a referendum

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Serbia conventional short form: Serbia local long form: Republika Srbija local short form: Srbija former: People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain, but seems to be related to the name of the West Slavic Sorbs who reside in the Lusatian region in present-day eastern Germany; by tradition, the Serbs migrated from that region to the Balkans in about the 6th century A.D.

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher R. HILL (since 1 April 2022) embassy: 92 Bulevar kneza Aleksandra Karadjordjevica, 11040 Belgrade mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070 telephone: [381] (11) 706-4000 FAX: [381] (11) 706-4481 email address and website: belgradeacs@state.gov https://rs.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg d'Affaires Vladimir MARIC (since 30 April 2024) chancery: 1333 16th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 507-8654 FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933 email address and website: info@serbiaembusa.org http://www.washington.mfa.gov.rs/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Aleksandar VUCIC (since 31 May 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Milos Vucevic (since 2 May 2024) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 December 2023 (next to be held in 2028); prime minister elected by the National Assembly election results: 2022: Aleksandar VUCIC reelected in first round; percent of vote - Aleksandar VUCIC (SNS) 60%, Zdravko PONOS (US) 18.9%, Milos JOVANOVIC (NADA) 6.1%, Bosko OBRADOVIC (Dveri-POKS) 4.5%, Milica DJURDJEVIC STAMENKOVSKI (SSZ) 4.3%, other 6.2% 2017: Aleksandar VUCIC elected president in first round; percent of vote - Aleksandar VUCIC (SNS) 55.1%, Sasa JANKOVIC (independent) 16.4%, Luka MAKSIMOVIC (independent) 9.4%, Vuk JEREMIC (independent) 5.7%, Vojislav SESELJ (SRS) 4.5%, other 7.3%, invalid/blank 1.6%; Prime Minister Ana BRNABIC reelected by the National Assembly on 5 October 2020; National Assembly vote - NA

Flag description

three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white - the Pan-Slav colors representing freedom and revolutionary ideals; charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the hoist side; the principal field of the coat of arms represents the Serbian state and displays a white two-headed eagle on a red shield; a smaller red shield on the eagle represents the Serbian nation, and is divided into four quarters by a white cross; interpretations vary as to the meaning and origin of the white, curved symbols resembling firesteels (fire strikers) or Cyrillic "C's" in each quarter; a royal crown surmounts the coat of arms note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

5 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 1217 (Serbian Kingdom established); 16 April 1346 (Serbian Empire established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Serbian independence); 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) established)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) note : Serbia is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cassation (consists of 36 judges, including the court president); Constitutional Court (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court justices proposed by the High Judicial Council (HJC), an 11-member independent body consisting of 8 judges elected by the National Assembly and 3 ex-officio members; justices appointed by the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges elected - 5 each by the National Assembly, the president, and the Supreme Court of Cassation; initial appointment of Supreme Court judges by the HJC is 3 years and beyond that period tenure is permanent; Constitutional Court judges elected for 9-year terms subordinate courts: basic courts, higher courts, appellate courts; courts of special jurisdiction include the Administrative Court, commercial courts, and misdemeanor courts

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly or Narodna Skupstina (250 seats; members directly elected by party list proportional representation vote in a single nationwide constituency to serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 17 December 2023 (next to be held in 2027) election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - Serbia Must Stop 48%, SPN 24.4%, SPS-JS-ZS 6.7%, NADA 5.2%, MI-GIN 4.8%, Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians 1.7%, SPP-DSHV 0.8%, SDAS 0.6%, Political Battle of the Albanians Continues 0.4%, RS-NKPJ 0.3%, other 7.1%; seats by party/coalition - Serbia Must Stop 128, SPN 65, SPS-JS-ZS 18, NADA 13, MI-GIN 13, Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians 6, SPP-DSHV 3, SDAS 2, Political Battle of the Albanians Continues 1, RS-NKPJ 1; composition - men 155, women 95; percentage of women 38%

National anthem

name: "Boze pravde" (God of Justice) lyrics/music: Jovan DORDEVIC/Davorin JENKO note: adopted 1904; song originally written as part of a play in 1872 and has been used as an anthem by the Serbian people throughout the 20th and 21st centuries

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 4 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Stari Ras and Sopoćani; Studenica Monastery; Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius; Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards

National holiday

Statehood Day, 15 February (1835), the day the first constitution of the country was adopted

National symbol(s)

white double-headed eagle; national colors: red, blue, white

Political parties

Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM or VMSZ Democratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina or DSHV Democratic Party or DS Ecological Uprising or EU Green - Left Front or ZLF Greens of Serbia or ZS Justice and Reconciliation Party or SPP (formerly Bosniak Democratic Union of Sandzak or BDZS) Movement for Reversal or PZP Movement for the Restoration of the Kingdom of Serbia or POKS Movement of Free Citizens or PSG Movement of Socialists or PS National Democratic Alternative or NADA (electoral coalition includes NDSS and POKS) New Communist Party of Yugoslavia or NKPJ New Democratic Party of Serbia or NDSS or New DSS (formerly Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS) New Face of Serbia or NLS Party of Democratic Action of the Sandzak or SDAS Party of Freedom and Justice or SSP Party of United Pensioners, Farmers, and Proletarians of Serbia Solidarity and Justice or PUPS - Solidarity and Justice (formerly Party of United Pensioners of Serbia or PUPS) People's Movement of Serbia or NPS People's Movement of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija or Fatherland People's Peasant Party or NSS Political Battle of the Albanians Continues Russian Party or RS Serbia Against Violence or SPN (electoral coalition includes DS, SSP, ZLF, Zajedno, NPS, PSG, EU, PZP, USS Sloga, NLS, Fatherland) Serbia Must Not Stop (electoral coalitions includes SNS, SDPS, PUPS, PSS, SNP, SPO, PS, NSS, USS) Serbian People's Party or SNP Serbian Progressive Party or SNS Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO Social Democratic Party of Serbia or SDPS Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS Strength of Serbia or PSS Together or ZAJEDNO United Peasant Party or USS United Serbia or JS United Trade Unions of Serbia "Sloga" or USS Sloga We - The Voice from the People or MI-GIN

Suffrage

18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

Background

In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. The monarchy remained in power until 1945, when the communist Partisans headed by Josip Broz (aka TITO) took control of the newly created Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). After TITO died in 1980, communism in Yugoslavia gradually gave way to resurgent nationalism. In 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Republic of Serbia, and his calls for Serbian domination led to the violent breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in 1992, and MILOSEVIC led military campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." These actions ultimately failed, and international intervention led to the signing of the Dayton Accords in 1995. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo resulted in a brutal Serbian counterinsurgency campaign. Serbia rejected a proposed international settlement, and NATO responded with a bombing campaign that forced Serbian forces to withdraw from Kosovo in June 1999. In 2003, the FRY became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics. In 2006, Montenegro seceded and declared itself an independent nation. In 2008, Kosovo also declared independence -- an action Serbia still refuses to recognize. In 2013, Serbia and Kosovo signed the first agreement of principles governing the normalization of relations between the two countries. Additional agreements were reached in 2015 and 2023, but implementation remains incomplete. Serbia has been an official candidate for EU membership since 2012, and President Aleksandar VUCIC has promoted the ambitious goal of Serbia joining the EU by 2025.

Military - note

the Serbian military is responsible for defense and deterrence against external threats, supporting international peacekeeping operations, and providing support to civil authorities for internal security; specific threat concerns of the military include extremism, separatism, and deepening international recognition of Kosovo; Serbia has cooperated with NATO since 2006, when it joined the Partnership for Peace program, and the military trains with NATO countries, particularly other Balkan states; Serbia has participated in EU peacekeeping missions, as well as missions under the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the UN; it also maintains close security ties with Russia and has a growing security relationship with China the modern Serbian military was established in 2006 but traces its origins back through World War II, World War I, the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, and the Bulgarian-Serb War of 1885 to the First (1804-1813) and Second (1815-1817) Uprisings against the Ottoman Empire (2024)

Military and security forces

Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Army (aka Land Forces; includes Riverine Component, consisting of a naval flotilla on the Danube), Air and Air Defense Forces, Serbian Guard Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs: General Police Directorate (2024) note: the Serbian Guard is a brigade-sized unit that is directly subordinate to the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff; its duties include safeguarding key defense facilities and rendering military honors to top foreign, state, and military officials

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 25,000 active-duty troops (15,000 Land Forces; 5,000 Air/Air Defense; 5,000 other); approximately 3,000 Gendarmerie (2023)

Military deployments

180 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced, Russian/Soviet-era, and Yugoslav equipment and weapons systems; in recent years, it has purchased some weapons systems from China, such as anti-aircraft missiles and armed aerial drones (2024)

Military expenditures

2.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 2% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished in 2011 (2024) note: as of 2024, women made up about 11% of the military's full-time personnel

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.4% (male 492,963/female 463,995) 15-64 years: 65.6% (male 2,198,591/female 2,168,113) 65 years and over: 20% (2024 est.) (male 551,197/female 777,353)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

8.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 1.2% women married by age 18: 5.5% (2019 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1% (2019)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

62.3% (2019)

Current health expenditure

8.7% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

60.8% (2023 est.)

Death rate

14.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 53.8 youth dependency ratio: 21.9 elderly dependency ratio: 31.9 potential support ratio: 3.1 (2021 est.) note: data include Kosovo

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 99.7% of population rural: 99.4% of population total: 99.5% of population unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population rural: 0.6% of population total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.)

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Ethnic groups

Serb 83.3%, Hungarian 3.5%, Romani 2.1%, Bosniak 2%, other 5.7%, undeclared or unknown 3.4% (2011 est.) note: most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5 11% of Serbia's population

Gross reproduction rate

0.71 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

5.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Serbian (official) 88.1%, Hungarian 3.4%, Bosnian 1.9%, Romani 1.4%, other 3.4%, undeclared or unknown 1.8% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Serbian, Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, and Ruthenian (Rusyn) are official in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina; most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.3 years (2024 est.) male: 72.7 years female: 78.1 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.5% male: 99.9% female: 99.1% (2019)

Major urban areas - population

1.408 million BELGRADE (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

10 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

total: 43.9 years (2024 est.) male: 42.4 years female: 45.4 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

28.2 years (2020 est.) note: data does not cover Kosovo or Metohija

Nationality

noun: Serb(s) adjective: Serbian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.5% (2016)

Physician density

3.11 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

total: 6,652,212 male: 3,242,751 female: 3,409,461 (2024 est.)

Population distribution

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

Population growth rate

-0.61% (2024 est.)

Religions

Orthodox 84.6%, Catholic 5%, Muslim 3.1%, Protestant 1%, atheist 1.1%, other 0.8% (includes agnostics, other Christians, Eastern, Jewish), undeclared or unknown 4.5% (2011 est.) note: most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 99.6% of population rural: 95.7% of population total: 97.9% of population unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population rural: 4.3% of population total: 2.1% of population (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2021)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 39.8% (2020 est.) male: 40.5% (2020 est.) female: 39.1% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.46 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 57.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Kosovo

Illicit drugs

drug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of of large quantities of cocaine destined for European markets

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 17,334 (Croatia), 7,997 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (mid-year 2022) IDPs: 196,066 (most are Kosovar Serbs, some are Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptian (RAE); some RAE IDPs are unregistered) (2022) stateless persons: 2,594 (includes stateless persons in Kosovo) (2022) note: 1,045,323 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-March 2024)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards; therefore, Serbia was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/serbia/

Airports

43 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YU

Heliports

8 (2024)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 43 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,262,703 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 17.71 million (2018) mt-km

Pipelines

1,936 km gas, 413 km oil

Railways

total: 3,333 km (2020) 1,274 km electrified

Roadways

total: 45,022 km (2022)

Waterways

587 km (2009) (primarily on the Danube and Sava Rivers)