2022 Edition

Background

The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Communist Partisans resisted the Axis occupation and division of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945 and fought nationalist opponents and collaborators as well. The military and political movement headed by Josip Broz "TITO" (Partisans) took full control of Yugoslavia when their domestic rivals and the occupiers were defeated in 1945. Although communists, TITO and his successors (Tito died in 1980) managed to steer their own path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half decades. In 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Republic of Serbia and his ultranationalist 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 April 1992 and under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia led various military campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." These actions ultimately failed and, after international intervention, led to the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. MILOSEVIC retained control over Serbia and eventually became president of the FRY in 1997. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a Serbian counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo. The MILOSEVIC government's rejection of a proposed international settlement led to NATO's bombing of Serbia in the spring of 1999. Serbian military and police forces withdrew from Kosovo in June 1999, and the UN Security Council authorized an interim UN administration and a NATO-led security force in Kosovo. FRY elections in late 2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and the installation of democratic government. In 2003, the FRY became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics. Widespread violence predominantly targeting ethnic Serbs in Kosovo in March 2004 led to more intense calls to address Kosovo's status, and the UN began facilitating status talks in 2006. In June 2006, Montenegro seceded from the federation and declared itself an independent nation. Serbia subsequently gave notice that it was the successor state to the union of Serbia and Montenegro. In February 2008, after nearly two years of inconclusive negotiations, Kosovo declared itself independent of Serbia - an action Serbia refuses to recognize. At Serbia's request, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in October 2008 sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on whether Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence was in accordance with international law. In a ruling considered unfavorable to Serbia, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion in July 2010 stating that international law did not prohibit declarations of independence. In late 2010, Serbia agreed to an EU-drafted UNGA Resolution acknowledging the ICJ's decision and calling for a new round of talks between Serbia and Kosovo, this time on practical issues rather than Kosovo's status. Serbia and Kosovo signed the first agreement of principles governing the normalization of relations between the two countries in April 2013 and are in the process of implementing its provisions. In 2015, Serbia and Kosovo reached four additional agreements within the EU-led Brussels Dialogue framework. These included agreements on the Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities; telecommunications; energy production and distribution; and freedom of movement. President Aleksandar VUCIC has promoted an ambitious goal of Serbia joining the EU by 2025. Under his leadership as prime minister, in 2014 Serbia opened formal negotiations for accession.

Area

land

77,474 sq km

total

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

border countries

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

total

2,322 km

Land use

agricultural land

57.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 37.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 3.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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)

Danube (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 kmnote – [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

Age structure

0-14 years

14.07% (male 508,242/female 478,247)

15-24 years

11.04% (male 399,435/female 374,718)

25-54 years

41.19% (male 1,459,413/female 1,429,176)

55-64 years

13.7% (male 464,881/female 495,663)

65 years and over

20% (male 585,705/female 816,685) (2020 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

3.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

2.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

1.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

8.92 births/1,000 population (2022 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 (2019)

Death rate

16.39 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

31.9

note

note: data include Kosovo

potential support ratio

3.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

53.8

youth dependency ratio

21.9

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 99.4% of population

improved: total

total: 99.5% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.7% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.3% of population

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

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

(2021 est.)

Hospital bed density

5.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

4.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)

male

5.43 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.81 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Languages

Serbian (official) 88.1%, Hungarian 3.4%, Bosnian 1.9%, Romani 1.4%, other 3.4%, undeclared or unknown 1.8%; note - Serbian, Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, and Ruthenian (Rusyn) are official in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina; most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census (2011 est.)

major-language sample(s)

Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

77 years (2022 est.)

male

71.5 years

total population

74.17 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.1% (2019)

male

99.9%

total population

99.5%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

Major urban areas - population

1.408 million BELGRADE (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

12 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

45 years (2020 est.)

male

41.7 years

total

43.4 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

28.2 years (2020 est.)

note

note: data does not cover Kosovo or Metohija

Nationality

adjective

Serbian

noun

Serb(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.5% (2016)

Physicians density

3.11 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

6,739,471 (2022 est.)

note

note: does not include the population of Kosovo

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

-0.75% (2022 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

note: most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 95.7% of population

improved: total

total: 97.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.6% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 4.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 2.1% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2021)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.55 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Tobacco use

female

39.1% (2020 est.)

male

40.5% (2020 est.)

total

39.8% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Urbanization

note

note: data include Kosovo

rate of urbanization

0.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

57.1% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

28.8% (2021 est.)

male

23.5%

total

25.5%

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

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

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

geographic coordinates

44 50 N, 20 30 E

name

Belgrade (Beograd)

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

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

history

many previous; latest adopted 30 September 2006, approved by referendum 28-29 October 2006, effective 8 November 2006

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Serbia

conventional short form

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.

former

People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia

local long form

Republika Srbija

local short form

Srbija

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Christopher R. HILL (since 1 April 2022)

email address and website

belgradeacs@state.govhttps://rs.usembassy.gov/

embassy

92 Bulevar kneza Aleksandra Karadjordjevica, 11040 Belgrade

FAX

[381] (11) 706-4481

mailing address

5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070

telephone

[381] (11) 706-4000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2233 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Marko DJURIC (since 18 January 2021)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, New York

email address and website

info@serbiaembusa.orghttp://www.washington.mfa.gov.rs/

FAX

[1] (202) 332-3933

telephone

[1] (202) 332-0333

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet elected by the National Assembly

chief of state

President Aleksandar VUCIC (since 31 May 2017)

election results

2022: Aleksandar VUCIC reelected in the first round; percent of vote - Aleksandar VUSIC (SNS) 60%, Zdravko PONOS (US) 18.9%, Milos JOVANOVIC (NADA) 6.1%, Bosko OBRADOVIC (Dveri-POKS) 4.5%, Milica DURDEVIC STAMENDOVSKI (SSZ) 4.3%, other 6.2%2017: Aleksandar VUCIC elected president in the 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%, Bosko OBRADOVIC (Dveri) 2.3%, other 5.0%, invalid/blank 1.6%; Prime Minister Ana BRNABIC reelected by the National Assembly on 5 October 2020

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 3 April 2022 (next to be held in April 2027); prime minister elected by the National Assembly; note - in October 2020 President VUCIC called for early elections

head of government

Prime Minister Ana BRNABIC (since 29 June 2017)

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

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

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)

election results

percent of vote by party/coalition - Together We Can Do Everything 44.2%, UZPS 14.1%, Ivica Dacic - Prime Minister 11.8%, NADA 5.6%, We Must 4.9%, Dveri-POKS 3.9%, SSZ 3.8%, other 11.7%; seats by party/coalition - Together We Can Do Everything 120, UZPS 38, Ivica Dacic - Prime Minister 31, NADA 15, We Must 13, Dveri-POKS 10, SSZ 10, SVM 6, SPP 3, other 4; composition -  men 150, women 100, percent of women 40%

elections

last held on 3 April 2022 (next to be held in April 2026)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Jovan DORDEVIC/Davorin JENKO

name

"Boze pravde" (God of Justice)

note

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

selected World Heritage Site locales

Stari Ras and Sopoćani; Studenica Monastery; Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius; Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards

total World Heritage Sites

4 (all cultural)

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 and leaders

Albanian Democratic Alternative (coalition of ethnic Albanian parties) [Shaip KAMBERI]Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM or VMSZ [Istvan PASZTOR]Better Serbia or BS [Dragan JOVANOVIC]Democratic Party or DS [Zoran LUTOVAC]Dveri [Bosko OBRADOVIC]Greens of Serbia or ZS [Ivan KARIC]Ivica Dacic - Prime Minister of Serbia [Ivica DACIC] (coalition includes SPS, JS, ZS)Justice and Reconciliation Party or SPP [Usame ZUKORLIC] (formerly Bosniak Democratic Union of Sandzak or BDZS)Movement for the Restoration of the Kingdom of Serbia or POKS [Vojislav MIHAILOVIC]Movement of Free Citizens or PSG [Pavle GRBOVIC]Movement of Socialists or PS [Aleksandar VULIN]National Democratic Alternative or NADA [Milos JOVANOVIC and Vojislav MIHAILOVIC] (coalition includes DSS and POKS)New Democratic Party of Serbia or NDSS or New DSS [Milos JOVANOVIC] (formerly Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS)Party of Democratic Action of the Sandzak or SDA [Sulejman UGLJANIN]Party of Freedom and Justice or SSP [Dragan DILAS]Party of United Pensioners, Farmers, and Proletarians of Serbia – Solidarity and Justice or PUPS - Solidarity and Justice [Milan KRKOBABIC] (formerly Party of United Pensioners of Serbia or PUPS)People's Party or NS or Narodna [Vuk JEREMIC]People's Peasant Party or NSS [Marijan RISTICEVIC]Serbian Party Oathkeepers or SSZ [Stefan STAMENKOVSKI]Serbian People's Party or SNP [Nenad POPOVIC]Serbian Progressive Party or SNS [Aleksandar VUCIC]Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO [Vuk DRASKOVIC]Social Democratic Party of Serbia or SDPS [Rasim LJAJIC]Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS [Ivica DACIC]Strength of Serbia or PSS [Bogoljub KARIC]Together for Serbia or ZZS [Nebojsa ZELENOVIC]Together We Can Do Everything [Milenko JOVANOV] (includes SNS, SDPS, PUPS, PSS, SNP, SPO, PS, NSS, USS, BS)United for the Victory of Serbia or UZPS (includes NS, SSP, DS, PSG) (dissolved April 2022)United Peasant Party or USS [Milija MILETIC]United Serbia or JS [Dragan MARKOVIC]We Must or Moramo [Nebojsa ZELENOVIC, Dobrica VESELINOVIC, Aleksandar JOVANOVIC CUTA, Biljana STOJKOVIC, Radomir LAZOVIC, Biljana DORDEVIC]

note

note: Serbia has more than 110 registered political parties and citizens' associations

Suffrage

18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

Agricultural products

maize, wheat, sugar beet, milk, sunflower seed, potatoes, soybeans, plums/sloes, apples, barley

Budget

expenditures

17.59 billion (2017 est.)

note

note: data include both central government and local goverment budgets

revenues

17.69 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

BB+ (2019)

Moody's rating

Ba3 (2017)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

BB+ (2019)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

-$1.189 billion (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$2.354 billion (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$30.618 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$30.927 billion (2019 est.)

Economic overview

Serbia has a transitional economy largely dominated by market forces, but the state sector remains significant in certain areas. The economy relies on manufacturing and exports, driven largely by foreign investment. MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of international economic sanctions, civil war, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure and industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left the economy worse off than it was in 1990. In 2015, Serbia’s GDP was 27.5% below where it was in 1989.   After former Federal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC was ousted in September 2000, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government implemented stabilization measures and embarked on a market reform program. Serbia renewed its membership in the IMF in December 2000 and rejoined the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Serbia has made progress in trade liberalization and enterprise restructuring and privatization, but many large enterprises - including the power utilities, telecommunications company, natural gas company, and others - remain state-owned. Serbia has made some progress towards EU membership, gaining candidate status in March 2012. In January 2014, Serbia's EU accession talks officially opened and, as of December 2017, Serbia had opened 12 negotiating chapters including one on foreign trade. Serbia's negotiations with the WTO are advanced, with the country's complete ban on the trade and cultivation of agricultural biotechnology products representing the primary remaining obstacle to accession. Serbia maintains a three-year Stand-by Arrangement with the IMF worth approximately $1.3 billion that is scheduled to end in February 2018. The government has shown progress implementing economic reforms, such as fiscal consolidation, privatization, and reducing public spending.   Unemployment in Serbia, while relatively low (16% in 2017) compared with its Balkan neighbors, remains significantly above the European average. Serbia is slowly implementing structural economic reforms needed to ensure the country's long-term prosperity. Serbia reduced its budget deficit to 1.7% of GDP and its public debt to 71% of GDP in 2017. Public debt had more than doubled between 2008 and 2015. Serbia's concerns about inflation and exchange-rate stability preclude the use of expansionary monetary policy.   Major economic challenges ahead include: stagnant household incomes; the need for private sector job creation; structural reforms of state-owned companies; strategic public sector reforms; and the need for new foreign direct investment. Other serious longer-term challenges include an inefficient judicial system, high levels of corruption, and an aging population. Factors favorable to Serbia's economic growth include the economic reforms it is undergoing as part of its EU accession process and IMF agreement, its strategic location, a relatively inexpensive and skilled labor force, and free trade agreements with the EU, Russia, Turkey, and countries that are members of the Central European Free Trade Agreement.

Exchange rates

Currency

Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

88.405 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

108.811 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

111.278 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

111.278 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

112.4 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$24.97 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2019

$26.13 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2020

$25.42 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - commodities

insulated wiring, tires, corn, cars, iron products, copper (2019)

Exports - partners

Germany 12%, Italy 10%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 7%, Romania 6%, Russia 5%  (2019)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

52.5% (2017 est.)

government consumption

10.1% (2017 est.)

household consumption

78.2% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-61.3% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

18.5% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

2% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

9.8% (2017 est.)

industry

41.1% (2017 est.)

services

49.1% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$51.449 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2008

28.2 (2008 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

36.2 (2017 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

23.8% (2011)

lowest 10%

2.2%

Imports

Imports 2018

$29.78 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2019

$31.29 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2020

$30.15 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, natural gas, refined petroleum (2019)

Imports - partners

Germany 13%, Russia 9%, Italy 8%, Hungary 6%, China 5%, Turkey 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

3.9% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

2% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

-1.1% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

-0.1% (2019 est.)

Labor force

3 million (2020 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

19.4%

industry

24.5%

services

56.1% (2017 est.)

Population below poverty line

23.2% (2018 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

73.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

62.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$121.87 billion (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$127.04 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$125.8 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2017

2.05% (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2018

4.4% (2018 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2019

4.18% (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$17,500 (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$18,300 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$18,200 (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$10.76 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$11.91 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

42.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2016

15.9% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

14.1% (2017 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

28.8% (2021 est.)

male

23.5%

total

25.5%

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

32.686 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

4.878 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

10.17 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

47.735 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

40.83 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

72,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

987,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

39.673 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

7.514 billion metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

29,933,262,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports

5.943 billion kWh (2020 est.)

imports

5.002 billion kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

8.986 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

4.332 billion kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

69.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

27.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

2.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

98.195 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

2,619,191,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

1,980,647,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

production

455.787 million cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves

48.139 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

200 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

53,800 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

77.5 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

79,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

15,200 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

15,750 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

18,720 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

74,350 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

25 (2020 est.)

total

1,730,496 (2020 est.)

Internet country code

.rs

Internet users

percent of population

78% (2020 est.)

total

5,381,318 (2020 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line over 37 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 120 per 100 persons (2020)

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)

international

country code - 381

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

37 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

2,572,254 (2020 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

120 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

8,260,758 (2020 est.)

Airports

total

26 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2021)

over 3,047 m

2

total

10

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

10

total

16

under 914 m

5 (2021)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YU

Heliports

2 (2021)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

17.71 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

2,262,703 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

43

number of registered air carriers

4 (2020)

Pipelines

1,936 km gas, 413 km oil

Ports and terminals

river port(s)

Belgrade (Danube)

Railways

standard gauge

3,809 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (3,526 km one-track lines and 283 km double-track lines) out of which 1,279 km electrified (1,000 km one-track lines and 279 km double-track lines)

total

3,809 km (2015)

Roadways

paved

28,000 km (2016) (16,162 km state roads, out of which 741 km highways)

total

44,248 km (2016)

unpaved

16,248 km (2016)

Waterways

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

Military - note

the Serbian Armed Forces were established in June 2006; the Serbian military traces its origins to the First (1804-1813) and Second (1815-1817) Uprisings against the Ottoman EmpireSerbia does not aspire to join NATO, but has cooperated with the Alliance since 2006 when it joined the Partnership for Peace program; Serbia maintains security ties with Russia (2022)

Military and security forces

Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Land Forces (includes Riverine Component, consisting of a naval flotilla on the Danube), Air and Air Defense Forces, Serbian Guard; Police Directorate of the Serbian Ministry of Interior: Gendarmerie (2022)

note

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 (2022)

Military deployments

175 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (May 2022)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory consists of Russian and Soviet-era weapons systems; since 2010, Russia has been the largest suppliers of arms to Serbia; China has also provided a growing amount of arms (2022)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2017

1.8% of GDP (2017) (approximately $1.47 billion)

Military Expenditures 2018

1.6% of GDP (2018) (approximately $1.43 billion)

Military Expenditures 2019

2.2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $1.83 billion)

Military Expenditures 2020

2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished January 2011 (2021)

note

note: as of 2019, women made up about 6% of the military's full-time personnel 

Disputes - international

Serbia-Bosnia and Herzegovina: Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute Serbia-Bulgaria: none identified Serbia-Croatia: Serbia and Croatia dispute their border along the Danube; Serbia claims the border is the median between the current Danube shorelines, with the land to the eastern side of the median belonging to Serbia; Croatia contends that the boundary is demarcated according to historic maps, despite the river having meandered since then Serbia-Hungary: none identified Serbia-Kosovo: Serbia with several other states protested the US and other states' recognition of Kosovo's declaration of its status as a sovereign and independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of Kosovo-Serbia boundary; since 1999, NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) authority have continued to keep the peace within Kosovo between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority; in October 2021, NATO-led KFOR increased patrols along the border with Serbia to deescalate hostilities caused by a dispute over license plates Serbia-Montenegro: the former republic boundary serves as the boundary until a line is formally delimited and demarcated Serbia-North Macedonia: none identified Serbia-Romania: none identified

Illicit drugs

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

196,995 (most are Kosovar Serbs, some are Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptian (RAE); some RAE IDPs are unregistered) (2021)

note

note: 918,319 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-November 2022); Serbia is predominantly a transit country and hosts an estimated 6,313 migrants and asylum seekers as of June 2022

refugees (country of origin)

17,336 (Croatia), 7,997 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (mid-year 2021); 22,716 (Ukraine) (includes Ukrainian refugees in Kosovo; as of 22 November 2022)

stateless persons

2,113 (includes stateless persons in Kosovo) (mid-year 2021)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

45.22 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

11.96 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

24.27 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 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

Land use

agricultural land

57.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 37.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 3.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 16.8% (2018 est.)

forest

31.6% (2018 est.)

other

10.5% (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

Major rivers (by length in km)

Danube (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 kmnote – [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

coal revenues

0.25% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0.38% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

162.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) (note - includes Kosovo)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

660.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

4.057 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

659.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

note

note: data include Kosovo

rate of urbanization

0.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

57.1% of total population (2023)

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.)