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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.rs

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1.102 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 44

Internet users [time series]

4.107 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 57

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: replacements of, and upgrades to, telecommunications equipment damaged during the 1999 war has resulted in a modern digitalized telecommunications system domestic: wireless service, available through multiple providers with national coverage, is growing very rapidly; best telecommunications services are centered in urban centers; 3G mobile network launched in 2007 international: country code - 381

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

3.03 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 51

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

10.182 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 74

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

wheat, maize, sugar beets, sunflower, raspberries; beef, pork, milk

Budget [time series]

revenues: $15.24 billion expenditures: $17.75 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-6.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Central bank discount rate [time series]

9.75% (15 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 16 12% (17 January 2011)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

15% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 17.2% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$4.336 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 160 -$4.122 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$32.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 $31.53 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

28.2 (2008) country comparison to the world: 120 30 (2003)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Serbia has a transitional economy mostly dominated by market forces, but the state sector remains large and many institutional reforms are needed. 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 only half the size it was in 1990. After the ousting of former Federal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC in September 2000, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government implemented stabilization measures and embarked on a market reform program. After renewing its membership in the IMF in December 2000, Serbia continued to reintegrate into the international community by rejoining the World Bank (IBRD) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). 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, national air carrier, and others - remain in state hands. Serbia has made some progress towards EU membership, signing a Stabilization and Association Agreement with Brussels in May 2008, and with full implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement with the EU in February 2010, gained candidate status in March 2012. Serbia is also pursuing membership in the World Trade Organization, and accession negotiations are at an advanced stage. Structural economic reforms needed to ensure the country's long-term prosperity have largely stalled since the onset of the global financial crisis. Serbia, however, is slowly recovering from the crisis. The economy slipped 0.5% in 2012, following growth of 2.0 % in 2011, 1.0% in 2010 and a 3.5% contraction in 2009. High unemployment and stagnant household incomes are ongoing political and economic problems. Serbia signed a new $1.3 billion Precautionary Stand By Arrangement with the IMF in September 2011 that was set to expire in March 2013, but the program was frozen in early 2012 because the 2012 budget approved by parliament deviates from the program parameters. Growing deficits constrain the use of stimulus efforts to revive the economy, while Serbia's concerns about inflation and exchange rate stability preclude the use of expansionary monetary policy. Serbia adopted a new long-term economic growth plan in 2010 that calls for a quadrupling of exports over ten years and heavy investments in basic infrastructure. Since the plan was adopted, Serbia has increased its exports significantly. Major challenges ahead include: high unemployment rates and the need for job creation; high government expenditures for salaries, pensions and unemployment benefits; a growing need for new government borrowing; rising public and private foreign debt; attracting new foreign direct investment; and getting the IMF program back on track. Other serious challenges include an inefficient judicial system, high levels of corruption, and an aging population. Factors favorable to Serbia's economic growth include a 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 [time series]

Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar - 90.35 (2012 est.) 72.455 (2011 est.) 77.729 (2010 est.) 67.634 (2009) 62.9 (2008)

Exports [time series]

$12.25 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $11.78 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

iron and steel, rubber, clothes, wheat, fruit and vegetables, nonferrous metals, electric appliances, metal products, weapons and ammunition

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$37.2 billion (2012 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$79.65 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $80.04 billion (2011 est.) $78.76 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 10.6% industry: 18.6% services: 70.8% (2012 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$10,500 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $10,600 (2011 est.) $10,500 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

-0.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 192 1.6% (2011 est.) 1% (2010 est.)

Imports [time series]

$20.42 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $19.45 billion (2011 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.1% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 11.2% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

18.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Labor force [time series]

3.17 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 21.9% industry: 19.5% services: 58.6% (2010)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$8.365 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 73 $9.69 billion (31 December 2010) $11.52 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line [time series]

9.2% (2010 est.)

Public debt [time series]

60% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 45.1% of GDP (2011 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment. Debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$16.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $15.6 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$17.31 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $18.55 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$27 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $11.95 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$19.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $21.43 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$5.783 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $5.002 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

41% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Unemployment rate [time series]

25.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 23.7% (2011 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

49.92 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Crude oil - imports [time series]

45,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Crude oil - production [time series]

13,160 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

77.5 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Electricity - consumption [time series]

35.5 billion kWh (2011) country comparison to the world: 56

Electricity - exports [time series]

2.017 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

66.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

26.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Electricity - imports [time series]

1.9 billion kWh (2011) country comparison to the world: 49

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

8.359 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Electricity - production [time series]

36.06 billion kWh (2011) country comparison to the world: 63

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

2.51 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Natural gas - imports [time series]

2.15 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Natural gas - production [time series]

517 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

48.14 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

81,440 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

3,981 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

27,330 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

55,960 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 77,474 sq km country comparison to the world: 117 land: 77,474 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate [time series]

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 [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

44 00 N, 21 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

890 sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,026 km border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 302 km, Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia 241 km, Hungary 151 km, Kosovo 352 km, Macedonia 62 km, Montenegro 124 km, Romania 476 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: NA permanent crops: NA other: NA

Location [time series]

Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

destructive earthquakes

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

208.5 cu km (note - includes Kosovo) (2003)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

167 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina) Serbia Proper: Belgrade City (Beograd): Barajevo, Cukarica, Grocka, Lazarevac, Mladenovac, Novi Beograd, Obrenovac, Palilula, Rakovica, Savski Venac, Sopot, Stari Grad, Surcin, Vozdovac, Vracar, Zemun, Zvezdara; Bor: Bor, Kladovo, Majdanpek, Negotin; Branicevo: Golubac, Kucevo, Malo Crnice, Petrovac, Pozarevac, Veliko Gradiste, Zabari, Zagubica; Grad Nis: Crveni Krst, Mediana, Niska Banja, Palilula, Pantelej; Jablanica: Bojnik, Crna Trava, Lebane, Leskovac, Medveda, Vlasotince; Kolubara: Lajkovac, Ljig, Mionica, Osecina, Ub, Valjevo; Macva: Bogatic, Koceljeva, Krupanj, Ljubovija, Loznica, Mali Zvornik, Sabac, Vladimirci; Moravica: Cacak, Gornkji Milanovac, Ivanjica, Lucani; Nisava: Aleksinac, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Merosina, Nis, Razanj, Svrljig; Pcinja: Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Presevo, Surdulica, Trgoviste, Vladicin Han, Vranje; Pirot: Babusnica, Bela Palanka, Dimitrovgrad, Pirot; Podunavlje: Smederevo, Smederevskia Palanka, Velika Plana; Pomoravlje: Cuprija, Despotovac, Jagodina, Paracin, Rekovac, Svilajnac; Rasina: Aleksandrovac, Brus, Cicevac, Krusevac, Trstenik, Varvarin; Raska: Kraljevo, Novi Pazar, Raska, Tutin, Vrnjacka Banja; Sumadija: Arandelovac, Batocina, Knic, Kragujevac, Lapovo, Raca, Topola; Toplica: Blace, Kursumlija, Prokuplje, Zitorada; Zajecar: Boljevac, Knjazevac, Sokobanja, Zajecar; Zlatibor: Arilje, Bajina Basta, Cajetina, Kosjeric, Nova Varos, Pozega, Priboj, Prijepolje, Sjenica, Uzice Vojvodina Autonomous Province: South Backa: Bac, Backa Palanka, Backi Petrovac, Becej, Beocin, Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci, Srobobran, Temerin, Titel, Vrbas, Zabalj; South Banat: Alibunar, Bela Crkva, Kovacica, Kovin, Opovo, Pancevo, Plandiste, Vrsac; North Backa: Backa Topola, Mali Idjos, Subotica; North Banat: Ada, Coka, Kanjiza, Kikinda, Novi Knezevac, Senta; Central Banat: Nova Crnja, Novi Becej, Secanj, Zitiste, Zrenjanin; Srem: Indija, Irig, Pecinci, Ruma, Sid, Sremska Mitrovica, Stara Pazova; West Backa: Apatin, Kula, Odzaci, Sombor

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

adopted 8 November 2006; effective 10 November 2006

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael KIRBY embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070 telephone: [381] (11) 361-9344 FAX: [381] (11) 361-8230

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Vladimir PETROVIC chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333 FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Tomislav NIKOLIC (since 31 May 2012) head of government: Prime Minister Ivica DACIC (since 23 July 2012) cabinet: Republican Ministries act as cabinet (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by direct vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 May 2012 (next to be held in 2017); prime minister elected by the National Assembly election results: Tomislav NIKOLIC elected president in runoff election; NIKOLIC 51.2% of the vote, Boris TADIC 48.8% of the vote

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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; a white Cyrillic "C" in each quarter stands for the phrase "Only Unity Saves the Serbs"; a royal crown surmounts the coat of arms note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

5 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

courts of general jurisdiction (municipal courts, district courts, Appellate Courts, the Supreme Court of Cassation); courts of special jurisdiction (commercial courts, the High Commercial Court, the High Magistrates Court, the Administrative Court)

Legal system [time series]

civil law system

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (250 seats; deputies elected according to party lists to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 6 May 2012 (next to be held by May 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - Let's Get Serbia Moving 24.04%, Choice for a Better Life 22.11%, SPS/PUPS/US 14.53%, DS 7.00%, Turnover 6.52%, United Regions of Serbia 5.49%, Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians 1.77%, other 18.54%; seats by party - Let's Get Serbia Moving 73, Choice for a Better Life 67, SPS/PUPS/US 44, DS 21, Turnover 19, United Regions of Serbia 16, Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians 5, other 5 note: current composition - For European Serbia coalition 78, SRS 57, United Region of Serbia 24, Forward Serbia 21, DS 20, SPS-JS 15, LDP 12, NS 9, PUPS 5, others 9

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Boze pravde" (God of Justice) lyrics/music: Jovan DORDEVIC/Davorin JENKO note: adopted 1904; the song was 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 holiday [time series]

National Day, 15 February

National symbol(s) [time series]

double-headed eagle

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM [Istvan PASZTOR]; Bosniak Democratic Union or BDU [Elmir ELFIC]; Democratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina or DSHV [Petar KUNTIC]; Democratic Party or DS [Dragan DJILAS]; The Greens of Serbia or ZS [Ivan KARIC]; Christian Democratic Party of Serbia or DHSS [Olgica BATIC]; Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; Serbian Progressive Party [Aleksandar VUCIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Cedomir JOVANOVIC]; New Serbia or NS [Velimir ILIC]; Albanian Coalition of Presevo Valley [Riza HALIMI]; Party of United Pensioners of Serbia or PUPS [Jovan KRKOBABIC]; Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO [Vuk DRASKOVIC]; League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina or LSV [Nenad CANAK]; Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS [Ivica DACIC]; United Regions of Serbia [Mladan DINKIC]; United Serbia or JS [Dragan "Palma" MARKOVIC]; None of the Offered Options or NOPO [Nikola TULIMIROVIC]; Social Democratic Party of Serbia or SDPS [Rasim LJAJIC]; Party of Democratic Action of the Sandzak or SDA [Sulejman UGLJANIN]; Rich Serbia [Zaharije TRNAVCEVIC]; People's Party [Maja GOJKOVIC]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Obraz (Orthodox clero-fascist organization); 1389 (Serbian nationalist movement); Dveri (Movement for the Life of Serbia)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Various paramilitary bands resisted Nazi Germany's occupation and division of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945, but fought each other and ethnic opponents as much as the invaders. The military and political movement headed by Josip "TITO" Broz (Partisans) took full control of Yugoslavia when German and Croatian separatist forces were defeated in 1945. Although Communist, TITO's new government and his successors (he 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 were ultimately unsuccessful and 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, to the withdrawal of Serbian military and police forces from Kosovo in June 1999, and to the stationing of a NATO-led force in Kosovo to provide a safe and secure environment for the region's ethnic communities. FRY elections in late 2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and the installation of democratic government. In 2003, the FRY became Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics. Widespread violence predominantly targeting ethnic Serbs in Kosovo in March 2004 caused the international community to open negotiations on the future status of Kosovo in January 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, the UN-administered province of 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. The EU began a new round of dialogue with Belgrade and Pristina in October 2012.

Military

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,395,426 females age 16-49: 1,356,415 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 43,945 female: 41,080 (2010 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Land Forces Command (includes Riverine Component, consisting of a river flotilla on the Danube), Air and Air Defense Forces Command (2010)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished effective December 2010; service obligation - 6 months, with reserve obligation to age 60 for men and age 50 for women (2010)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 14.9% (male 560,264/ female 525,710) 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 2,492,163/ female 2,487,331) 65 years and over: 16.6% (male 495,544/ female 715,592) (2012 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.17 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

1.8% (2006) country comparison to the world: 113

Death rate [time series]

13.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.7% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 73

Ethnic groups [time series]

Serb 82.9%, Hungarian 3.9%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.4%, Yugoslavs 1.1%, Bosniaks 1.8%, Montenegrin 0.9%, other 8% (2002 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

6,400 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

9.9% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 28

Hospital bed density [time series]

5.4 beds/1,000 population (2007)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 169 male: 7.38 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages [time series]

Serbian (official) 88.3%, Hungarian 3.8%, Bosniak 1.8%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 4.1%, unknown 0.9% (2002 census) note: Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak, Ukrainian, and Croatian all official in Vojvodina

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.56 years country comparison to the world: 102 male: 71.71 years female: 77.58 years (2012 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 99.2% female: 96.7% (2010 est.)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

BELGRADE (capital) 1.115 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

12 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 149

Median age [time series]

total: 41.5 years male: 39.8 years female: 43.2 years (2012 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Serb(s) adjective: Serbian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.035 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population [time series]

7,276,604 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 note: does not include the population of Kosovo

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.464% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 219

Religions [time series]

Serbian Orthodox 85%, Catholic 5.5%, Protestant 1.1%, Muslim 3.2%, unspecified 2.6%, other, unknown, or atheist 2.6% (2002 census)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 96% of population rural: 88% of population total: 92% of population unimproved: urban: 4% of population rural: 12% of population total: 8% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2009)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and above: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.4 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 42.5% (2009) country comparison to the world: 6

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 56% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Serbia with several other states protest the U.S. 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; several thousand NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in Kosovo; Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western Europe on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money laundering

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 49,946 (Croatia); 20,673 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (2011) IDPs: about 225,000 (most are Kosovar Serbs some are Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptian (RAE); some RAE IDPs are unregistered) (2011)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

30 (2012) country comparison to the world: 116

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 11 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 8 (2012)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2012)

Railways [time series]

total: 3,379 km country comparison to the world: 52 standard gauge: 3,379 km 1.435-m gauge (1,196 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 41,913 km country comparison to the world: 86 paved: 26,007 km unpaved: 15,906 km (2007)

Waterways [time series]

587 km (primarily on the Danube and Sava rivers) (2009) country comparison to the world: 81