Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]
total: 2.08 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)
Internet country code [time series]
.rs
Internet users [time series]
percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 2.485 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total subscriptions: 8.53 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2021 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products [time series]
maize, wheat, sugar beets, milk, sunflower seeds, soybeans, potatoes, barley, apples, plums (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Average household expenditures [time series]
on food: 24.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 7.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Budget [time series]
revenues: $26.077 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $28.12 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Current account balance [time series]
-$1.947 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
Debt - external [time series]
$21.726 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Economic overview [time series]
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 [time series]
Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar - 108.208 (2024 est.) 108.403 (2023 est.) 111.662 (2022 est.) 99.396 (2021 est.) 103.163 (2020 est.)
Exports [time series]
$44.352 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 [time series]
insulated wire, electricity, copper ore, plastic products, electric motors (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners [time series]
Germany 15%, Hungary 7%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 5%, Italy 5%, Romania 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$89.084 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 62.7% (2024 est.) government consumption: 17.8% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.6% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 2% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 52.7% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -58.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 3.1% (2024 est.) industry: 23.3% (2024 est.) services: 58.5% (2024 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 [time series]
32.8 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 2.4% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 24.7% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Imports [time series]
$48.158 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 [time series]
crude petroleum, natural gas, packaged medicine, plastic products, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners [time series]
Germany 12%, China 10%, Italy 7%, Turkey 5%, Hungary 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
2.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries [time series]
automobiles, base metals, furniture, food processing, machinery, chemicals, sugar, tires, clothes, pharmaceuticals
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
4.7% (2024 est.) 12.4% (2023 est.) 12% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force [time series]
3.23 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Population below poverty line [time series]
20% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Public debt [time series]
73.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]
$177.093 billion (2024 est.) $170.482 billion (2023 est.) $164.166 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate [time series]
3.9% (2024 est.) 3.8% (2023 est.) 2.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per capita [time series]
$26,900 (2024 est.) $25,700 (2023 est.) $24,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Remittances [time series]
7.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 8.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 6.9% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$30.484 billion (2024 est.) $27.569 billion (2023 est.) $20.68 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
23.9% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate [time series]
7.4% (2024 est.) 8.3% (2023 est.) 8.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 22.7% (2024 est.) male: 21.8% (2024 est.) female: 24.1% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Energy
production: 33.219 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 37.828 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 16,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 4.542 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 7.112 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Electricity [time series]
installed generating capacity: 8.202 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 34.413 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 7.351 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 5.395 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.881 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access [time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity generation sources [time series]
fossil fuels: 65.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 30.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita [time series]
91.884 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Natural gas [time series]
production: 336.605 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 2.886 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 2.471 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 48.139 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Petroleum [time series]
total petroleum production: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 88,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 77.5 million barrels (2021 est.)
Environment
Carbon dioxide emissions [time series]
44.782 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 27.743 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 11.665 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 5.374 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
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)
Environmental issues [time series]
air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes in rivers; inadequate management of domestic, industrial, and hazardous waste
Geoparks [time series]
total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Djerdap (2023)
International environmental agreements [time series]
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 [time series]
agricultural land: 40.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 31% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.6% (2023 est.) forest: 40.4% (2023 est.) other: 27.2% (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions [time series]
21.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources [time series]
162.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) note: data includes Kosovo
Total water withdrawal [time series]
municipal: 702 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 3.967 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 422 million cubic meters (2022)
Urbanization [time series]
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 [time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.347 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1% (2022 est.)
Geography
total : 77,474 sq km 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 [time series]
highest point: Midzor 2,169 m lowest point: Danube and Timok Rivers 35 m mean elevation: 442 m
Geographic coordinates [time series]
44 00 N, 21 00 E
Geography - note [time series]
landlocked; controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East
Irrigated land [time series]
550 sq km (2022)
Land boundaries [time series]
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 [time series]
agricultural land: 40.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 31% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.6% (2023 est.) forest: 40.4% (2023 est.) other: 27.2% (2023 est.)
Location [time series]
Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary
Major rivers (by length in km) [time series]
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) [time series]
Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
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
Population distribution [time series]
a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
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
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
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 an asterisk
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 etymology: the name comes from the Serbian words beo (white) and grad (city); it probably referred to the white stone of the city fortress
Citizenship [time series]
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 [time series]
history: many previous; latest adopted 30 September 2006, approved by referendum 28-29 October 2006, effective 8 November 2006 amendment process: 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 [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 etymology: the country takes its name from the Serb people; the origin of their name is unclear but may derive from the Caucasian root word ser , meaning "man"
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg d Affaires Alexander TITOLO (since January 2025) 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 [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Dragan UTANOVAC (since 24 July 2025) 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 [time series]
chief of state: President Aleksandar VUCIC (since 31 May 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Djuro MACUT (since 16 April 2025) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the National Assembly election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister elected by the National Assembly most recent election date: 17 December 2023 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 expected date of next election: 2028
description: three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white; the national coat of arms is shifted to the left side; the principal field of the coat of arms displays a two-headed white eagle on a red shield; a smaller red shield on the eagle is divided into four quarters by a white cross; a royal crown is on top of the coat of arms meaning: red, blue, and white are the pan-Slav colors that represent freedom and revolutionary ideals; the eagle on a red shield represents the government; the smaller shield represents the country; the meaning and origin of the curved white symbols in each quarter are not clear note: the pan-Slav colors were inspired by Russia's flag
Government type [time series]
parliamentary republic
Independence [time series]
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 established, later known as Yugoslavia)
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), 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 and must complete accession criteria before being granted full membership
Judicial branch [time series]
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 [time series]
civil law system
Legislative branch [time series]
legislature name: National Assembly (Narodna skupstina) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 250 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 12/17/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Aleksandar Vucic – Serbia Must Not Stop (129); Serbia Against Violence (65); Ivica Dacic - Prime Minister of Serbia (18); Dr Miloš Jovanović - Hope for Serbia (13); We – Voice of the People, Prof. Dr. Branimir Nestorovic (13); Other (12) percentage of women in chamber: 37.2% expected date of next election: December 2027
National anthem(s) [time series]
title: "Boze pravde" (God of Justice) lyrics/music: Jovan DORDEVIC/Davorin JENKO history: adopted 1904; song originally written as part of a play in 1872, and the Serbian people have used it as an anthem in the 20th and 21st centuries
National color(s) [time series]
red, blue, white
National heritage [time series]
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 [time series]
Statehood Day, 15 February (1835), the day the first constitution of the country was adopted
National symbol(s) [time series]
white double-headed eagle
Political parties [time series]
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 [time series]
18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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 and Security
Military - note [time series]
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 areas of concerns for the military include ethnic and religious 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 traditionally has maintained 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 (2025)
Military and security forces [time series]
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: Police Directorate (2025) 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 [time series]
approximately 25,000 active-duty Armed Forces (15,000 Land Forces; 5,000 Air/Air Defense; 5,000 other, including Serbian Guard) (2025)
Military deployments [time series]
180 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]
the military's inventory consists of a mix of Soviet/Cold War-era and some more modern weapons systems from suppliers such as China, France, and Russia; Serbia has a defense industry focused on armored vehicles, artillery systems, and munitions (2025)
Military expenditures [time series]
2.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished in 2011 (2025) note: as of 2024, women made up about 11% of the military's full-time personnel
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
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 [time series]
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 [time series]
8.72 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Child marriage [time series]
women married by age 15: 1.2% (2019) women married by age 18: 5.5% (2019)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
1% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49) [time series]
54.3% (2022 est.)
Death rate [time series]
14.66 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 52.3 (2024 est.) youth dependency ratio: 21.9 (2024 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 30.4 (2024 est.) potential support ratio: 3.3 (2024 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 96.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 95.7% of population (2022 est.) urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 3.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure [time series]
3.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 8.4% national budget (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
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 [time series]
0.71 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure [time series]
10% of GDP (2021) 13.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Hospital bed density [time series]
5.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages [time series]
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 [time series]
total population: 75.3 years (2024 est.) male: 72.7 years female: 78.1 years
Literacy [time series]
total population: 99.3% (2022 est.) male: 99.6% (2022 est.) female: 99.1% (2022 est.)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
1.408 million BELGRADE (capital) (2023)
Maternal mortality ratio [time series]
11 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Median age [time series]
total: 44.1 years (2025 est.) male: 42.4 years female: 45.4 years
Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]
28.2 years (2020 est.) note: data does not cover Kosovo or Metohija
Nationality [time series]
noun: Serb(s) adjective: Serbian
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
21.5% (2016)
Physician density [time series]
3.1 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Population [time series]
total: 6,652,212 (2024 est.) male: 3,242,751 female: 3,409,461
Population distribution [time series]
a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Population growth rate [time series]
-0.6% (2025 est.)
Religions [time series]
Serbian Orthodox 81.1%, unknown 5.3%, Islam 4.2%, Catholic 3.9%, no response 2.5%, atheist 1.1%; less than 1%: other Christians, Protestant, agnostic (2022)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 95.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 97.9% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 4.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 15 years (2022 est.) male: 14 years (2022 est.) female: 16 years (2022 est.)
Sex ratio [time series]
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 [time series]
total: 36% (2025 est.) male: 37.8% (2025 est.) female: 34.5% (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.47 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 57.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Kosovo
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees: 36,270 (2024 est.) IDPs: 194,171 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 1,715 (2024 est.)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
46 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
YU
Heliports [time series]
11 (2025)
Railways [time series]
total: 3,333 km (2020) 1,274 km electrified