Serbia

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.

Table of Contents

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.

Geography

Location

Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary

Serbia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.

Geographic coordinates

44 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total : 77,474 sq km

land: 77,474 sq km

water: 0 sq km

comparison ranking: total 117

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 2,322 km

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

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)

Terrain

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

Elevation

highest point: Midzor 2,169 m

lowest point: Danube and Timok Rivers 35 m

mean elevation: 442 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land: 41.3% (2022 est.)

arable land: 30.9% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 2.5% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 7.9% (2022 est.)

forest: 32.4% (2022 est.)

other: 26.4% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

550 sq km (2022)

Major rivers (by length in km)

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

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Geography – note

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

People and Society

Population

total: 6,652,212 (2024 est.)

male: 3,242,751

female: 3,409,461

comparison rankings: total 109; female 108; male 109

Nationality

noun: Serb(s)

adjective: Serbian

Ethnic groups

Serb 83.3%, Hungarian 3.5%, Romani 2.1%, Bosniak 2%, other 5.7%, undeclared or unknown 3.4% (2011 est.)

note: most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5–11% of Serbia’s population

Languages

Serbian (official) 88.1%, Hungarian 3.4%, Bosnian 1.9%, Romani 1.4%, other 3.4%, undeclared or unknown 1.8% (2011 est.)

major-language sample(s):
Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: Serbian, Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, and Ruthenian (Rusyn) are official in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina; most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census

Serbian audio sample:

Religions

Orthodox 84.6%, Catholic 5%, Muslim 3.1%, Protestant 1%, atheist 1.1%, other 0.8% (includes agnostics, other Christians, Eastern, Jewish), undeclared or unknown 4.5% (2011 est.)

note: most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.4% (male 492,963/female 463,995)

15-64 years: 65.6% (male 2,198,591/female 2,168,113)

65 years and over: 20% (2024 est.) (male 551,197/female 777,353)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

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.)

Median age

total: 43.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 42.4 years

female: 45.4 years

comparison ranking: total 33

Population growth rate

-0.61% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 225

Birth rate

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

comparison ranking: 202

Death rate

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

comparison ranking: 3

Net migration rate

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

comparison ranking: 82

Population distribution

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

Urbanization

urban population: 57.1% of total population (2023)

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

note: data include Kosovo

Major urban areas – population

1.408 million BELGRADE (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

28.2 years (2020 est.)

note: data does not cover Kosovo or Metohija

Maternal mortality ratio

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

comparison ranking: 143

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 181

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.3 years (2024 est.)

male: 72.7 years

female: 78.1 years

comparison ranking: total population 128

Total fertility rate

1.46 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 205

Gross reproduction rate

0.71 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

62.3% (2019)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 99.7% of population

rural: 99.4% of population

total: 99.5% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.3% of population

rural: 0.6% of population

total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.)

Health expenditure

10% of GDP (2021)

13.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

3.1 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

5.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 95.7% of population

total: 97.9% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 4.3% of population

total: 2.1% of population (2020 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

21.5% (2016)

comparison ranking: 88

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 3.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 1.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 2.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: total 55

Tobacco use

total: 36% (2025 est.)

male: 37.8% (2025 est.)

female: 34.5% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 8

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1% (2019)

comparison ranking: 108

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

60.8% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 1.2% (2019)

women married by age 18: 5.5% (2019)

Education expenditure

3.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

7.4% national budget (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 139

Literacy

total population: 99% (2019 est.)

male: 100% (2019 est.)

female: 99% (2019 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 15 years (2021)

Environment

Environment – current issues

air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes in rivers; 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

Climate

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 57.1% of total population (2023)

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

note: data include Kosovo

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 21.74 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 45.22 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 11.96 megatons (2020 est.)

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.)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 680 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 3.99 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 660 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

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

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 1

global geoparks and regional networks: Djerdap (2023)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Serbia

conventional short form: Serbia

local long form: Republika Srbija

local short form: Srbija

former: People’s Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia

etymology: the 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”

Government type

parliamentary republic

Capital

name: Belgrade (Beograd)

geographic coordinates: 44 50 N, 20 30 E

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

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: the name comes from the Serbian words beo (white) and grad (city); it probably referred to the white stone of the city fortress

Administrative divisions

117 municipalities (opstine, singular – opstina) and 28 cities (gradovi, singular – grad)

municipalities: Ada*, Aleksandrovac, Aleksinac, Alibunar*, Apatin*, Arandelovac, Arilje, Babusnica, Bac*, Backa Palanka*, Backa Topola*, Backi Petrovac*, Bajina Basta, Batocina, Becej*, Bela Crkva*, Bela Palanka, Beocin*, Blace, Bogatic, Bojnik, Boljevac, Bosilegrad, Brus, Bujanovac, Cajetina, Cicevac, Coka*, Crna Trava, Cuprija, Despotovac, Dimitrov, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Golubac, Gornji Milanovac, Indija*, Irig*, Ivanjica, Kanjiza*, Kladovo, Knic, Knjazevac, Koceljeva, Kosjeric, Kovacica*, Kovin*, Krupanj, Kucevo, Kula*, Kursumlija, Lajkovac, Lapovo, Lebane, Ljig, Ljubovija, Lucani, Majdanpek, Mali Idos*, Mali Zvornik, Malo Crnice, Medveda, Merosina, Mionica, Negotin, Nova Crnja*, Nova Varos, Novi Becej*, Novi Knezevac*, Odzaci*, Opovo*, Osecina, Paracin, Pecinci*, Petrovac na Mlavi, Plandiste*, Pozega, Presevo, Priboj, Prijepolje, Raca, Raska, Razanj, Rekovac, Ruma*, Secanj*, Senta*, Sid*, Sjenica, Smederevska Palanka, Sokobanja, Srbobran*, Sremski Karlovci*, Stara Pazova*, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Svrljig, Temerin*, Titel*, Topola, Trgoviste, Trstenik, Tutin, Ub, Varvarin, Velika Plana, Veliko Gradiste, Vladicin Han, Vladimirci, Vlasotince, Vrbas*, Vrnjacka Banja, Zabalj*, Zabari, Zagubica, Zitiste*, Zitorada

cities: Beograd (Belgrade), Bor, Cacak, Jagodina, Kikinda*, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Leskovac, Loznica, Nis, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad*, Pancevo*, Pirot, Pozarevac, Prokuplje, Sabac, Smederevo, Sombor*, Sremska Mitrovica*, Subotica*, Uzice, Valjevo, Vranje, Vrsac*, Zajecar, Zrenjanin*

note: the northern 37 municipalities and 8 cities — about 28% of Serbia’s area — compose the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and are indicated with an asterisk

Legal system

civil law system

Constitution

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Suffrage

18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

Executive branch

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

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 December 2023 (next to be held in 2028); prime minister elected by the National Assembly

election results:
2022: Aleksandar VUCIC reelected in first round; percent of vote – Aleksandar VUCIC (SNS) 60%, Zdravko PONOS (US) 18.9%, Milos JOVANOVIC (NADA) 6.1%, Bosko OBRADOVIC (Dveri-POKS) 4.5%, Milica DJURDJEVIC STAMENKOVSKI (SSZ) 4.3%, other 6.2%

2017: Aleksandar VUCIC elected president in first round; percent of vote – Aleksandar VUCIC (SNS) 55.1%, Sasa JANKOVIC (independent) 16.4%, Luka MAKSIMOVIC (independent) 9.4%, Vuk JEREMIC (independent) 5.7%, Vojislav SESELJ (SRS) 4.5%, other 7.3%, invalid/blank 1.6%; Prime Minister Ana BRNABIC reelected by the National Assembly on 5 October 2020; National Assembly vote – NA

Legislative branch

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

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

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Dragan ŠUTANOVAC (since 8 May 2025)

chancery: 1333 16th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 507-8654

FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933

email address and website:
[email protected]

http://www.washington.mfa.gov.rs/

consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé 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:
[email protected]

https://rs.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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

note: Serbia is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership

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 established, later known as Yugoslavia)

National holiday

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

Flag description

three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white, which are the pan-Slav colors representing freedom and revolutionary ideals; the national coat of arms is shifted slightly to the hoist side; the principal field of the coat of arms represents the government and displays a two-headed white eagle on a red shield; a smaller red shield on the eagle represents the nation and is divided into four quarters by a white cross; the meaning and origin of the curved white symbols in each quarter are not clear; a royal crown is on top of the coat of arms

note: the pan-Slav colors were inspired by Russia’s flag

National symbol(s)

white double-headed eagle

National colors

red, blue, white

National anthem

name: “Boze pravde” (God of Justice)

lyrics/music: Jovan DORDEVIC/Davorin JENKO

note: adopted 1904; song originally written as part of a play in 1872 and has been used as an anthem by the Serbian people throughout the 20th and 21st centuries

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 4 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Stari Ras and Sopoćani; Studenica Monastery; Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius; Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards

Economy

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$172.402 billion (2023 est.)
$166.014 billion (2022 est.)
$161.758 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 79

Real GDP growth rate

3.85% (2023 est.)
2.63% (2022 est.)
7.73% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 82

Real GDP per capita

$26,000 (2023 est.)
$24,900 (2022 est.)
$23,700 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 88

GDP (official exchange rate)

$81.343 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.7% (2024 est.)
12.4% (2023 est.)
12% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 145

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3.8% (2023 est.)

industry: 24% (2023 est.)

services: 57.6% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 106; industry 106; agriculture 130

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 62.6% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 17.1% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 23.4% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 1.2% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 55.1% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -59.4% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

maize, wheat, sugar beets, milk, sunflower seeds, soybeans, potatoes, barley, apples, plums (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

3.69% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 88

Labor force

3.225 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 105

Unemployment rate

7.4% (2024 est.)
8.3% (2023 est.)
8.4% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 136

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 22.7% (2024 est.)

male: 21.8% (2024 est.)

female: 24.1% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 49

Population below poverty line

20% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

33.1 (2021 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 101

Average household expenditures

on food: 24.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 7.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 25.9% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

7.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
8.54% of GDP (2022 est.)
6.95% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $26.077 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $23.693 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

62.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

comparison ranking: 77

Taxes and other revenues

23.9% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 52

Current account balance

-$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

comparison ranking: 156

Exports

$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

comparison ranking: 70

Exports – partners

Germany 15%, Hungary 7%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 5%, Italy 5%, Romania 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

insulated wire, electricity, copper ore, plastic products, electric motors (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$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

comparison ranking: 68

Imports – partners

Germany 12%, China 10%, Italy 7%, Turkey 5%, Hungary 5% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

crude petroleum, natural gas, packaged medicine, plastic products, cars (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$26.445 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

comparison ranking: 53

Debt – external

$21.726 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 32

Exchange rates

Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
108.208 (2024 est.)
108.403 (2023 est.)
111.662 (2022 est.)
99.396 (2021 est.)
103.163 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

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

Electricity

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.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 161; imports 43; exports 31; consumption 64; installed generating capacity 72

Electricity generation sources

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.)

Coal

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.)

Petroleum

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.)

Natural gas

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.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

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.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 60

Energy consumption per capita

91.884 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 57

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2.485 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 45

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 8.53 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2021 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 99

Internet country code

.rs

Internet users

percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 2.08 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 60

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

46 (2025)

comparison ranking: 93

Heliports

11 (2025)

comparison ranking: 70

Railways

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

Military and Security

Military and security forces

Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Army (aka Land Forces; includes Riverine Component, consisting of a naval flotilla on the Danube), Air and Air Defense Forces, Serbian Guard

Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs: 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 expenditures

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 and security service personnel strengths

approximately 25,000 active-duty Armed Forces (15,000 Land Forces; 5,000 Air/Air Defense; 5,000 other, including Serbian Guard) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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

Military service age and obligation

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

Military deployments

180 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2024)

Military – note

the Serbian military is responsible for defense and deterrence against external threats, supporting international peacekeeping operations, and providing support to civil authorities for internal security; specific threat concerns of the military include extremism, separatism, and deepening international recognition of Kosovo; Serbia has cooperated with NATO since 2006, when it joined the Partnership for Peace program, and the military trains with NATO countries, particularly other Balkan states; Serbia has participated in EU peacekeeping missions, as well as missions under the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the UN; it also maintains close security ties with Russia and has a growing security relationship with China

the modern Serbian military was established in 2006 but traces its origins back through World War II, World War I, the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, and the Bulgarian-Serb War of 1885 to the First (1804-1813) and Second (1815-1817) Uprisings against the Ottoman Empire (2024)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 17,334 (Croatia), 7,997 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (mid-year 2022)

IDPs: 196,066 (most are Kosovar Serbs, some are Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptian (RAE); some RAE IDPs are unregistered) (2022)

stateless persons: 2,594 (includes stateless persons in Kosovo) (2022)

note: 1,045,323 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-March 2024)

Trafficking in persons

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