Serbia

Introduction

Background

The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Communist Partisans resisted the Axis occupation and division of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945 and fought nationalist opponents and collaborators as well. The military and political movement headed by Josip Broz "TITO" (Partisans) took full control of Yugoslavia when their domestic rivals and the occupiers were defeated in 1945. Although communists, TITO and his successors (Tito died in 1980) managed to steer their own path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half decades. In 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Republic of Serbia and his ultranationalist calls for Serbian domination led to the violent breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in April 1992 and under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia led various military campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." These actions ultimately failed and, after international intervention, led to the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995.MILOSEVIC retained control over Serbia and eventually became president of the FRY in 1997. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a Serbian counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo. The MILOSEVIC government's rejection of a proposed international settlement led to NATO's bombing of Serbia in the spring of 1999. Serbian military and police forces withdrew from Kosovo in June 1999, and the UN Security Council authorized an interim UN administration and a NATO-led security force in Kosovo. FRY elections in late 2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and the installation of democratic government. In 2003, the FRY became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics. Widespread violence predominantly targeting ethnic Serbs in Kosovo in March 2004 led to more intense calls to address Kosovo's status, and the UN began facilitating status talks in 2006. In June 2006, Montenegro seceded from the federation and declared itself an independent nation. Serbia subsequently gave notice that it was the successor state to the union of Serbia and Montenegro.In February 2008, after nearly two years of inconclusive negotiations, Kosovo declared itself independent of Serbia - an action Serbia refuses to recognize. At Serbia's request, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in October 2008 sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on whether Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence was in accordance with international law. In a ruling considered unfavorable to Serbia, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion in July 2010 stating that international law did not prohibit declarations of independence. In late 2010, Serbia agreed to an EU-drafted UNGA Resolution acknowledging the ICJ's decision and calling for a new round of talks between Serbia and Kosovo, this time on practical issues rather than Kosovo's status. Serbia and Kosovo signed the first agreement of principles governing the normalization of relations between the two countries in April 2013 and are in the process of implementing its provisions. In 2015, Serbia and Kosovo reached four additional agreements within the EU-led Brussels Dialogue framework. These included agreements on the Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities; telecommunications; energy production and distribution; and freedom of movement. President Aleksandar VUCIC has promoted an ambitious goal of Serbia joining the EU by 2025. Under his leadership as prime minister, in 2014 Serbia opened formal negotiations for accession.

Geography

Location

Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary

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
country comparison to the world: 118

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

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, 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

mean elevation: 442 m
lowest point: Danube and Timok Rivers 35 m
highest point: Midzor 2,169 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: 57.9% (2011 est.)
arable land: 37.7% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 3.4% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 16.8% (2011 est.)
forest: 31.6% (2011 est.)
other: 10.5% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

950 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, 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

Geography - note

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

People and Society

Population

7,078,110 (July 2018 est.)
note: does not include the population of Kosovo
country comparison to the world: 103

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

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: 14.35%(male 523,473 /female 492,339)
15-24 years: 11.19%(male 408,379 /female 383,385)
25-54 years: 41.27%(male 1,475,243 /female 1,445,935)
55-64 years: 14.21%(male 485,849 /female 520,126)
65 years and over: 18.98%(male 557,307 /female 786,074) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 49.2 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 24.9 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 24.3 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 4.1 (2015 est.)
note: data include Kosovo

Median age

total: 42.8 years (2018 est.)
male: 41.2 years
female: 44.5 years
country comparison to the world: 24

Population growth rate

-0.47% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220

Birth rate

8.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207

Death rate

13.6 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Population distribution

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

Urbanization

urban population: 56.3% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: -0.07% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
note: data include Kosovo

Major urban areas - population

1.394 million BELGRADE (capital) (2019)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.9 years (2014 est.)
note: data do not cover Kosovo or Metohija

Maternal mortality rate

12 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Infant mortality rate

total: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.8 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 169

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.9 years (2018 est.)
male: 73 years
female: 79 years
country comparison to the world: 98

Total fertility rate

1.44 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Contraceptive prevalence rate

58.4% (2014)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 99.4% of population
rural: 98.9% of population
total: 99.2% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.6% of population
rural: 1.1% of population
total: 0.8% of population (2015 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

9.1% (2016)

Physicians density

3.13 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Hospital bed density

5.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 98.2% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 94.2% of population (2015 est.)
total: 96.4% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 1.8% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 5.8% of population (2015 est.)
total: 3.6% of population (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

<.1% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,000 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<100 (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate (2016)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea (2016)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.5% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 88

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.8% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 114

Education expenditures

4% of GDP (2017)
country comparison to the world: 105

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.2% (2016)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2017)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 29.7%
male: 28.3%
female: 32% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

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 origin of the name is uncertain, but seems to be related to the name of the West Slavic Sorbs who reside in the Lusatian region in present-day eastern Germany; by tradition, the Serbs migrated from that region to the Balkans in about the 6th century A.D.

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 Serbian "Beograd" means "white fortress" or "white city" and dates back to the 9th century; the name derives from the white fortress wall that once enclosed the city

Administrative divisions

119 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina) and 26 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, Bor, 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, Prokuplje, 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, Cacak, Jagodina, Kikinda*, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Leskovac, Loznica, Nis, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad*, Pancevo*, Pirot, Pozarevac, 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 *

Independence

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

National holiday

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

Constitution

history: many previous; latest adopted 30 September 2006, approved by referendum 28-29 October 2006, effective 8 November 2006
amendments: proposed by at least one third of deputies in the National Assembly, by the president of the republic, by the government, or by petition of at least 150,000 voters; passage of proposals and draft amendments each requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Assembly; amendments to constitutional articles including the preamble, constitutional principles, and human and minority rights and freedoms also require passage by simple majority vote in a referendum (2016)

Legal system

civil law system

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 Ana BRNABIC (since 29 June 2017)
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 2 April 2017 (next to be held in 2022); prime minister elected by the National Assembly
election results: Aleksandar VUCIC elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Aleksandar VUCIC (SNS) 55.1%, Sasa JANKOVIC (independent) 16.4%, Luka MAKSIMOVIC (independent) 9.4%, Vuk JEREMIC (independent) 5.7%, Vojislav SESELJ (SRS) 4.5%, Bosko OBRADOVIC (Dveri) 2.3%, other 5.0%, invalid/blank 1.6%

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly or Narodna Skupstina (250 seats; members directly elected by party list proportional representation vote in a single nationwide constituency to serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 24 April 2016 (next to be held by April 2020)
election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - Serbia is Winning 48.3%, SPS-JS-ZS-KP 11.0%, SRS 8.1%, For a Just Serbia 6.0%, DJB 6.0%, Alliance for a Better Serbia 5.0%, Dveri-DSS 5.0%, SVM 1.5%, other 9.1%; seats by party/coalition Serbia is Winning 131, SPS-JS-ZS-KP 29, SRS 22, For a Just Serbia 16, DJB 16, Alliance for a Better Serbia 13, Dveri-DSS 13, SVM 4, other 6; composition - men 165, women 85, percent of women 34%
note: seats by party as of May 2019  - SNS 91, SRS 22, SPS 20, DS 13, SDPS 10, PUPS 9, Dveri 6, JS 6, LDP 4, SDS 4, SVM 4, other 36, independent 25; composition - men 157, women 93, percent of women 37.2%

Judicial branch

highest courts: 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 and leaders

Alliance for a Better Serbia (electoral coalition including LDP, LSV, SDS)
Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM [Istvan PASZTOR]
Communist Party or KP [Josip Joska BROZ]
Democratic Party or DS [Zoran LUTOVAC]
Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS [Milos JOVANOVIC]
Dveri [Bosko OBRADOVIC]
Enough is Enough or DJB [Branislav MIHAJLOVIC]
For a Just Serbia (electoral coalition including DS, NS, DSVH, VVS)
Greens of Serbia or ZS [Ivan KARIC]
Justice and Reconciliation Party or SPP [Muamer ZUKORLIC] (formerly Bosniak Democratic Union of Sandzak or BDZS)
League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina or LSV [Nenad CANAK]
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Cedomir JOVANOVIC]
Movement of Socialists or PS [Aleksandar VULIN]
New Party or NOVA [Zoran ZIVKOVIC]
New Serbia or NS [Velimir ILIC]
Party for Democratic Action or PDD [Shaip KAMBERI]
Party of Democratic Action of the Sandzak or SDA [Sulejman UGLJANIN]
Party of United Pensioners of Serbia or PUPS [Milan KRKOBABIC]
People's Party or NARODNA [Vuk JEREMIC]
Serbia is Winning (electoral coalition including NDSS, NS, PS, PSS, PUPS, SDPS, SNP, SNS, SPO)
Serbian People's Party or SNP [Nenad POPOVIC]
Serbian Progressive Party or SNS [Aleksandar VUCIC]
Serbian Radical Party or SRS [Vojislav SESELJ]
Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO [Vuk DRASKOVIC]
Social Democratic Party or SDS [Boris TADIC]
Social Democratic Party of Serbia or SDPS [Rasim LJAJIC]
Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS [Ivica DACIC]
Strength of Serbia or PSS [Bogoljub KARIC]
Together for Serbia or ZZS [Hebojsa ZELENOVIC]
United Serbia or JS [Dragan MARKOVIC]
note: Serbia has more than 110 registered political parties and citizens' associations

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)

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Djerdj MATKOVIC (since 23 February 2015)
chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Ave NW, #410, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony GODFREY (since 24 October 2019)
telephone: [381] (11) 706-4000
embassy: 92 Bulevar kneza Aleksandra Karadjordjevica, 11040 Belgrade, Serbia
mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070
FAX: [381] (11) 706-4005

Flag description

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

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

Economy

Economy - overview

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

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$105.7 billion (2017 est.)
$103.8 billion (2016 est.)
$101 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 82

GDP (official exchange rate)

$41.43 billion (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.9% (2017 est.)
2.8% (2016 est.)
0.8% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$15,100 (2017 est.)
$14,700 (2016 est.)
$14,200 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 111

Gross national saving

15.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
16% of GDP (2016 est.)
14.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 78.2% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 10.1% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 18.5% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 2% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 52.5% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -61.3% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 9.8% (2017 est.)
industry: 41.1% (2017 est.)
services: 49.1% (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

wheat, maize, sunflower, sugar beets, grapes/wine, fruits (raspberries, apples, sour cherries), vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes), beef, pork, and meat products, milk and dairy products

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

3.9% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78

Labor force

2.92 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 19.4%
industry: 24.5%
services: 56.1% (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

14.1% (2017 est.)
15.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Population below poverty line

8.9% (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 23.8% (2011)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

38.7 (2014 est.)
28.2 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76

Budget

revenues: 17.69 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 17.59 billion (2017 est.)
note: data include both central government and local goverment budgets

Taxes and other revenues

42.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Public debt

62.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
73.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.1% (2017 est.)
1.1% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

Central bank discount rate

3.5% (9 October 2017)
4% (31 December 2016)
country comparison to the world: 103

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.2% (31 December 2017 est.)
8.45% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

Stock of narrow money

$6.756 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$5.189 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Stock of broad money

$6.756 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$5.189 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

Stock of domestic credit

$24.42 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$20.22 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Market value of publicly traded shares

$5.064 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$5.841 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$4.525 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Current account balance

-$2.354 billion (2017 est.)
-$1.189 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Exports

$15.92 billion (2017 est.)
$13.99 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Exports - partners

Italy 13.5%, Germany 12.8%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 8.2%, Russia 6%, Romania 4.9% (2017)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$20.44 billion (2017 est.)
$17.63 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants, manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials

Imports - partners

Germany 12.7%, Italy 10%, China 8.2%, Russia 7.3%, Hungary 4.9%, Poland 4.1% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$11.91 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$10.76 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Debt - external

$29.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$30.38 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$41.52 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$11.95 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

NA

Exchange rates

Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar -
112.4 (2017 est.)
111.278 (2016 est.)
111.278 (2015 est.)
108.811 (2014 est.)
88.405 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Electricity - production

36.54 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

Electricity - consumption

29.81 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62

Electricity - exports

6.428 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Electricity - imports

5.068 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38

Electricity - installed generating capacity

7.342 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73

Electricity - from fossil fuels

65% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

35% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

Crude oil - production

17,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Crude oil - exports

123 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

Crude oil - imports

40,980 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Crude oil - proved reserves

77.5 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73

Refined petroleum products - production

74,350 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71

Refined petroleum products - consumption

74,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

Refined petroleum products - exports

15,750 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73

Refined petroleum products - imports

18,720 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126

Natural gas - production

509.7 million cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71

Natural gas - consumption

2.718 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

Natural gas - imports

2.01 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Natural gas - proved reserves

48.14 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

50.21 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2,609,592
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 8,626,903
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

Telephone system

general assessment: Serbia's integration with the EU has helped regulator reforms and promotion of telecoms; wireless service are available through multiple providers; national coverage is growing very rapidly; best telecommunications services are centered in urban centers; 4G/LTE mobile network launched; 5G trials (2018)
domestic: fixed-line 37 per 100 and mobile-cellular 121 per 100 persons (2018)
international: country code - 381

Internet country code

.rs

Internet users

total: 4,790,488
percent of population: 67.1% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 1,474,970
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60

Military and Security

Military expenditures

1.39% of GDP (2018 est.)
1.34% of GDP (2017 est.)
1.25% of GDP (2016)
1.41% of GDP (2015)
1.49% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 83

Military and security forces

Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Land Forces (includes Riverine Component, consisting of a river flotilla on the Danube), Air and Air Defense Forces (2019)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished December 2010 (2019)

Military - note

Serbia has a Gendarmerie that falls under the Ministry of Interior (2019)

Transportation

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 2 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,424,886 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2.748 millionmt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YU (2016)

Airports

26 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 126

Airports - with paved runways

total: 10 (2017)
over 3,047 m: 2 (2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2017)
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 16 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 10 (2013)
under 914 m: 5 (2013)

Heliports

2 (2012)

Pipelines

1936 km gas, 413 km oil

Railways

total: 3,809 km (2015)
standard gauge: 3,809 km1.435-m gauge (3,526 km one-track lines and 283 km double-track lines) out of which 1,279 km electrified (1,000 km one-track lines and 279 km double-track lines) (2015)
country comparison to the world: 53

Roadways

total: 44,248 km (2016)
paved: 28,000 km(16,162 km state roads, out of which 741 km highways) (2016)
unpaved: 16,248 km (2016)
country comparison to the world: 85

Waterways

587 km(primarily on the Danube and Sava Rivers) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 80

Ports and terminals

river port(s): Belgrade (Danube)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

Serbia with several other states protest the US and other states' recognition of Kosovo's declaration of its status as a sovereign and independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of Kosovo-Serbia boundary; several thousand NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under UN 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 18,232 (Croatia), 8,270 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (2018)
IDPs: 199,584 (most are Kosovar Serbs, some are Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptian (RAE); some RAE IDPs are unregistered) (2019)
stateless persons: 2,052 (includes stateless persons in Kosovo) (2018)
note: 709,495 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-December 2019); Serbia is predominantly a transit country and hosts an estimated 3,404 migrants and asylum seekers as of the end of September 2019; 8,827 migrant arrivals in 2018

Illicit drugs

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

Flag of Serbia