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Serbia

Republic of Serbia

Updated

Population

6.55 million

2025 · World Bank

GDP

$99.95B

2025 · World Bank

GDP per capita

$15,262

2025 · World Bank

Area

77,474 km²

CIA World Factbook archive

Capital

Belgrade

Median age

44.4 yrs

2025 · UN WPP

Location

CIA World Factbook map of Serbia, showing major cities, rivers and neighbouring countries
Map from The World Factbook, final edition. Public domain (17 U.S.C. § 105); boundary representation is not necessarily authoritative.
Capital
Belgrade
Region
Europe
Subregion
Southeast Europe
Area
77,474 km²
Neighbours
8
Languages
Serbian
#110 of 238 in population #78 of 222 in GDP #118 of 252 in area #85 of 213 in GDP per capita #110 of 228 in life expectancy

Leadership

Head of state
Aleksandar Vučić
In office since May 31, 2017

Wikidata (CC0), checked August 11, 2026. Frozen Factbook mirrors still list the officeholders of January 2026.

Then and now

The CIA World Factbook stopped updating in January 2026. This is what has changed since its final edition.

Final CIA World Factbook figures of January 2026 versus current data for Serbia
IndicatorFactbook, final editionCurrentChange
Population6,652,21220246,549,1432025-1.5%
GDP (nominal)$89.08B2024$99.95B2025+12.2%
Inflation rate4.7%20243.9%2025-0.8 pp

6 facts about Serbia

  1. 01 Serbia ranks 110 of 238 in population, with 6.55 million people as of 2025.
  2. 02 Its economy produced $99.95B in 2025, or $15,262 per person.
  3. 03 It shares land borders with 8 neighbours: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania.
  4. 04 Population has declined 13% since 2000, from 7.52 million to 6.55 million.
  5. 05 Prices sit at about 45% of United States levels (World Bank PPP data, 2025).
  6. 06 88% of the population uses the internet (2024).

Reference

Languages
Serbian
Currency
Serbian dinar (RSD)
Calling code
+381
Internet TLD
.rs, .срб
Demonym
Serbian
ISO codes
RS · SRB · 688

Land borders

Bosnia and HerzegovinaBulgariaCroatiaHungaryKosovoNorth MacedoniaMontenegroRomania

Compare Serbia

The Factbook archive 146 fields · 11 categories

The complete World Factbook entry for Serbia: 146 fields and 249 sub-entries across 11 categories, kept whole as historical reference. A United States Government work in the public domain, reflecting data as of the final January 2026 edition; the live figures above supersede the fast-moving numbers in it. Last CIA update: January 5, 2026.

Serbia and neighbouring land. Geometry: Natural Earth (public domain).

Introduction 1 field

Background
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.

Geography 19 fields

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
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries
total: 2,322 km
border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 345 km; Bulgaria 344 km; Croatia 314 km; Hungary 164 km; Kosovo 366 km; North Macedonia 101 km; Montenegro 157 km; Romania 531 km
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: 40.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 31% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.6% (2023 est.)
forest: 40.4% (2023 est.)
other: 27.2% (2023 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 36 fields

Population
total: 6,652,212 (2024 est.)
male: 3,242,751
female: 3,409,461
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
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.
Religions
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)
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)
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: 44.1 years (2025 est.)
male: 42.4 years
female: 45.4 years
Population growth rate
-0.6% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
8.72 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
14.66 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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.)
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
11 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
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
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 72.7 years
female: 78.1 years
Total fertility rate
1.47 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.71 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 95.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 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: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 95.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 97.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 4.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
21.5% (2016)
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.)
Tobacco use
total: 36% (2025 est.)
male: 37.8% (2025 est.)
female: 34.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
1% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
54.3% (2022 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 1.2% (2019)
women married by age 18: 5.5% (2019)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.4% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy
total population: 99.3% (2022 est.)
male: 99.6% (2022 est.)
female: 99.1% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 15 years (2022 est.)
male: 14 years (2022 est.)
female: 16 years (2022 est.)

Environment 11 fields

Environmental issues
air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes in rivers; inadequate management of domestic, industrial, and hazardous waste
International environmental 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
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)
Land use
agricultural land: 40.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 31% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.6% (2023 est.)
forest: 40.4% (2023 est.)
other: 27.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 57.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total 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.)
Particulate matter emissions
21.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.347 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 702 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 3.967 billion cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 422 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources
162.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

note: data includes Kosovo
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
global geoparks and regional networks: Djerdap (2023)

Government 23 fields

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
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
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 Dragan ŠUTANOVAC (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:
[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 and must complete accession criteria before being granted full 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; 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
National symbol(s)
white double-headed eagle
National color(s)
red, blue, white
National anthem(s)
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 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 32 fields

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)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $177.093 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $170.482 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $164.166 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2024: $26,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $25,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $24,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$89.084 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 12.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 12% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 3.1% (2024 est.)
industry: 23.3% (2024 est.)
services: 58.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
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.)
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
2.9% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Labor force
3.23 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2024: 7.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 8.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 8.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 22.7% (2024 est.)
male: 21.8% (2024 est.)
female: 24.1% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
20% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 32.8 (2022 est.)
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%: 2.4% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 24.7% (2022 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2023: 7.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 8.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 6.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget
revenues: $26.077 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $28.12 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016: 73.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
23.9% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Current account balance
Current account balance 2023: -$1.947 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$4.457 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$2.654 billion (2021 est.)
Exports
Exports 2023: $44.352 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $39.905 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $34.035 billion (2021 est.)
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
Imports 2023: $48.158 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $47.395 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $39.476 billion (2021 est.)
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
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $30.484 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $27.569 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $20.68 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023: $21.726 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency: Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 108.208 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 108.403 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 111.662 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 99.396 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 103.163 (2020 est.)

Energy 7 fields

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.)
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.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 91.884 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications 5 fields

Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 2.485 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 8.53 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2021 est.)
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.)

Transportation 4 fields

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
YU
Airports
46 (2025)
Heliports
11 (2025)
Railways
total: 3,333 km (2020) 1,274 km electrified

Military and Security 7 fields

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
Military Expenditures 2024: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 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 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 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) (2025)
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 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)

Transnational Issues 1 field

Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees: 36,270 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 194,171 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 1,715 (2024 est.)

Frequently asked

What is the population of Serbia in 2025?
Serbia has a population of 6.55 million (6,549,143) according to World Bank, World Development Indicators data for 2025.
What is the capital of Serbia?
The capital of Serbia is Belgrade.
How large is the economy of Serbia?
Serbia's GDP is $99.95B (2025, World Bank, World Development Indicators), which is $15,262 per capita.
Who leads Serbia?
Head of state: Aleksandar Vučić (since May 31, 2017). Source: Wikidata, checked August 11, 2026.

Serbia