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.

Area
Total: 77,474 km²
Land: 77,474 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries
Total: 2,322 km
Border countries (8): (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

Land use
Agricultural land: 40.4% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 31% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 40.4% (2023 est.)
Other: 27.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 550 km² (2022)

Major rivers: 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

Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes

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

Population
Total: 6,652,212 (2024 est.)
Male: 3,242,751
Female: 3,409,461
Distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Growth rate: -0.61% (2024 est.)

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

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)

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

Population growth rate: -0.61% (2024 est.)

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

Death rate: 14.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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.)
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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 11 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72.7 years
Female: 78.1 years

Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 4.4% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1% (2019 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 7.4% (2024 est.); 8.3% (2023 est.); 8.5% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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
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: 2,028

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 2,027

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

National anthem
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:

Real gdp growth rate: 3.9% (2024 est.); 3.8% (2023 est.); 2.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 3.9% (2024 est.); 3.8% (2023 est.); 2.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3.1% (2024 est.)
Industry: 23.3% (2024 est.)
Services: 58.5% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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: 7.4% (2024 est.); 8.3% (2023 est.); 8.5% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 7.4% (2024 est.); 8.3% (2023 est.); 8.5% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $26.077 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $28.12 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 23.9% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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
Commodities: insulated wire, electricity, copper ore, plastic products, electric motors (2023)
Commodities 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
Commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, packaged medicine, plastic products, cars (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 65.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 30.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources 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 CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 27.743 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 11.665 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 5.374 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

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

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

Internet
Users percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 2.08 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)

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.)

Airports: 46 (2025)

Heliports: 11 (2025)

Railways
Total: 3,333 km (2020) 1,274 km electrified