The origin of the nameSerbia is unclear. Historically, authors have mentioned theSerbs (Serbian:Srbi / Срби) and theSorbs of Eastern Germany (Upper Sorbian:Serbja;Lower Sorbian:Serby) in a variety of ways:Triballi, Cervetiis (Servetiis),gentis (S)urbiorum,Suurbi,Sorabi,Soraborum,Sorabos,Surpe,Sorabici,Sorabiet,Sarbin,Swrbjn,Servians,Sorbi,Sirbia, Sribia, Zirbia, Zribia,Suurbelant,Surbia,Serbulia /Sorbulia among others.[16][17][18] These authors used these names to refer to Serbs and Sorbs in areas where their historical and current presence is not disputable (notably in theBalkans andLusatia). However, there are also sources that have used similar names in other parts of the world (most notably in the AsiaticSarmatia in theCaucasus).
From 1815 to 1882, the official name for Serbia was thePrincipality of Serbia. From 1882 to 1918, it was renamed to theKingdom of Serbia, later from 1945 to 1963, the official name for Serbia was the People's Republic of Serbia. This was again renamed theSocialist Republic of Serbia from 1963 to 1990. Since 1990, the official name of the country has been the Republic of Serbia.
Archaeological evidence ofPaleolithic settlements on the territory of present-day Serbia is scarce. A fragment of a hominid jaw found inSićevo (MalaBalanica) is believed to be up to 525,000–397,000 years old.[20]
During theIron Age, local tribes ofTriballi,Dardani, andAutariatae were encountered by theAncient Greeks during their cultural and political expansion into the region, from the 5th up to the 2nd century BC. The Celtic tribe ofScordisci settled throughout the area in the 3rd century BC. It formed a tribal state, building several fortifications, including their capital atSingidunum (present-day Belgrade) and Naissos (present-dayNiš).
TheRomans conquered much of the territory in the 2nd century BC. In 167 BC, theRoman province ofIllyricum was established; the remainder was conquered around 75 BC, forming the Roman province ofMoesia Superior; the modern-daySrem region was conquered in 9 BC; and Bačka and Banat in 106 AD after theDacian Wars. As a result of this, contemporary Serbia extends fully or partially over several former Roman provinces, includingMoesia,Pannonia,Praevalitana,Dalmatia,Dacia, andMacedonia. Seventeen Roman Emperors were born in the area of modern-day Serbia, second only to contemporary Italy.[23] The most famous of these wasConstantine the Great, the first Christian Emperor, who issued an edict orderingreligious tolerance throughout the Empire.
When the Roman Empire was divided in 395, most of Serbia remained under theByzantine Empire, and its northwestern parts were included in theWestern Roman Empire. By the 6th century,South Slavs migrated into the Byzantine territory in large numbers.[26] They merged with the localRomanised population that was gradually assimilated.[27][28][29]
During these centuries the Serbian state (and influence) expanded significantly. The northern part (modernVojvodina), was ruled by theKingdom of Hungary. The period after 1371, known as theFall of the Serbian Empire saw the once-powerful state fragmented into several principalities, culminating in theBattle of Kosovo (1389) against the risingOttoman Empire.[39] By the end of the 14th century, the Turks had conquered and ruled the territories south of theŠar Mountains. The political stronghold of Serbia shifted northwards, when the capital of the newly establishedSerbian Despotate was transferred to Belgrade in 1403,[40] before moving toSmederevo in 1430.[41] The Despotate was then under the doublevassalage of Hungary and the Ottoman Empire.[42] The fall of Smederevo on 20 June 1459, which marked the full conquest of the Serbian Despotate by the Ottomans, also symbolically signified the end of the Serbian state.[43]
In all Serbian lands conquered by the Ottomans, the native nobility was eliminated and the peasantry wasenserfed to Ottoman rulers, while much of the clergy fled or were confined to the isolated monasteries. Under the Ottoman system, Serbs and Christians were considered aninferior class and subjected to heavy taxes, and a portion of the Serbian population experiencedIslamisation. Many Serbs were recruited during thedevshirme system, aform of slavery, in which boys from Balkan Christian families wereforcibly converted toIslam and trained for infantry units of theOttoman army known as theJanissaries.[45][46][47][48] The Serbian Patriarchate of Peć was extinguished in 1463,[49] but reestablished in 1557,[50][51][52] providing for limited continuation of Serbian cultural traditions within the Ottoman Empire, under theMillet system.[53][54]
After the loss of statehood to the Ottoman Empire, Serbian resistance continued in northern regions (modern Vojvodina), under titular despots (until 1537), and popular leaders likeJovan Nenad (1526–1527). From 1521 to 1552, Ottomans conquered Belgrade and regions of Syrmia, Bačka, and Banat.[55] Wars and rebellions constantly challenged Ottoman rule. One of the most significant was theBanat Uprising in 1594 and 1595, which was part of theLong War (1593–1606) between the Habsburgs and the Ottomans.[56][57] The area of modern Vojvodina endured a century-long Ottoman occupation before being ceded to theHabsburg monarchy, partially by theTreaty of Karlovci (1699),[58] and fully by theTreaty of Požarevac (1718).[59]
During theHabsburg-Ottoman war (1683–1699), much of Serbia switched from Ottoman rule toHabsburg control from 1688 to 1690.[60] However, the Ottoman army reconquered a large part of Serbia in the winter of 1689/1690, leading to a brutal massacre of the civilian population by uncontrolledAlbanian andTatar units. As a result of the persecutions, several tens of thousands of Serbs, led by the patriarch,Arsenije III Crnojević, fled northwards to settle inHungary,[61] an event known as theGreat Migration of 1690.[62] In August 1690, following several petitions, the EmperorLeopold I formally granted Serbs from the Habsburg monarchy a first set of "privileges",[63][64] primarily to guarantee them freedom of religion.[65] As a consequence, the ecclesiastical centre of the Serbs also moved northwards, to theMetropolitanate of Karlovci,[66] and the Serbian Patriarchate of Peć was once-again abolished by the Ottomans in 1766.[67][68]
In 1718–39, the Habsburg monarchy occupied much ofCentral Serbia and established theKingdom of Serbia ascrownland.[59] Those gains were lost by theTreaty of Belgrade in 1739, when the Ottomans retook the region.[69] Apart from territory of modern-day Vojvodina which remained under the Habsburg Empire, central regions of Serbia were occupied once again by the Habsburgs in1788–1792.
Following the clashes between the Ottoman army and Serbs in Belgrade in 1862,[81] and under pressure from theGreat Powers, by 1867 the last Turkish soldiers left the Principality, making the countryde facto independent.[82] By enacting a new constitution in 1869,[83] without consulting the Porte,Serbian diplomats confirmed thede facto independence of the country. In 1876, Serbia declared war on the Ottoman Empire, siding with the ongoing Christian uprisings inBosnia-Herzegovina andBulgaria.[84][85]
In theFirst Balkan War in 1912, theBalkan League defeated the Ottoman Empire and captured itsEuropean territories, which enabled territorial expansion of the Kingdom of Serbia into regions of Raška,Kosovo,Metohija, andVardarian Macedonia. TheSecond Balkan War soon ensued when Bulgaria turned on its former allies, but was defeated, resulting in theTreaty of Bucharest. In two years, Serbia enlarged its territory by 80% and its population by 50%,[91] it also suffered high casualties on the eve of World War I, with more than 36,000 dead.[92] Austria-Hungary became wary of the rising regional power on its borders and its potential to become an anchor for unification of Serbs and other South Slavs, and the relationship between the two countries became tense.
Serbia won the first major battles of the war, including theBattle of Cer,[94] and theBattle of Kolubara.[95] Despite initial success, it was eventually overpowered by theCentral Powers in 1915 andAustro-Hungarian occupation of Serbia followed. Most of its army and some peopleretreated toGreece andCorfu, suffering immense losses on the way. After the Central Powers' military situation on other fronts worsened, the remains of the Serb army returned east and led a final breakthrough through enemy lines on 15 September 1918, liberating Serbia and defeating Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary.[96] Serbia, with itscampaign, was a major Balkan Entente Power[97] which contributed significantly to the Allied victory in the Balkans in November 1918, especially by helping France force Bulgaria'scapitulation.[98]Serbia's casualties accounted for 8% of the total Entente military deaths; 58% (243,600) soldiers of the Serbian army perished in the war.[99] The total number of casualties is placed around 700,000,[100] more than 16% of Serbia's prewar size,[101] and a majority (57%) of its overall male population.[102][103][104] Serbia sufferedthe biggest casualty rate in World War I.[105]
On 26 November 1918, thePodgorica Assembly deposed theHouse of Petrović-Njegoš and united Montenegro with Serbia.[107] On 1 December 1918, in Belgrade, Serbian Prince RegentAlexander Karađorđević proclaimed theKingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, under KingPeter I of Serbia.[108][109] King Peter was succeeded by his son, Alexander, in August 1921. Serb centralists and Croat autonomists clashed in the parliament, and most governments were fragile and short-lived.Nikola Pašić, a conservative prime minister, headed or dominated most governments until his death. King Alexander established adictatorship in 1929 with the aim of establishing theYugoslav ideology and singleYugoslav nation, changed the name of the country to Yugoslavia. The effect of Alexander's dictatorship was to further alienate the non-Serbs living in Yugoslavia from the idea of unity.[110]
Draginac and Loznica massacre of 2,950 villagers in Western Serbia in 1941 was the first large execution of civilians in occupied Serbia byGermans, withKragujevac massacre andNovi Sad Raid of Jews and Serbs by Hungarian fascists being the most notorious, with over 3,000 victims in each case.[111][112] After one year of occupation, around 16,000Serbian Jews were murdered in the area, or around 90% of its pre-war Jewish population duringThe Holocaust in Serbia.Many concentration camps were established across the area.Banjica concentration camp was the largest concentration camp and jointly run by the German army and Nedić's regime,[113] with primary victims being Serbian Jews,Roma, and Serb political prisoners.[114]
TheRepublic of Užice was a short-lived liberated territory established by the Partisans and the first liberated territory in World War II Europe, organised as a military mini-state that existed in the autumn of 1941 in the west ofoccupied Serbia. By late 1944, theBelgrade Offensive swung in favour of the partisans in the civil war; the partisans subsequently gained control of Yugoslavia.[120] Following the Belgrade Offensive, theSyrmian Front was the last major military action of World War II in Serbia. A study byVladimir Žerjavić estimates totalwar-related deaths in Yugoslavia at 1,027,000, including 273,000 in Serbia.[121]
The principle of non-alignment was the core of Yugoslav and later Serbian diplomacy. The FirstNon-Aligned Movement Summit Conference took place inBelgrade in September 1961
The victory of the Communist Partisans resulted in the abolition of the monarchy and a subsequent constitutional referendum. Aone-party state was soon established in Yugoslavia by theCommunist Party of Yugoslavia. It is claimed between 60,000 and 70,000 people died in Serbia during the1944–45 communist purge.[122] Serbia became a constituent republic within theFederal People's Republic of Yugoslavia known as thePeople's Republic of Serbia, and had a republic-branch of the federal communist party, theLeague of Communists of Serbia.Serbia's most powerful and influential politician in Tito-era Yugoslavia wasAleksandar Ranković, one of the "big four" Yugoslav leaders. Ranković was later removed from the office because of the disagreements regarding Kosovo'snomenklatura and the unity of Serbia. Ranković's dismissal was highly unpopular among Serbs. Pro-decentralisation reformers in Yugoslavia succeeded in the late 1960s in attaining substantial decentralisation of powers, creating substantial autonomy in Kosovo and Vojvodina, and recognising a distinctive "Muslim" nationality. As a result of these reforms, there was a massive overhaul of Kosovo's nomenklatura and police, that shifted from being Serb-dominated to ethnic Albanian-dominated through firing Serbs on a large scale. Further concessions were made to the ethnic Albanians of Kosovo in response to unrest, including the creation of theUniversity of Pristina as anAlbanian language institution. These changes created widespread fear among Serbs of being treated assecond-class citizens.[123]
Zoran Đinđić was a leading figure in therevolution against Milošević's regime and became Serbia's first democratically elected prime minister (2001) and a pro-reform leader.
In 1989,Slobodan Milošević rose to power in Serbia. Milošević promised a reduction of powers for the autonomous provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina, where his allies subsequently took over power, during theAnti-bureaucratic revolution.[127] This ignited tensions between the communist leadership of the other republics of Yugoslavia and awoke ethnic nationalism across Yugoslavia that eventually resulted in itsbreakup, withSlovenia,Croatia,Bosnia and Herzegovina, andMacedonia declaring independence during 1991 and 1992.[128][better source needed] Serbia and Montenegro remained together as theFederal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY).[13] However, according to theBadinter Commission, the country was not legally considered a continuation of the former SFRY, but a new state.
Fuelled by ethnic tensions, theYugoslav Wars (1991–2001) erupted, with the most severe conflicts taking place inCroatia andBosnia, where the large ethnic Serb communities opposed independence from Yugoslavia. The FRY remained outside the conflicts, but provided logistic, military and financial support to Serb forces in the wars. In response, the UN imposedsanctions against Serbia and Montenegro which led to political isolation and the collapse of the economy (GDP decreased from $24 billion in 1990 to under $10 billion in 1993). Serbia was in the 2000s sued on the charges of alleged genocide by neighbouringBosnia and Herzegovina andCroatia but in both cases the main charges against Serbia were dismissed.[129][130]
Multi-party democracy was introduced in Serbia in 1990, officially dismantling the one-party system. Despite constitutional changes, Milošević maintained strong political influence over the state media and security apparatus.[131][132] When the rulingSocialist Party of Serbia refused to accept its defeat inmunicipal elections in 1996, Serbians engaged inlarge protests against the government.
Serbia's political climate remained tense and in 2003, Prime MinisterZoran Đinđić wasassassinated as result of a plot originating from organised crime and former security officials. In2004 unrest in Kosovo took place, leaving 19 people dead and a number of Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries destroyed or damaged.[141][142]
Contemporary period
On 21 May 2006, Montenegro held areferendum which showed 55.4% of voters in favour of independence, just above the 55% required by the referendum. This was followed on 5 June 2006 by Serbia's declaration of independence, marking the re-emergence of Serbia as an independent state. TheNational Assembly of Serbia declared Serbia to be the legal successor to the former state union.[143]
The Assembly of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008. Serbia immediately condemned the declaration and continues to deny any statehood to Kosovo. The declaration has sparked varied responses from the international community.[144]Status-neutral talks between Serbia and Kosovo-Albanian authorities are held inBrussels, mediated by the EU.
Serbia officially applied for membership in the European Union on 22 December 2009,[145] and received candidate status on 1 March 2012, following a delay in December 2011.[146][147] Following a positive recommendation of theEuropean Commission andEuropean Council in June 2013, negotiations to join the EU commenced in January 2014.[148]
Alandlocked country situated at the crossroads between Central[174][175] and Southeastern Europe, Serbia is located in theBalkan peninsula and thePannonian Plain. Serbia lies between latitudes41° and47° N, and longitudes18° and23° E. The country covers a total of 88,499 km2 (34,170 sq mi);[g] with Kosovo excluded, the total area is 77,589 km2 (29,957 sq mi).[3][2] Its total border length amounts to 2,027 km (1,260 mi): Albania 115 km (71 mi), Bosnia and Herzegovina 302 km (188 mi), Bulgaria 318 km (198 mi), Croatia 241 km (150 mi), Hungary 151 km (94 mi), North Macedonia 221 km (137 mi), Montenegro 203 km (126 mi) and Romania 476 km (296 mi).[176] All of Kosovo's border with Albania (115 km (71 mi)), North Macedonia (159 km (99 mi)) and Montenegro (79 km (49 mi))[177] are under control of the Kosovo border police.[178] Serbia treats the 352 km (219 mi) border with Kosovo as an "administrative line"; it is under shared control of Kosovo border police and Serbian police forces.[179]ThePannonian Plain covers the northern third of the country (Vojvodina andMačva[180]) while the easternmost tip of Serbia extends into theWallachian Plain.The terrain of the central part of the country consists chiefly of hills traversed by rivers. Mountains dominate the southern third of Serbia. Dinaric Alps stretch in the west and the southwest, following the flow of the riversDrina andIbar. TheCarpathian Mountains andBalkan Mountains stretch in a north–south direction in eastern Serbia.[181]
Ancient mountains in the southeast corner of the country belong to theRilo-Rhodope Mountain system. Elevation ranges from theMidžor peak of the Balkan Mountains at 2,169 metres (7,116 feet) (the highest peak in Serbia, excluding Kosovo) to the lowest point of just 17 metres (56 feet) near the Danube river atPrahovo.[182] The largest lake isĐerdap Lake (163 square kilometres (63 sq mi)) and the longest river passing through Serbia is the Danube (587.35 kilometres (364.96 mi)).
The climate of Serbia is under the influences of the landmass of Eurasia and theAtlantic Ocean andMediterranean Sea. With mean January temperatures around 0 °C (32 °F), and mean July temperatures of 22 °C (72 °F), it can be classified as awarm-humid continental orhumid subtropical climate.[183] In the north, the climate is more continental, with cold winters, and hot, humid summers along with well-distributed rainfall patterns. In the south, summers and autumns are drier, and winters are relatively cold, with heavy inland snowfall in the mountains.
Differences in elevation, proximity to the Adriatic Sea and large river basins, as well as exposure to the winds account for climate variations.[184] Southern Serbia is subject to Mediterranean influences.[185] The Dinaric Alps and other mountain ranges contribute to the cooling of most of the warm air masses. Winters are quite harsh in thePešter plateau, because of the mountains which encircle it.[186] One of the climatic features of Serbia isKošava, a cold and verysqually southeastern wind which starts in the Carpathian Mountains and follows the Danube northwest through theIron Gate where it gains ajet effect and continues toBelgrade and can spread as far south as Niš.[187]
The average annual air temperature for the period 1961–1990 for the area with an elevation of up to 300 m (984 ft) is 10.9 °C (51.6 °F). The areas with an elevation of 300 to 500 m (984 to 1,640 ft) have an average annual temperature of around 10.0 °C (50.0 °F), and over 1,000 m (3,281 ft) of elevation around 6.0 °C (42.8 °F).[188] The lowest recorded temperature in Serbia was −39.5 °C (−39.1 °F) on 13 January 1985,Karajukića Bunari in Pešter, and the highest was 44.9 °C (112.8 °F), on 24 July 2007, recorded inSmederevska Palanka.[189]
Serbia is one of few European countries with very high risk of natural hazards (earthquakes, storms, floods, droughts).[190] It is estimated that potential floods, particularly in areas of Central Serbia, threaten over 500 larger settlements and an area of 16,000 square kilometres.[191] The most disastrous were thefloods in May 2014, when 57 people died and a damage of over 1.5 billion euros was inflicted.[192]
Almost all of Serbia's rivers drain to theBlack Sea, by way of theDanube river. The Danube, the second largest European river, passes through Serbia with 588 kilometres[194] (21% of its overall length) and represents the major source of fresh water.[195][196] It is joined by its biggest tributaries, theGreat Morava (longest river entirely in Serbia with 493 km (306 mi) of length[197]), Sava andTisza rivers.[198] One notable exception is thePčinja which flows into theAegean. Drina river forms the natural border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, and represents the mainkayaking andrafting attraction in both countries.
Due to configuration of the terrain, natural lakes are sparse and small; most of them are located in the lowlands of Vojvodina, like the aeolian lakePalić or numerousoxbow lakes along river flows (likeZasavica andCarska Bara). However, there are numerousartificial lakes, mostly due to hydroelectric dams, the biggest being Đerdap (Iron Gates) on the Danube with 163 km2 (63 sq mi) on the Serbian side[199] (a total area of 253 km2 (98 sq mi) is shared with Romania);Perućac on the Drina, andVlasina. The largest waterfall,Jelovarnik, located in Kopaonik, is 71 m high.[200] Abundance of relatively unpolluted surface waters and numerous underground natural and mineral water sources of highwater quality presents a chance for export and economy improvement.[citation needed]
Serbia is a country of rich ecosystem and species diversity—covering only 1.9% of the whole European territory, Serbia is home to 39% of European vascular flora, 51% of European fish fauna, 40% of European reptiles and amphibian fauna, 74% of European bird fauna, and 67% European mammal fauna.[201] Its abundance of mountains and rivers make it an ideal environment for a variety of animals, many of which are protected including wolves, lynx, bears, foxes, and stags. There are 17 snake species living all over the country; 8 of them are venomous.[202]
Mountain ofTara in western Serbia is one of the last regions in Europe where bears can still live in absolute freedom.[203][better source needed] Serbia is home to about 380 species of birds. In Carska Bara, there are over 300 bird species on just a few squarekilometres.[204]Uvac Gorge is considered one of the last habitats of theGriffon vulture in Europe.[205] In area around the city ofKikinda, in the northernmost part of the country, some 145 endangeredlong-eared owls are noted, making it the world's biggest settlement of these species.[206] The country is considerably rich with threatened species of bats and butterflies as well.[207]
There are 380protected areas of Serbia, encompassing 4,947 square kilometres or 6.4% of the country.[201] Those protected areas include 5 national parks (Đerdap, Tara,Kopaonik,Fruška Gora and Šar Mountain), 15nature parks, 15 "landscapes of outstanding features", 61 nature reserves, and 281 natural monuments.[200]With 29.1% of its territory covered by forest, Serbia is considered to be a middle-forested country, compared on a global scale to world forest coverage at 30%, and European average of 35%. The total forest area in Serbia is 2,252,000 ha (1,194,000 ha or 53% are state-owned, and 1,058,387 ha or 47% are privately owned) or 0.3 ha per inhabitant.[209] It had a 2019Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.29/10, ranking it 105th globally out of 172 countries.[210] The most common trees are oak, beech, pines, and firs.
Air pollution is a significant problem in theBor area due to copper mining and smelting, and in thepetrochemical industrial region ofPančevo.[211] Some cities suffer from water supply problems, due to mismanagement and low investments in the past, as well as water pollution (like the pollution of theIbar River from theTrepčazinc-lead combinate,[212] affecting the city ofKraljevo, or the presence of naturalarsenic in underground waters inZrenjanin).[213]
Poor waste management has been identified as one of the most important environmental problems in Serbia and therecycling is a fledgling activity, with only 15% of its waste being turned back for reuse.[214] The1999 NATO bombing caused serious damage to the environment, with several thousand tonnes of toxic chemicals stored in targeted factories and refineries released into the soil and water basins.[215]
Serbia is aparliamentary republic, with the government divided into legislative, executive, and judiciary branches. The current constitution was adopted in 2006 in the aftermath of the Montenegro independence referendum.[216] TheConstitutional Court rules on matters regarding theConstitution.
ThePresident of the Republic is thehead of state, is elected by popular vote to a five-year term and is limited by the Constitution to a maximum of two terms. In addition to being thecommander in chief of the armed forces, the president has the procedural duty of appointing the prime minister with the consent of the parliament, and has some influence on foreign policy.[217] Aleksandar Vučić of the Serbian Progressive Party is the current president following the 2017 presidential election.[218] Seat of the presidency isNovi Dvor.[219]
TheGovernment is composed of theprime minister and cabinet ministers. The Government is responsible for proposing legislation and a budget, executing the laws, and guiding the foreign and internal policies. The current prime minister isĐuro Macut, nominated by the Serbian Progressive Party.[220]
TheNational Assembly is aunicameral legislative body. The National Assembly has the power to enact laws, approve the budget, schedule presidential elections, select and dismiss the Prime Minister and other ministers, declare war, and ratify international treaties and agreements.[221] It is composed of 250proportionally elected members who serve four-year terms. Following the2020 parliamentary election, the largest political parties in the National Assembly are the populist Serbian Progressive Party and Socialist Party of Serbia, that with its partners, hold more than asupermajority number of seats.[222]
According toInternational IDEA’s Global State of Democracy (GSoD) Indices and Democracy Tracker, Serbia performs in the mid- range on overall democratic measures, with particular weaknesses in the absence of corruption.[223][224][225]
Serbia has a three-tiered judicial system, made up of theSupreme Court of Cassation as the court of the last resort,Courts of Appeal as the appellate instance, and Basic and High courts as the general jurisdictions at first instance.[226][227]
Courts of special jurisdictions are the Administrative Court, commercial courts (including the Commercial Court of Appeal at second instance) and misdemeanor courts (includingHigh Misdemeanor Court at second instance).[228] The judiciary is overseen by the Ministry of Justice. Serbia has a typicalcivil law legal system.
Law enforcement is the responsibility of theSerbian Police, which is subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior. Serbian Police fields 27,363 uniformed officers.[229]National security and counterintelligence are the responsibility of theSecurity Intelligence Agency (BIA).[230][231]
States recognising Kosovo in green and states not recognising Kosovo in grey. Red denotes states that recognised and later withdrew their recognition
Serbia has established diplomatic relations with 191UN member states, theHoly See, theSovereign Military Order of Malta and the European Union.[232] Foreign relations are conducted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Serbia has a network of 74 embassies and 25 consulates internationally.[233] There are 69foreign embassies, 5 consulates and 4 liaison offices in Serbia.[234][235] Serbian foreign policy is focused on achieving the strategic goal of becoming amember state of the European Union (EU). Serbia officially applied for membership in the European Union on 22 December 2009.[236] It received a fullcandidate status on 1 March 2012 and startedaccession talks on 21 January 2014.[237][238] As of 2018[update], the European Commission considered accession possible by 2025.[239]
On 17 February 2008, Kosovo unilaterallydeclared independence from Serbia. In protest, Serbia initially recalled its ambassadors from countries that recognised Kosovo's independence.[240] The resolution of 26 December 2007 by theNational Assembly stated that both the Kosovo declaration of independence and recognition thereof by any state would be gross violation of international law.[241]
Serbia began cooperation and dialogue with NATO in 2006, when the country joined thePartnership for Peace programme and theEuro-Atlantic Partnership Council. The country's military neutrality was formally proclaimed by a resolution adopted by Serbia's parliament in December 2007, which makes joining any military alliance contingent on a popular referendum,[242][243] a stance acknowledged by NATO.[244][245][246] On the other hand, Serbia's relations with Russia are habitually described by mass media as a "centuries-old religious, ethnic and political alliance"[247] and Russia is said to have sought to solidifyits relations with Serbia since the imposition ofsanctions against Russia in 2014.[248]
Following theRussian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Serbia drew international scrutiny for not joiningEU sanctions against Russia and maintaining bilateral relations, citing its own past suffering with sanctions.[249] It is one of the only countries in Europe not to sanction Russia.[250] However, Serbia voted to condemn the invasion, supporting the adoption of theUnited Nations draft resolution demanding Russia to withdraw its military forces from Ukraine, as well as supporting the suspension of Russia from theUN Human Rights Council.[249][251]
The Serbian Armed Forces are subordinate to theMinistry of Defence, and are composed of theArmy and theAir Force. Although a landlocked country, Serbia operates aRiver Flotilla which patrols on the Danube, Sava and Tisa rivers. The SerbianChief of the General Staff reports to the Defence Minister. The Chief of Staff is appointed by the president, who is thecommander-in-chief.[217] As of 2019[update], Serbian defence budget amounts to $804 million.[252]
Traditionally having relied on a large number ofconscripts, Serbian Armed Forces went through a period of downsizing, restructuring andprofessionalisation.Conscription was abolished in 2011.[253] Serbian Armed Forces have 28,000 active troops,[254] supplemented by the "active reserve" which numbers 20,000 members and "passive reserve" with about 170,000.[255][256]
Serbia is a major producer and exporter of military equipment in the region. Defence exports totalled around $600 million in 2018.[260] The defence industry has seen significant growth over the years and it continues to grow on a yearly basis.[261][262]
In 2024 the Serbian president approved the reintroduction of mandatory military service, which was abolished in 2011. If the Government adopts this decision, military service will last 75 days, starting with 2025.[263]
Serbia is aunitary state[264] composed ofmunicipalities/cities, districts, and two autonomous provinces. In Serbia, excluding Kosovo, there are 145 municipalities (opštine) and 29 cities (gradovi), which form the basic units of local self-government.[265] Apart from municipalities/cities, there are 24districts (okruzi, 10 most populated listed below), with the City of Belgrade constituting an additional district. Except for Belgrade, which has an elected local government, districts are regional centres of state authority, but have no powers of their own; they present purely administrative divisions.[265]
The Constitution of Serbia recognises two autonomous provinces, Vojvodina in the north, and thedisputed territory ofKosovo and Metohija in the south,[265] while the remaining area of Central Serbia has never had its own regional authority. Following the Kosovo War,UN peacekeepers entered Kosovo and Metohija, as perUNSC Resolution 1244. The government of Serbia does not recognise Kosovo's February 2008 declaration of independence, considering it illegal and illegitimate.[266]
Serbia has an emergingmarket economy in upper-middle income range.[267] According to theInternational Monetary Fund, Serbiannominal GDP in 2024 is officially estimated at $81.873 billion or $12,385 per capita whilepurchasing power parity GDP stood at $185.014 billion or $27,985 per capita.[268] The economy is dominated byservices which accounts for 67.9% of GDP, followed by industry with 26.1% of GDP, and agriculture at 6% of GDP.[269] Serbia's arms industry, a legacy of Cold War Yugoslavia, is the leading weapons manufacturer in the Western Balkans and ranked 25th worldwide in arms exports, surpassing $1.6 billion in 2023 and employing 20,000 people.[270] The official currency isSerbian dinar, and the central bank isNational Bank of Serbia. TheBelgrade Stock Exchange is the only stock exchange in the country, with market capitalisation of $8.65 billion andBELEX15 as the main index representing the 15 most liquid stocks.[271] The country is ranked 52nd on theSocial Progress Index[272] as well as 54th on theGlobal Peace Index.[273]
The economy has been affected by theglobal economic crisis. After almost a decade of strong economic growth (average of 4.45% per year), Serbia entered the recession in 2009 with negative growth of −3% and again in 2012 and 2014 with −1% and −1.8%, respectively.[274] As the government was fighting effects of crisis the public debt has more than doubled: from pre-crisis level of just under 30% to about 70% of GDP and trending downwards recently to around 50%.[275][276] Labour force stands at 3.2 million, with 56% employed in services sector, 28.1% in industry and 15.9% in the agriculture.[277] The average monthly net salary in May 2019 stood at 47,575 dinars or $525.[278] The unemployment remains an acute problem, with rate of 11% as of 2021[update].[279]
Serbia has an unfavourable trade balance: imports exceed exports by 25%.[needs update] Serbia's exports, however, recorded a steady growth in the 2010s reaching $19.2 billion in 2018.[284] The country hasfree trade agreements with theEFTA andCEFTA, a preferential trade regime with the European Union, aGeneralised System of Preferences with the United States, and individual free trade agreements with Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Turkey.[285]
Serbia is one of the largest providers of frozen fruit to the EU and a big producer of fruits like raspberries, blackberries, apples and plums[286][287]
Serbia has very favourable natural conditions (land and climate) for varied agricultural production. It has 5,056,000 ha of agricultural land (0.7 ha per capita), out of which 3,294,000 ha is arable land (0.45 ha per capita).[288] In 2016, Serbia exported agricultural and food products worth $3.2 billion, and the export-import ratio was 178%.[289] Agricultural exports constitute more than a fifth of all Serbia's sales on the world market. Serbia is one of the largest provider of frozen fruit to the EU (largest to the French market, and 2nd largest to the German market).[290]
Agricultural production is most prominent in Vojvodina on the fertile Pannonian Plain. Other agricultural regions include Mačva, Pomoravlje,Tamnava,Rasina, andJablanica.[291]
In the structure of the agricultural production, 70% is from the crop field production and 30% is from the livestock production.[291] Serbia is world's second largest producer ofplums (582,485 tonnes; second to China), second largest ofraspberries (89,602 tonnes, second to Poland), it is also a significant producer of maize (6.48 million tonnes, ranked 32nd in the world) and wheat (2.07 million tonnes, ranked 35th in the world).[200][292] Other important agricultural products are:sunflower,sugar beet,soybean, potato, apple, pork meat, beef,poultry and dairy.[293]
There are 56,000 ha ofvineyards in Serbia, producing about 230 million litres of wine annually.[200][288] The most famous viticulture regions are located in Vojvodina and Šumadija.[294]
The industry was the economic sector hardest hit by theUN sanctions and trade embargo and NATO bombing during the 1990s and transition to market economy during the 2000s.[296] The industrial output saw dramatic downsizing: in 2013 it was expected to be only a half of that of 1989.[297] Main industrial sectors include: automotive, mining, non-ferrous metals, food-processing, electronics, pharmaceuticals, clothes. Serbia has 14 free economic zones as of September 2017,[298] in which many foreign direct investments are realised.
The automotive industry is dominated by cluster located inKragujevac and its vicinity, and contributes to export with about $2 billion.[299] Country is a leading steel producer in the wider region of Southeast Europe and had production of nearly 2 million tonnes of raw steel in 2018, coming entirely fromSmederevo steel mill, owned by the ChineseHesteel.[300] Serbia's mining industry is comparatively strong: Serbia is the 18th largest producer of coal (7th in Europe) extracted from large deposits inKolubara andKostolac basins; it is also world's 23rd largest (3rd in Europe) producer of copper which is extracted byZijin Bor Copper, a large copper mining company, acquired by Chinese Zijin Mining in 2018; significant gold extraction is developed aroundMajdanpek. Serbia notably manufacturesintel smartphones named Tesla smartphones.[301]
Food industry is well known both regionally and internationally and is one of the strong points of the economy.[302] Some of the international brand-names established production in Serbia:PepsiCo andNestlé in food-processing sector; Coca-Cola (Belgrade),Heineken (Novi Sad) and Carlsberg (Bačka Palanka) in beverage industry; Nordzucker in sugar industry.[290] Serbia's electronics industry had its peak in the 1980s and the industry today is only a third of what it was back then, but has witnessed a something of revival in last decade with investments of companies such as Siemens (wind turbines) in Subotica,Panasonic (lighting devices) in Svilajnac, andGorenje (electrical home appliances) in Valjevo.[303] The pharmaceutical industry in Serbia comprises a dozen manufacturers of generic drugs, of whichHemofarm in Vršac andGalenika in Belgrade, account for 80% of production volume. Domestic production meets over 60% of the local demand.[304]
The energy sector is one of the largest and most important sectors to the country's economy. Serbia is a net exporter of electricity and importer of key fuels (such as oil and gas).
Serbia has an abundance of coal, and significant reserves of oil and gas. Serbia's proven reserves of 5.5 billion tonnes ofcoal lignite are the fifth largest in the world (second in Europe, after Germany).[305][306]
Coal is found in two large deposits: Kolubara (4 billion tonnes of reserves) and Kostolac (1.5 billion tonnes).[305] Despite being small on a world scale, Serbia's oil and gas resources (77.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent and 48.1 billion cubic metres, respectively) have a certain regional importance since they are largest in the region of former Yugoslavia as well as the Balkans (excluding Romania).[308] Almost 90% of the discovered oil and gas are to be found in Banat and those oil and gas fields are by size among the largest in the Pannonian basin but are average on a European scale.[309]
The production of electricity in 2015 in Serbia was 36.5 billion kilowatt-hours (KWh), while the final electricity consumption amounted to 35.5 billion kilowatt-hours (KWh).[310] Most of the electricity produced comes from thermal-power plants (72.7% of all electricity) and to a lesser degree fromhydroelectric-power plants (27.3%).[311] There are 6 lignite-operatedthermal-power plants with an installed power of 3,936 MW.[312] Total installed power of 9 hydroelectric-power plants is 2,831 MW.[313] In addition to this, there are mazute and gas-operated thermal-power plants with an installed power of 353 MW.[314] The entire production of electricity is concentrated inElektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), public electric-utility power company.
The current oil production in Serbia amounts to over 1.1 million tonnes of oil equivalent[315] and satisfies some 43% of country's needs while the rest is imported.[316] National petrol company,Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), was acquired in 2008 byGazprom Neft. The company's refinery in Pančevo (capacity of 4.8 million tonnes) is one of the most modern oil-refineries in Europe; it also operates network of 334 filling stations in Serbia (74% of domestic market) and additional 36 stations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 31 inBulgaria, and 28 inRomania.[317][318] There are 155 kilometres of crude oil pipelines connecting Pančevo and Novi Sad refineries as a part of trans-nationalAdria oil pipeline.[319]
Serbia is heavily dependent on foreign sources of natural gas, with only 17% coming from domestic production (totalling 491 million cubic metres in 2012) and the rest is imported, mainly from Russia (via gas pipelines that run through Ukraine and Hungary).[316]Srbijagas, public company, operates the natural gas transportation system which comprise 3,177 kilometres (1,974 mi) of trunk and regional natural gas pipelines and a 450 million cubic metre underground gas storage facility atBanatski Dvor.[320] In 2021, Balkan Stream gas pipeline opened through Serbia.[321]
Serbia has a strategic transportation location since the country's backbone, Morava Valley, represents the easiest land route from continental Europe to Asia Minor and theNear East.[322]
Serbian road network carries the bulk of traffic in the country. Total length of roads is 45,419 km (28,222 mi) of which 962 km (598 mi) are "class-IA state roads" (i.e.motorways); 4,517 km (2,807 mi) are "class-IB state roads" (national roads); 10,941 km (6,798 mi) are "class-II state roads" (regional roads) and 23,780 km (14,780 mi) are "municipal roads".[323][324][325] The road network, except for the most of class-IA roads, are of comparatively lower quality to the Western European standards because of lack of financial resources for their maintenance in the last 20 years.
Over 300 km (190 mi) of new motorways were constructed in the last decade and additional 154 km (96 mi) are currently under construction:A5 motorway (from north ofKruševac toČačak) and 31 km (19 mi)-long segment ofA2 (between Čačak andPožega).[326][327]Coach transport is very extensive: almost every place in the country is connected by bus, from largest cities to the villages; in addition there are international routes (mainly to countries of Western Europe with large Serb diaspora). Routes, both domestic and international, are served by more than hundredintercity coach services, biggest of which areLasta andNiš-Ekspres. As of 2025[update], there were 2,476,419 registered passenger cars in the country.[328]
Serbia has 3,819 km (2,373 mi) of rail tracks, of which 1,279 km (795 mi) are electrified and 283 km (176 mi) are double-track railway.[200] The major rail hub is Belgrade (and to a lesser degree Niš), while the most important railways include: Belgrade–Subotica–Budapest (Hungary) (currently upgraded to high-speed status),Belgrade–Bar (Montenegro),Belgrade–Šid–Zagreb (Croatia)/Belgrade–Niš–Sofia (Bulgaria) (part ofPan-European Corridor X), and Niš–Thessaloniki (Greece). The continuation of the line, which will connect Belgrade with Budapest, Hungary, is currently under construction and is expected to open in 2026.[329] Construction work for 212 km-long prolongation of the high-speed rail line to the south, to the city of Niš, is set to commence in 2024 and with its planned completion by the end of the decade four of country's five largest cities will be connected by the high-speed rail lines.[330][331][332] Rail services are operated bySrbija Voz (passenger transport) andSrbija Kargo (freight transport).[333]
There are three airports with regular passenger services reaching over 6 million passengers in 2022 withBelgrade Nikola Tesla Airport serving bulk of it, being a hub of flagship carrierAir Serbia which flies to 80 destinations in 32 countries (including intercontinental flights to New York City, Chicago and Tianjin) and carried 2.75 million passengers in 2022.[334][335]
Serbia has a developed inland water transport since there are 1,716 km (1,066 mi) of navigable inland waterways (1,043 km, 648 mi of navigable rivers and 673 km, 418 mi of navigable canals), which are almost all located in northern third of the country.[200] The most important inland waterway is the Danube. Other navigable rivers include Sava, Tisza,Begej andTimiş Rivers, all of which connect Serbia with Northern and Western Europe through theRhine–Main–Danube Canal andNorth Sea route, to Eastern Europe via the Tisza, Begej and Danube Black Sea routes, and to Southern Europe via the Sava river. More than 8 million tonnes of cargo were transported on Serbian rivers and canals in 2018 while the largest river ports are: Novi Sad, Belgrade, Pančevo,Smederevo, Prahovo and Šabac.[336][337]
Fixed telephone lines connect 81% of households in Serbia, and with about 9.1 million users the number of cellphones surpasses the total population of by 28%.[338] The largest mobile operator isTelekom Srbija with 4.2 million subscribers, followed byYettel with 2.8 million users andA1 with about 2 million.[338] Some 58% of households have fixed-line (non-mobile) broadband Internet connection while 67% are provided withpay television services (i.e. 38% cable television, 17% IPTV, and 10% satellite).[338]Digital television transition has been completed in 2015 withDVB-T2 standard for signal transmission.[339][340]
Serbia is not a mass-tourism destination but nevertheless has a diverse range of touristic products.[341] In 2019, total of over 3.6 million tourists were recorded in accommodations, of which half were foreign.[342] Foreign exchange earnings from tourism were estimated at $1.5 billion.[343]
Tourism is mainly focused on the mountains and spas of the country, which are mostly visited by domestic tourists, as well as Belgrade and, to a lesser degree,Novi Sad, which are preferred choices of foreign tourists (almost two-thirds of all foreign visits are made to these two cities).[344][345] The most famous mountain resorts areKopaonik,Stara Planina andZlatibor. There are also manyspas in Serbia, the biggest of which areVrnjačka Banja,Soko Banja, andBanja Koviljača. City-break and conference tourism is developed in Belgrade and Novi Sad.[346] Other touristic products that Serbia offer are natural wonders likeĐavolja varoš,[347] Christian pilgrimage to the manyOrthodox monasteries across the country and the river cruising along the Danube. There are several internationally popular music festivals held in Serbia, such asEXIT and theGuča trumpet festival.[348]
Ethnic structure of Serbia by municipalities and cities in 2022[g]
As of the 2022 census, Serbia (excluding Kosovo) has a total population of 6,647,003 and the overallpopulation density is medium as it stands at 85.8 inhabitants per square kilometre.[5] The census was not conducted inKosovo which held its own census that numbered their total population at 1,586,659. Serbia has been enduring a demographic crisis since the beginning of the 1990s, with adeath rate that has continuously exceeded itsbirth rate.[349][350] It is estimated that 500,000 people left Serbia during the 1990s, 20% of whom had a higher education.[351][352] Serbia has one of the oldest populations in the world, with the average age of 43.3 years,[353] and its population is shrinking at one of the fastest rates in the world.[354] A fifth of all households consist of only one person, and just one-fourth of four and more persons.[355] The averagelife expectancy in Serbia is 76.1 years.[356]
During the 1990s, Serbia had the largest refugee population in Europe.[357]Refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Serbia formed between 7% and 7.5% of its population at the time – about half a million refugees sought refuge in the country following the series ofYugoslav wars, mainly from Croatia (and to a lesser extent from Bosnia and Herzegovina) and the IDPs from Kosovo.[358]
Serbs with 5,360,239 are the largest ethnic group in Serbia, representing 81% of the total population (excluding Kosovo). Serbia is one of the European countries with the highest number of registered national minorities, while the province of Vojvodina is recognisable for itsmulti-ethnic andmulti-cultural identity.[359][360][361] Despite a decline in recent years, with a population of 184,442,Hungarians remain the largest ethnic minority in Serbia, concentrated predominantly in northern Vojvodina and representing 2.8% of the country's population (10.5% in Vojvodina). The official Romani population was 131,936 according to the 2022 census, though unofficial estimates indicate a higher population.[362][363]Bosniaks with 153,801 andMuslims by nationality with 13,011 are concentrated inRaška (Sandžak), in the southwest. Other minority groups includeAlbanians,Croats andBunjevci,Slovaks,Yugoslavs,Montenegrins,Romanians andVlachs,Macedonians andBulgarians.Chinese, estimated at 15,000, are the only significant non-Europeanimmigrant minority.[364][365] Most recently, tens of thousands of Russians and Ukrainians have immigrated to Serbia following theRussian Invasion of Ukraine.[366]
As of January 2024, more than 300,000 Russians had emigrated to Serbia since the start of theRussian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. About one in 10 have been issued a residence permit, though integration issues have been reported, with Russian immigrants living in a "parallel society".[367]
According to World Happiness Report 2024, Serbia is on 37th rank amount 140 countries.[368]
The majority of the population, or 62%, reside in urban areas and some 18% in Belgrade alone. Belgrade is the only city with more than a million inhabitants and there are four more with over 100,000 inhabitants.[369]
The standardSerbian language uses both the Cyrillic and the Latin script. Serbian is a rare example of synchronicdigraphia, a situation where all literate members of a society have two interchangeable writing systems available to them
The official language is Serbian, native to 88% of the population.[370] Serbian is the only European language with activedigraphia, using bothCyrillic andLatin alphabets.Serbian Cyrillic is designated in the Constitution as the "official script".[371] A survey from 2014 showed that 47% of Serbians favour the Latin alphabet, 36% favour the Cyrillic one and 17% have no preference.[372]
Standard Serbian is mutually intelligible with recognised minority languages ofBosnian andCroatian, as all three are based on the most widespreadShtokavian dialect fromEastern Herzegovina.[373] Other recognised minority languages are:Hungarian,Slovak,Albanian,Romanian,Bulgarian,Rusyn, andMacedonian. All these languages are in official use in municipalities or cities where the ethnic minority exceeds 15% of the total population.[374] In Vojvodina, the provincial administration co-officially uses, besides Serbian, five other languages (Slovak, Hungarian, Croatian, Romanian and Rusyn).[375]
The Constitution of Serbia defines it as asecular state with guaranteed religious freedom. Orthodox Christians with 6,079,396 comprise 84.5% of country's population. The Serbian Orthodox Church is the largest and traditional church of the country, adherents of which are overwhelmingly Serbs. Other Orthodox Christian communities in Serbia include Montenegrins, Romanians, Vlachs,Macedonians andBulgarians. Roma in Serbia are both Christians and Muslim, depending on where they live, in Vojvodina they are mostly Christians.[377]
In 2011,Roman Catholics numbered 356,957 in Serbia, or roughly 6% of the population, mostly in northern Vojvodina which is home to ethnic minority groups such as Hungarians, Croats, andBunjevci, as well as to some Slovaks and Czechs.[378]Greek Catholic Church is adhered by around 25,000 citizens (0.37% of the population), mostlyRusyns in Vojvodina.[379]
Muslims, with 222,282 or 3% of the population, form the third largest religious group. Islam has a strong historic following in the southern regions of Serbia, primarily in southern Raška.Bosniaks are the largest Islamic community in Serbia, followed byAlbanians.
In 2011, there were only 578Jews in Serbia,[370] compared to over 30,000 prior to World War II.Atheists numbered 80,053, or 1.1% of the population, and an additional 4,070 declared themselves to beagnostics.[370]
According to 2011 census, literacy in Serbia stands at 98% of population while computer literacy is at 49% (complete computer literacy is at 34.2%).[381] Same census showed the following levels of education: 16.2% of inhabitants have higher education (10.6% have bachelors or master's degrees, 5.6% have an associate degree), 49% have a secondary education, 20.7% have an elementary education, and 13.7% have not completed elementary education.[382]
Education in Serbia is regulated by the Ministry of Education and Science. Education starts in either preschools or elementary schools. Children enroll in elementary schools at the age of seven. Compulsory education consists of eight grades of elementary school. Students have the opportunity to attendgymnasiums andvocational schools for another four years, or to enroll in vocational training for two to three years.
Following the completion of gymnasiums or vocational schools, students have the opportunity to attend university.[387] Elementary and secondary education are also available in languages of recognised minorities in Serbia, where classes are held in Hungarian, Slovak, Albanian, Romanian, Rusyn, Bulgarian as well as Bosnian and Croatian languages.Petnica Science Centre is a notable institution for extracurricular science education focusing on gifted students.[388]
Serbia spent 0.9% of GDP on scientific research in 2017, which is slightly below the European average.[392] Serbia was ranked 52nd in theGlobal Innovation Index in 2024.[393] Since 2018, Serbia is a full member ofCERN.[394][395] Serbia has a long history of excellence in maths and computer sciences which has created a strong pool of engineering talent, although economic sanctions during the 1990s and chronic underinvestment in research forced many scientific professionals to leave the country.[396] Nevertheless, there are several areas in which Serbia still excels such as growing information technology sector, which includes software development as well as outsourcing. It generated over $1.2 billion in exports in 2018, both from international investors and a significant number of dynamic homegrown enterprises.[397] Serbia is one of the countries with the highest proportion ofwomen in science.[398]Among the scientific institutes operating in Serbia, the largest are theMihajlo Pupin Institute andVinča Nuclear Institute, both in Belgrade. TheSerbian Academy of Sciences and Arts is alearned society promoting science and arts from its inception in 1841.[399]
The healthcare system in Serbia is organised and managed by the two primary institutions:The Ministry of Health and the Institute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanović Batut".[400] The Serbian public health system is based on the principles of equity and solidarity, organised on the model ofcompulsory health insurance contributions.[401] Private health care is not integrated into the public health system, but certain services may be included by contracting.[401]
The Ministry of Health determines the healthcare policy and adopts standards for the work of the healthcare service. The Ministry is also in charge of the health care system, health insurance, preservation and improvement of health of citizens, health inspection, supervision over the work of the healthcare service and other tasks in the field of health care.
The Institute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanović Batut" is responsible formedical statistics, epidemiology and hygiene. This central, tertiary institution manages and coordinates a dense network of municipal and regional Centres of Public Health that provideepidemiological andhygiene services at primary and secondary levels.[402] The National Health Insurance Fund finances the functioning of health care at all levels, and also provides and implements the compulsory health insurance.[403]
For centuries straddling the boundaries between East and West, the territory of Serbia had been divided among the Eastern and Western halves of theRoman Empire; then betweenByzantium and the Kingdom of Hungary; and in the early modern period between the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg Empire. These overlapping influences have resulted in cultural varieties throughout Serbia; its north leans to the profile of Central Europe, while the south is characteristic of the wider Balkans and even the Mediterranean. Serbia was influenced by theRepublic of Venice as well, mainly though trade, literature andromanesque architecture.[406][407]
Serbian monasteries were under the influence ofByzantine art, particularly after the fall of Constantinople in 1204 when many Byzantine artists fled to Serbia.[414] The monasteries include Studenica (built around 1190), which was a model for such later monasteries asMileševa, Sopoćani,Žiča,Gračanica and Visoki Dečani. Numerous monuments and cultural sites were destroyed at various stages of Serbian history, includingdestruction in Kosovo. In the late 14th and the 15th centuries, an autochthonous architectural style known asMorava style evolved in the area around Morava Valley. A characteristic of this style was the wealthy decoration of the frontal church walls. Examples of this includeManasija,Ravanica andKalenić monasteries.
Frescos includeWhite Angel (Mileševa monastery),Crucifixion (Studenica monastery) andDormition of the Virgin (Sopoćani).[415]
There are 551 public libraries, the largest of which are theNational Library of Serbia in Belgrade with about 6 million items, andMatica Srpska (the oldestmatica and Serbian cultural institution, founded in 1826) in Novi Sad with nearly 3.5 million volumes.[430][431] In 2010, there were 10,989 books and brochures published.[200] The book publishing market is dominated by several major publishers such as Laguna and Vulkan. The industry's centrepiece event, annualBelgrade Book Fair, is the most visited cultural event in Serbia with 158,128 visitors in 2013.[432] The highlight of the literary scene is awarding ofNIN Prize, given every January since 1954 for the best newly published novel in Serbian.[433][434]
Traditional Serbian music includes various kinds ofbagpipes,flutes,horns,trumpets,lutes,psalteries, drums and cymbals. Thekolo is the traditional collective folk dance, which hasa number of varieties throughout the regions. The most popular are those fromUžice and Morava region. Sung epic poetry has been an integral part of Serbian and Balkan music for centuries. In the highlands of Serbia these long poems are typically accompanied on a one-string fiddle called thegusle, and concern themselves with themes from history and mythology. There are records ofgusle being played at the court of the 13th-century kingStefan the First-Crowned.[461]
Balkan Brass, ortruba ("trumpet") is a popular genre, especially in Central and Southern Serbia where Balkan Brass originated. There are two main varieties of this genre, one from Western Serbia and the other from Southern Serbia, with brass musicianBoban Marković being one of the most respected names in the world of modern brass band bandleaders.[462]
Folk music in its original form has been a prominent music style sinceWorld War I following the early success ofSofka Nikolić. The music has been further promoted by Danica Obrenić, Anđelija Milić,Nada Mamula, and during the 60s and 70s with performers likeSilvana Armenulić,Toma Zdravković,Lepa Lukić, Vasilija Radojčić, Vida Pavlović and Gordana Stojićević.
Serbia has a well-established theatrical tradition withJoakim Vujić considered the founder of modern Serbian theatre.[473] Serbia has 38 professional theatres and 11 theatres for children,[474] the most important of which are National Theatre in Belgrade, Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad,National Theatre in Subotica,National Theatre in Niš andKnjaževsko-srpski teatar in Kragujevac (the oldest theatre in Serbia, established in 1835). TheBelgrade International Theatre Festival – BITEF, founded in 1967, is one of the oldest theatre festivals in the world, and it has become one of the five biggest European festivals.[475][476]Sterijino pozorje is, on the other hand, a festival showcasing national drama plays. The most important Serbian playwrights were Jovan Sterija Popović and Branislav Nušić, while recent renowned names areDušan Kovačević andBiljana Srbljanović.[477]
The country has a rich cinematic legacy.[478] Serbia's film scene is one of the most dynamic smaller European cinemas. The film industry is heavily subsidised by the government, mainly through grants approved by the Film Centre of Serbia.[479] As of 2019, there were 26 feature films produced in Serbia, of which 14 were domestic films.[480] There are 23 operating cinemas in the country, with total attendance reaching 4.8 million. A comparatively high percentage of 20% of total tickets sold were for domestic films.[481] ModernPFI Studios located inŠimanovci is nowadays Serbia's only major film studio complex.[482] TheYugoslav Film Archive used to be former Yugoslavia's and now is Serbia's national film archive – with over 100 thousand film prints, it is among the five largest film archives in the world.[483][484]
Freedom of the press and freedom of speech are guaranteed by the constitution of Serbia.[488] Serbia is ranked 98th out of 180 countries in the 2024Press Freedom Index report compiled byReporters Without Borders.[489] The report noted that media outlets and journalists continue to face partisan and government pressure over editorial policies.[490][491][492]
According toEBU research in 2018, Serbs on average watch five and a half hours of television per day, making it the second highest average in Europe.[493] There are seven nationwidefree-to-air television channels, with public broadcasterRadio Television of Serbia (RTS) operating three (RTS1,RTS2 and RTS3) and private broadcasters operating four (Pink,Prva,Happy, andO2).[494] There are 28 regional television channels and 74 local television channels.[200] Besides terrestrial channels there are dozens of Serbian television channels available only on cable or satellite. These include regional newsN1, commercial channelNova S, and regional sports channelsSport Klub andArena Sport, among others.
There are 247 radio stations in Serbia.[200] Out of these, six are radio stations with national coverage, including two of public broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia (Radio Belgrade 1 and Radio Belgrade 2/Radio Belgrade 3) and four private ones (Radio S1, Radio S2, Play Radio, and Radio Hit FM). Also, there are 34 regional stations and 207 local stations.[495]
There are 305newspapers published in Serbia[496] of which 12 are daily newspapers. DailiesPolitika andDanas are Serbia'spapers of record, the former being the oldest newspaper in the Balkans, founded in 1904.[497] Highest circulation newspapers are tabloidsVečernje Novosti,Blic,Kurir, andInformer, all with more than 100,000 copies sold.[498] There is one daily newspaper devoted to sports (Sportski žurnal), one business daily (Privredni pregled), two regional newspapers (Dnevnik published in Novi Sad andNarodne novine from Niš), and one minority-language daily (Magyar Szo in Hungarian, published in Subotica).
As of 2017[update], out of 432 web-portals (mainly on the.rs domain)[499] the most visited are online editions of printed dailies Blic and Kurir, news web-portal B92 and classifiedsKupujemProdajem.[500]
Serbian cuisine is largely heterogeneous in a way characteristic of the Balkans and, especially, the former Yugoslavia. It features foods characteristic of lands formerly underTurkish suzerainty as well as cuisine originating from other parts ofCentral Europe (especiallyAustria andHungary). Food is very important in Serbian social life, particularly during religious holidays such asChristmas,Easter and feast days i.e.slava.[503]
Staples of the Serbian diet include bread, meat, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Bread plays an important role in Serbian cuisine and can be found in religious rituals. A traditional Serbian welcome is to offer bread andsalt to guests. Meat is widely consumed, as is fish. The southern Serbian city ofLeskovac is host toRoštiljijada, considered the biggest barbecue festival in the Balkans.[504]
Other Serbian specialties includećevapčići (grilled and seasoned caseless sausages made from minced meat),pljeskavica (grilled spiced meat patty made from a mixture of pork, beef and lamb),gibanica (cheese pie),burek (baked pastry made from a thin flaky dough that is stuffed with meat, cheese or vegetables),sarma (stuffed cabbage),punjena paprika (stuffed pepper),moussaka (casserole made from minced meat, eggs, and potatoes),Karađorđeva šnicla (veal or porkschnitzel that is stuffed with kajmak),đuveč (meat and vegetable stew),pasulj (bean soup),podvarak (roast meat with sauerkraut),ajvar (roasted red pepper spread),kajmak (dairy product similar toclotted cream),čvarci (variant ofpork rinds),proja (cornbread) andkačamak (maize porridge).[505]
Serbians claim their country as the birthplace ofrakia (rakija), a highly alcoholic drink primarily distilled from fruit. Rakia in various forms is found throughout the Balkans, notably in Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Hungary and Turkey.Slivovitz (šljivovica), a plum brandy, is a type of rakia which is considered thenational drink of Serbia.[506] In 2021, Serbia's sljivovica was added to theUnited Nations Intangible Cultural Heritage List as a "cherished tradition to be preserved by humanity".[507]
Serbian wines are produced in 22 different geographical regions, with white wine dominating the total amount.[508] Besides rakia and wine,beer is a very popular alcoholic beverage in the country.[509]Pale lagers are currently and have been the traditional beer choice for Serbians.[510] The most popular domestic brands of beer are Jelen, followed by Lav.[511][512][513]
As in the rest of the former Yugoslavia,coffee drinking is an important cultural and social practice and Serbian coffee (a local variant ofTurkish coffee) is the most commonly consumed non-alcoholic beverage.[514]
Serbia has hosted a number of major international sport competitions. The most important annual sporting events in the country are theBelgrade Marathon and theTour de Serbie cycling race.
^"Serbia: On the Way to EU Accession".worldbank.org.World Bank. 8 April 2013.Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved24 August 2023.One particular emphasis has been helping Serbia take advantage of its strategic location in central Europe through investments in transport infrastructure.
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^Wide Angle, Milosevic and the Media."Part 3: Dictatorship on the Airwaves."Archived 9 October 2014 at theWayback Machine PBS. Quotation from film: "... the things that happened at state TV, warmongering, things we can admit to now: false information, biased reporting. That went directly from Milošević to the head of TV".
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^Takić, Ljiljana M.; Mladenović-Ranisavljević, Ivana I.; Nikolić, Vesna D.; Nikolić, Ljubiša B.; Vuković, Milovan V.; Živković, Nenad V. (2012)."The assessment of the Danube water quality in Serbia"(PDF).Advanced Technologies: 59. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 1 May 2020. Retrieved27 April 2019.
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Haag, John (2002). "Desanka Maksimović (1898–1993)". In Commire, Anne (ed.).Women in World History. Vol. 10. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale Publishing. pp. 120–124.ISBN978-0-78764-069-9.
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