Serbia

Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary

44.00° N, 21.00° E

total: 77,474 sq km

land: 77,474 sq km

water: 0 sq km

slightly smaller than South Carolina

total: 2,322 km

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

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

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)

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

mean elevation:

elevation extremes:

lowest point: Danube and Timok Rivers 35 m

highest point: Midzor 2,169 m

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

agricultural land: 57.9%

arable land 37.7%; permanent crops 3.4%; permanent pasture 16.8%

forest: 31.6%

other: 10.5% (2011 est.)

919.6 sq km (2011)

162.2 cu km (note - includes Kosovo) (2011)

destructive earthquakes

air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

noun: Serb(s)

adjective: Serbian

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

Serbian (official) 88.1%, Hungarian 3.4%, Bosnian 1.9%, Romany 1.4%, other 3.4%, undeclared or unknown 1.8%

note: Serbian, Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, and Rusyn all official in Vojvodina (2011 est.)

Serbian Orthodox 84.6%, Catholic 5%, Muslim 3.1%, Protestant 1%, atheist 1.1%, other 0.8%, undeclared or unknown 4.5% (2011 est.)

7,176,794

note: does not include the population of Kosovo (July 2015 est.)

0-14 years: 14.74% (male 545,685/female 512,443)

15-24 years: 11.46% (male 423,785/female 398,878)

25-54 years: 41.52% (male 1,503,100/female 1,476,843)

55-64 years: 14.66% (male 506,796/female 545,165)

65 years and over: 17.61% (male 519,501/female 744,598) (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio: 50.1%

youth dependency ratio: 24.5%

elderly dependency ratio: 25.6%

potential support ratio: 3.9% (2015 est.)

total: 42.1 years

male: 40.4 years

female: 43.8 years (2015 est.)

-0.46% (2015 est.)

9.08 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

13.66 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

urban population: 55.6% of total population (2015)

rate of urbanization: -0.34% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

BELGRADE (capital) 1.182 million (2015)

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

27.5 (2011 est.)

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

total: 6.05 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 6.96 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

total population: 75.26 years

male: 72.39 years

female: 78.31 years (2015 est.)

1.43 children born/woman (2015 est.)

60.8% (2010)

10.6% of GDP (2013)

2.11 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

5.4 beds/1,000 population (2009)

improved:

urban: 99.4% of population

rural: 98.9% of population

total: 99.2% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.6% of population

rural: 1.1% of population

total: 0.8% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 98.2% of population

rural: 94.2% of population

total: 96.4% of population

unimproved:

urban: 1.8% of population

rural: 5.8% of population

total: 3.6% of population (2015 est.)

0.05% (2013 est.)

3,000 (2013 est.)

100 (2013 est.)

21.1% (2014)

1.8% (2014)

4.8% of GDP (2011)

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 15 years (2013)

total: 49.4%

male: N/A

female: N/A (2013 est.)

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

republic

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

122 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina) and 23 cities (gradovi, singular - grad)

municipalities: Ada*, Aleksandrovac, Aleksinac, Alibunar*, Apatin*, Arandelovac, Arilje, Babusnica, Bac*, Backa Palanka*, Backa Topola*, Backi Petrovac*, Bajina Basta, Batocina, Becej*, Bela Crkva*, Bela Palanka, Beocin*, Blace, Bogatic, Bojnik, Boljevac, Bor, Bosilegrad, Brus, Bujanovac, Cajetina, Cicevac, Coka*, Crna Trava, Cuprija, Despotovac, Dimitrov, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Golubac, Gornji Milanovac, Indija*, Irig*, Ivanjica, Kanjiza*, Kikinda*, 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, Pirot, Plandiste*, Pozega, Presevo, Priboj, Prijepolje, Prokuplje, Raca, Raska, Razanj, Rekovac, Ruma*, Secanj*, Senta*, Sid*, Sjenica, Smederevska Palanka, Sokobanja, Srbobran*, Sremski Karlovci*, Stara Pazova*, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Svrljig, Temerin*, Titel*, Topola, Trgoviste, Trstenik, Tutin, Ub, Varvarin, Velika Plana, Veliko Gradiste, Vladicin Han, Vladimirci, Vlasotince, Vrbas*, Vrnjacka Banja, Vrsac*, Zabalj*, Zabari, Zagubica, Zitiste*, Zitorada

cities: Beograd, Cacak, Jagodina, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Leskovac, Loznica, Nis, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad*, Pancevo*, Pozarevac, Sabac, Smederevo, Sombor*, Sremska Mitrovica*, Subotica*, Uzice, Vajevo, Vranje, Zajecar, Zrenjanin*

note: the northern 39 municipalities and 6 cities - about 28% of Serbia's area - compose the autonomous province of Vojvodina and are indicated with *

5 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro)

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

many previous; latest approved by referendum 28-29 October 2006, adopted 30 September 2006, effective 8 November 2006; note - proposed amendments to establish a special court for war crimes were defeated in June 2015 by the National Assembly (2015)

civil law system

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

chief of state: President Tomislav NIKOLIC (since 11 June 2012)

head of government: Prime Minister Aleksandar VUCIC (since 22 April 2014)

cabinet: Cabinet elected by the National Assembly

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 May 2012 (next to be held in 2017); prime minister elected by the National Assembly

election results: Tomislav NIKOLIC elected president; percent of vote in second round - Tomislav NIKOLIC (SNS) 51.2%, Boris TADIC (NDS-Z) 48.8%

description: unicameral National Assembly or Narodna Skupstina (250 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by party list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 16 March 2014 (next to be held by March 2018)

election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - SNS-led coalition (SNS, SDPS, NS, PS, SPO) 48.4%, SPS/PUPS/JS 13.5%, DS 6.0%, Boris Tadic coalition (SDS, LSV, ZZS, VMDK, ZZV, DLR) 5.7%, DSS 4.2%, Dveri 3.6%, LDP-led coalition (LDP, BDZS, SDU) 3.4%, URS 3.0%, SVM 2.1%, Enough of that 2.1%, SRS 2.0%, SDA 1.0%, PDD .7%, other and invalid 4.3%; seats by party/coalition - SNS-led coalition (SNS, SDPS, NS, PS, SPO) 158, SPS/PUPS/JS 44, DS 19, Boris Tadic coalition (SDS, LSV, ZZS, VMDK, ZZV, DLR) 18, SVM 6, SDA 3, PDD 2

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cassation (consists of more than 60 judges organized into 3- and 5-member panels for criminal, civil, and administrative cases); Constitutional Court (consists of 15 judges)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court justices proposed by the High Judicial Council (HJC), an 11-member body of which 7 are judges, and elected by the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges appointed - 5 each by the National Assembly, the president, and the Supreme Court of Cassation; judges of both courts appointed to permanent tenure by the HJC

subordinate courts: appellate courts, higher courts, and municipal and district courts; courts of special jurisdiction include the Administrative Court, Appellate Commercial Court, and 2 levels of misdemeanor courts

note: in 2003, specialized panels on war crimes were established within the Serbian court system; the panels have jurisdiction over alleged violations of the Basic Criminal Code and crimes against humanity, international law, and criminal acts as defined by the Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM [Istvan PASZTOR]

Democratic Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians or VMDK [Aron CSONKA]

Democratic Left of Roma or DLR [Jovan DAMJANOVIC]

Democratic Party of DS [Bojan PAJTIC]

Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS [Sanda RASKOVIC-IVIC]

Dveri [Bosko OBRADOVIC]

Enough of That [Sasa RADULOVIC]

League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina or LSV [Nenad CANAK]

Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Cedomir JOVANOVIC]

Movement of Socialists or PS [Aleksandar VULIN]

New Serbia or NS [Velimir ILIC]

Party for Democratic Action or PDD [Riza HALIMI]

Party of Democratic Action of the Sandzak or SDA [Sulejman UGLJANIN]

Party of United Pensioners of Serbia or PUPS [Jovan KRKOBABIC]

Serbian Progressive Party or SNS [Aleksandar VUCIC]

Serbian Radical Party or SRS [Vojislav SESELJ]

Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO [Vuk DRASKOVIC]

Social Democratic Party of Serbia or SDPS [Rasim LJAJIC]

Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS [Ivica DACIC]

Together for Serbia or ZZS [Dusan PETROVIC]

Together for Vojvodina or ZZV (dissolved)

United Regions of Serbia or URS (dissolved in 2014)

United Serbia or JS [Dragan "Palma" MARKOVIC]

Association of Journalists of Serbia or NUNS

Journalists Association of Serbia (Udruzenje novinara Srbije) or UNS

Obraz (Orthodox clero-fascist organization)

SNP 1389 (Serbian nationalist movement)

SNP NASI 1389 (Serbian National Movement NASI)

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)

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

note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

double-headed eagle; national colors: red, blue, white

name: "Boze pravde" (God of Justice)

lyrics/music: Jovan DORDEVIC/Davorin JENKO

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

Serbia has a transitional economy largely dominated by market forces, but the state sector remains significant in certain areas and many institutional reforms are needed. The economy relies on manufacturing and exports, driven largely by foreign investment. MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of international economic sanctions, civil war, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure and industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left the economy only half the size it was in 1990.

After the ousting of former Federal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC in September 2000, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government implemented stabilization measures and embarked on a market reform program. Serbia renewed its membership in the IMF in December 2000 and rejoined the World Bank (IBRD) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Serbia has made progress in trade liberalization and enterprise restructuring and privatization, but many large enterprises - including the power utilities, telecommunications company, natural gas company, and others - remain in state hands. Serbia has made some progress towards EU membership, signing a Stabilization and Association Agreement with Brussels in May 2008, and with full implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement with the EU in February 2010, gained candidate status in March 2012. In January 2014, Serbia's EU accession talks officially opened. Serbia's negotiations with the World Trade Organization are advanced, with the country's complete ban on the trade and cultivation of agricultural biotechnology products representing the primary remaining obstacle to accession. Serbia's program with the IMF was frozen in early 2012 because the 2012 budget approved by parliament deviated from the program parameters; the arrangement is now void. In late 2014, Serbia and the IMF announced a tentative plan for a precautionary loan worth approximately $1 billion, but the government will be challenged to implement IMF-mandated reforms—which will target social spending and the large public sector.

High unemployment and stagnant household incomes are ongoing political and economic problems. Structural economic reforms needed to ensure the country's long-term prosperity have largely stalled since the onset of the global financial crisis. Growing budget deficits constrain the use of stimulus efforts to revive the economy and contribute to growing concern of a public debt crisis, given that Serbia's total public debt as a share of GDP more than doubled between 2008 and 2014. Serbia's concerns about inflation and exchange-rate stability preclude the use of expansionary monetary policy. During 2014 the SNS party addressed issues with the fiscal deficit, state-owned enterprises, the labor market, construction permits, bankruptcy and privatization, and other areas.

Major challenges ahead include: high unemployment rates and the need for job creation; high government expenditures for salaries, pensions, healthcare, and unemployment benefits; a growing need for new government borrowing; rising public and private foreign debt; attracting new foreign direct investment; and getting the IMF program back on track. Other serious longer-term challenges include an inefficient judicial system, high levels of corruption, and an aging population. Factors favorable to Serbia's economic growth include its strategic location, a relatively inexpensive and skilled labor force, and free trade agreements with the EU, Russia, Turkey, and countries that are members of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA).

$97.27 billion (2015 est.)

$96.78 billion (2014 est.)

$98.57 billion (2013 est.)

note: data are in 2015 US dollars

$36.56 billion (2015 est.)

0.5% (2015 est.)

-1.8% (2014 est.)

2.6% (2013 est.)

$13,600 (2015 est.)

$13,500 (2014 est.)

$13,800 (2013 est.)

note: data are in 2015 US dollars

13.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

9.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

11.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

household consumption: 81%

government consumption: 17.9%

investment in fixed capital: 17.8%

investment in inventories: -10.1%

exports of goods and services: 46%

imports of goods and services: -52.6%

(2015 est.)

agriculture: 10.4%

industry: 38.5%

services: 51.1% (2015 est.)

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

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

-2% (2015 est.)

2.9 million (2015 est.)

agriculture: 21.9%

industry: 15.6%

services: 62.5% (2014 est.)

19.3% (2015 est.)

19.7% (2014 est.)

9.2% (2013 est.)

38.7 (2014 est.)

28.2 (2008 est.)

revenues: $14.91 billion

expenditures: $16.4 billion

note: this is the consolidated budget, including both central government and local goverment budgets (2015 est.)

40.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

-4.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

75% of GDP (2015 est.)

70% of GDP (2014 est.)

note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued or owned by government entities other than the treasury (for which the Government of Singapore issued guarantees); the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities (for which the GOS also issued guarantees), as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

1.9% (2015 est.)

2.1% (2014 est.)

9.5% (18 March 2014)

11.75% (6 February 2013)

12% (31 December 2015 est.)

14.8% (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.282 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$4.332 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$18.37 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$18.75 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$19.79 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$20.59 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$7.696 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$8.1 billion (31 December 2013)

$7.451 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

-$1.468 billion (2015 est.)

-$2.632 billion (2014 est.)

$12.8 billion (2015 est.)

$14.22 billion (2014 est.)

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

Italy 17.4%, Germany 12%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 8.8%, Russia 7%, Romania 5.6%, Macedonia, The Former Yugo Rep of 4% (2014)

$17.21 billion (2015 est.)

$19.56 billion (2014 est.)

Germany 12%, Russia 11.3%, Italy 11.3%, China 7.6%, Hungary 5%, Poland 4.8% (2014)

$11.68 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$12.05 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$36.09 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$36.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$31.21 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$11.95 billion (2006 est.)

Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar -

106.6 (2015 est.)

88.41 (2014 est.)

88.41 (2013 est.)

87.99 (2012 est.)

72.45 (2011 est.)

34.4 billion kWh (2014 est.)

26.91 billion kWh (2014 est.)

4.806 billion kWh (2014 est.)

6.864 billion kWh (2014 est.)

7.368 million kW (2014 est.)

59.2% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

40.6% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

0.2% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

16,840 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

31,730 bbl/day (2014 est.)

77.5 million bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

61,590 bbl/day (2014 est.)

67,980 bbl/day (2014 est.)

12,050 bbl/day (2014 est.)

20,080 bbl/day (2014 est.)

562.2 million cu m (2014 est.)

2.43 billion cu m (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

1.629 billion cu m (2014 est.)

48.14 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

46 million Mt (2014 est.)

total subscriptions: 2.86 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2014 est.)

total: 9.3 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2014 est.)

general assessment: replacements of, and upgrades to, telecommunications equipment damaged during the 1999 war resulted in a modern digitalized telecommunications system

domestic: wireless service, available through multiple providers with national coverage, is growing very rapidly; best telecommunications services are centered in urban centers; 3G mobile network launched in 2007

international: country code - 381 (2011)

308 (station frequency types NA) (2009)

138 (2009)

.rs

1.102 million (2012)

total: 3.6 million

percent of population: 49.7% (2014 est.)

26 (2013)

total: 10

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)

total: 16

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 5 (2013)

2 (2012)

total: 3,808 km

standard gauge: 3,808 km 1.435-m gauge (1,196 km electrified) (2014)

total: 44,248 km

paved: 28,000 km

unpaved: 16,248 km (2010)

587 km (primarily on the Danube and Sava rivers) (2009)

river port(s): Belgrade (Danube)

Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Land Forces Command (includes Riverine Component, consisting of a river flotilla on the Danube), Air and Air Defense Forces Command (2012)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished December 2010; reserve obligation to age 60 for men and age 50 for women (2013)

1.44% of GDP (2015 est.)

1.49% of GDP (2014)

1.48% of GDP (2013)

1.77% of GDP (2012)

Serbia with several other states protest the US and other states' recognition of Kosovo's declaration of its status as a sovereign and independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of Kosovo-Serbia boundary; several thousand NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in Kosovo; Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute

refugees (country of origin): 32,408 (Croatia); 11,325 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (2014)

IDPs: 97,000 (most are Kosovar Serbs, some are Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptian (RAE); some RAE IDPs are unregistered) (2015)

stateless persons: 3,578 (includes stateless persons in Kosovo) (2014)

note: 639,152 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2016)

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