# Serbia (Србија)

**Serbia** (Србија), officially the Republic of Serbia, is a country in Central and [Southeastern Europe](https://www.edgepedia.org/southeastern-europe) on the Balkan Peninsula, a parliamentary republic and EU candidate state whose ruling [Serbian Progressive Party](https://www.edgepedia.org/serbian-progressive-party) has in recent years presided over erosion of political rights and civil liberties while accession negotiations have stalled.<sup>[1](https://www.srbija.gov.rs/tekst/en/130127/basic-info.php)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://freedomhouse.org/country/serbia/freedom-world/2025)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Territory and location | 88,499 km² in Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula, between 41°53′–46°11′ N and 18°49′–23°00′ E; borders Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia<sup>[1](https://www.srbija.gov.rs/tekst/en/130127/basic-info.php)</sup> |
| Population | 6,647,003, excluding the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija; capital Belgrade, 1,681,405 residents<sup>[1](https://www.srbija.gov.rs/tekst/en/130127/basic-info.php)</sup> |
| Religion and currency | 81.1% Orthodox Christians, 3.9% Roman Catholic, 4.2% Muslim, 10.8% other or undeclared; currency is the Serbian dinar<sup>[1](https://www.srbija.gov.rs/tekst/en/130127/basic-info.php)</sup> |
| Economy | Upper-middle-income country and the largest economy in the Western Balkans; GDP per capita USD 13,679; growth of 3.9% in 2024 slowed to 2% in 2025<sup>[3](https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/country/serbia)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://serbia.un.org/sites/default/files/2026-04/UN%20Serbia%20Annual%20Report_fin.pdf)</sup> |
| Public finances | Fiscal deficit 2.4% of GDP in 2025, down from an average of 5.2% during 2010–2014; public debt down from a peak of 68.3% of GDP in 2015 to 45% of GDP in 2025<sup>[3](https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/country/serbia)</sup> |
| Democracy status | Freedom House rates Serbia Partly Free, 56/100, with the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) putting legal and extralegal pressure on independent media, the opposition, and civil society<sup>[2](https://freedomhouse.org/country/serbia/freedom-world/2025)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://serbia.un.org/sites/default/files/2026-04/UN%20Serbia%20Annual%20Report_fin.pdf)</sup> |
| Corruption | Serbia ranks 105th in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2024, well below the EU average, which the European Parliament calls a significant obstacle to EU accession<sup>[5](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX%3A52025IP0093)</sup> |
| Kosovo | Kosovo, a mainly ethnic Albanian territory that was part of Serbia, declared independence in 2008; Serbia refuses to recognize it, and about 100 countries, including the United States and most Western countries, do recognize it<sup>[6](https://apnews.com/article/a77cce384c00b35a60f940b345684640)</sup> |

## Geography and people

Serbia lies between 41°53′ and 46°11′ north latitude and 18°49′ and 23°00′ east longitude, with a moderate continental climate and Central European time (GMT +1). Its two autonomous provinces are [Vojvodina](https://www.edgepedia.org/vojvodina) and Kosovo and Metohija, though the census has not been conducted in the southern province since 2011 because conditions for it were absent in 2002, 2011, and 2022.<sup>[1](https://www.srbija.gov.rs/tekst/en/130127/basic-info.php)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://stat.gov.rs/en-us/vesti/20240222-uporedni-pregled-br-stanovnika-i-domacinstava/)</sup> The longest river is the Danube, an international river that runs 588 km through Serbia, and the highest peak is [Đeravica](https://www.edgepedia.org/eravica) at 2,656 m on Prokletije Mountain. The national holiday is 15 February, Serbian Statehood Day.<sup>[1](https://www.srbija.gov.rs/tekst/en/130127/basic-info.php)</sup>

The country is exposed to climate-related hazards including floods, landslides, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, and earthquakes, which affect water and energy security, agriculture, and low-income communities. Floods in 2014 alone caused EUR 864 million in damages and EUR 648 million in losses, and the World Bank estimates climate adaptation investment of around $9.5 billion over a decade, equivalent to 0.4–0.6% of GDP per year.<sup>[8](https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/serbia/publication/serbia-country-climate-and-development-report)</sup>

## Economy

**Growth and slowdown.** Serbia's economy grew 3.9% in 2024, above the previously projected 3.5%, driven by construction, industry, and services, before decelerating to 2% in 2025 amid weak consumption, relatively high inflation, and lower investment; construction was the largest drag on 2025 growth, at 0.7 percentage points. Growth averaged 3.5% over the five preceding years, based on robust foreign direct investment, fiscal stimulus, increased workforce participation, and cost competitiveness, a model the World Bank says needs refreshing as growth slows.<sup>[3](https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/country/serbia)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[9](https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/3c6942293bf458d9502898a0955243fb-0080012025/original/WB-FC-EN-Serbia.pdf)</sup> [Unemployment](https://www.edgepedia.org/unemployment) averaged 8.6% in 2024 while the employment rate reached a record 51.4%, and poverty fell to 7.7% in 2024 and stood broadly flat at 7.8% in 2025.<sup>[9](https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/3c6942293bf458d9502898a0955243fb-0080012025/original/WB-FC-EN-Serbia.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/country/serbia)</sup> Medium-term growth is expected at around 3–4%, driven primarily by consumption.<sup>[3](https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/country/serbia)</sup>

**Fiscal position.** Fiscal consolidation brought the budget deficit to 2.4% of GDP in 2025 and reduced public debt from a 2015 peak of 68.3% of GDP to 45% in 2025. Under the IMF's Policy Coordination Instrument, Serbia met all end-2025 quantitative targets on the fiscal deficit, primary current expenditure, domestic arrears, and net international reserves.<sup>[3](https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/country/serbia)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[10](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2026/06/15/pr26201-serbia-imf-concludes-the-third-review-under-pci)</sup> According to the IMF, the [Serbian economy](https://www.edgepedia.org/economy-of-serbia) has remained resilient in the face of such adverse forces as disrupted energy supplies, a poor harvest, protests at home, trade tensions worldwide, and the Middle East conflict.<sup>[11](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2026/06/12/republic-of-serbia-third-review-under-the-policy-coordination-instrument-press-release-and-576843)</sup>

**Energy and emissions.** Serbia is the largest greenhouse gas emitter in the Western Balkans and relies on fossil fuels for 83% of its total energy supply, with lignite-fired electricity and heat generation the largest source; energy-related emissions represent about 80% of total emissions. Reaching a net zero target by 2050 would require an additional $10.4 billion of investment over 25 years, mostly in the power sector.<sup>[8](https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/serbia/publication/serbia-country-climate-and-development-report)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[12](https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099112224141022447/pdf/P179205112226c0ad1a2e71248429b93b22.pdf)</sup>

## Politics and rule of law

Serbia is a parliamentary republic that holds multiparty elections. [Freedom House](https://www.edgepedia.org/freedom-house) reports that the ruling Serbian Progressive Party has steadily eroded political rights and civil liberties, pressuring independent media, the political opposition, and civil society organizations.<sup>[2](https://freedomhouse.org/country/serbia/freedom-world/2025)</sup> Journalists face intimidation, editorial pressure from politicians and politically connected media owners, selective bans from official venues, and abusive lawsuits, despite a legal framework that guarantees press freedom.<sup>[2](https://freedomhouse.org/country/serbia/freedom-world/2025)</sup> NGOs working on rule of law and governance have faced threats and judicial harassment, with employees smeared as "foreign mercenaries"; after a draft law criticized as aiming to stigmatize civil society drew comparisons to laws in Russia and Belarus, numerous Serbian NGOs cut ties with legislative and executive authorities in February 2025.<sup>[13](https://freedomhouse.org/country/serbia/freedom-world/2026)</sup>

**Protests.** In November 2024, a concrete canopy collapse at the [Novi Sad](https://www.edgepedia.org/novi-sad) railway station killed 16 people, and many Serbs blamed alleged rampant corruption in the government's infrastructure deals with China. Monthslong student-led anti-corruption demonstrations followed, demanding justice for the victims and the rule of law.<sup>[14](https://apnews.com/article/1fe6a59f4a631491d73914da0e8bcd1c)</sup> Although freedom of assembly is constitutionally guaranteed, protesters have faced prosecution for "preparing acts against the constitutional order and security of Serbia" and "calling for a violent overthrow of the constitutional order."<sup>[13](https://freedomhouse.org/country/serbia/freedom-world/2026)</sup> International monitors witnessed violence and irregularities during local elections in 10 Serbian municipalities.<sup>[15](https://apnews.com/article/901cc53a44cc6349b0b3434c271b7667)</sup>

**Corruption and judiciary.** The European Parliament noted limited progress against corruption despite a new 2024–2028 anti-corruption strategy, cited the 105th-place CPI ranking, and flagged undelivered results in high-public-interest cases of long standing, including Krušik, Jovanjica, Savamala, and Belivuk.<sup>[5](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX%3A52025IP0093)</sup> The European Commission's 2025 Rule of Law Report, which has covered Serbia since 2024, found persistent challenges in judicial independence, corruption, and media freedom.<sup>[16](https://commission.europa.eu/news-and-media/news/progress-rule-law-eu-further-action-needed-finds-report-2025-07-08_en)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[17](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SWD%3A2025%3A0755%3AFIN%3AEN%3APDF)</sup>

## EU accession and foreign alignment

Serbia formally pursues EU membership as a strategic goal, but the process has stalled. The [European Parliament](https://www.edgepedia.org/european-parliament) warned in 2026 that accession remains blocked by limited implementation of reforms, setbacks in democracy, and insufficient progress on the rule of law.<sup>[18](https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1163408-annual-report-on-serbia-s-progress-toward-eu-membership-warns-of-setbacks-in-dem)</sup> The European Committee of the Regions noted a slow pace with several negotiation chapters opened but a clear slowdown in reforms central to rule of law, democratic governance, and media freedom.<sup>[19](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ%3AC_202602602)</sup> In April 2026, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos warned that Serbia could lose access to around 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion) in EU funds if it fails to halt democratic backsliding, citing laws that undermine judicial independence, crackdowns on protesters, and recurrent meddling in independent media; the Commission was assessing whether Serbia still fulfills conditions for payments under the EU's financial instruments.<sup>[15](https://apnews.com/article/901cc53a44cc6349b0b3434c271b7667)</sup>

**Foreign policy alignment.** Serbia must improve its alignment with EU common foreign and security policy, including restrictive measures and statements on Russia, according to the Commission's 2023 enlargement assessment.<sup>[20](https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-11/COM_2023_690%20Communication%20on%20EU%20Enlargement%20Policy_and_Annex.pdf)</sup> President Aleksandar Vučić, who came to power in 2012 and helped found the Serbian Progressive Party in 2009 as a pro-European reinvention, has in recent years strengthened relations with Russia and China while stalling on democratic reforms, a precondition for joining the bloc.<sup>[21](https://apnews.com/article/3f22607f74b0cf40e385e075cabfb987)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[22](https://apnews.com/article/bad911ef4c0718fae902f1933b89b2db)</sup> The Kosovo dispute remains central: Serbia refuses to recognize Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence, and the EU-facilitated dialogue, including full implementation of the 2023 Agreement on the Path to Normalisation, is considered essential for regional stability and Serbia's continued accession progress.<sup>[6](https://apnews.com/article/a77cce384c00b35a60f940b345684640)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[19](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ%3AC_202602602)</sup>

## References

1. [Basic info, Government of the Republic of Serbia](https://www.srbija.gov.rs/tekst/en/130127/basic-info.php)
2. [Serbia: Freedom in the World 2025 Country Report, Freedom House](https://freedomhouse.org/country/serbia/freedom-world/2025)
3. [Serbia Overview, World Bank Group](https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/country/serbia)
4. [UN Serbia Annual Results Report](https://serbia.un.org/sites/default/files/2026-04/UN%20Serbia%20Annual%20Report_fin.pdf)
5. [European Parliament resolution of 7 May 2025 on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Serbia](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX%3A52025IP0093)
6. [What is behind renewed tensions between Serbia and Kosovo?, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/a77cce384c00b35a60f940b345684640)
7. [Comparative overview of population and households by censuses 1948–2022, Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia](https://stat.gov.rs/en-us/vesti/20240222-uporedni-pregled-br-stanovnika-i-domacinstava/)
8. [Serbia Country Climate and Development Report, World Bank Group](https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/serbia/publication/serbia-country-climate-and-development-report)
9. [Western Balkans Regular Economic Report No. 27, Serbia factsheet, World Bank Group](https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/3c6942293bf458d9502898a0955243fb-0080012025/original/WB-FC-EN-Serbia.pdf)
10. [IMF Executive Board Concludes the Third Review Under the Policy Coordination Instrument for the Republic of Serbia](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2026/06/15/pr26201-serbia-imf-concludes-the-third-review-under-pci)
11. [Republic of Serbia: Third Review Under the Policy Coordination Instrument, IMF](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2026/06/12/republic-of-serbia-third-review-under-the-policy-coordination-instrument-press-release-and-576843)
12. [World Bank climate document for Serbia](https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099112224141022447/pdf/P179205112226c0ad1a2e71248429b93b22.pdf)
13. [Serbia: Freedom in the World 2026 Country Report, Freedom House](https://freedomhouse.org/country/serbia/freedom-world/2026)
14. [EU enlargement commissioner urges Serbia to push forward reform, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/1fe6a59f4a631491d73914da0e8bcd1c)
15. [EU says Serbia could lose access to a billion euros over democratic backsliding, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/901cc53a44cc6349b0b3434c271b7667)
16. [Progress in rule of law in EU but further action needed, European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/news-and-media/news/progress-rule-law-eu-further-action-needed-finds-report-2025-07-08_en)
17. [2025 Rule of Law Report, Country Chapter Serbia, European Commission](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SWD%3A2025%3A0755%3AFIN%3AEN%3APDF)
18. [Annual Report on Serbia's Progress towards EU Membership Warns of Setbacks in Democracy, BTA](https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1163408-annual-report-on-serbia-s-progress-toward-eu-membership-warns-of-setbacks-in-dem)
19. [Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions – Enlargement package 2025](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ%3AC_202602602)
20. [Communication on EU Enlargement Policy 2023, European Commission](https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-11/COM_2023_690%20Communication%20on%20EU%20Enlargement%20Policy_and_Annex.pdf)
21. [Serbian democracy activists feel betrayed as freedoms, and a path to the EU, slip away, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/3f22607f74b0cf40e385e075cabfb987)
22. [EU chief tells Serbia to act on reforms and implement Russia sanctions, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/bad911ef4c0718fae902f1933b89b2db)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Places and geography › Countries, territories, and regional overviews › Countries and territories › Titles R to Z*

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