FAQ · Living & People 23

During the late 19th century, Serbia experienced a period of substantial natural population growth. This growth was driven by a very high birth rate alongside declining but still high mortality rates. Specifically, the country faced high levels of infant and child mortality during this era. These demographic factors, combined with territorial expansions, helped the population increase significantly. The net effect of these shifting patterns was a natural surplus that fueled the nation's expansion.

Based on estimates from the year 2000, the total fertility rate in Serbia was 1.7 children per woman. During this same period, the birth rate in Serbia was recorded at 12.20 per 1,000 people. This data is part of a broader demographic profile of the region. These figures reflect the population trends observed at the turn of the millennium.

Serbia has a universal health care system that is largely financed by public health insurance. The public healthcare network is fairly robust and includes 306 institutions such as general hospitals and community health centers. Alongside this public system, there is a growing private healthcare sector consisting of clinics and small private practices. These private providers often focus on areas like dentistry and ophthalmology. This dual system provides various options for medical care throughout the country.

The healthcare system in Serbia is managed by the National Health Insurance Fund, which covers all citizens and permanent residents. All employees, self-employed persons, and pensioners are required to pay contributions based on a sliding scale. While the state remains the dominant provider of health care services, the private sector is steadily increasing its activities. Private health care is mainly offered at the primary level and through highly profitable specialized services. Additionally, private health insurance exists as a substitute for those without public insurance or those seeking higher standards.

Serbia is home to significant pharmaceutical production within the region. Hemofarm is one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the area. This company is owned by German Stada. They produce almost 8 billion units of both prescription and over-the-counter medicines every year. This scale of production makes them a major player in the industry.

Mass protests occurred in Belgrade following the government's announcement to reinstate curfews to curb the spread of COVID-19. Protesters demanded the resignation of the COVID Crisis Team and the formation of an independent commission to assess political influence in pandemic decisions. They also supported a petition from thousands of doctors who cited incompetence and political influence within the crisis team. Additionally, demonstrators called for the release of peaceful protesters who were imprisoned during the riots. Some opposition leaders even suggested the institution of a technocratic transitional government to create normal living conditions.

Voters who are unable to vote at polling stations due to disability can request to vote from home. To do this, they must inform their election commission between 7:00 and 11:00 on election day. Once this notification is made, they are able to vote from home after 11:00. This process also applies to those unable to attend due to illness or old age. It ensures that eligible voters can still participate in the election process.

Serbia has higher estimates of premature death due to air pollution than most countries in the European Union. Data from national monitoring stations indicate that concentrations of air pollutants, especially particulate matter, regularly exceed levels that protect human health. The main sources of outdoor air pollution include the energy sector, the transport sector, waste dump sites, and various industrial activities. These activities involve thermal power plants, cement factories, and chemical or metallurgical complexes. Additionally, fossil fuel-based individual household heating in rural and periurban towns contributes to the pollution.

Climate change in Serbia has caused many families to lose their homes, fields, and lives. Droughts are already frequent in the country and are expected to become even more common. Heat waves have also become a major threat, particularly for fruit farming. For example, there were four heat waves in Serbia between January and September 2020. Additionally, floods have become the dominant natural disaster in the region.

It is recommended to have health insurance for the period of your stay in Serbia. This insurance should cover possible medical costs to the amount of not less than 20,000 euros. Having this coverage helps manage potential expenses while you are in the country. Travelers should ensure their documentation is in order before arrival. This preparation is part of the requirements for staying in Serbia.

The Balkan Stream pipeline carries most of the imported natural gas into the country with an annual capacity of 13.9 billion cubic metres. Serbia also utilizes an underground natural gas storage facility at Banatski Dvor which holds 750 million cubic metres. This storage capacity is equivalent to approximately one-quarter of the annual consumption of the country. The national gas system consists of 3,217 km of trunk pipelines and 25,707 km of distribution pipelines. Currently, about 13% of households are directly heated by natural gas while another 22% use gas-generated district heating.

Laundry detergents are manufactured within the country by Henkel. This company is a major producer of household chemicals in the region. Their production includes various cleaning products used for laundry. This manufacturing activity is part of Serbia's broader industrial landscape. Other chemical and industrial products are also produced by various domestic and international companies.

Illegal gambling is one of the activities that various criminal organisations in Serbia are primarily involved in. These groups, sometimes referred to as the Serbian mafia, consist of organisations based in Serbia or composed of ethnic Serbs. Such criminal networks are active within the European Union and are involved in several types of illicit activities. These organisations include smuggling, drug trafficking, and arms trafficking among other crimes. In 2021, Serbia was ranked 33rd in the Global Organised Crime Index.

There was controversy regarding an advertisement on Radio Television of Serbia that promoted Rio Tinto. The Regulatory Body for Electronic Media stated that the advertisement was aired in accordance with legal regulations. However, thirty civil society organisations and individuals submitted a request to ban the advertisement. They claimed that the advertisement violated the Law on Advertisements. In response to these issues, environmental organisations organised a protest in front of the Radio Television of Serbia building on 6 November. Another protest was organised by the non-governmental organisation Kreni-Promeni on 19 November after the broadcaster declined to air an anti-Rio Tinto advertisement.

Pristina is known for its success in sports such as football, boxing, basketball, and futsal. In the 2010s, basketball was the most successful sport in the area, with KB Prishtina winning two BIBL Championships in back to back seasons. Other popular activities include karate, shooting, weight lifting, swimming, and skiing. There are also clubs for taekwondo, chess, kick box, athletics, cycling, and fishing. Sport is organized across amateur and professional levels through various municipal leagues.

Football in Kosovo has been developed since 1919 after the First World War. The first soccer ball was brought to Pristina by a student returning from France. Initially, there was no organized way of playing and only friendly matches took place. The first club called Kosova was formed in 1922 and consisted of soldiers from the Pristina Garrison. Later, the club Bashkimi was formed in 1926 and eventually registered with the Banovina Skopje Football Sub-League. FC Prishtina later became a founder club in the newly formed SFR Yugoslavia Cup.

The football national team was previously known as FR Yugoslavia and later Serbia and Montenegro. After being excluded from international competitions due to sanctions between 1992 and 1996, the team qualified for several major tournaments including the 1998 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. The senior men's basketball team saw significant success during the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2000s. This period included three EuroBasket titles and two FIBA World Cup titles. The basketball team also earned a silver medal at the Summer Olympic Games in 1996.

Pristina offers several venues for different sporting activities. The Stadium of Pristina serves as the home ground for FC Prishtina and has a capacity of 16,200 seats following recent renovations. For indoor sports like basketball and volleyball, the Youth Palace provides an 8136 m2 area for various activities. Additionally, the Stadium of Flamurtari can host football matches with a capacity of 2000 seats. Tennis enthusiasts can use outdoor hard surface courts that feature lighting for night play. These facilities support various clubs and tournaments throughout the year.

To obtain a Serbian driving licence, you must finish driving school and pass both a theory test and a road test. You are also required to provide a medical certificate, a primary school diploma, and complete a first aid course for drivers. The minimum age for certain motorcycles is 24, though this can be 20 after two years of probation with another motorcycle licence. Additionally, people can apply for a temporary licence at age 16 for motorcycles under 125 cc, subject to certain regulations. All vehicle categories are now listed on a single EU-standard, credit-card-style licence.

The three-finger salute became a fixture of Serbian political life following its introduction in 1990–1991. While it was previously associated with nationalists and government supporters, it was recently adopted by the Student List as a campaign symbol. This student movement revived the gesture as a positive national motif during the 2026 parliamentary election. Commentators observed that the gesture came to signify opposition to the government in Serbia. The symbol was even used by candidates during a final rally at Slavija Square while holding the Constitution of Serbia.

Serbia operates under a unitary parliamentary framework as defined by the Constitution of Serbia. The President of the Republic serves as the head of state, while the Prime Minister acts as the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the President and the Government, which includes the cabinet of ministers. Legislative power is held by the unicameral National Assembly, which is composed of 250 members. The country uses a multi-party system where coalition governments are often formed because no single party usually gains power alone.

In 2023 Serbia's average life expectancy was 76 point 7 years, ranking 68th worldwide, while a year-by-year series lists 76 point 7693 years for that same year. The series runs from 1994 to 2023 and shows a low of 69 point 9939 years in 1999 and another drop to 72 point 853 years in 2021 before the later recovery. Serbia has a universal health-care system financed largely by public health insurance. In 2023 it spent 8 percent of GDP on healthcare, equal to 6 point 5 billion dollars, or 983 dollars per person. As of 2024 the country had 21,248 doctors and 41,137 hospital beds, and cardiovascular disease caused 47 point 7 percent of deaths, with cancer next at 21 point 7 percent. Infant mortality in 2023 was 4 point 6 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Print media in Serbia has declined sharply over the last two decades as readers moved to digital platforms. Politika, founded in 1904, is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the Balkans and is widely regarded as Serbia's newspaper of record. Television is still a traditional news source, and about 94 percent of households receive it through paid cable, IPTV or satellite rather than digital terrestrial broadcasts. Those platforms carry the three channels of the public broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia, along with free-to-air channels and many extra commercial ones. RTS also runs the nationwide Radio Belgrade network of three stations, and digital audio broadcasting covers more than 90 percent of the population.