from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Serbia
Introduction
Background: The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed
in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929.
Occupation by Nazi Germany in 1941 was resisted by
various paramilitary bands that fought each other as
well as the invaders. The group headed by Josip TITO
took full control of Yugoslavia upon German expulsion
in 1945. Although Communist, his new government and its
successors (he died in 1980) managed to steer their own
path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for
the next four and a half decades. In the early 1990s,
post-TITO Yugoslavia began to unravel along ethnic
lines: Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, and Bosnia and
Herzegovina were recognized as independent states in
1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro
declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in
April 1992 and, under President Slobodan MILOSEVIC,
Serbia led various military intervention efforts to
unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a
"Greater Serbia." These actions led to Yugoslavia being
ousted from the UN in 1992, but Serbia continued its
campaign until signing the Dayton Peace Accords in
1995. In 1998-99, massive expulsions by FRY forces and
Serb paramilitaries of ethnic Albanians living in
Kosovo provoked an international response, including
the NATO bombing of Belgrade and the stationing of a
NATO-led force (KFOR), in Kosovo. Federal elections in
the fall of 2000, brought about the ouster of MILOSEVIC
and installed Vojislav KOSTUNICA as president. The
arrest of MILOSEVIC in 2001 allowed for his subsequent
transfer to the International Criminal Tribunal for the
Former Yugoslavia in The Hague to be tried for crimes
against humanity. In 2001, the country's suspension
from the UN was lifted, and it was once more accepted
into UN organizations under the name of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia. Kosovo has been governed by the
UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
since June 1999, under the authority of UN Security
Council Resolution 1244, pending a determination by the
international community of its future status. In 2002,
the Serbian and Montenegrin components of Yugoslavia
began negotiations to forge a looser relationship. In
February 2003 lawmakers restructured the country into a
loose federation of two republics called Serbia and
Montenegro. The Constitutional Charter of Serbia and
Montenegro included a provision that allowed either
republic to hold a referendum after three years that
would allow for their independence from the state
union. In the spring of 2006, Montenegro took advantage
of the provision to undertake a successful independence
vote enabling it to secede on 3 June. Two days later,
Serbia declared that it was the successor state to the
union of Serbia and Montenegro.
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary
Geographic 44 00 N, 21 00 E
coordinates:
Map Europe
references:
Area: total: 88,361 sq km
land: 88,361 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - slightly larger than South Carolina
comparative:
Land total: 2,027 km
boundaries: border countries: Albania 115 km, Bosnia and
Herzegovina 302 km, Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia 241 km,
Hungary 151 km, Macedonia 221 km, Montenegro 203 km,
Romania 476 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime none (landlocked)
claims:
Climate: in the north, continental climate (cold winters and
hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall); in
other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate
(hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold
winters with heavy snowfall)
Terrain: extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to
the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the
southeast, ancient mountains and hills
Elevation lowest point: NA
extremes: highest point: Daravica 2,656 m
Natural oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, antimony,
resources: chromite, nickel, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite,
limestone, marble, salt, arable land
Land use: arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA
other: NA
Irrigated NA
land:
Natural destructive earthquakes
hazards:
Environment - air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial
current cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped
issues: into the Sava which flows into the Danube
Environment - party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
international Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
agreements: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - controls one of the major land routes from Western
note: Europe to Turkey and the Near East
People
Population: 9,396,411 (2002 census)
Median age: total: 40.4 years
male: 39.1 years
female: 41.7 years
Life total population: 74 years
expectancy at male: 71 years
birth: female: 76 years
Total 1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
Nationality: noun: Serb(s)
adjective: Serbian
Ethnic groups: Serb 66%, Albanian 17%, Hungarian 3.5%, other 13.5%
(1991)
Religions: Serbian Orthodox, Muslim, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages: Serbian (official nationwide); Romanian, Hungarian,
Slovak, Ukrainian, and Croatian (all official in
Vojvodina); Albanian (official in Kosovo)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.4%
male: 98.9%
female: 94.1% (2002 est.)
Government
Country name: 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
Government republic
type:
Capital: name: Belgrade
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
Administrative 31 districts (okrugov; singular - okrug), 1 capital
divisions: city*
Central Serbia: Belgrad*, Bor, Branicevo, Jablanica,
Kolubara, Macva, Moaravica, Nisava, Pcinja, Pirot,
Podunavlje, Pomoravlje, Rasina, Raska, Sumadija,
Toplica, Zajecar, Zlatibor
Vojvodina: Central Banat, North Backa, North Banat,
South Backa, South Banat, Srem, West Backa
Kosovo and Metohia: Dakovica, Gnjilane, Kosovska
Mitrovica, Pec, Pristina, Prizren, Urosevac
Independence: 5 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)
National National Day, 27 April
holiday:
Constitution: 28 September 1990; note - a new draft constitution
approved by Parliament on 30 September 2006 stresses
that Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia; the draft
must still be approved by a national referendum
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 universal
Executive chief of state: President Boris TADIC (since 11 July
branch: 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Vojislav KOSTUNICA
(since 3 March 2004)
cabinet: Federal Ministries act as cabinet
elections: president elected by direct vote for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election
last held 27 June 2004 (next to be held June 2009);
prime minister elected by the Assembly
election results: Boris TADIC elected president in the
second round of voting; Boris TADIC received 53% of the
vote
Legislative unicameral National Assembly (250 deputies elected by
branch: direct vote for a four-year term)
elections: last held 28 December 2003 (next to be held
December 2007)
election results: SRS 83, DSS 53, DS 37, G17 Plus 34,
SPO-NS 22, SPS 22
Judicial Constitutional Court (nine justices with life tenure)
branch:
Political Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA];
parties and Democratic Party or DS [Boris TADIC]; G17 Plus [Mladjan
leaders: DINKIC is acting leader]; Serbian Radical Party or SRS
[Vojislav SESELJ, but Tomislav NIKOLIC is acting
leader]; Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS [vacant, but
Ivica DACIC is head of the SPS Main Board]; New Serbia
or NS [Velimir ILIC]; Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO
[Vuk DRASKOVIC]
International ABEDA, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EBRD, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD,
organization ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD (suspended),
participation: IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan VUJACIC
representation chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
in the US: telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933
consulate(s) general: Chicago
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Michael C. POLT
representation embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade
from the US: mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC
20521-5070
telephone: [381] (11) 361-9344
FAX: [381] (11) 361-8230
note: there is a branch office in Pristina at 30 Nazim
Hikmet 38000 Prstina, Kososvo; telephone: [381] (38)
549-516; FAX:[381] (38) 549-890
Flag three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and
description: white; charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted
slightly to the hoist side
Economy
Economy - MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended
overview: period of economic sanctions, 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 October 2000,
the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition
government implemented stabilization measures and
embarked on a market reform program. After renewing its
membership in the IMF in December 2000, a down-sized
Yugoslavia continued to reintegrate into the
international community by rejoining the World Bank
(IBRD) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD). A World Bank-European Commission
sponsored Donors' Conference held in June 2001 raised
$1.3 billion for economic restructuring. In November
2001, the Paris Club agreed to reschedule the country's
$4.5 billion public debt and wrote off 66% of the debt.
In July 2004, the London Club of private creditors
forgave $1.7 billion of debt, just over half the total
owed. Belgrade has made only minimal progress in
restructuring and privatizing its holdings in major
sectors of the economy, including energy and
telecommunications. It has made halting progress
towards EU membership and is currently pursuing a
Stabilization and Association Agreement with Brussels.
Serbia is also pursuing membership in the World Trade
Organization. Unemployment remains an ongoing political
and economic problem. The Republic of Montenegro
severed its economy from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC
era; therefore, the formal separation of Serbia and
Montenegro in June 2006 had little real impact on
either economy. Kosovo's economy continues to
transition to a market-based system and is largely
dependent on the international community and the
diaspora for financial and technical assistance. The
euro and the Yugoslav dinar are both accepted
currencies in Kosovo. While maintaining ultimate
oversight, UNMIK continues to work with the EU and
Kosovo's local provisional government to accelerate
economic growth, lower unemployment, and attract
foreign investment to help Kosovo integrate into
regional economic structures. The complexity of Serbia
and Kosovo's political and legal relationships has
created uncertainty over property rights and hindered
the privatization of state-owned assets in Kosovo. Most
of Kosovo's population lives in rural towns outside of
the largest city, Pristina. Inefficient,
near-subsistence farming is common.
note: economic data for Serbia currently reflects
information for the former Serbia and Montenegro,
unless otherwise noted; data for Serbia alone will be
added when available
GDP $41.15 billion for Serbia (including Kosovo) (2005
(purchasing est.)
power parity):
GDP (official $19.19 billion for Serbia alone (excluding Kosovo)
exchange (2005 est.)
rate):
GDP - real 5.9% for Serbia alone (excluding Kosovo) (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $4,400 for Serbia (including Kosovo) (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 16.6%
composition by industry: 25.5%
sector: services: 57.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.961 million for Serbia (including Kosovo) (2002 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 30%
by occupation: industry: 46%
services: 24%
note: excluding Kosovo and Montenegro (2002)
Unemployment 31.6%
rate: note: unemployment is approximately 50% in Kosovo (2005
est.)
Population 30%
below poverty note: data covers the former Serbia and Montenegro
line: (1999 est.)
Inflation rate 15.5% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 14.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $11.45 billion
expenditures: $11.12 billion; including capital
expenditures $NA; note - figures are for Serbia and
Montenegro; Serbian Statistical Office indicates that
for 2006 budget, Serbia will have revenues of $7.08
billion (2005 est.)
Public debt: 53.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - wheat, maize, sugar beets, sunflower, beef, pork, milk
products:
Industries: sugar, agricultural machinery, electrical and
communication equipment, paper and pulp, lead,
transportation equipment
Industrial 1.4% (2006 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 33.87 billion kWh (excluding Kosovo and Montenegro)
production: (2004)
Electricity - NA
consumption:
Electricity - 12.05 billion kWh (excluding Kosovo; exported to
exports: Montenegro) (2004)
Electricity - 11.23 billion kWh (excluding Kosovo; imports from
imports: Montenegro) (2004)
Oil - 14,660 bbl/day (2003)
production:
Oil - 85,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - proved 38.75 million bbl (1 January 2002)
reserves:
Natural gas - 650 million cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 2.55 billion cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m
exports:
Natural gas - 0 cu m
imports:
Natural gas - 48.14 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
proved
reserves:
Current $-2.451 billion (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $4.553 billion (excluding Kosovo and Montenegro) (2005
est.)
Exports - manufactured goods, food and live animals, machinery
commodities: and transport equipment
Imports: $10.58 billion (excluding Kosovo and Montenegro) (2005
est.)
Reserves of $5.35 billion
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $15.43 billion (including Montenegro) (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $2 billion pledged in 2001 to Serbia and Montenegro
recipient: (disbursements to follow over several years; aid
pledged by EU and US has been placed on hold because of
lack of cooperation by Serbia in handing over General
Ratco MLADIC to the criminal court in The Hague)
Currency new Yugoslav dinar (YUM); note - in Kosovo both the
(code): euro and the Yugoslav dinar are legal
Exchange new Yugoslav dinars per US dollar - 58.6925 (2005)
rates:
Communications
Telephones - 2,685,400 (2004)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 5.229 million (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: modernization of the
system: telecommunications network has been slow as a result of
damage stemming from the 1999 war and transition to a
competitive market-based system; network was only 65%
digitalized in 2005
domestic: teledensity remains below the average for
neighboring states; GSM wireless service, available
through two providers with national coverage, is
growing very rapidly; best telecommunications service
limited to urban centers
international: country code - 381
Radio 153 (2001)
broadcast
stations:
Internet .rs; note - former ccTLD .yu will remain in service
country code: until the end of 2006
Internet NA
hosts:
Internet 1.4 million (2006)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 39 (2006)
Airports - total: 16
with paved over 3,047 m: 2
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - total: 23
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 12 (2006)
Heliports: 4 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 3,177 km; oil 393 km (2006)
Railways: total: 4,135 km
standard guage: 4,135 km 1.435-m guage (electrified
1,195 km) (2005)
Roadways: total: 37,887 km
paved: 23,937 km
unpaved: 13,950 km (2002)
Waterways: 587 km - primarily on Danube and Sava rivers (2005)
Merchant note: see entry for Montenegro
marine:
Military
Military Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Serbian Land
branches: Forces (Kopnene Vojska, KoV), Air Force and Air Defense
Force (Vozduhoplostvo i Protivozduhoplovna Odbrana,
ViPO), naval force to be determined (2006)
Military peacetime service obligation begins at age 17 and lasts
service age until age 60 for men and 50 for women; under a state of
and war or impending war, the obligation can begin at age
obligation: 16 and be extended beyond 60 (2006)
Military $14.85 million
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - the final status of the Serbian province of Kosovo
international: remains unresolved and several thousand peacekeepers
from the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
(UNMIK) have administered the region since 1999, with
Kosovar Albanians overwhelmingly supporting and Serbian
officials opposing Kosovo independence; the
international community had agreed to begin a process
to determine final status but contingency of
solidifying multi-ethnic democracy in Kosovo has not
been satisfied; ethnic Albanians in Kosovo refuse
demarcation of the boundary with Macedonia in
accordance with the 2000 Macedonia-Serbia and
Montenegro delimitation agreement; Serbia and
Montenegro delimited about half of the boundary with
Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections with Serbia along
the Drina River remain in dispute
Refugees and refugees (country of origin): 180,117 (Croatia); 95,297
internally (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
displaced IDPs: 225,000 - 251,000 (mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma
persons: who fled Kosovo in 1999) (2005)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving
to Western Europe on the Balkan route; economy
vulnerable to money laundering