Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Serbia
Serbia: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was -0.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Serbia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth in Serbia is -0.5%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.3% on the previous year and down 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Serbia peaked at 2.2% in 1980 and was at its lowest, -3.9%, in 1991.
Serbia ranks 201st of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Serbia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.6% | — |
| 1971 | 0.6% | +11.2% |
| 1972 | 0.6% | -14.3% |
| 1973 | 0.4% | -21.3% |
| 1974 | 0.6% | +31.5% |
| 1975 | 0.6% | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 0.7% | +17.0% |
| 1977 | 0.6% | -13.4% |
| 1978 | 0.6% | -6.4% |
| 1979 | 0.5% | -8.4% |
| 1980 | 2.2% | +335.2% |
| 1981 | 0.4% | -83.9% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | -2.9% |
| 1983 | 0.3% | -7.0% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 0.3% | -12.4% |
| 1986 | 0.2% | -20.0% |
| 1987 | 0.2% | -20.9% |
| 1988 | 0.2% | +13.8% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | -41.0% |
| 1990 | 0.1% | -56.7% |
| 1991 | -3.9% | -7525.4% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | -102.8% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | +21.7% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | -18.4% |
| 1995 | 0.1% | -33.8% |
| 1996 | -0.1% | -209.5% |
| 1997 | -0.3% | +289.8% |
| 1998 | -0.4% | +30.7% |
| 1999 | -0.4% | -10.9% |
| 2000 | -0.3% | -11.7% |
| 2001 | -0.2% | -46.2% |
| 2002 | -0.0% | -73.6% |
| 2003 | -0.3% | +472.3% |
| 2004 | -0.2% | -10.1% |
| 2005 | -0.3% | +28.8% |
| 2006 | -0.4% | +30.9% |
| 2007 | -0.4% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | -0.4% | +5.0% |
| 2009 | -0.4% | -5.8% |
| 2010 | -0.4% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | -0.8% | +88.1% |
| 2012 | -0.5% | -35.8% |
| 2013 | -0.5% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | -0.5% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -0.5% | +5.2% |
| 2016 | -0.5% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | -0.5% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | -0.5% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | -0.5% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | -0.7% | +24.1% |
| 2021 | -0.9% | +41.7% |
| 2022 | -2.5% | +166.7% |
| 2023 | -0.6% | -75.3% |
| 2024 | -0.5% | -12.3% |
Serbia compared with similar countries
- Serbia's -0.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5%. (58 countries reporting)
- Serbia's -0.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.3%. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Serbia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -7525.4% | 0.1% | -3.9% |
| 2003 | -472.3% | -0.0% | -0.3% |
| 1980 | +335.2% | 0.5% | 2.2% |
| 1997 | -289.8% | -0.1% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | -209.5% | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | -166.7% | -0.9% | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.1% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.5% | -3.9% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.3% | -0.4% | -0.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.5% | -0.8% | -0.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.1% | -2.5% | -0.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Serbia
- 198 Germany -0.5% compare
- 199 Belarus -0.5% compare
- 200 United States Virgin Islands -0.5% compare
- 202 Sri Lanka -0.6% compare
- 203 Bosnia and Herzegovina -0.7% compare
- 204 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines -0.7% compare
More population data for Serbia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7734 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.21 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7734 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,778 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.6883 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.9703 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.779 (2100)
- Population density 44.02 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 141,046 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Serbia?
- Population growth in Serbia was -0.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Serbia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.2% in 1980.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Serbia?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.9% in 1991.
- How does Serbia rank for population growth?
- Serbia ranks 201st out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Serbia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Serbia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release