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Updated: March 2009

Serbia

Overview | World Vision's history in Serbia| World Vision in Serbia today

Overview

The Republic of Serbia, a landlocked country in southeastern Europe, is bordered by eight countries, including Macedonia and Kosovo—both of which have declared independence from Serbia. Several rivers traverse the landscape, including Europe’s second longest river, the Danube. The northern half of the country is made up of a rich, fertile plain, while the southern half is dominated by the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains. The climate ranges from continental in the north to Mediterranean in the south. Natural resources include oil, gas, coal, copper, gold, silver, limestone, and arable land.

Ethnic Serbs make up nearly 83 percent of the country’s population. Other groups include Hungarians, Bosniaks, Roma, Yugoslavs, Croats, and Slovaks. Serbian is the official language of the country and is spoken by more than 88 percent of the people. Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak, Croatian, Bosniak, and Romany are also spoken.

The Kingdom of Serbia was formed in 1918, changing its name to Yugoslavia a decade later. In 1989, Slobodan Milosevic, new president of the Serbian Republic, called for Serbian domination, which led to the breakup of Yugoslavia. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in Kosovo provoked a Serbian response that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of Albanians living in Kosovo. Serbia’s rejection of a proposed settlement to the conflict led to NATO’s bombing of Serbia in the spring of 1999 and to the eventual withdrawal of Serbian forces from Kosovo.

Overall, the economy in Serbia has steadily grown over the past seven years. However, increasing disparities exist between ethnic and socioeconomic groups. The Roma, for example, primarily live in impoverished rural areas with poor access to health care and education. Only a third of Roma children attend secondary school, compared to 92 percent of non-Roma children. In addition, infant and childhood mortality rates are more than three times higher in Roma children than in non-Roma children.


Serbian Flag 


Country statistics 
Population9.85 million
Land mass29,913 square miles
People per square mile329
Life expectancy75 years
Under age 5 mortality rate8/1,000
Literacy rate96%
Access to safe waterN/A
Average annual incomeUS$3,910
Religion
Christian91.6%
Muslim3.2%
None/unspecified5.2%
 
 


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World Vision’s history in Serbia

World Vision began working in the former Yugoslavia in August 1998 as a result of the Kosovo conflict. A relief program was launched, providing food and winter clothing to those fleeing the violence. In addition, World Vision launched a program to improve conditions in emergency shelters. Soup kitchens were established to feed the huge influx of internally displaced persons. Family survival kits containing food and hygiene items also were distributed. Since its initial establishment in Serbia, World Vision has continued to implement programs aimed at assisting the physical, social, psychological, and financial needs of Serbia’s impoverished population. Today, World Vision has instituted sustainable and multifunctional programs to fight poverty in rural areas.

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World Vision in Serbia today

World Vision is committed to partnering with the people of Serbia to enhance their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their communities, families, and children. World Vision operates several development programs, all of which are supported by donors outside of the United States. Activities include microfinance, education, and church partnership.

For more information on World Vision’s work in Serbia, contact the United States office.

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