Serbia
Europe · Southeast Europe
Belgrade's nightlife runs late; expat-friendly, an EU aspirant, and affordable.
Expat
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Serbia's Human Development Index
0.805
Very High human development#64 of 191 countries worldwide, #36 of 44 in Europe.
Higher than 67% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Serbia
Serbia is a Balkan country with a turbulent history and a culture of striking warmth and expressiveness, centred on Belgrade, one of Europe's most underrated capital cities for food, nightlife, and arts. The countryside has monasteries, river gorges, and the vast plains of Vojvodina. Those who enjoy cities with edge, a cuisine rooted in grilled meat and fresh vegetables, and a people who take hospitality seriously will feel very much at home.
- World's largest raspberry exporter — roughly a third of global supply.
- Nikola Tesla was Serbian-American, born in what is now Croatia — both countries claim him.
- Invented the first electric motor (Jedlik, though that's actually Hungarian — Serbia's claim is Tesla).
Quick Facts
Capital
Belgrade
Language
Serbian
Currency
дин. RSD
Area
84,090 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
103Mbps
Mobile
209Mbps
GDP / Capita
$15K
PPP / Capita
$34K
Inflation
3.9%
Unemployment
7.1%
Innovation (GII)
31.7
GNI / Capita
$13K
Tax Revenue
23.9%
FDI Inflows
3.9%
Education Spend
3.4%
Cost of Living
42.6
Price Level Index
49th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1995
0.675 → 0.805 (+0.130)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 28 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Serbia for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
Serbia head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Serbia's Human Development Index?
Serbia's Human Development Index is 0.805 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #64 of 191 countries.
Is Serbia safe?
Serbia scores 1.92 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #70 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Serbia?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Serbia at 42.6 (New York = 100); that is #78 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Serbia?
Life expectancy at birth in Serbia is 76.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #81 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Serbia?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Serbia at 127.6, ranked #54 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.