GeoRealityMatch
Aerial view of the cityscape and river in Belgrade, Serbia, under cloudy skies.Beautiful view of the Belgrade skyline over the river under a late afternoon sky with branches framing the scene.

Serbia

Europe · Southeast Europe

High safetyAffordable cost of livingVery high development

Human development is high. Incomes are low for Europe.

ExpatCombines very high development, high safety and affordable cost of living.
vs Bulgariavs Croatia
Safety

70th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.919lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#70 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
1.3per 100,000 people a yearLowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
63Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the European median

Median disposable income
€7,802per adult, a year, after tax and transfersVery low
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
13.1New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
14.8years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 240% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 76% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$20K$40K$33,910 PPP$15,262Inflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $4,493 a person, $10,463 at PPP, inflation 11.7%2007, $6,081 a person, $11,685 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2008, $7,377 a person, $13,123 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2009, $6,414 a person, $13,038 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2010, $5,971 a person, $13,320 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2011, $7,082 a person, $14,298 at PPP, inflation 11.1%2012, $6,263 a person, $14,506 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2013, $7,040 a person, $15,247 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2014, $6,887 a person, $15,296 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2015, $5,820 a person, $15,546 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2016, $5,982 a person, $16,455 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2017, $6,548 a person, $17,285 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2018, $7,560 a person, $18,469 at PPP, inflation 2%2019, $7,756 a person, $20,587 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2020, $8,099 a person, $21,013 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2021, $9,681 a person, $23,406 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2022, $10,025 a person, $26,143 at PPP, inflation 12%2023, $12,282 a person, $29,777 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2024, $13,678 a person, $32,832 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2025, $15,262 a person, $33,910 at PPP, inflation 3.9%$0$20K$40KInflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $4,493 a person, $10,463 at PPP, inflation 11.7%2007, $6,081 a person, $11,685 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2008, $7,377 a person, $13,123 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2009, $6,414 a person, $13,038 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2010, $5,971 a person, $13,320 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2011, $7,082 a person, $14,298 at PPP, inflation 11.1%2012, $6,263 a person, $14,506 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2013, $7,040 a person, $15,247 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2014, $6,887 a person, $15,296 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2015, $5,820 a person, $15,546 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2016, $5,982 a person, $16,455 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2017, $6,548 a person, $17,285 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2018, $7,560 a person, $18,469 at PPP, inflation 2%2019, $7,756 a person, $20,587 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2020, $8,099 a person, $21,013 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2021, $9,681 a person, $23,406 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2022, $10,025 a person, $26,143 at PPP, inflation 12%2023, $12,282 a person, $29,777 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2024, $13,678 a person, $32,832 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2025, $15,262 a person, $33,910 at PPP, inflation 3.9%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Around the middle for life expectancy

Life expectancy
76.0years, at birthHigh
#81 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
73WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
18.1PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Among the highest youth unemployment in Europe

Youth unemployment
23.4%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceVery high
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
103 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
578EF English Proficiency Index scoreHighEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet103 MbpsVery fast
Mobile209 MbpsVery fast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Beautiful view of the Belgrade skyline over the river under a late afternoon sky with branches framing the scene.
How it changed

Serbia's Human Development Index

0.833Very high human development

62nd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 36th of 44 in Europe.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #60Kazakhstan0.837
  2. #62Costa Rica0.833
  3. #62Serbia0.833
  4. #64Russia0.832
  5. #65Belarus0.824
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1995

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.686 in 1995 to 0.833 in 2023.

0.650.780.900.83319952000201020231995: 0.6861996: 0.6921997: 0.6981998: 0.6991999: 0.6852000: 0.7012001: 0.7072002: 0.7112003: 0.7202004: 0.7322005: 0.7432006: 0.7532007: 0.7632008: 0.7732009: 0.7742010: 0.7752011: 0.7852012: 0.7882013: 0.7922014: 0.7952015: 0.8022016: 0.8062017: 0.8082018: 0.8142019: 0.8172020: 0.8092021: 0.8072022: 0.8262023: 0.8330.650.780.9019952000201020231995: 0.6861996: 0.6921997: 0.6981998: 0.6991999: 0.6852000: 0.7012001: 0.7072002: 0.7112003: 0.7202004: 0.7322005: 0.7432006: 0.7532007: 0.7632008: 0.7732009: 0.7742010: 0.7752011: 0.7852012: 0.7882013: 0.7922014: 0.7952015: 0.8022016: 0.8062017: 0.8082018: 0.8142019: 0.8172020: 0.8092021: 0.8072022: 0.8262023: 0.833

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 29 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
76 years2024at birthUp 3.1 years from 72.8 years in 2005
Internet users
88%2024of people onlineUp 60 points from 27% in 2006
Urban population
63%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 4 points from 58% in 2006
Births per woman
1.642024births per womanUp 0.19 from 1.45 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
27%2021of energy usedUp 13 points from 15% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
52024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 3 from 8 in 2005
Forest area
32%2023of land under forestUp 3 points from 30% in 2006

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Belgrade's nightlife runs late; expat-friendly, an EU aspirant, and affordable. The case for living here is very high human development. The case against is low incomes and high youth unemployment, both for Europe.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBelgrade
  • LanguagesSerbian
  • CurrencySerbian dinar (RSD)
  • Area84,090 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

Bosnia and HerzegovinaBulgariaCroatiaHungaryNorth MacedoniaMontenegroRomania

Side by side

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Quick answers

What is Serbia's Human Development Index?

Serbia's Human Development Index is 0.833 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #62 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Serbia safe?

Serbia scores 1.92 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #70 of 161 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.