Population and Demographics of Serbia
Population declining at 0.55% in 2024 · 22.69% aged 65 or older
In Serbia, the 2024 age structure includes 14.31% children and 22.69% older adults, and the broad age profile puts 63.00% between ages 15 and 64. The medium projection reaches 5.53 million in 2050, placing the mid-century total 17.9% below 2024.
Population Over Time in Serbia
Serbia's population stood at 7.695M in 2000 and 6.736M in 2024, equivalent to a -12.5% change over that period. The UN medium projection places 2050 at 5.533M, about 17.9% below the 2024 reference point. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
The broad age bands show a older population structure in Serbia. The 65+ share is 22.69%, clearly above the 14.31% under-15 share, while 63.00% fall in the 15 to 64 band. Older adults outnumber children in these broad age bands.
Population by broad age group
The 2024 World Bank sex-share indicator gives Serbia a female share of 52.6% and a male share of 47.4%. Females exceed males by 5.2 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Females made up 52.6% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 47.4% males.
What Is Shaping Population Change
In the latest harmonized estimates, Serbia shows -0.55% population change and fertility of 1.5, while 14.31% are children, 63.00% are 15 to 64 and 22.69% are older adults.
Serbia's longer population series shows -12.5% change across 2000 to 2024, followed by -17.9% projected change from 2024 to 2050; the figures describe direction, not a causal split between migration and natural change.
2024 estimate for Serbia. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Serbia vs. World
In the harmonized 2024 comparison, Serbia's annual population change is lower than the world rate, fertility is below the global level, and its population is older than the world median-age profile.
| Indicator | Serbia | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | -0.55% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.5 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 44 | 30.6 | 2024 |
These are same-year, same-table comparisons. The underlying country table identifies UN World Population Prospects 2024 as its demographic framework.
Key Takeaways
At 6.736M, the 2024 population is paired with an annual change rate of -0.55%.
Broad age shares show 22.69% aged 65+ compared with 14.31% under 15; the 15 to 64 group accounts for 63.00%.
The World Bank 2024 sex-share series is 52.6% female and 47.4% male.
The 2050 medium projection is 5.533M, 17.9% below the 2024 estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Serbia?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Serbia is 6,736,216 people.
Is the population of Serbia growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Serbia's population is declining, with annual change of -0.55%.
What percentage of the population of Serbia is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 22.69% of Serbia's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Serbia in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Serbia's 2050 population at 5,532,870.
What is the fertility rate in Serbia?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Serbia is 1.5 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.