Europe

Serbia
Last Reviewed: 11 December 2008

Country information

See entire profile

Map of Serbia

Capital City: Belgrade
Area: 88,361 sq.km
Population : 7,498,001 (Serbian Government census, 2002)
Languages: Serbian (majority), Hungarian, Bosniak, Roma, Croat, Montenegrin, Albanian, Slovak, Vlach, Romanian, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Ruthenian and Ukrainian. In the areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, the languages and scripts of the minorities are in official use.
Major Ethnic Communities : Serbs 82.86%; Hungarians 3.91%; Bosniaks 1.82%; Roma 1.44%; Montenegrins 0.92%; Yugoslavs 1.08%; Croats 0.94%; Albanians 0.82% (Serbian Government census, 2002).
Major Religions and Denominations: Christianity: Serbian Orthodox dominant), Roman Catholicism, Islam.
Major Political Parties: Democratic Party (DS), Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), Serbian Radical Party (SRS), G17 Plus, Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), New Serbia (NS), League of Vojvodina Social Democrats (LSDV), Sandzak Democratic Party (SDP), Coalition for Sandzak, Vojvodina Hungarians Alliance (SVM), Party of Democratic Action (PDD), roma Party (RP), Union of Roma of Serbia (URS).
Parliament of The Republic of Serbia:The national legislature of Serbia is a unicameral assembly of 250 deputies elected through general elections for a term of four years.

The deputies in the National Assembly elect the Government of the Republic of Serbia, which, together with the President of the Republic, represents the country’s executive authority. The Judiciary is independent.

The President of the Republic is elected for a term of 5 years by direct election and has important powers under the Constitution. The President is not a member of the National Assembly or the government.

The Leadership of the Republic of Serbia:

President and Head of State: Boris Tadic.

On 7 July 2008 a coalition government was formed in Serbia between the Democratic Party, Socialist Party of Serbia and G17 Plus. See the Internal Politics section below, for further information, on the political parties that are in the coalition.

Government Ministers who hold key posts:

Prime Minister: Mirko Cvetkovic (DS)
First Deputy Prime Minister and Police Minister: Ivica Dacic (SPS)
Deputy Prime Minister in charge of EU integration: Mr Bozidar Djelic (DS)
Foreign Minister: Vuk Jeremic (DS)
Defence Minister: Dragan Sutanovac (DS)
Finance Minister: Diana Dragutinovic (G17 Plus)
Justice Minister: Snezana Malovic (DS)

Membership of International Organisations: United Nations (UN), Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Council of Europe (CoE), European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Stability Pact, South-Eastern Co-operation Initiative (SECI), Central European Initiative (CEI), South Eastern Europe Co-operation Process (SEECP), Danube Commission, Initiative for Danube Co-operation, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Partnership for Peace (PfP).