Serbias

Serbia, officially the Republic of Serbia, is a country in Southeast Europe, located in the central Balkans. It borders Hungary to the north; Romania and Bulgaria to the east; North Macedonia to the south; Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro to the west, and has a disputed border with Kosovo to the south. The capital and largest city is Belgrade. The country covers about 88,400 square kilometers and has a population of around seven million.

Serbia is a parliamentary republic. The president serves as head of state, while the prime minister is the head of government. The unicameral National Assembly legislates. The judiciary is independent, and the country maintains a multi-party system. Serbia is a candidate country for the European Union and has pursued accession negotiations since the mid-2010s, alongside reforms in rule of law, administration, and the economy.

Historically, Serbia emerged as a medieval kingdom, later integrating into the Ottoman Empire. It gained de facto independence in the 19th century and became part of Yugoslavia in the early 20th century. After the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro, Serbia declared independence from the state union in 2006. Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence remains a sensitive political issue, with Serbia not recognizing it.

The majority ethnic group is Serbs, with minorities including Hungarians, Bosniaks, Roma, and others. The official language is Serbian, using both Cyrillic and Latin alphabets. The predominant religion is Serbian Orthodox; other faiths are practiced by minority communities.

Serbia has a services- and industry-based economy, with manufacturing in automotive, machinery, and electronics, and a growing information technology sector. Agriculture is important, notably fruit production such as raspberries. The dinar (RSD) is the currency. Key transport links include Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport and a road-rail network connecting to European markets.