In 2023, in the Republic of Serbia, the number of live births amounted to 61 052 and the number of deaths to 97 081. The natural increase was -36 029 inhabitants. The number of inhabitants in the Republic of Serbia was estimated at 6 623 183 in 2023.
The mentioned values are the result of cumulative negative demographic effects over a longer period of time. From 2014 to 2023, only based on the natural increase the number of inhabitants in the Republic of Serbia decreased by 434 606.
Table 1. Vital events, 2014-2023
| Republic of Serbia | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Average per year (2014-2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live births | 66461 | 65657 | 64734 | 64894 | 63975 | 64399 | 61692 | 62180 | 62700 | 61052 | 63774 |
| Deaths | 101247 | 103678 | 100834 | 103722 | 101655 | 101458 | 116850 | 136622 | 109203 | 97081 | 107235 |
| Natural increase | -34786 | -38021 | -36100 | -38828 | -37680 | -37059 | -55158 | -74442 | -46503 | -36029 | -43461 |
The natural increase rate in the Republic of Serbia amounted to -5,4‰ (the negative value went down by 1.6‰, compared with the value in 2022). Beogradski region, as in 2022, recorded the lowest negative value of the natural increase rate (-2,5‰), while the highest negative value of this rate was noted in Region Južne i Istočne Srbije (-7.8‰).
Оf the total number of cities/municipalities in the Republic of Serbia, the natural increase rate in 2023 was positive in eight municipalities: Тutin (8.7‰), Novi Pazar (6.9‰), Sjenica (2.7 ‰), Preševo (1.0‰), Kostolac (0.9‰), Zvezdara (0.6‰), Bujanovac (0.4‰) and Novi Sad (0.0‰), which is for four municipalities more than the previous year.
The largest number of births, 18 387, was recorded in the age group of women aged from 30 tо 34. The average women’s age at birth of child was 30.4, while the average women’s age at birth of first child was 29. In urban settlements, the average women’s age at birth of child was 31.2, while in other settlements it was 28.8. Live births in urban settlements accounted for 65.6% of the total number of live births, and in other settlements it accounted for 34.4%.
The total fertility rate, i.e. the number of live births per woman was slightly lower in 2023 than in the previous year, amounting to 1.61. Observed by regions, the total fertility rate was the highest in Region Šumadije i Zapadne Srbije (1.68) and Region Vojvodine (1.62), and the lowest in Beogradski Region and Region Južne i Istočne Srbije where it amounted to 1.56.
According to birth order in the Republic of Serbia, the number of first births in total births decreased by 1 312 in 2023, compared with the previous year. When looking at regions, first-born children were the most numerous in Beogradski region (50.0% of the total number of live births in Beogradski region), while the share of second-born children was the highest in Region Šumadije i Zapadne Srbije (35.6%). The number of third-born children (16.1%) and fourth-born children (4.6%) was the highest in Region Šumadije i Zapadne Srbije, and that of fifth-born and children of higher birth orders in Region Vojvodine (2.5%).
Table 2. Population natural changes, by regions
| Population 30.06. | Births | Deaths | Natural increase | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live births | Stillbirths | Total | infant deaths | |||
| REPUBLIC OF SERBIA | 6623183 | 61052 | 386 | 97081 | 286 | -36029 |
| SRBIJA – SEVER | 3417358 | 33123 | 229 | 47668 | 118 | -14545 |
| Beogradski region | 1683229 | 17327 | 127 | 21499 | 66 | -4172 |
| Region Vojvodine | 1734129 | 15796 | 102 | 26169 | 52 | -10373 |
| SRBIJA – JUG | 3205825 | 27929 | 157 | 49413 | 168 | -21484 |
| Region Šumadije i Zapadne Srbije | 1809610 | 16186 | 94 | 26716 | 97 | -10530 |
| Region Južne i Istočne Srbije | 1396215 | 11743 | 63 | 22697 | 71 | -10954 |
| Region Kosovo i Metohija | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
In 2023, there were 97 081 deaths (48 447 men and 48 634 women) in the Republic of Serbia. The average age of the deceased person was 75.2. The largest number of deaths was noted in the age interval from 75 tо 84.
When compared with the previous year, the number of violent deaths fell and amounted to 2 335. The number of suicides in 2023 was 668, by 102 cases less than in 2022.
Diseases of the circulatory system were the leading cause of death, taking the life of 48 277 persons (49.7% of the total number of deaths): 22 422 men and 25 855 women. Neoplasms took the second place and the life of 21 153 persons in 2023 (21.8% оf the total number of deaths), that is 11 494 men and 9 659 women, while diseases of the respiratory system ranked third, of which 5 704 persons died (5.9% оf the total number of deaths), that is 3 180 men and 2 524 women.
More tables for this topic:
See more tables on this subject
Methological explanations
The general natality rate is the number of live births per 1 000 inhabitants in the reference year. The general mortality rate is the number of deaths per 1 000 inhabitants in the reference year. The natural increase rate is the difference between the birth rate and death rate in the reference year.
The estimated number of inhabitants in 2023 was calculated on the basis of the results of the 2022 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings, natural increase and internal migrations.
Starting from 1998 the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia has not available data for AP Kosovo and Metohija therefore these data are not included in the coverage for the Republic of Serbia (total)