Serbia: Net migration

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Serbia's net migration fell 4,954 on 2024 (from -8,132 to -13,086).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −73.27 and a typical year strayed about 12,640 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 49,092 in 2022 and the biggest yearly fall was 35,770 in 2023. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 18% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Serbia had the 160th highest value of the 217 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Serbia in the 2025 ranking

• Paraguay — 157th of 217: -12,423
• Senegal — 158th of 217: -12,636
• Tanzania — 159th of 217: -12,730
• Estonia — 161st of 217: -13,350
• Tunisia — 162nd of 217: -14,523
• Central African Republic — 163rd of 217: -14,693

What this measures

Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.

Limitations: International migration is the component of population change most difficult to measure and estimate reliably. Thus, the quality and quantity of the data used in the estimation and projection of net migration varies considerably by country. Furthermore, the movement of people across international boundaries, which is very often a response to changing socio-economic, political and environmental forces, is subject to a great deal of volatility. Refugee movements, for instance, may involve large numbers of people moving across boundaries in a short time.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 66 values

Net migration in nearby economies

• Albania — -24,230 (2025)
• Andorra — 843 (2025)
• Armenia — -29,013 (2025)
• Austria — 11,254 (2025)
• Azerbaijan — 8,731 (2025)
• Belarus — -3,020 (2025)
• Belgium — 31,989 (2025)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — -6,994 (2025)
• Bulgaria — -2,961 (2025)
• Channel Islands — 675 (2025)
• Croatia — -3,481 (2025)
• Cyprus — 7,749 (2025)
• Czechia

More social protection & labor data for Serbia

• Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum — 40,863 (2025)
• Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin — 29,665 (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 25.09% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 39.12% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 32.1% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate) — 69.14% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Serbia's net migration?

-13,086 in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is down 398.97% from 4,377 in 1960. The highest value was 40,118 in 2022 and the lowest -18,891 in 2019.

How does Serbia rank?

160th highest of 217 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in net migration unusual for Serbia?

In 2025, Serbia's net migration fell 4,954 on 2024 (from -8,132 to -13,086). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −73.27 and a typical year strayed about 12,640 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Where does this data come from?

The World Bank's World Development Indicators, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SM.POP.NETM, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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