First Immigration Study in Serbia Shows Sharp Rise in Foreign Arrivals

For the first time, Serbia’s national statistics authority has conducted a study titled “Immigration of Foreigners into the Republic of Serbia,” revealing that 41,273 foreigners moved to the country in 2023 — a number nearly 10 times higher than in 2012.

Officials emphasized that this marks an important step toward understanding how immigration affects the country’s social and economic landscape. The data collection followed European and international standards, making cross-country comparisons possible.

Future Research

There are plans to expand this research further to gain deeper insights into the profiles of foreign nationals relocating to Serbia. A separate study focused on emigration is also being considered to create a more complete overview of migration dynamics.

Cooperation with Interior Ministry

The research was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, combining data from various administrative sources to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Key Trends and Demographics

The most notable rise in foreign arrivals was observed in the Vojvodina region, where numbers have grown more than 13-fold since 2012. This was followed by increases in the Belgrade area and other parts of the country.

Males account for about two-thirds (66%) of all foreign immigrants, while females make up 34%. The average age is 33, with 88% of immigrants falling within working age. Additionally, 10% are under 15 years old, and just 1.4% are over the age of 65.

Settlement Patterns
Around 73% of all immigrants are concentrated in 13 municipalities, with nine located in the capital. Outside Belgrade, the city of Novi Sad had the highest concentration, with approximately 6,900 foreign residents in 2023.

Country of Origin

The largest group of immigrants in recent years has come from Russia, especially during 2022 and 2023. They are followed by nationals of China and Turkey, the majority of whom are men arriving for work-related purposes.

Russian immigrants tend to be younger, averaging around 30 years of age, often suggesting they are arriving as families. In contrast, those from China and Turkey are generally older and come mainly for employment.

Impact and Projections

Authorities noted that immigration has contributed positively to Serbia, particularly because most newcomers are of working and reproductive age. Although a slight decrease is expected after the 2023 peak, immigration levels are anticipated to remain significantly higher than in the past.

Preliminary figures for 2024 indicate that over 100,000 foreigners have been granted temporary or permanent residence in the country. Final data will be published after 2025.