Facts about Serbia

The Republic of Serbia, together with the Republic of Montenegro, is the constituent of the Federal republic of Serbia and Montenegro. Serbia is bounded by Croatia (northwest), Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro (west), Albania (southwest), Macedonia (south), Bulgaria and Romania (east), and Hungary (north). Belgrade, the capital of the republic, is also the capital of Serbia and Montenegro.

Area

The area that the Serbia covers is 88,361 square kilometers, which is close to that of Austria.

Position, Relief

Serbia is located in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, on the most important route linking Europe and Asia, occupying an area of 88, 361 sq. km. Serbia is in the West European time zone (one hour ahead of Greenwich time). Its climate is temperate continental, with a gradual transition between the four seasons of the year.

Serbia is referred to as the cross-roads of Europe. The international roads and railways passing down its river valleys make up the shortest link between Western and Central Europe, on the one side, and the Middle East, Asia and Africa, on the other. Hence the geopolitical importance of its territory . These roads follow the course of the valley of the river Morava, splitting in two near the city of Nis. One track follows the valleys of the rivers Southern Morava and Vardar to Thessaloniki; the other, the river Nisava to Sofia and Istanbul.

Serbian rivers belong to the basins of the Black, Adriatic and Aegean Seas. Three of them, the Danube, Sava and Tisa, are navigable. The longest river is the Danube, which flows for 588 of its 2.857 kilometer course through Serbia. The Danube basin has always been important for Serbia. With the commissioning of the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal in September 1992, the Black Sea and the Near and Far Eastern ports have come much nearer to Europe. Serbia is linked to the Adriatic Sea and Montenegro via Belgrade-Bar railway.

Northern Serbia is mainly flat, while its central and southern areas consist of highlands and mountains. The flatlands are mainly in Vojvodina (the Pannonian Plain and its rim: Macva, the Sava Valley, the Morava Valley, Stig and the Negotin Marches in Eastern Serbia). 55 per cent of Serbia is arable land, and 27 per cent is forested. Of its mountains 15 reach heights of over 2,000 meters , the highest being Djeravica in the Prokletija range (2,656 m). The length of Serbia's border is 2,397 km. To the East Serbia borders with Bulgaria, to the North East with Romania, to the North with Hungary, to the West with Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to the South with Albania and Macedonia.

Climate

Climate ranges from continental in the north (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall) to Mediterranean in the south (hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters).

Terrain and Waters

Terrain of Serbia is diverse and consists of rich fertile plains in the north, limestone ranges and basins in the east and ancient mountains and hills in the southeastOf the total land area, 55% is suitable for farming.

Serbia is mostly mountainous, being ringed by the Dinaric Alps on the west, the Šar Mountains and the North Albanian Alps (Prokletije) on the south, and the Balkan and Carpathian mountains on the east. Many peaks in these ranges surpass 6,000 feet (1,800 m) in elevation.

In central Serbia are the hills of the Šumadija, and in the north are the low-lying plains of Vojvodina, where the Danube River is joined by two of its major tributaries, the Sava and Tisa rivers.

The Danube enters Vojvodina from Hungary and flows southeastward where creates natural border between Serbia and Montenegro and Romania. The Morava River and its tributaries drain mountainous Central and Southern Serbia; the Morava flows northward to join the Danube, east of Belgrade.

The access to the Adriatic Sea is secured through Port of Bar in Montenegro that is connected to the Belgrade with the set of roads and Belgrade-Bar railroad.

Population, Language and Religion

The ethnic population of the Republic of Serbia is highly varied, the result of a turbulent history in this part of the world. The majority of the population of Serbia are Serbs, but another 37 nationalities also live on its territory. All citizens have equal rights and responsibilities and enjoy full national equality. The Constitution of the Republic of Serbia guarantees the rights of the minorities, in accordance with the highest international standards.

Serbia has the population of 10,526,135 people. The distribution between urban and rural population is relatively even, but only 8% of rural households earn their income from agriculture. Literacy rate is 78,7%.

The population density runs to 111 inhabitants per square km. Serbs make up 66 per cent of the population, Albanians 17 per cent, Hungarians 3.5 per cent, followed by Romanians, Romanies, Slovaks, Croats, Bulgarians, Turks, and others.

The official language in the Republic is Serbian and the alphabet in official use is Cyrillic, as well as Latin. In the areas inhabited by national minorities, the languages and alphabets of the minorities are in official use, as provided by law.

The main religion of Serbia is Christian Orthodox, the faith of the Serbian people. The Serbian Orthodox Church, which has been autonomous since 1219, has played an important role in the development and the preservation of the Serbian national identity. The Romanian, Bulgarian and the majority of the Romani population are also Christian Orthodox. Beside the Christian Orthodox population, there are also other religious communities in Serbia : Islamic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and others.

National Minorities

With respect to its ethnic composition, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is a highly heterogeneous state. According to the 1991 census, 33.7% of its population belongs to one of the sixteen minority communities. The three largest communities in the Republic of Serbia – Albanians, Hungarians and Bosnians - make up 23% of the entire population, comprising more than four fifths of the minority population, forming monoethnic communities in certain parts of the country.

Apart from these communities, members of other national minorities are also represented in Yugoslavia: Ashkalis/ Egyptians, Bulgarians, Backa Croats, Tzintars, Czechs, Gorani, Croats, Jews, Macedonians, Germans, Roma, Romanians, Ruthenes, Slovaks, Turks, Ukrainians and Vlachs.

Energy

The Electric Utility Company of Serbia (EPS) encompasses coal mines, electric power sources (hydroelectric power plants, thermal power plants, heating plants) and grid distribution systems.

Serbia is not rich in power resources. At the current level of production which meets only 25% of the country’s needs, Serbia (excluding Kosovo) will have a supply of coal for the next 55 years and oil and gas for 20 years. The current hydroelectric power capacity is 10,200 GWh per year, while potential capacity is estimated at 14,200 GWh per year.

Electricity consumption in households has been increasing for the last two years, while electric consumption in industry has been steadily decreasing. Electricity consumption per capita increased by 44% between 1990 and 2000.

There is an urgent need for construction of new power plants.

Mining

The Mining industry in Serbia represents the foundation of domestic industry, and therefore of the Serbian economy in general.

Coal

Low-calorie coals - lignites, which are mined at the Kolubara and Kostolac sites, provide 65% of the electric power in Serbia. Significantly, available data shows that one Kolubara excavation site alone- Field D, provides 32% of the electric power in Serbia.

Building material

Despite the general trend of industrial production in Serbia, building material production is a significant and profitable segment of industry which has been in a continuous process of development (20% growth in the year of 2000), and is based primarily on mineral materials, i.e. on mining.

The main producers of building material are the cement factories in Beocin, Kosjeric and Novi Popovac, brick factories in Kikinda, Novi Becej, Novi Pazar, Ruma, and Kanjiza. Excavation of technical and building stone is also a profitable mining sector, with sites near Ub, in Topola, Jelen Do, and Aranjelovac. Private sector initiative is most prominent in this sector - exploitation of nonmetals and building material.

Copper and precious metals

The Bor Mining and metallurgical complex produces copper ore in quantities that are significant on a regional level. Secondary precious metal refining is also substantial.

Exploitation of industrial minerals in Serbia will soon be of great consequence. Highly profitable projects are planned partly based on estimated and partly on confirmed reserves of boron minerals, phosphates, zeolites, granite alluviums, ilmenite, zircon, etc. Foreign companies are especially interested in exploitation of industrial materials.

Underground water

According to the Ministry of Energy and Mining, nine out of ten requests for mineral material research are issued for research on underground water, which clearly points to their significance. The main commercial mineral water producers are successful companies such as Knjaz Milos, Rosa, Leda, Bivoda, Palanacki kiseljak etc.

Industry

The industrial and mining sector of the Republic of Serbia encompass ore mining, stone mining, the processing industry, the electric power industry and production and distribution of petroleum products and water.

The break –up in total industrial production in these areas are as follows:

- processing industry – 75.18%
- production and distribution of electric power, petroleum products and water – 19.69%
- more and stone mining – 5.13%.

The processing industry includes 23 sub-sectors. Participation of individual sub-sectors in total industrial production are as follows:

- food and beverages – 19.97%
- tobacco – 1.61%
- textiles – 4.11%
- garment industry and fur production – 3.00%
- tanning – 1,23%
- timber and wood industry, excluding furniture – 0.84%
- pulp and paper – 2.68%
- printing and reproduction – 0.97%
- production of coke and oil derivatives – 1.14%
- chemicals – 9.50%
- plastics and rubber – 3.63%
- non-metal minerals – 5.49%
- basic metals – 5.74%
- metal-manufacturing industry, excluding machines – 3.20%
- production of machines and devices, excluding electrical devices – 3.11%
- production of office supplies and equipment – 2.41%
- production of electrical devices – 2.41%
- production of radio, TV and communications equipment – 0.31%
- production of precision and optical instruments – 0.22%
- motor industry - 3.10%
- production of other means of transportation – 0.76%
- furniture – 0.02%
- recycling – 011%.

There are 696,540 workers employed in industrial and mining companies, comprising 52% of the total active labor force in the Republic of Serbia. Small enterprises employ 82,273 workers, 146,972 in medium-size and 457,286 in large enterprises.

The Law on Privatization has set down conditions for economic reforms envisioning optimal development of the industrial sector.

Large industrial enterprises with financial difficulties are obliged to undertake a programme of restructuring (restructuring of ownership, production processes, technology, organisation and personnel). Foreign partners who are prepared to invest in the Serbian economy have expressed their interest in many of these companies.

The reforms that are in currently underway will improve macroeconomic conditions and provide additional sources of financing, such as direct foreign investments through privatization, credits approved by the International Monetary Fund, funds approved at the donors’ conference in Brussels, credits from the World Bank etc.

All policy measures that have been undertaken so far in order to repay current outstanding debts, providing means and energy products, and especially in the area of privatization and further development of the reform agenda will all contribute to the recovery of Serbia’s industrial sector, and facilitate its adaptation to evolving economic conditions.

Transportation

Serbia covers 48,423 km, with about 18,000 km of primary roads (380 km motorways & 165 km of secondary highways) and 30,000 km of local roads.

The current value of the existing road network is estimated at US$17.5 billion.

40% of main roads and 60% of local roads are currently bearing less than full capacity. The Road Construction Sector employs about 23,000 workers.

Developed OECD countries spend between US$ 15,000 & 45,000 per 1 km of road for maintenance, Serbia US$570 (26 times less).

For urgent renovations US$5 billion is required, and another US$ 1.7 billion to complete the current highway construction programs.

ROAD TRANSPORT FEATURES

12,000 Vehicles, of which 2,544 intercity buses, 7,261 trucks and 1,385 trailers. 59% of buses and 37% of trucks do not meet EU technical standards

Traffic volume in 2000 relative to 1990 is significantly lower

RAILWAY

Total Railway track length is 3,808 km, of which 3,533 km single-track and 275 km double-track.

- Belgrade-Resnik-Nis 246 km
- Belgrade-Majdanpek-Bor-Vrazogrnac 300
- Lapovo-Kraljevo-Djeneral Jankovic border 372
- Nis-Kursumlija-Kosovo Polje-Pec 284
- Belgrade-Novi Sad-Subotica border 200
- Belgrade-Zrenjanin-Kikinda border 210

Railway Transport Enterprise carries out maintenance of:

- 968 bridges - with a total length of 41 km
- 4,336 culverts
- 323 tunnels - with a total length of 130 km

Power supply:

1,196 km (31%) of tracks electric

Traction Substations and Overhead Contact Wires are more than 30 years old.

50% of railway stations are equipped with signaling-safety devices manufactured by Simens over 30 years ago

Telecommunication equipment at a very rudimentary level.

RIVER TRANSPORT

Danube

588 km of the International River Danube, the category awarded as per Danube Commission rules, represents the most secure and safest navigable route throughout the year.

Tisa

164 km of inter-state navigable passage on the river Tisa, with the network of the domestic channel Danube - Tisa - Danube totaling 600 km, with the potential to become an International Navigable route of satisfactory level for use by all Danube basin countries

Sava

207 km of the river Sava with a good potential to gain the status of International Navigable route, and of sufficient level category to develop mutual interests of the countries through which the river transits (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina (The Republic of Srpska) and Serbia)

Velika Morava

River Morava of significant length with long term planning underway to link the Danube to the Aegean Sea at Thessalonica.

Significant advantages and a relatively well developed network of internal navigable routes as well as pier and port capacities and facilities in the Republic of Serbia constitute a good infrastructure base for further development. These plans are compatible with the defined policies of the EU concerning the transfer of part of transport sector to river and integral transport.

AIR TRANSPORT

There are two airports in Serbia; Belgrade & Nis

JAT - National Air Carrier

Fleet of 30 Aircraft - 19 Aircraft in use.

Agriculture

The total surface area of Serbia is 8,840,000 ha. Agricultural land stretches over (covers) 5,734,000 ha. (0.56 ha. per capita), of which 4,867,000 ha. are arable land (O.46 ha. per capita). Farmland comprises 70% of the total surface area of Serbia, while 30% is woodland.

The climate is temperate continental with an average annual temperature of 11-12?C. The temperatures in January and June average –1 - +1?C and 22-23?C respectively. Average annual precipitation ranges from 600mm to 800mm in the plains and between 800mm and 1,200mm in the mountains.

Land and climate conditions are highly conducive to the development of agricultural. The plains of Vojvodina, Kosovo, Metohija, Pomoravlje, Posavina, Tamnava, Krusevac and Leskovac offer favourable conditions for mechanized field crop farming and vegetable production.

Rolling hills and foothills support fruit and wine production and livestock breeding. The hills and mountains of Zlatibor, Rudnik, Stara Planina, Kopaonik and Sar are attractive for developing sheep and cattle production and forestry.

The Republic of Serbia has a total agricultural labor force of 1,305,426, comprising 17.3% of the total population. According to the latest data, the population engaged in agricultural production is rapidly aging.

The structure of Serbia’s agricultural labor force is as follows: livestock breeding (43%), field crop farming (42%), fruit and wine production (12%), other crops (3%).

Traditional family-owned small farms and private estates prevail, with the average commercial farm occupying 500-700 ha. Family farms consist of small plots and are based on subsistence production, being turned over to commercial use to a smaller degree than European farms.

Time zone

Serbia is one hour forward of Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT+1:00)

Cities

The capital city and the administrative, economic and cultural heart of Serbia and Serbia and Montenegro is Belgrade. Other major cities in Serbia are Novi Sad, Niš, Kragujevac, Subotica and Priština.