History of Serbia in Timeline
Serbia is a landlocked country in Southeast and Central Europe, situated in the Balkans. It shares borders with Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, and claims a border with Albania through Kosovo. Its capital and largest city is Belgrade, and the country has a population of approximately 6.6 million, excluding Kosovo.
1903: House of Karađorđević assumes power
In 1903, the House of Karađorđević, descendants of Karađorđe Petrović, came to power following the May Overthrow.
1904: Politika Newspaper Founded
In 1904, Politika, the oldest newspaper in the Balkans, was founded.
June 1914: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Young Bosnia organization.
1915: Serbia overpowered by Central Powers
In 1915, Serbia was eventually overpowered by the Central Powers, leading to Austro-Hungarian occupation.
July 1917: Corfu Declaration signed
On July 20, 1917, the Corfu Declaration, a formal agreement between the Serbian government-in-exile and the Yugoslav Committee, was signed, pledging to unify the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Montenegro with Austria-Hungary's South Slav crown lands into a post-war Yugoslav state.
September 1918: Serb army breakthrough
On September 15, 1918, the remains of the Serb army led a final breakthrough through enemy lines, liberating Serbia and defeating Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary.
November 1918: Allied victory in the Balkans
In November 1918, Serbia contributed significantly to the Allied victory in the Balkans, especially by helping France force Bulgaria's capitulation.
November 1918: Territory of Syrmia united with Serbia
On November 24, 1918, the territory of Syrmia united with Serbia. On November 25, 1918, Banat, Bačka and Baranja declared unification with Serbia.
November 1918: Montenegro united with Serbia
On November 26, 1918, the Podgorica Assembly deposed the House of Petrović-Njegoš and united Montenegro with Serbia.
December 1918: Proclamation of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes
On December 1, 1918, Prince Regent Alexander Karađorđević proclaimed the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes in Belgrade, under King Peter I of Serbia.
1918: Renamed to the Kingdom of Serbia
From 1882 to 1918, Serbia was renamed to the Kingdom of Serbia.
1918: Kingdom of Serbia unites with Vojvodina and joins Yugoslavia
In 1918, after World War I, the Kingdom of Serbia united with Vojvodina, a former Habsburg crownland. Later in 1918, Serbia joined with other South Slavic nations to form Yugoslavia.
August 1921: Alexander succeeds King Peter I
In August 1921, Alexander succeeded his father, King Peter I.
1929: King Alexander establishes dictatorship
In 1929, King Alexander established a dictatorship with the aim of establishing the Yugoslav ideology, changing the country's name to Yugoslavia.
1934: Assassination of Alexander
In 1934, Alexander was assassinated in Marseille during an official visit.
August 1939: Cvetković–Maček Agreement established
In August 1939, the Cvetković–Maček Agreement established an autonomous Banate of Croatia.
1941: Axis powers invade Yugoslavia
In 1941, despite Yugoslav attempts to remain neutral, the Axis powers invaded Yugoslavia and divided the territory of modern Serbia.
1941: Massacres and executions in Serbia
In 1941, the Draginac and Loznica massacre of 2,950 villagers in Western Serbia was the first large execution of civilians by Germans. The Kragujevac massacre and Novi Sad Raid also resulted in thousands of victims, and around 90% of Serbian Jews were murdered during the Holocaust.
1941: Establishment of the Republic of Užice
In 1941, the Partisans established the Republic of Užice, a short-lived liberated territory and the first in World War II Europe.
1944: Partisans gain control of Yugoslavia
By late 1944, the Belgrade Offensive swung in favor of the partisans, who subsequently gained control of Yugoslavia.
1944: Communist purge in Serbia
Following the victory of the Communist Partisans and the abolition of the monarchy, a communist purge in Serbia during 1944-45 resulted in an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 deaths.
1945: Renamed to the People's Republic of Serbia
From 1945 to 1963, the official name for Serbia was the People's Republic of Serbia.
1950: Start of Chess Excellence
From 1950, Serbian chess players began a period of excellence that lasted for several decades.
1954: Inauguration of NIN Prize
Since January 1954, the NIN Prize has been awarded annually for the best newly published novel in Serbian.
September 1961: Belgrade hosts Non-Aligned Movement Summit
In September 1961, Belgrade hosted the first Non-Aligned Movement Summit.
1961: Start of Annual Air Temperature Period
In 1961 the average annual air temperature measurements began.
1961: Ivo Andrić Wins Nobel Prize
In 1961, Serbian author Ivo Andrić, known for "The Bridge on the Drina", won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
1963: Renamed to the Socialist Republic of Serbia
From 1963 to 1990, Serbia was renamed to the Socialist Republic of Serbia.
1965: Partizan Reaches European Cup Final
In 1965-66, Partizan reached the European Cup final.
1967: BITEF Founded
In 1967, the Belgrade International Theatre Festival – BITEF was founded, becoming one of the oldest and largest theatre festivals in Europe.
1974: KK Crvena Zvezda Wins FIBA Saporta Cup
In 1974, KK Crvena zvezda won the FIBA Saporta Cup.
October 1977: OSCE gathering in Belgrade
From October 1977 to March 1978, Belgrade hosted the first major gathering of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
March 1978: OSCE gathering in Belgrade
From October 1977 to March 1978, Belgrade hosted the first major gathering of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
1979: Steve Tesich Wins Academy Award
In 1979, Serbian-American screenwriter Steve Tesich won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
1980: Milena Dravić Wins Best Actress Award
In 1980, Milena Dravić won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival.
1980: End of Chess Excellence
The period of Serbian chess players' excellence came to an end in 1980.
January 1985: Lowest Recorded Temperature
On January 13, 1985, the lowest recorded temperature in Serbia was −39.5 °C (−39.1 °F), in Karajukića Bunari in Pešter.
1985: Kusturica Wins Palme d'Or for Feature Film
In 1985, Emir Kusturica won a Palme d'Or for Best Feature Film at the Cannes Film Festival for "When Father Was Away on Business".
1989: Reference Point for Industrial Output
In 1989, Serbia's industrial output served as a reference point, as by 2013, it was expected to be only half of that amount.
1989: Milošević rises to power
In 1989, Slobodan Milošević rose to power in Serbia.
1990: Economic decline begins
GDP decreased from $24 billion in 1990 to under $10 billion in 1993
1990: End of Annual Air Temperature Period
In 1990 the average annual air temperature measurements concluded.
1990: Introduction of multi-party democracy
In 1990, multi-party democracy was introduced in Serbia.
1990: Red Star Belgrade Wins European Cup
In 1990-91, Red Star Belgrade won the European Cup.
1990: Renamed to the Republic of Serbia
Since 1990, the official name of the country has been the Republic of Serbia.
1991: Declarations of independence
During 1991 and 1992 Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia declared independence during 1991 and 1992.
1991: Outbreak of the Yugoslav Wars
In 1991, the Yugoslav Wars erupted, fueled by ethnic tensions.
1992: Declarations of independence
During 1991 and 1992 Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia declared independence during 1991 and 1992.
1992: KK Partizan Wins EuroLeague
In 1992, KK Partizan won the EuroLeague.
1993: Economic decline continues
GDP decreased from $24 billion in 1990 to under $10 billion in 1993
1995: Kusturica Wins Second Palme d'Or
In 1995, Emir Kusturica won another Palme d'Or for Best Feature Film at the Cannes Film Festival for "Underground".
1996: Protests against the government
In 1996, Serbians engaged in large protests against the government after the ruling Socialist Party refused to accept its defeat in municipal elections.
1999: NATO Bombing of Yugoslavia
In 1999 the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia took place, leading to significant popular rejection of joining NATO.
September 2000: Opposition Accusations of Electoral Fraud
In September 2000, opposition parties accused Milošević of electoral fraud following the presidential elections, leading to a campaign of civil resistance.
2000: Olympic Gold Medal
In 2000, Serbia's men's national volleyball team achieved victory by winning the Olympic gold medal.
2000: Foreign Direct Investment
Since 2000, Serbia has attracted over $40 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI).
2001: End of the Yugoslav Wars
The Yugoslav Wars, which had begun in 1991, ended in 2001.
2003: Assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić
In 2003, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić was assassinated due to a plot originating from organised crime and former security officials, increasing political tensions.
2003: Renaming of Yugoslavia and EU Negotiations
In 2003, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was renamed Serbia and Montenegro, and the European Union opened negotiations with the country for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
2004: Željko Joksimović at Eurovision
In 2004, pop music artist Željko Joksimović won second place at the Eurovision Song Contest.
2004: Unrest in Kosovo
In 2004, unrest in Kosovo resulted in 19 deaths and damage to numerous Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries.
May 2006: Montenegro Independence Referendum
In May 2006, Montenegro held a referendum in which 55.4% of voters favored independence, slightly above the required 55%.
June 2006: Serbia Declares Independence
On June 5, 2006, Serbia declared its independence, re-emerging as an independent state, and the National Assembly declared Serbia as the legal successor to the former state union.
2006: Adoption of the Current Constitution
In 2006, Serbia adopted its current constitution, following the Montenegro independence referendum.
2006: Dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro Union
In 2006, the union between Serbia and Montenegro was peacefully dissolved, restoring Serbia's independence as a sovereign state.
July 2007: Highest Recorded Temperature
On July 24, 2007, the highest recorded temperature in Serbia was 44.9 °C (112.8 °F), recorded in Smederevska Palanka.
December 2007: Declaration of Military Neutrality
In December 2007, Serbia's parliament adopted a resolution formally proclaiming the country's military neutrality.
December 2007: National Assembly Resolution on Kosovo
On December 26, 2007, the National Assembly stated that both the Kosovo declaration of independence and recognition thereof by any state would be a gross violation of international law.
2007: Marija Šerifović Wins Eurovision
In 2007, Marija Šerifović won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Molitva".
2008: Serbia Hosts Eurovision
In 2008, Serbia hosted the Eurovision Song Contest.
2008: Kosovo declares independence
In 2008, representatives of the Assembly of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence, receiving mixed responses from the international community. Serbia continues to claim Kosovo as part of its sovereign territory.
2008: NIS Acquired by Gazprom Neft
In 2008, the national petrol company, Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), was acquired by Gazprom Neft.
December 2009: Serbia Applies for EU Membership
On December 22, 2009, Serbia officially applied for membership in the European Union.
2009: Serbia Enters Recession
In 2009, Serbia entered a recession with a negative growth of −3%.
2010: Book and Brochure Publishing
In 2010, 10,989 books and brochures were published in Serbia.
2010: Davis Cup Win
In 2010, the men's national tennis team won the Davis Cup.
December 2011: Delay in Receiving Candidate Status
In December 2011 there was a delay in Serbia receiving candidate status for membership in the European Union.
2011: Literacy and Education Levels
According to the 2011 census, the literacy rate in Serbia was 98%, with computer literacy at 49% (complete literacy at 34.2%). The census also revealed that 16.2% of inhabitants had higher education, 49% had secondary education, 20.7% had elementary education, and 13.7% had not completed elementary education.
2011: Abolishment of Conscription
Conscription was abolished in Serbia in 2011 as the Serbian Armed Forces went through a period of professionalisation.
2011: Religious Demographics
In 2011, Roman Catholics in Serbia numbered 356,957, representing approximately 6% of the population, primarily in northern Vojvodina. The Greek Catholic Church had around 25,000 adherents, which is 0.37% of the population, mostly Rusyns in Vojvodina.
2011: Abolishment of Mandatory Military Service
In 2011, Serbia abolished mandatory military service.
2011: Jewish and Atheist Population Numbers
In 2011, Serbia had 578 Jewish residents, a significant decrease from over 30,000 before World War II. Atheists numbered 80,053, representing 1.1% of the population, with an additional 4,070 identifying as agnostics.
March 2012: Serbia Receives EU Candidate Status
On March 1, 2012, Serbia received candidate status for membership in the European Union.
2012: Rise of Aleksandar Vučić
In 2012, Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party came to power.
2012: Economic Recession
In 2012, Serbia experienced economic recession again with a negative growth of −1%.
2012: Natural Gas Production
In 2012, Serbia's domestic natural gas production totaled 491 million cubic metres, fulfilling only 17% of the country's needs.
June 2013: Positive Recommendation from EU
In June 2013, the European Commission and European Council gave a positive recommendation regarding Serbia joining the EU.
2013: Serbia Becomes Observer in CSTO
In 2013, Serbia became an observer member of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).
2013: Downsizing of Industrial Output
In 2013, Serbia's industrial output was expected to be only half of what it was in 1989, reflecting a dramatic downsizing.
2013: Exit Festival Attendance
In 2013, the Exit festival in Novi Sad had 200,000 visitors.
2013: Belgrade Book Fair Attendance
In 2013, the annual Belgrade Book Fair, the most visited cultural event in Serbia, had 158,128 visitors.
January 2014: EU Accession Negotiations Commence
In January 2014, negotiations commenced for Serbia to join the European Union, following positive recommendations.
January 2014: Serbia Starts Accession Talks with EU
On January 21, 2014, Serbia started accession talks with the European Union.
May 2014: Disastrous Floods
In May 2014, Serbia experienced disastrous floods, resulting in 57 deaths and over 1.5 billion euros in damages.
2014: Russia Sought to Solidify Relations with Serbia
In 2014 Russia is said to have sought to solidify its relations with Serbia since the imposition of sanctions against Russia.
2014: Serbia begins EU accession negotiations
In 2014, Serbia began negotiating its accession to the European Union.
2014: Economic Recession
In 2014, Serbia experienced economic recession again with a negative growth of −1.8%.
2014: Public Opinion on Alphabet Preference
In 2014, a survey in Serbia indicated that 47% of Serbians preferred the Latin alphabet, 36% favored the Cyrillic alphabet, and 17% expressed no preference.
2015: Electricity Production and Consumption
In 2015, Serbia's electricity production was 36.5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), while the final electricity consumption amounted to 35.5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh).
2015: Digital Television Transition Completed
In 2015, the digital television transition was completed in Serbia using the DVB-T2 standard for signal transmission.
2016: Agricultural and Food Product Exports
In 2016, Serbia exported agricultural and food products worth $3.2 billion, resulting in an export-import ratio of 178%.
2016: FIVB Volleyball World League
In 2016, Serbia's men's national volleyball team triumphed in the FIVB Volleyball World League.
September 2017: Free Economic Zones
As of September 2017, Serbia had 14 free economic zones in which many foreign direct investments were realised.
2017: Most Visited Web-Portals
As of 2017, the most visited web-portals in Serbia were the online editions of printed dailies Blic and Kurir, news web-portal B92, and classifieds KupujemProdajem.
2017: Aleksandar Vučić Elected President
Following the 2017 presidential election, Aleksandar Vučić of the Serbian Progressive Party became the president of Serbia.
2017: Scientific Research Spending
In 2017, Serbia spent 0.9% of its GDP on scientific research, which is slightly below the European average.
2017: Exit Wins European Festivals Award
In 2017, the Exit festival in Novi Sad won the Best Major Festival award at the European Festivals Awards.
2018: Television Consumption Statistics
According to EBU research in 2018, Serbs watch an average of five and a half hours of television per day, making it the second highest average in Europe.
2018: European Commission Accession Estimate
As of 2018, the European Commission considered Serbia's accession to the EU possible by 2025.
2018: Steel Production
In 2018, Serbia produced nearly 2 million tonnes of raw steel, becoming a leading steel producer in Southeast Europe. This production came entirely from the Smederevo steel mill, which is owned by the Chinese company Hesteel.
2018: Defence Exports Total
In 2018, Serbia's defence exports totalled around $600 million.
2018: Exports Reach $19.2 Billion
In 2018, Serbia's exports recorded steady growth, reaching $19.2 billion.
2018: Cargo Transported on Rivers and Canals
In 2018, more than 8 million tonnes of cargo were transported on Serbian rivers and canals.
2018: University Attendance Figures
In the 2018/2019 academic year, 210,480 students attended 19 universities in Serbia, with 181,310 at public universities and 29,170 at private universities. Additionally, 47,169 students attended 81 "higher schools".
2018: CERN Membership and IT Exports
Since 2018, Serbia became a full member of CERN. The information technology sector in Serbia generated over $1.2 billion in exports.
May 2019: Average Monthly Net Salary
In May 2019, the average monthly net salary in Serbia was 47,575 dinars, equivalent to $525.
2019: Serbian Defence Budget
As of 2019, the Serbian defence budget amounts to $804 million.
2019: Film Production Statistics
As of 2019, there were 26 feature films produced in Serbia, with 14 being domestic films.
2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index
In 2019, Serbia had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.29/10, ranking it 105th globally out of 172 countries.
2019: University Attendance Figures
In the 2018/2019 academic year, 210,480 students attended 19 universities in Serbia, with 181,310 at public universities and 29,170 at private universities. Additionally, 47,169 students attended 81 "higher schools".
March 2020: State of Emergency Declared Due to COVID-19
In March 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic spread to Serbia, a state of emergency was declared, and a curfew was introduced for the first time since World War II.
2020: Parliamentary Election Results
Following the 2020 parliamentary election, the largest political parties in the National Assembly are the Serbian Progressive Party and Socialist Party of Serbia.
2020: ATP Cup Win
In 2020, the men's national tennis team won the ATP Cup.
2021: Unemployment Rate
As of 2021, the unemployment rate in Serbia remained a significant problem, standing at 11%.
2021: Sljivovica Added to UNESCO List
In 2021, Serbia's sljivovica, a plum brandy, was added to the United Nations Intangible Cultural Heritage List as a "cherished tradition to be preserved by humanity".
2021: Balkan Stream Gas Pipeline Opens
In 2021, the Balkan Stream gas pipeline opened through Serbia.
January 2022: Serbian Constitutional Referendum
On January 16, 2022, a Serbian constitutional referendum took place in which citizens voted to amend the Constitution concerning the judiciary.
April 2022: President Aleksandar Vučić Re-elected
In April 2022, President Aleksandar Vučić was re-elected as the president of Serbia.
2022: Romani Population
According to the 2022 census, the official Romani population in Serbia was 131,936, though unofficial estimates suggest a higher population.
2022: Population Census
As of the 2022 census, Serbia (excluding Kosovo) had a total population of 6,647,003.
2022: Passenger Services Reach Over 6 Million Passengers
In 2022, the airports in Serbia with regular passenger services reached over 6 million passengers, with Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport serving the bulk of them.
December 2023: Snap Parliamentary Election
In December 2023, President Vučić won a snap parliamentary election which resulted in protests.
2023: Nikola Jokić NBA Finals MVP
In 2023, Nikola Jokić was named NBA Finals MVP.
2023: Arms Exports Surpass $1.6 Billion
In 2023, Serbia's arms exports surpassed $1.6 billion, ranking 25th worldwide, with the arms industry employing 20,000 people.
2023: European Team Competition Win
In 2023, the Serbian men's chess team won the European Team Competition.
January 2024: Russian Emigration
By January 2024, more than 300,000 Russians had emigrated to Serbia following the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine.
2024: World Happiness Report Rank
According to the World Happiness Report 2024, Serbia ranks 37th out of 140 countries.
2024: Anti-Corruption Protests Erupt
In 2024 large-scale anti-corruption protests, some violent, erupted.
2024: Djokovic Achieves Career Super Slam
In 2024, Novak Djokovic achieved a Career Super Slam with his Olympic gold.
2024: Press Freedom Index Ranking
In 2024, Serbia was ranked 98th out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index report compiled by Reporters Without Borders, noting ongoing pressure on media outlets and journalists.
2024: Serbian Nominal GDP Estimated
In 2024, Serbia's nominal GDP is officially estimated at $81.873 billion, which is $12,385 per capita. The purchasing power parity GDP stood at $185.014 billion, or $27,985 per capita.
2024: High-Speed Rail Line Construction
In 2024, construction work is set to commence for the 212 km-long extension of the high-speed rail line to the south, connecting to the city of Niš.
2024: Approval of Reintroduction of Mandatory Military Service
In 2024, the Serbian president approved the reintroduction of mandatory military service.
2024: University of Belgrade Ranking
In 2024, the University of Belgrade was placed in the 401–500 bracket on the Shanghai Ranking of World Universities.
2024: Olympic Bronze Medal
In 2024, the men's national team won a bronze medal.
2025: Registered Passenger Cars
As of 2025, there were 2,476,419 registered passenger cars in Serbia.
2025: Military Service to Restart
If the Government adopts this decision, military service will last 75 days, starting with 2025.
2025: Anti-Corruption Protests Erupt
In 2025 large-scale anti-corruption protests, some violent, erupted.
2025: Global Innovation Index Ranking
In 2025, Serbia was ranked 54th in the Global Innovation Index.
2025: Target Year for EU Accession
In 2025, the European Commission considered accession possible for Serbia to the EU.
2026: Belgrade-Budapest Railway
The railway line connecting Belgrade with Budapest, Hungary, is expected to open in 2026.
2027: Serbia to Host Expo 2027
In 2027, Serbia is chosen to host the international specialised exposition Expo 2027.
2030: Possible EU membership by 2030
Serbia is negotiating its EU accession, with the possibility of joining the European Union by 2030.
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