Serbia reports improved health and economic indicators

Recent data highlights significant socio-economic shifts in Serbia regarding public health and living standards. According to Eurostat mapping for 2025, Serbia maintains an obesity rate of 13.6 percent, which is lower than the European Union average of 16.3 percent. This figure places Serbia in a better position than several neighbors, including Croatia (16.5 percent), Bulgaria (15.4 percent), and Hungary (20.9 percent), though it trails Romania (12.9 percent).

On the economic front, analysis from Macroeconomic Analysis and Trends (MAT) indicates that Serbia has undergone a major economic turnaround since 2013. Unemployment has dropped from approximately 23 percent in 2013 to 7.2 percent by the second quarter of 2026, with formal employment increasing by roughly 300,000 people.

Furthermore, the purchasing power of the lowest-paid workers has seen substantial growth. In 2013, the minimum wage covered only 58 percent of the minimum consumer basket; by 2026, it reached 110 percent. Material and social deprivation in Serbia has also decreased significantly, falling from 31.3 percent in 2014 to approximately 6.2 percent by 2025, a level reported to be better than the European Union average and certain highly developed nations like Germany and France.