Serbia was formerly part of Yugoslavia, a small landlocked country located between Macedonia and Hungary in southeastern Europe. Since Yugoslavia disintegrated in the early 1990s, Serbia and its neighbors have had an extremely tense history. Today, Serbia is very different. Here are ten facts about living conditions in Serbia.
Ten facts about living conditions in Serbia
Pollution: Serbia is currently plagued by environmental problems in the form of pollution. The capital Belgrade is particularly vulnerable to air pollution. Water pollution is also a problem throughout Serbia, because it is well known that urban industrial waste will eventually flow into the Danube. The management of various wastes (household, industrial and hazardous wastes) is very poor.
Ethnic diversity: More than 80% of the Serbian population are Serbs, mainly Hungarian and Bosnian Muslims. The Roma, along with others in neighboring countries, are also in the minority. The Serbians basically speak the same language as the Croats, Bosnians and Montenegrin, but the dialects are slightly different.
Economy: Due to domestic consumerism, Serbia’s economy experienced tremendous growth between 2001 and 2008. However, due to rapid growth, the economy has experienced turbulence and internal and external imbalances. Since then, the economy has been growing steadily and is expected to continue to maintain a surplus in 2018.
Electricity: Serbia does not have nuclear power plants. Instead, they use hydropower and coal as their main energy sources. The largest coal-fired station is located in Belgrade, and most of the hydroelectric power comes from the Zerdap Dam.
Population: Serbia is the most densely populated, with a population of more than 7 million. It is the capital city of Belgrade and is home to more than 1 million people. Despite the large population, the unemployment rate among young Serbians aged 15 to 24 is 29.7%, which is quite high. As a result, many young Serbs go to other countries to find jobs.
Trade: Serbia’s main trading partners are Italy and Germany. However, Russia, Switzerland, China and Hungary also cooperate with Serbia. Due to the decline in Serbia’s infrastructure, many countries are not interested in trade with Serbia. In addition, Serbia faces corruption issues, making potential trading partners skeptical.
Health care: Provide health care for pregnant women, babies and children under 15 years of age. In addition, medical care is allocated to students under the age of 26. All Serbian citizens can receive treatment for illnesses and mental illnesses. However, one-fifth of the population still has no medical care.
Family culture: Serbia is a firm patriarchal society, which has been instilled under the rule of the Ottoman Empire and is still visible today. In Serbian culture, family loyalty is very important. Nepotism is a common problem in the work space and continues the patriarchal pattern.
Leisure: Belgrade and another city, Novi Sad, are the cultural centers of Serbia, offering a rich nightlife and other cultural hot spots. Various cafes, sporting events and galleries all over the city provide a lot of work for the people (especially young people) who live there. If you want to experience the traditional Serbian life, there are many places to go in the countryside.
Housing: Housing in Serbia has been a problem since the period of civil unrest and throughout the 1990s. Thousands of people are homeless. Despite the assistance provided by Western countries, only part of the problem has been alleviated. Currently, housing is a particular problem for young people in urban areas.
Although Serbia is a beautiful country and its tourism rate has increased in recent years, the country is still full of tension due to past conflicts. Ten facts about the living conditions in Serbia show that although the country has made considerable progress and development, there is still room for improvement.
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