Population Ageing and Labour Force in Serbia – Present-Day and Perspectives

Nikitović, Vladimir (2026) Population Ageing and Labour Force in Serbia – Present-Day and Perspectives. In: The Demographic Challenge in the Western Balkans and Its Impact on Regional Consolidation. Republic of Austria / Federal Ministry of Defence, Vienna, pp. 41-59. ISBN 978-3-903548-27-5

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Abstract

The term ‘demographic crisis’ is commonly used to describe the shrinking and ageing populations in Serbia and neighbouring countries (Nikitović, 2022; Rašević & Galjak, 2022). On a global scale, depopulation has become widespread, paralleling the increase in population ageing. Interestingly, while humanity spent decades trying to slow population growth, many regions now face the opposite challenge – working to reverse population decline. This paradox highlights how complex and difficult it is to manage demographic trends and their interrelated factors. Serbia’s region was one of the first in the world to encounter depopulation and ageing, a reality now seen in almost half of European Union member states (United Nations, 2024c). A particularly important issue is the shrinking and ageing workforce, which is affected not only by demographic changes but also by economic conditions.

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