Photo: Lošmi derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Serbia: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Serbia is placed 41st of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 76.77 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 5.408 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
41st
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 76.77Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 5.408Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 5.423Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 0.7Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Serbia on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
76.77
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Serbia: 76.77. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Southern Europe
- 85.71 San Marino
- Land neighbours
- Bulgaria 75.64 · Bosnia and Herzegovina 77.85 · Croatia 78.58 · Hungary 77.02 · North Macedonia 77.39 · Montenegro 77.09 · Romania 75.94 · Kosovo 78.03
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
5.408
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Serbia: 5.408. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Southern Europe
- 1.26 San Marino
- Land neighbours
- Bulgaria 5.736 · Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.905 · Croatia 5.646 · Hungary 3.707 · North Macedonia 2.803 · Montenegro 2.383 · Romania 7.311 · Kosovo 8.723
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Serbia’s is from 2019 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
5.423
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
Serbia: 5.423. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Southern Europe
- 1.458 Greece
- Land neighbours
- Bulgaria 7 · Bosnia and Herzegovina 8.887 · North Macedonia 4.307 · Montenegro 7.162 · Romania 12.83
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
0.7
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
Serbia: 0.7. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Southern Europe
- 0.6 Croatia and Slovenia
- Land neighbours
- Bulgaria 1.7 · Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.8 · Croatia 0.6 · Hungary 4.9 · North Macedonia 1.6 · Montenegro 1.4 · Romania 5.3
02Over time
Which way Serbia is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
SerbiaWorld median
Serbia rose from 72.33 in 2000 to 76.77 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Serbia World median 2023 76.77 74.630 2022 75.48 74.313 2021 72.85 72.433 2020 74.51 73.063 2019 76.06 74.196 2018 76.04 74.081 2017 75.79 74.029 2016 75.74 74.013 2015 75.65 73.783 2014 75.48 73.330 2013 75.35 73.386 2012 75.09 73.210 2011 74.72 73.003 2010 74.38 72.827 2009 74.11 72.426 2008 73.90 72.264 2007 73.72 72.113 2006 73.40 72.027 2005 73.12 71.876 2004 72.87 71.477 2003 72.72 71.409 2002 72.60 71.173 2001 72.27 70.926 2000 72.33 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
SerbiaWorld median
Serbia fell from 12.66 in 2000 to 5.408 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Serbia World median 2024 5.408 14.5 2023 5.355 15.2 2022 5.357 14.7 2021 5.418 15.1 2020 5.516 15.3 2019 5.630 15.7 2018 5.761 16.3 2017 5.907 16.8 2016 6.082 17.5 2015 6.295 17.9 2014 6.555 18.3 2013 6.839 18.7 2012 7.117 18.8 2011 7.374 19.0 2010 7.591 19.2 2009 7.764 20.8 2008 7.934 20.7 2007 8.144 21.8 2006 8.465 22.8 2005 8.975 24.0 2004 9.711 25.9 2003 10.555 26.9 2002 11.368 28.0 2001 12.061 29.1 2000 12.659 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
SerbiaWorld median
Serbia fell from 1.7 in 2015 to 0.7 in 2024; the world median went from 3.4 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Serbia World median 2024 0.7 4.9 2023 1.5 4.7 2022 3.0 5.4 2021 4.1 5.7 2020 3.8 5.6 2019 2.6 5.0 2018 2.0 4.2 2017 1.9 4.0 2016 2.3 3.4 2015 1.7 3.4
03In context
Serbia beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Serbia and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Croatia | 29th | 78.58 | 5.646 | — | 0.6 |
 North Macedonia | =30th | 77.39 | 2.803 | 4.307 | 1.6 |
 Montenegro | 37th | 77.09 | 2.383 | 7.162 | 1.4 |
| Serbia | 41st | 76.77 | 5.408 | 5.423 | 0.7 |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | 52nd | 77.85 | 6.905 | 8.887 | 1.8 |
 Bulgaria | 55th | 75.64 | 5.736 | 7 | 1.7 |
 Kosovo | 61st | 78.03 | 8.723 | — | — |
 Hungary | 65th | 77.02 | 3.707 | — | 4.9 |
 Romania | 85th | 75.94 | 7.311 | 12.83 | 5.3 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Serbia in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Serbia is ahead of the world, and behind
52 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median29
Statistics on which Serbia does better than the middle country measured.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.03900.039No real change since 2018
Serbia: 0 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 109th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5785.8837.57No earlier reading
Serbia: 85.88 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 1st of 115 · derived.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.261.60621.26No earlier reading
Serbia: 1.606 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 112th of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.910096.9No earlier reading
Serbia: 100 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9823,9052,982▲ Improved since 2014
Serbia: 3,905 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 4th of 155 · derived.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.844.575.8No earlier reading
Serbia: 44.5 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 86th of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.789.767.7No earlier reading
Serbia: 89.7 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 11th of 127 · derived.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.20.25▲ Improved since 2014
Serbia: 0.2 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8196.681No earlier reading
Serbia: 96.6 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 14th of 153 · derived.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.83147.6184.83▼ Worsened since 2013
Serbia: 147.61 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.96.720.9▲ Improved since 2015
Serbia: 6.7 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 115th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.216.20210.21No real change since 2010
Serbia: 6.202 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 134th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.22.55.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Serbia: 2.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 104th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.264.58512.26No real change since 2014
Serbia: 4.585 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 157th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.1170.351No real change since 2013
Serbia: 0.117 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 38th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8581.3072.858▼ Worsened since 2014
Serbia: 1.307 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 156th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1342.9728.134No real change since 2014
Serbia: 2.972 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 155th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.6770.564▲ Improved since 2010
Serbia: 0.677 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 42nd of 172 · derived.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6510.7446.65No real change since 2013
Serbia: 10.74 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 147th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.48.526.4▲ Improved since 2017
Serbia: 8.5 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 106th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1634.5558.163▼ Worsened since 2013
Serbia: 4.555 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 141st of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 2023 · world median 99.399.899.3▼ Worsened since 2013
Serbia: 99.8 · world median 99.3 · Births attended by skilled health staff (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 60.9 to 100; higher is better.
Position 23rd of 84 · derived.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.8330.762▲ Improved since 2013
Serbia: 0.833 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 62nd of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4613.6727.46▼ Worsened since 2013
Serbia: 13.67 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 146th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5462.6153.546No earlier reading
Serbia: 2.615 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 107th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7105.32133.7No real change since 2013
Serbia: 105.32 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 138th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919291▼ Worsened since 2015
Serbia: 92 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3916.7316.39▲ Improved since 2013
Serbia: 16.73 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 102nd of 222 · derived.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.69103.07102.69▼ Worsened since 2013
Serbia: 103.07 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Behind the world median12
Statistics on which Serbia does worse than the middle country measured.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4514.714.45▲ Improved since 2013
Serbia: 14.7 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 107th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.4811.693.48▲ Improved since 2015
Serbia: 11.69 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.53641.5No earlier reading
Serbia: 36 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 85th of 127 · derived.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 415041▼ Worsened since 2012
Serbia: 50 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2553.471.25No real change since 2013
Serbia: 53.4 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 146th of 196 · derived.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6565.9677.65No earlier reading
Serbia: 65.96 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 113th of 144 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 907390▼ Worsened since 2015
Serbia: 73 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7423.6340.74No earlier reading
Serbia: 23.63 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 113th of 136 · derived.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.512.235.5▲ Improved since 2014
Serbia: 12.23 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 20th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.5365.5▲ Improved since 2022
Serbia: 3 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.957.74952.95No earlier reading
Serbia: 7.749 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 136th of 136 · derived.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.351,013272.35No earlier reading
Serbia: 1,013 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
No better end11
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.555.744.55Moved since 2017
Serbia: 5.74 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8384.257.83Moved since 2013
Serbia: 84.2 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6531.820.65No earlier reading
Serbia: 31.8 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.254741.25Moved since 2013
Serbia: 47 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.888.0476.88No earlier reading
Serbia: 8.047 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.731.071.73Moved since 2014
Serbia: 1.07 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 112th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8937.1738.89Moved since 2015
Serbia: 37.17 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 115th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.428.435.4No real change since 2013
Serbia: 28.4 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.178.4516.17Moved since 2013
Serbia: 8.45 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 2024 · world median 134.913No earlier reading
Serbia: 4.9 · world median 13 · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.9 to 35.2.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0510.0820.05No earlier reading
Serbia: 10.08 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
No current reading for Serbia
Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) and Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Serbia’s 16 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Serbia’s 4th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Food & Agriculture1st of 1844/4 keys
- Gender & Equality30th of 1834/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 34th of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing41st of 2004/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation42nd of 1764/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 58th of 1963/3 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 49th of 1593/3 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 66th of 1934/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade76th of 1772/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge95th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 101st of 1944/4 keys
- Work & Labour98th of 1824/4 keys
- Energyjoint 106th of 1653/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 136th of 1984/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability142nd of 1864/4 keys
- Peace & Security142nd of 1774/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Serbia can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Europe
San Marino1st2/4 keysThis page
Serbia41st4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Serbia and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Serbia on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Serbia rank on health & wellbeing?
Serbia is placed 41st of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Serbia?
76.77 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Serbia?
5.408 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Serbia compare with Romania on health & wellbeing?
Romania is placed 85th of 200, and Serbia 41st. Life Expectancy at Birth: Romania 75.94, Serbia 76.77; Under-Five Mortality Rate: Romania 7.311, Serbia 5.408; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: Romania 12.83, Serbia 5.423; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity: Romania 5.3, Serbia 0.7.
How have Serbia’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 72.33 in 2000 to 76.77 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 12.66 in 2000 to 5.408 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity fell from 1.7 in 2015 to 0.7 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Serbia?
No current reading is published for Serbia on Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) and Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 52 statistics on this page come from 17 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Serbia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Serbia (banner) — Lošmi derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Serbia: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/serbia/health