Serbs

Serbs
source
Group	Serbs
Native name	Срби
Native name lang	sr
Population	c. 8–9 million
Region1	Serbia
Pop1	5,360,239 (excluding Kosovo)
Region2	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Pop2	1,086,733
Region3	Montenegro
Pop3	178,110
Region4	Croatia
Pop4	123,892
Region5	North Macedonia
Pop5	24,505
Langs	Serbian language
Rels	Predominantly Eastern Orthodoxy (Serbian Orthodox Church)
Related	Other South Slavs

Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group and nation, native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe. The majority inhabit the nation state of Serbia, as well as the constituent states of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republika Srpska) and Montenegro, forming significant minorities in Croatia, North Macedonia, and Slovenia. A global Serbian diaspora exists across Western Europe, North America, and Australia.

History

Early Slavic tribes settled the Balkan Peninsula during the 6th and 7th centuries, with the Principality of Serbia emerging under the Vlastimirović dynasty. The medieval state reached its zenith under Stefan Nemanja and the Nemanjić dynasty, with his son Saint Sava establishing the autocephalous Serbian Orthodox Church in 1219. The Serbian Empire, under Stefan Dušan, became a major regional power in the 14th century before succumbing to the Ottoman Empire after the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. Following centuries of Ottoman rule, the Serbian Revolution (1804–1815) led to the restoration of the Principality of Serbia. After the Balkan Wars and World War I, Serbia was a key founder of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The Axis occupation of Yugoslavia during World War II was marked by severe conflict, including the Genocide of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia. In the late 20th century, the Breakup of Yugoslavia involved the Yugoslav Wars, leading to the independence of modern Serbia.

Demographics

The largest concentration resides within the borders of Serbia, with a major community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, primarily in the entity of Republika Srpska. Significant historical minorities live in Croatia, particularly in the regions of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Syrmia, as well as in Montenegro. Substantial diaspora communities have been established through several waves of emigration, notably after World War II and during the Yugoslav Wars, with large populations now in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the United States, and Canada. Demographic trends have been impacted by low birth rates and emigration, particularly since the 1990s.

Culture

Cultural heritage is deeply rooted in Orthodox Christian traditions, Slavic pagan influences, and centuries of both Ottoman and Habsburg rule. Medieval architecture is exemplified by monasteries like Studenica, Gračanica, and Visoki Dečani, protected as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Epic poetry, often recounting events like the Battle of Kosovo, is a key folk tradition. Notable contributions include the works of Nikola Tesla in science, Mihajlo Pupin in physics, and Milutin Milanković in astronomy and climatology. The Slava (family patron saint day) is a unique cultural and religious custom.

Language

The native language is Serbian, a standardized variety of the Serbo-Croatian language belonging to the South Slavic group. It is officially written in both the Cyrillic script (as standardized by Vuk Karadžić) and the Latin script, with Cyrillic holding constitutional primacy in Serbia. The dialect base is Štokavian, specifically the Ekavian and Ijekavian pronunciations. Key linguistic reforms were championed by Vuk Karadžić and Dositej Obradović during the Serbian Revival in the 19th century.

Religion

The predominant and traditional faith is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, administered by the autocephalous Serbian Orthodox Church, which has been a central pillar of national identity for centuries. The Church is organized into eparchies and is headed by the Patriarch of Serbia. Religious history was decisively shaped by Saint Sava in the 13th century. There are minor communities of Muslims (mainly in the Sandžak region), Catholics (especially in Vojvodina), and Protestants.

Notable people

Throughout history, many individuals have gained international recognition. In science and invention, figures include Nikola Tesla, a pioneer of electrical engineering; Mihajlo Pupin, physicist and inventor; and Milutin Milanković, known for his astronomical theory of ice ages. The arts feature Nobel Prize-winning author Ivo Andrić, poet Desanka Maksimović, and filmmaker Emir Kusturica. Classical music boasts composers such as Stevan Mokranjac and Josif Marinković. Sports legends include tennis players Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic, and basketball stars like Vlade Divac. Historical rulers and military leaders range from medieval Emperor Stefan Dušan to Karadjordje, leader of the First Serbian Uprising.

Category:Serbian people Category:Ethnic groups in the Balkans Category:Slavic ethnic groups