In the past year, 135,194 people have changed their place of residence, i.e. moved permanently from one place to another in Serbia, most often to Belgrade and Vojvodina.
The average age of those who decided to take such a step is 34.7 years, as the latest data collated by the State Statistics Office (RZS) show.
In 2021, by far the largest number of relocations was in Belgrade. Namely, 51,206 people (37.9 per cent) arrived and 47,293 (35 per cent) left the capital.
Apart from Belgrade, there was a positive migration balance, i.e. more immigrants than emigrants, in Southern Bačka, Srem, Southern Banat and Northern Bačka in Vojvodina and the Niš region, while the migration balance was negative in 19 other districts. A negative trend was recorded in Western Bačka, also in Vojvodina, where there are more emigrants than immigrants, and in Northern Banat, while the worst situation is in Central Banat.
In terms of municipalities or cities, only 49 recorded a positive migration balance last year, while in one, the balance was zero, and in the other 119 municipalities and cities, the migration balance was negative. The data show that most residents move to the vicinity of their previous place of residence. Last year, 36.3 per cent of people moved from one municipality or city to another within the same area, while 28 per cent moved only within the same municipality or city.
Young people aged 25 to 34 move the most, followed by those aged 35 to 44, and then high school students and students aged 15 to 24. Interestingly, women, of almost all ages, move more.
“Belgrade receives more people every day than any other city in Serbia. However, changes are also taking place within the city, as many are moving from one municipality to another. According to demographers, Zvezdara is one of the municipalities with a positive migration balance, i.e. with more immigrants. It is attractive, as they say, because of its forests, parks and kindergartens. Novi Beograd is also popular because of its shopping centres, banks and IT companies, and Vračar because of law firms. Belgrade municipalities of Stari Grad and Savski Venac have limited space, hence fewer people relocate to live here. They are also more business-oriented municipalities, so this is one of the reasons why a lot of people are leaving them,” says Gordana Bjelobrk, a demographer from the RZS, adding that Belgrade is the most appealing to younger generations.
(Blic, 19.07.2022)
https://www.blic.rs/vesti/drustvo/svi-hoce-u-beograd-i-to-bas-na-zvezdaru/sg24z94