The Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (RZS) published the report Entrepreneurs in Serbia in 2024, highlighting key data on the distribution, employment, and economic contributions of entrepreneurs across the country.
In 2024, Serbia had a total of 256,406 active entrepreneurs. The highest number operated in the Belgrade region with 73,412 (28.6%), followed closely by the Šumadija and Western Serbia region with 72,453 (28.3%). The Vojvodina region had 64,530 entrepreneurs (25.2%), while the Southern and Eastern Serbia region accounted for 46,011 (17.9%).
By sector, the largest share of entrepreneurs operated in professional, scientific, innovative, and technical activities (17.2%), followed by wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (16.5%), manufacturing (13.8%), construction (11%), and transport and storage (8.5%). Other service activities accounted for 7.3% of entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs in Serbia employed a total of 260,186 workers in 2024. The Šumadija and Western Serbia region employed the most workers at 78,712 (30.3%), followed by Vojvodina with 73,291 (28.2%), Southern and Eastern Serbia with 54,425 (20.9%), and the Belgrade region with 53,758 (20.7%). By sector, most employees worked in wholesale and retail trade and vehicle repair (22.3%), manufacturing (20.5%), accommodation and food services (15.7%), construction (14.2%), and professional, scientific, innovative, and technical activities (6.5%).
In terms of revenue, entrepreneurs from the Šumadija and Western Serbia region generated the largest share at 31.4% of total turnover, followed by the Belgrade region (25.3%), Vojvodina (25%), and Southern and Eastern Serbia (18.3%). Sector-wise, wholesale and retail trade and vehicle repair led with 31.1%, followed by manufacturing (17.8%), construction (13.6%), professional, scientific, innovative, and technical activities (9.4%), transport and storage (7.2%), and accommodation and food services (6.6%).
Regarding gross value added (GVA), entrepreneurs from the Belgrade region contributed 30.8%, Šumadija and Western Serbia 26.9%, Vojvodina 26%, and Southern and Eastern Serbia 16.3%. Sector contributions to GVA were highest in professional, scientific, innovative, and technical activities (17.6%), manufacturing (17.1%), wholesale and retail trade and vehicle repair (16.5%), construction (12.7%), information and communications (7.3%), transport and storage (6.7%), and accommodation and food services (6.6%).
The RZS data provide a comprehensive view of the entrepreneurial landscape in Serbia, highlighting regional disparities and sectoral strengths in employment, turnover, and value added.
