Southern and Eastern Serbia

In July 2009, the Serbian parliament adopted a law which divided Serbia into seven statistical regions.[2] At first, it was decided that in the territory of current statistical region of Southern and Eastern Serbia there would be two statistical regions – Eastern Region (Serbian: Источни регион, romanized: Istočni region) and Southern Region (Serbian: Јужни регион, romanized: Južni region). However, in May 2010, the law was changed, thus the Eastern and Southern region were merged into a single statistical region named Southern and Eastern Serbia.

The statistical region of Southern and Eastern Serbia is composed of 9 administrative districts:

Southern and Eastern Serbia region is the poorest in the country. Only Niš and Požarevac have GDP above the national average. The devastated areas include Babušnica, Bela Palanka, Bojnik, Bosilegrad, Vladičin Han, Golubac, Žagubica, Kuršumlija, Kučevo, Lebane, Medveđa, Svrljig, Surdulica, Trgovište and Crna Trava.[3]

Center of Niš, the financial center of Southeastern Serbia

The GDP of the region in 2017 was €6,640,000,000, or 13.8% of Serbia's GDP. The GDP per capita is €4,249.[4]

The largest cities and towns of the region are:

Center of Leskovac

University Building, Niš

According to the 2011 census, the population of Southern and Eastern Serbia is 1,563,916. The most populated city is Niš with around 260,000 people in metro area. Other urban centers are Smederevo, Leskovac, Zajecar and Vranje with more than 50,000 people living in city proper area. The region is heavily affected by depopulation. Most critical situation is in municipalities of Gadžin Han, Crna Trava, Ražanj, Trgovište, as well as Bulgarian populated Dimitrovgrad and Bosilegrad. The good example of depopulation is Crna Trava that had 13,614 people in 1948, while in 2011 only 1,663 people were recorded.[6]

Albanians boycotted the 2011 census. It's estimated that 50,000 Albanians live in the municipalities of Preševo, Bujanovac and Medveđa. They are making up to 90% of population in Preševo, 50% in Bujanovac and 15% in Medveđa. These municipalities have a positive birth rate.

According to the census, only the Niš had more people than in 2002.

Pan-European Corridor X is passing through Podunavlje, Nišava, Jablanica, Pčinja and Pirot District.

The construction of Niš-Merdare highway should start in the spring of 2020.[7]

Constantine the Great Airport is an international airport located in Niš. It connects the region with important European cities such as Berlin, Vienna, Ljubljana, Rome, Salzburg and others. Niš is also the location of Corridor X branching with one branch going to Sofia and another towards Skopje.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Southern and Eastern Serbia.

• Usvojene izmene i dopune Zakona o regionalnom-razvoju (in Serbian)