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Belgrade, 5 November 2026 – Serbia has made progress in improving the lives of children and families, with improvements in preschool attendance and early initiation of breastfeeding. However, significant inequalities persist, particularly among the poorest and most disadvantaged households, while progress has stalled in areas such as violent disciplining of children, according to findings from the 2025 Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS 7), released today.Conducted by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, with leadership support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the surveys provide the most comprehensive single source of data on the situation of women and children in Serbia. They also shed light on emerging challenges, including energy poverty, food insecurity and the mental health of adolescents and young people.“The results presented today are extremely important for evidence-based policymaking and for monitoring the implementation of national and international policies and strategies. MICS also provides data for monitoring 26 Sustainable Development Goal indicators, four of which are being measured through MICS for the first time,” said Branko Josipović, Acting Director of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. While national indicators point to improvements in several areas, significant disparities remain between the wealthiest and poorest households, urban and rural communities, and the general population and those living in Roma settlements. These gaps are particularly concerning in areas such as child protection, health and equitable access to essential services.“Serbia has made important progress for children, but the new findings show that significant challenges and inequalities remain. MICS allows us to look beyond national averages and see which children are being left behind, and where. The findings point to three clear priorities: investing earlier in children's lives, before disadvantages become entrenched; directing more support to those facing the greatest barriers; and ensuring that education, health, social protection and child protection services work together to meet the needs of children and families. We now have the evidence. Our responsibility is to turn it into action and measurable improvements in children's lives,” said Christina de Bruin, UNICEF Representative in Serbia.The survey also covers a broad range of social and demographic indicators, providing a comprehensive picture of the situation in Serbia.“The MICS 7 findings also highlight the importance of continued investment in sexual and reproductive health, education and economic opportunities for women and young people. It is particularly important that every woman and young person has access to the information and services they need to make informed decisions about their health, lives and futures. This is essential not only for the realisation of individual rights and potential, but also for long-term demographic resilience and the development of society as a whole,” said Borka Jeremić, Head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Office in Serbia.The MICS findings come at an important moment for Serbia, providing a strong evidence base to inform priorities, policies and investments in the years ahead. They offer an opportunity to put children, particularly those facing the greatest disadvantages, at the centre of decisions about the country's future.The value of MICS 7 is to guide decisions in health, education, social protection and child protection, as well as efforts to address emerging challenges such as energy poverty and mental health. The findings will also support the monitoring of national strategies and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.SELECTED KEY FINDINGSSerbia is making progress in many areas for children.Findings from the MICS survey confirm near-universal coverage in terms of health insurance and primary education.Progress has also been achieved in preschool education and the early initiation of breastfeeding, while school completion rates across the general population remain high.Preschool enrolment rates (for children aged 36–59 months) have increased across all groups; however, they remain below both national and EU targets, and inequalities persist. 76 percent of children aged 3–4 years now attend preschool programs. Compared to 2019—when 61 percent of children attended preschool—there has been an increase in the share of children from the poorest households and those living in non-urban areas.Nevertheless, further attention must be given to areas where stagnation is observed, such as poverty in rural settings, violent disciplinary practices, immunization, or where backsliding is noted, such as infant mortality within Roma settlements.Three areas that need greater attention in the coming period:PROSPERITY FOR ALL CHILDRENPoverty is three times more present in rural and semi-urban areas than urban ones.Moderate to severe food insecurity has been experienced by 8 per cent of Serbia’s population, of which 7 per cent is moderate, and 1 per cent severe. In Roma settlements it has been experienced by 52 per cent of the population.Eight per cent of households would like to heat all rooms but cannot afford to, and nine percent would like to cool all rooms but cannot afford to. Ten percent of households have not implemented any energy efficiency measures in the last 15 years.SAFETY IN ALL ENVIRONMENTS49 percent of children aged 1 to 14 years of age experience violent disciplining at home, in Roma settlements it is 65 percent. There is stagnation in this area since 2014.In the last 12 months, 18 per cent of women aged 15–49 years have felt discriminated against or harassed on at least one basis. This was most often based on political affiliation (10 per cent). In Roma settlements 13 per cent of women aged 15–49 have felt discriminated against or harassed on at least one basis. This was most often based on ethnic background (7 per cent).In Serbia, 6 per cent of adolescents and youth aged 15–24 reported symptoms of depression or anxiety during the two weeks preceding the survey. Among them, 77 per cent stated that those symptoms led to limitations in daily activities or relationships. In Roma settlements, 14 per cent of adolescents and youth aged 15–24 reported symptoms of depression or anxiety.BACK TO THE BASICSBacksliding of infant mortality of children in Roma settlements is observed – it has increased to 17 per 1,000 live births (from 8 in 2019), while under-five mortality is 19 per 1,000 live births [SDG 3.2.1], (up from 9 in 2019).Full immunisation coverage of children (24-35 months) is at 79.2 %, roughly the same as in 2019. Full immunisation coverage of children in Roma settlements (24-35 months) is at 56.3%, lower than in 2019 by almost 10 percentage points1. Timeliness of the measles vaccine (by 15 months of age) is 37% in the general population and 27% among children in Roma settlements.Discrepancies are still stark in many areas for poor children, rural children, Roma children and children with functional difficulties. We must continue to make all systems work for all children.The full report of the 2025 Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS 7) is available HERE.