Serbia

Summary

Official Name

Republic of Serbia

International Conventions

CDE (2001), CPPDCE (2009), CSICH (2010), ECRML (2006), FCPNM (2001), ICCPR (2001), UNCRPD (2009), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

8,772,000

Principal Languages

Serbian

Literacy Rate

99% (2016 UNESCO)

General References

Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987, Stephens 1976

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Serbia is 22. All are living languages. Of these, 9 are indigenous and 13 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 13 are institutional, 6 are developing, and 3 are vigorous. Also listed are 6 unestablished languages and 1 macrolanguage.

Languages

Albanian, Gheg aln: Jablanica, Kosovo, Kosovsko-Mitrovica, Kosovsko-Pomoravlje, Pčinja, Peć, Prizren, Raška, and Zlatibor districts. Users: 1,630,000 in Serbia (2012). Ethnic population: 2,000,000 (1998 Los Angeles Times). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory language of provincial identity in Bjanovac, 2 other municipalities (2009, Constitution, Article 10(2)). De facto provincial language in Kosovo. Alternate Names: Geg, Gegnisht, Shqip, Shqyp Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Gheg
Aromanian rup: Bor, Braničevo, Pomoravlje, and Zaječar districts. Users: 13,000 in Serbia (2009 J. Leclerc). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Armani, Macedo Romania Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Bosnian bos: Raška district: Novi Pazar and Tutin municipalities; Zlatibor district: Priboj, Prijepolje, and Sjenica municipalities. Users: 139,000 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Statutory language of provincial identity in Bujanovac, Medveda, Presevo (1991, Official Language Use Law No. 45, Article 3). Alternate Names: Serbo-Croatian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Bulgarian bul: Pčinja district: Bosiljgrad; Pirot district: Dmitrovgrad. Users: 13,300 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Novi Pazar, Sjenica, Tutin (1991, Official Language Use Law No. 45, Article 3). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Croatian hrv: North Backa district: Bela Crkva municipality. Users: 19,200 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Autonomous Province Vojvodina (2009, Autonomous Province Vojvodina Statute, Article 26). Alternate Names: Hrvatski, Serbo-Croatian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Czech ces: South Banat district: Bela Crkva municipality, Češko Selo village. Users: 37,000 in Serbia (2009 J. Leclerc). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Češki, Čeština, Český jazyk Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
English eng: Users: 4,200 in Serbia (2020 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Users: 276,000 in Serbia (2018), L2 users. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
German, Standard deu: Users: 2,190 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Nemački Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Hungarian hun: Central Banat, North Backa, North Banat, South Backa, and West Backa districts; Vojvodina area. Users: 243,000 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Autonomous Province Vojvodina (2009, Autonomous Province Vojvodina Statute, Article 26). Alternate Names: Mađarski, Magyar Classification: Uralic
Macedonian mkd: Users: 12,700 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Montenegrin cnr: Raška and Zlatibor districts. Users: 2,520 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Polish pol: Users: 23,000 in Serbia (2009 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Romani, Balkan rmn: Kosovo: scattered. Users: 101,000 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). 100,000 Arlija. Total users in all countries: 802,840 (as L1: 602,840; as L2: 200,000). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Roma, “Balkan Gypsy” (pej.) Autonym: Romani, Romani ćhib Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Balkan
Romani, Sinte rmo: Belgrade City, Jablanica, Nišava, Pčinja, and Pirot districts; scattered in Kosovo. Users: 31,000 in Serbia. 30,000 Serbian, 1,000 Manouche. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Romanes, Sasítka Romá, Sinte, Sinti Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Romani, Vlax rmy: Widespread. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Rom Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax
Romanian ron: South Backa district: Timoc valley. Users: 29,100 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Autonomous Province Vodjvodina (2009, Autonomous Province Vodjvodina Statute, Article 26). Alternate Names: Daco-Rumanian, Română, Rumanian Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Romano-Serbian rsb: Srem district. Users: 78,000 (2009 J. Leclerc). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Tent Gypsy Classification: Mixed language, Serbian-Romani
Russian rus: Users: 1,400,000 in Serbia (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 3,180 (2013 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Rusyn rue: South Backa district: Ruski Krstur town, Vojvodine. Users: 11,300 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Statutory language of provincial identity in Autonomous Province Vodjvodina (2009, Autonomous Province Vodjvodina Statute, Article 26). Alternate Names: Carpathian, Carpatho-Rusyn, Rusynski, Ruthenian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Serbian srp: Widespread. Users: 7,730,000 in Serbia (2019). Total users in all countries: 10,270,476. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2006, Constitution, Article 10(1)). Alternate Names: Serbo-Croatian Autonym: српски‎ (Srpski) Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Serbian Sign Language ysl: Scattered. Users: 10,000 in Serbia (2014 EUD). Estimated deaf signers, approximately 0.05% of total population. Other estimates: 30,000 signers (2014 European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters); 30,000 deaf and 90,000 hard of hearing (2013 Association of the Deaf and Hard Hearing); 47,500 (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2015, Law on the Use of Sign Language). Alternate Names: SZJ, Srpski Znakovni Jezik, YSL, Yugoslav Sign Language, Yugoslavian Sign Language Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Serbo-Croatian hbs: Users: Population total all languages: 18,736,796. Status:
Slovak slk: South Backa district: Vojvodine. Users: 49,800 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Autonomous Province Vodjvodina (2009, Autonomous Province Vodjvodina Statute, Article 26). Alternate Names: Slovenčina, Slovenský Jazyk Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
Turkish tur: Users: 38,000 in Serbia (2009 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Ukrainian ukr: Users: 6,500 in Serbia (2009 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Serbian

[srp] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2006, Constitution, Article 10(1)). 7,730,000 in Serbia (2019). Total users in all countries: 10,270,476.

2 (Provincial)

Bulgarian

[bul] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Novi Pazar, Sjenica, Tutin (1991, Official Language Use Law No. 45, Article 3). 13,300 in Serbia (2013 UNSD).

Croatian

[hrv] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Autonomous Province Vojvodina (2009, Autonomous Province Vojvodina Statute, Article 26). 19,200 in Serbia (2013 UNSD).

Hungarian

[hun] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Autonomous Province Vojvodina (2009, Autonomous Province Vojvodina Statute, Article 26). 243,000 in Serbia (2013 UNSD).

Romanian

[ron] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Autonomous Province Vodjvodina (2009, Autonomous Province Vodjvodina Statute, Article 26). 29,100 in Serbia (2013 UNSD).

Slovak

[slk] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Autonomous Province Vodjvodina (2009, Autonomous Province Vodjvodina Statute, Article 26). 49,800 in Serbia (2013 UNSD).

Albanian, Gheg

[aln] 2 (Provincial). Statutory language of provincial identity in Bjanovac, 2 other municipalities (2009, Constitution, Article 10(2)). De facto provincial language in Kosovo. 1,630,000 in Serbia (2012). Ethnic population: 2,000,000 (1998 Los Angeles Times).

5 (Dispersed)

Bosnian

[bos] 5* (Dispersed). Statutory language of provincial identity in Bujanovac, Medveda, Presevo (1991, Official Language Use Law No. 45, Article 3). 139,000 in Serbia (2013 UNSD).

Czech

[ces] 5* (Dispersed). 37,000 in Serbia (2009 J. Leclerc).

Montenegrin

[cnr] 5* (Dispersed). 2,520 in Serbia (2013 UNSD).

Romani, Sinte

[rmo] 5* (Dispersed). 31,000 in Serbia. 30,000 Serbian, 1,000 Manouche.

5 (Developing)

Romani, Balkan

[rmn] 5* (Developing). 101,000 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). 100,000 Arlija. Total users in all countries: 802,840 (as L1: 602,840; as L2: 200,000).

Serbian Sign Language

[ysl] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2015, Law on the Use of Sign Language). 10,000 in Serbia (2014 EUD). Estimated deaf signers, approximately 0.05% of total population. Other estimates: 30,000 signers (2014 European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters); 30,000 deaf and 90,000 hard of hearing (2013 Association of the Deaf and Hard Hearing); 47,500 (2014 IMB).

6a (Vigorous)

Romani, Vlax

[rmy] 6a* (Vigorous).

Romano-Serbian

[rsb] 6a* (Vigorous). 78,000 (2009 J. Leclerc).

Rusyn

[rue] 6a* (Vigorous). Statutory language of provincial identity in Autonomous Province Vodjvodina (2009, Autonomous Province Vodjvodina Statute, Article 26). 11,300 in Serbia (2013 UNSD).

Aromanian

[rup] 6a* (Vigorous). 13,000 in Serbia (2009 J. Leclerc).