Mundo´s freedom rating is essentially a freedom index whereby our team of specialists rate a combination of freedoms which include freedom from violence and personal attacks, financial freedom from high taxes, business freedom from government interference, and especially from socialist policies.

Political Stability: 8

From the political aspect, The Economist's Democracy Index went so far as to classify Serbia as a "flawed democracy" in 2021. And that has been marked in recent years by instability, protests and corruption, according to reports from NGOs of international stature.

Since 2012 Serbia has been ruled by the Serbian Progressive Party, also known as SNS. Since then, there has been an increase in the number of protests, repression and corruption.

Organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have highlighted several problems that exist in Serbia today: slow trials for crimes against humanity, attacks and threats against the independent press, stalled normalization dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, and even mistreatment of LGBTIQ+ groups and people with disabilities.

However, they should keep in mind that just a few decades ago Serbia was led by Slobodan Milosevic, indicted for crimes against humanity in the aftermath of the Yugoslav war. Since the fall of Milosevic, Serbia has tried to build democratic institutions, a fragile process that may take decades.

In the meantime, President Aleksandr Vucic remains the leader of Serbia, as his party, the SNS, has control of the Executive and a clear majority in the National Assembly.

Even so, the Serbian government has shown respect for private property, especially when it comes to foreign investments, as relations with the European Union are a vital issue for the government, as this could harm the possibility of belonging to the European group.

Personal Safety: 8

If we were to talk about the problems that Serbia can have on a day-to-day basis, believe me, crime will not be one of those problems. Considering that the homicide rate in the country is 1.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, you can be relieved to tell you that you can feel safe if you get to visit.

Still, try to take precautions to protect yourself from street crime, as pickpocketing is really common in crowded areas, especially if you want to travel to the country's larger cities. Being a foreigner, you are likely to be a potential target since they may assume you are carrying large amounts of money.

However, in reference to incidents of armed violence, this is much more related to organized crime than to crimes committed against foreigners, so you can consider your business trip as safe. However, do not try to let your guard down in case of any suspicious activity during your stay.

Lifestyle: 9

Serbia is one of those European nations where despite having a rich culture, Mediterranean climate and attractive history, it is not usually considered by foreigners as one of the main destinations to move to or even to invest in.

And one of the positive things about Serbia is that you can enjoy a good life at a low cost. Belgrade, the capital, is certainly the most expensive area, but it will still be cheap. In addition, there you will find an infinity of public and iconic city spaces, just like in most cities in Europe.

In Belgrade, compared to cities like Barcelona, London or Paris, you can have a good quality of life, since you will not have to spend a lot of money on food, services and recreation.

If you also count on the fact that with its strategic location in the south of Europe, it is much easier to fly and visit any other country in Europe and Central Asia in a short time.

Taxation: 8

Another positive point that Serbia has is that its tax system belongs to a small group of countries with the lowest tax rates in Europe, since if the average corporate tax rate is 22.5%, in countries like Serbia the tax rate is only 2.5% lower.

With an increasingly modern and competitive tax system, both residents and foreigners can benefit from setting up companies and businesses to increase employability.

The main direct taxes in the Balkan Tiger are corporate income tax; non-resident income tax; non-resident capital gains tax; personal income tax; annual income tax and property tax. 

It may be that when you read this, you start to believe that you may end up shelling out a lot of money, the reality is quite the opposite, since there is also a lot of fiscal stimulus if you happen to want to invest in that country.

Economic Potential: 9

If you want to know what a promising future Serbia will have, you have come to the right place, as there are a number of indicators that make you look forward to future investment opportunities in the Balkan country.

First of all, in the latest Doing Business report, which is conducted every year by the World Bank, Serbia is ranked 48th out of 194 countries on the list, which makes it one of the competitive countries in terms of setting up a new business.

Which brings me to another point: trust. Investors have been giving Belgrade a thumbs up for a couple of years now, not only because of the implementation of a series of appropriate economic policies, but also because of the growth of the Gross Domestic Product even in the COVID-19 pandemic, which helps to improve Serbia's economic growth and to accelerate the process of accession to the European Union, a process that has been underway since 2009.

Our freedom rating for Serbia is 42/50.