Premature Mortality as a Neglected Demographic Challenge of Serbia: Population Policy beyond Subsidizing Births

Abstract

Low fertility, net emigration and premature mortality are Serbia’s three demographic problems, yet population policy concentrates on subsidizing births. I argue that investment in health is also population policy. Between 2017 and 2019, Serbia lost roughly 540,000 years of potential life annually. Nearly two thirds of premature deaths were avoidable. Parental allowances for a single birth cohort total almost 0.5 billion EUR, with little evidence of a sustained fertility effect. Tobacco and alcohol control, hypertension treatment and cancer screening are proven and comparatively inexpensive interventions that could reduce avoidable deaths. A refocused policy would combine targeted birth support with measures to keep the existing population alive.

BibTeX

@article{galjak_premature_2026,
  title = {Premature {Mortality} as a {Neglected} {Demographic} {Challenge} of {Serbia}: {Population} {Policy} beyond {Subsidizing} {Births}},
  shorttitle = {Premature {Mortality} as a {Neglected} {Demographic} {Challenge} of {Serbia}},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.59954/stnv.814},
  doi = {10.59954/stnv.814},
  language = {en},
  journal = {Stanovništvo},
  author = {Galjak, Marko},
  month = oct,
  year = {2026},
  pages = {e814},
  keywords = {premature mortality, avoidable mortality, population policy, parental allowance, fertility, Serbia},
}