Municipalities and cities of Serbia

Municipalities and cities of Serbia
Општине и градови Србије
Opštine i gradovi Srbije
Municipalities and cities of Serbia
CategoryUnitary state
LocationSerbia
Created byLaw on territorial organisation of the Republic of Serbia
Created
  • 29 January 1992 (1992-01-29)
Number145 municipalities + 29 cities
117 municipalities + 28 cities (de facto, excluding Kosovo)
Populations1,063 (Crna Trava) – 1,681,405 (Belgrade)
Areas2.87 km2 (1.11 sq mi) (Vračar) – 3,235 km2 (1,249 sq mi) (Belgrade)
Government
  • Municipal/City Assembly
Subdivisions
  • Settlements

The municipalities and cities (Serbian: општине и градови / opštine i gradovi) are the first-level administrative division and the basic level of local government of Serbia.[1][2] The country is divided into 145 municipalities and 29 cities.[3][4]

Municipalities and cities form 29 administrative districts, except the City of Belgrade which is not part of any district.

Municipalities

Like in many other countries, municipalities (Serbian: општине / opštine) are the basic entities of local government in Serbia. The head of the municipality is the President of the municipality, while the executive power is held by the Municipal council, and legislative power by the Municipal assembly. The municipal assembly is elected on local elections (held every 4 years), while the President and the Council are elected by the Assembly. Municipalities have their own property (including public service companies) and budget. Only the cities officially have mayors (Serbian: градоначелници / gradonačelnici), although the municipal presidents are often informally referred to as such.

The territory of a municipality is composed of a town (seat of the municipality) and surrounding villages (e.g. the territory of the Municipality of Čoka is composed of the town of Čoka, which is the seat of the municipality, and surrounding villages). The municipality bears the name of the seat town.

Advocates of reform of local self-government system point out that Serbian municipalities are the largest in Europe by territory and as such can be inefficient in handling citizens' needs and distributing the income from the country budget into most relevant projects.[5][6]

The largest municipalitity by population is Stara Pazova (62,318).[7]

List of municipalities

No.[8] Emblem Municipality Administrative district Area [km2] Population[9]
63
Kladovo Bor District 629 17,435
86
Majdanpek Bor District 932 14,559
93
Negotin Bor District 1,089 28,261
29
Veliko Gradište Braničevo District 344 15,455
41
Golubac Braničevo District 368 6,599
89
Malo Crniće Braničevo District 271 8,986
50
Žabari Braničevo District 264 9,261
105
Petrovac na Mlavi Braničevo District 655 25,900
77
Kučevo Braničevo District 721 11,806
51
Žagubica Braničevo District 760 9,712
21
Bojnik Jablanica District 264 9,315
80
Lebane Jablanica District 337 18,119
90
Medveđa Jablanica District 524 6,360
33
Vlasotince Jablanica District 308 25,695
145
Crna Trava Jablanica District 312 1,063
102
Osečina Kolubara District 319 9,951
143
Ub Kolubara District 456 25,780
78
Lajkovac Kolubara District 186 13,825
92
Mionica Kolubara District 329 12,061
84
Ljig Kolubara District 279 10,711
20
Bogatić Mačva District 384 24,522
31
Vladimirci Mačva District 338 14,427
73
Koceljeva Mačva District 257 11,148
87
Mali Zvornik Mačva District 184 12,219
74
Krupanj Mačva District 342 14,399
85
Ljubovija Mačva District 356 12,168
43
Gornji Milanovac Moravica District 836 38,985
83
Lučani Moravica District 454 16,933
56
Ivanjica Moravica District 1,090 27,751
3
Aleksinac Nišava District 707 43,098
123
Svrljig Nišava District 497 10,781
91
Merošina Nišava District 193 11,873
117
Ražanj Nišava District 289 7,010
47
Doljevac Nišava District 121 15,837
38
Gadžin Han (grb)
Gadžin Han (grb)
Gadžin Han Nišava District 325 5,850
32
Vladičin Han Pčinja District 366 17,532
134
Surdulica Pčinja District 628 16,991
24
Bosilegrad Pčinja District 571 6,065
138
Trgovište Pčinja District 370 4,316
26
Bujanovac Pčinja District 461 41,068
112
Preševo Pčinja District 264 33,449
15
Bela Palanka Pirot District 951 9,947
8
Babušnica Pirot District 529 9,109
46
Dimitrovgrad Pirot District 483 8,043
127
Smederevska Palanka Podunavlje District 422 42,192
28
Velika Plana Podunavlje District 345 35,451
142
Ćuprija Pomoravlje District 287 25,325
104
Paraćin Pomoravlje District 542 45,543
122
Svilajnac Pomoravlje District 326 20,141
44
Despotovac Pomoravlje District 623 18,278
120
Rekovac Pomoravlje District 366 8,116
27
Varvarin Rasina District 249 14,217
139
Trstenik Rasina District 448 35,875
141
Ćićevac Rasina District 124 7,860
2
Aleksandrovac Rasina District 387 22,069
25
Brus Rasina District 606 13,594
35
Vrnjačka Banja Raška District 239 25,065
119
Raška Raška District 670 21,498
140
Tutin Raška District 742 33,053
6
Aranđelovac Šumadija District 376 41,297
137
Topola Šumadija District 356 19,134
118
Rača Šumadija District 216 9,638
10
Batočina Šumadija District 136 10,162
65
Knić Šumadija District 413 11,729
79
Lapovo Šumadija District 55 6,582
19
Blace Toplica District 306 9,682
76
Kuršumlija Toplica District 952 15,823
53
Žitorađa Toplica District 214 13,782
22
Boljevac Zaječar District 828 10,184
66
Knjaževac Zaječar District 1,202 25,341
128
Sokobanja Zaječar District 525 13,199
9
Bajina Bašta Zlatibor District 673 23,533
69
Kosjerić Zlatibor District 358 10,175
111
Požega Zlatibor District 426 25,988
146
Čajetina Zlatibor District 647 14,585
7
Arilje Zlatibor District 349 17,063
94
Nova Varoš Zlatibor District 581 13,507
115
Prijepolje Zlatibor District 827 32,214
126
Sjenica Zlatibor District 1,059 24,083
113
Priboj Zlatibor District 553 23,514
96
Novi Bečej Central Banat District 609 19,886
95
Nova Crnja Central Banat District 273 8,147
52
Žitište Central Banat District 525 13,412
125
Sečanj Central Banat District 523 10,544
13
Bačka Topola North Bačka District 596 26,228
88
Mali Iđoš North Bačka District 175 9,983
60
Kanjiža North Banat District 399 20,141
124
Senta North Banat District 293 23,316
1
Ada North Banat District 229 13,293
147
Čoka North Banat District 321 8,556
97
Novi Kneževac North Banat District 305 8,627
130
Srbobran South Bačka District 284 14,357
11
Bač South Bačka District 367 11,431
18
Bečej South Bačka District 487 30,681
34
Vrbas South Bačka District 376 36,601
12
Bačka Palanka South Bačka District 579 48,265
14
Bački Petrovac South Bačka District 158 11,512
49
Žabalj South Bačka District 400 23,853
136
Titel South Bačka District 262 13,984
135
Temerin South Bačka District 170 25,780
17
Beočin South Bačka District 186 13,875
131
Sremski Karlovci South Bačka District 51 7,872
109
Plandište South Banat District 383 8,957
100
Opovo South Banat District 203 9,462
67
Kovačica South Banat District 419 21,178
4
Alibunar South Banat District 602 17,139
16
Bela Crkva South Banat District 353 14,451
68
Kovin South Banat District 730 28,141
148
Šid Srem District 687 27,894
57
Inđija Srem District 384 43,443
58
Irig Srem District 230 9,290
121
Ruma Srem District 582 48,621
132
Stara Pazova Srem District 351 62,318
107
Pećinci Srem District 489 18,401
5
Apatin West Bačka District 333 23,155
103
Odžaci West Bačka District 411 24,926
75
Kula West Bačka District 481 35,592

Cities

Cities (Serbian: градови, romanizedgradovi) are another type of local self-government. The territory with the city status usually has more than 50,000 inhabitants (although there are several cities with population smaller than that), but is otherwise very similar to a municipality.[1] There are 29 cities, each having an assembly and budget of its own. Only the cities have mayors (Serbian: градоначелници, romanizedgradonačelnici), although the presidents of the municipalities are often referred to as "mayors" in everyday usage.

As with a municipality, the territory of a city is composed of a city proper and surrounding villages (e.g. the territory of the City of Subotica is composed of the Subotica town and surrounding villages). Every city (and municipality) is part of an administrative district. The exception is the capital Belgrade, which is not part of any district.[10]

The city may or may not be divided into city municipalities (Serbian: градске општине, romanizedgradske opštine). Six cities: Belgrade, Niš, Požarevac, Užice, and Vranje comprise several city municipalities. Competences of cities and these municipalities are divided. The municipalities of these cities also have their assemblies and other prerogatives.

The largest city municipalitity by population is New Belgrade (209,763).[7]

List of cities

No.[8] Crest City District Crest City municipality Area [Km²] Population
1
Bor Bor District none 856 40,845
2
Valjevo Kolubara District none 905 82,169
3 Vranje Pčinja District Vranje 860 74,381
Vranjska Banja
4
Vršac South Banat District none 1,324 45,462
5
Zaječar Zaječar District none 1,069 47,991
6
Zrenjanin Central Banat District none 1,324 105,722
7
Jagodina Pomoravlje District none 470 64,644
8
Kikinda North Banat District none 782 49,326
9
Kragujevac Šumadija District none 835 171,186
10
Kraljevo Raška District none 1,530 110,196
11
Kruševac Rasina District none 854 113,582
12
Leskovac Jablanica District none 1,025 123,950
13
Loznica Mačva District none 612 72,062
14
Niš Nišava District
Medijana 16 83,113
Niška Banja 145 12,940
Palilula 117 69,811
Pantelej 142 54,119
Crveni Krst 182 29,518
15
Novi Pazar Raška District none 742 106,720
16
Novi Sad South Bačka District none 702.7 368,967
17
Pančevo South Banat District none 759 115,454
18
Pirot Pirot District none 1,232 49,601
19
Požarevac Braničevo District Požarevac 482 68,648
Kostolac
20
Prokuplje Toplica District none 759 38,054
21
Smederevo Podunavlje District none 484 97,930
22
Sombor West Bačka District none 1,178 70,818
23
Sremska Mitrovica Srem District none 762 72,580
24
Subotica North Bačka District none 1,008 123,952
26
Užice Zlatibor District Užice 667 69,997
Sevojno
27
Čačak Moravica District none 636 105,612
28
Šabac Mačva District none 795 105,432
special
status
Belgrade none
Barajevo 213 26,431
Čukarica 155 175,793
Grocka 289 82,810
Lazarevac 384 55,146
Mladenovac 339 48,683
Novi Beograd 41 209,763
Obrenovac 411 68,882
Palilula 447 182,624
Rakovica 29 104,456
Savski Venac 16 36,699
Sopot 271 19,126
Stari Grad 7 44,737
Surčin 285 45,452
Voždovac 150 174,864
Vračar 3 55,406
Zemun 154 177,908
Zvezdara 31 172,625

Municipalities of Kosovo

Serbian law still treats Kosovo as an integral part of Serbia (officially the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija), although the United Nations administration (UNMIK) has established a new territorial organization of that territory. The Law on Territorial Organization defines 28 municipalities and 1 city on the territory of Kosovo.[1] In 2000 the municipality of Gora was merged with Opolje (part of the Municipality of Prizren) into the new municipality of Dragaš and one new municipality was created: Mališevo. Later, from 2005 to 2008, seven new municipalities were created: Gračanica, Elez Han, Junik, Parteš, Klokot, Ranilug and Mamuša.[11] However, the Government of Serbia does not recognise the territorial re-organisation of Kosovo, although some of these new-formed municipalities have Serb majority, and some Serbs participate in local elections. In three of those municipalities: Gračanica, Klokot-Vrbovac and Ranilug, Serbian parties won a majority in the 2009 elections.[12][13]

By the 2013 Brussels Agreement, Serbia agreed to disband its parallel municipal institutions in Kosovo, while the authorities of Kosovo agreed on creation of the Community of Serb Municipalities. However, both parties acted slowly to put this agreement in power.[14][15]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Закон о територијалној организацији Републике Србије" [Law on the Territorial Organisation of the Republic of Serbia]. Службени гласник Републике Србије (129): 3–41. 2007. ISSN 0353-8389.
    "Закон о изменама и допунама Закона о територијалној организацији Републике Србије" [Law on the Amendment of the Law on the Territorial Organisation of the Republic of Serbia]. Службени гласник Републике Србије (18): 32–34. 2016. ISSN 0353-8389.
  2. ^ "Pirot, Kikinda i Vršac dobili status grada" [Pirot, Kikinda and Vršac Awarded City Status]. B92. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Administrativno teritorijalna podela i NSTJ nivoi 1, 2, 3". Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  4. ^ "Закон о територијалној организацији Републике Србије: 129/2007-3, 18/2016-32, 47/2018-26, 9/2020-32 (др. закон)". pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 2024-12-28. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  5. ^ Jerinić, Jelena (2006-12-01). "Konkretni oblici učešća građana" (PDF). Lokalna samouprava (in Serbian). Permanent conference of cities and municipalities/Vreme. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 10, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  6. ^ "Local Communities in Serbia: How to Become an Effective Voice for Citizens". USAID/Serbia Local Government Report Program. 2004-07-01. p. 4. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  7. ^ a b "Age and Sex - Data by settlements" (PDF). publikacije.stat.gov.rs.
  8. ^ a b As given in the Law, in Serbian Cyrillic order
  9. ^ "2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia" (PDF). Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. ISSN 0354-3641. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  10. ^ "Уредба о управним окрузима" [Regulation on Administrative Districts]. Службени гласник Републике Србије (15): 3–6. 2006. ISSN 0353-8389.
  11. ^ "Municipal profiles". Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
  12. ^ "UNMIK: Serb boycott creates new problems". B92. 22 November 2007. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  13. ^ "Srbima većina u tri opštine" (in Serbian). B92. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  14. ^ "Kosovo Accuses Serbia of Delaying Brussels Agreement". Balkan Insight. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  15. ^ Morina, Die (21 November 2016). "Kosovo Stalls on Serbian Municipal Association". balkaninsight.com. BIRN. Retrieved 19 March 2017.