Pray for Serbia
The old fortress where the Sava meets the Danube in Belgrade, Serbia's capital.
Photo: Oliver Bunic, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
About Serbia
The capital is Belgrade. People speak Serbian, with Hungarian and other minority languages. Most people belong to the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Source: Wikipedia, with the cited sources it lists.
Prayer briefing for Serbia
Last updated November 2026. Facts come from the sources listed below.
Current events
Final results of the snap parliamentary election of 25 October give the Student List 140 of the 250 seats and Aleksandar Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party 103, with the rest going to parties of ethnic minorities. Turnout was nearly 70%, the highest since 1992. The Student List grew out of the protests after a railway station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in November 2024 and killed 16 people. The new parliament will hold its first session on 17 November.
We pray for: Immediate relief, safety and urgent help.
Leadership and politics
Serbia is a parliamentary republic. Since the resignation of President Vučić on 27 September, the Speaker of Parliament, Ana Brnabić, has served as acting president, and Đuro Macut is caretaker prime minister. Brnabić has called the new parliament’s first session for 17 November; it will elect a new speaker, and a government should be formed within 90 days. The Student List has not yet named its choice for prime minister. An early presidential election must be held by the end of 2026.
We pray for: Wisdom, integrity and justice for those in authority.
Economic health
The government reports that the economy grew about 3.8% in the second quarter of 2026, with inflation of about 2% and unemployment of about 7%, which it calls a historic low. The Vienna Institute (wiiw) expects slower growth of about 2% for 2026, and the World Bank warns of labour shortages as working-age people look for better pay abroad.
We pray for: Provision for families and honest stewardship.
Social and cultural issues
Most people are Serbs, with Hungarian, Croat and Slovak communities in Vojvodina, Bosniaks in Sandžak and Albanians in the Preševo Valley. Many Serbs who fled Croatia in 1995 settled in Vojvodina. The long months of protest have left the country deeply divided, and families on all sides need peace and patience with one another.
We pray for: Reconciliation, peace and protection of the vulnerable.
Spiritual landscape
In the 2022 census about 81% of people were Orthodox Christians, about 4% Catholic, about 4% Muslim and about 1% Protestant. Catholics live mainly among Hungarians and Croats in northern Vojvodina, and Protestants mostly among Slovaks in Vojvodina and in Novi Sad. Muslims live mainly in Sandžak and the Preševo Valley.
We pray for: Spiritual awakening, hope and the spread of truth.
Religious freedom
The constitution protects freedom of religion and there is no state religion. The law sets out a two-tier system of "traditional" and "non-traditional" communities, and registered groups receive certain privileges. Independent observers say this system disadvantages smaller groups, and reports say the media often call them "sects". Religion classes in public schools are optional.
We pray for: Protection for believers and freedom to worship safely.
Historical wounds
Serbia carries the wounds of the wars of the 1990s, when Yugoslavia broke apart and people of every community lost loved ones and homes. NATO bombing of Yugoslavia began in March 1999 during the Kosovo war. Many Serb refugees arrived from Croatia and elsewhere, and the memory of World War II victims is still marked each year on 21 October.
We pray for: National healing, breaking old cycles and deep forgiveness.
Let us pray together
Our Father, we come to You together for Serbia. Bring peace and calm as a new parliament meets and a new government is formed, and comfort to the families who lost loved ones in Novi Sad. Give wisdom, integrity and justice to all who will lead the nation, and grace to those who won and those who lost. Provide good work for young people and for every family. Heal the divisions between neighbours and protect the vulnerable in every community. Let Your truth and hope be known in every town, and give freedom and courage to every believer and every small church. Heal the deep wounds of past wars and lead the people in forgiveness and peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Sources
- AP (via myMotherLode): Serbia’s parliament to meet on 17 November (Nov 2026)
- European Western Balkans: Ana Brnabić becomes acting president of Serbia (Sept 2026)
- N1: Government says GDP grew almost 4 percent in Q2 (Sept 2026)
- Albanian Daily News: wiiw growth forecasts for the Western Balkans (July 2026)
- World Bank: Western Balkans Regular Economic Report (April 2026)
- Wikipedia: Religion in Serbia (2022 census and law)
- Wikipedia: Timeline of the breakup of Yugoslavia
- Reuters via ThePrint: Vučić concedes defeat to student-led movement (Oct 2026)
More ways to pray
PrayerCast shares short prayer videos for the nations. Watch its video for Serbia and pray along.
Watch the PrayerCast video for Serbia
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