• Every tenth citizen in Serbia (10.5%) was poor in 2003, which is the same when compared to the year 2002 (10.6%).
• Poverty line in 2003 was CSD 4,970 monthly per household member.
• When compared to the countries in the region, the scope of poverty in Serbia is similar to Romania, less than in Albania, and larger than in Bulgaria and Poland (ECAPOV II, World Bank, 2005). World Bank Map.
• Rural population is still more poverty-stricken than urban population, which is the same as in other countries in transition.
• In 2003 the largest share of the poor was in Southeast Serbia (23.5%), and the smallest share of the poor was in Belgrade (4.2%). In comparison to the year 2002, the largest growth of poverty was registered in Southeast Serbia (41.6%).
• The largest drop in poverty was registered in Belgrade; poverty was almost halved. A small drop in poverty was recorded in Vojvodina, Sumadija and Pomoravlje, and in Western Serbia, and small growth in Eastern Serbia.

Poverty in Serbia increased considerably in the 1990s. Middle class ceased to exist, the number of the poor increased two and a half times, and more and more people live somewhat above the poverty line. At the same time, more and more people are becoming poor as a consequence of social exclusion, the lack of access to public utility services and markets, the lack of equal opportunities for everyone, etc.

Poverty increased mostly due to the sheer drop of GDP during the previous decade. At the end of the year 2000 the overall GDP was 45%, whereas GDP per capita was 40% lower in regard to the year 1989, which is the largest drop in GDP in Central and Southeast Europe. This situation has had negative consequences on all the aspects of life in Serbia.