In a significant development, Serbia has reported a dramatic reduction in the number of migrants crossing through its territory in 2024. Official statistics indicate that approximately 18,800 refugees traveled through Serbia during this year, representing an 82% decrease from the 106,000 reported in 2023. Alternate estimates from non-governmental organizations suggest a smaller decline, indicating that around 45,000 migrants took the Balkan route via Serbia.

In December, Serbia's Commissioner for Refugees and Migration, Nataša Stanisavljević, highlighted that 490 refugees were present in the country.

Throughout the year, a total of 18,865 people were documented in asylum and reception centers.

Stanisavljević noted a significant reduction in the daily presence of migrants in these centers, from over 3,000 at the beginning of the year to far fewer by its end.

Since the onset of the migration crisis, 1.5 million refugees have traversed Serbia.

The country has maintained a humanitarian approach, providing organized assistance to migrants irrespective of their country of origin.

The Serbian government's strategy includes coordinated inter-agency work, prominently featuring support from the Ministry of Interior and the Serbian government, as well as aid from the European Union.

In 2024, the focus also included assisted voluntary returns, with 103 individuals returning to their countries, marking a 15% increase over 2023. Returnees primarily originated from Turkey, India, Morocco, Iraq, Mongolia, and Nepal.

Radoš Đurović, director of the Asylum Protection Center, reports that around 45,000 migrants traveled through Serbia in the past year, many operating outside formal institutional frameworks.

Of the 17 refugee centers in the country, only five remain operational.

The reduction in detected migrant numbers is partially attributed to Turkey's measures regarding Syrian refugees, and there are expectations of further decreases contingent on Syria’s political stabilization.

The majority of migrants now primarily originate from Syria and Afghanistan, though there is a noted increase in arrivals from Russia and Ukraine.

Statistics indicate the presence of approximately 50,000 Russian refugees and 10,000 Ukrainian refugees in Serbia, with some continuing to Western Europe.

The Russian community tends to integrate into Serbian society.

Migration from Middle Eastern origins to Western Europe varies in duration, with journeys ranging from months to years.

Significant challenges exist in crossing the Greece-Turkey and Turkey-Bulgaria borders.

The migrant demographic is predominantly young men, representing nearly 80% of the population, while women and children constitute about 10%.

Many migrants proceeding after Serbia choose routes through Bosnia and Herzegovina before entering the EU, with future migration trends expected to correlate closely with Turkey's refugee management and its collaboration with the EU.