New Alternative the report about the position and needs of young people in Serbia The Umbrella Organization of Serbian Youth (KOMS) shows that as many as 85 percent of young people under the age of 30 support the student movement. The results also show that the support of young people for Serbia's membership in the European Union is more than half for the first time - since 2017 - 53,1 percent young people supports Serbia's entry into the EU, 26,9 percent oppose it, while 19,9 percent do not know how to answer.
For the first time, the largest number of young people believe that Serbia should primarily rely on the EU for its foreign policy - 40 percent, while 32 percent support balancing between East and West.
Commenting on the results of the report, the president of the KOMS Board of Directors, Velimir Milošev, assessed that young people in Serbia are "disenfranchised, poor and humiliated", but that, despite this, they do not give up the fight for change and a better society. They, he adds, "perhaps defiantly" exceeded all expectations and became the most important political actors in society, especially through the student movement.
"We have been advocating systemic youth care for 15 years, since we have existed. Now, in this state, we can say that we have systemic repression of youth," he said.
Strong support for students
The results of the survey show that 84,8 percent of young people believe that the political system in Serbia does not allow young people to influence political processes and decisions, and that almost 85 percent of young people support the activities of the student movement.
According to the results presented by the general secretary of the Koms, Milica Borjanić, almost seven out of 10 young people participated in some kind of protest. The report states that more than 20.000 protests were held across Serbia in the past year and a half.
About 58 percent of young people participated in signing a petition or popular initiative during the previous year.
When it comes to the attitude towards democracy, 53,9 percent of young people consider democracy the best form of government, while 39,6 percent believe that Serbia needs a strong leader, and 45,6 percent that it does not need a strong leader.
Everything changed in 2024.
As stated in the report, the views of young people on these issues differ significantly compared to the years before 2025.
When it comes to trust, young people have high trust only in students, as well as in scientists and science, while no other institution has an average score above three. Non-governmental organizations, the military, the church and youth offices are the only institutions that have trust above two.
Political institutions have average trust scores of 1,16 to 1,20, while ministries that have youth issues in their scope also do not inspire trust, with scores lower than 1,5.
Among individual personalities, Vladan Đokić, rector of the University of Belgrade, had a trust rating of 2,08 last year, and 2,4 this year. Patriarch Porfiri's rating increased from 1,44 to 1,55, while Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić had a rating of 1,11 in 2025, and now 1,15.
What do they think about moving out?
When it comes to leaving the country, 47 percent of young people plan to move out of Serbia, while 42 percent do not currently plan to leave, but do not rule out that possibility. More than 75 percent of those who would move out state one of the European countries as their preferred destination. Among the reasons for staying in Serbia, the majority of young people cite the desire to contribute to changing the country so that it is a decent place to live and work.
The high cost of living has become the biggest problem of young people - 82,6 percent of respondents cite it as one of the key problems, i.e. as the problem that comes first. They are followed by corruption with 76,9 percent and lack of democracy and justice with 71,3 percent.
At the same time, the perception of unemployment as a problem among young people has significantly decreased - from 89,1 percent in 2017 to 35,8 percent in 2026. The number of unemployed youth is now 62.437, which is about 133.000 less than in 2014.
However, employment is not only a matter of finding a job, but also of its quality. About 55 percent of employed young people are not employed in the position for which they studied, while another 11 percent work in a position that is partially related to their education.
For a decent life in Serbia, young people most often estimate that they need more than 130.000 dinars per month, while the average salary is 121.650 dinars.
Help not available
Mental health remains one of the important open questions. About 31,3 percent of young people rate their mental health as bad, while 36 percent did not feel good and in a good mood during most or all of the observed period. More than half, or 50,3 percent of young people, believe that professional help for mental health problems is not sufficiently available.
At the same time, young people highly value personal freedom, the absence of corruption, justice and the rule of law, and the findings of this year's research indicate the continuation of a more positive attitude towards democracy and the European Union.
Research technique
The research was conducted from April to June 2026 and included two basic techniques - desk analysis of the institutional and normative framework and online research among young people aged 15 to 30.
1.186 young people from Serbia participated in the research. The sample was stratified according to age, gender and place, i.e. region of residence, and the questionnaire contained 98 questions in the areas of political and social participation, youth values, education, employment and mobility, as well as safety and health.
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