World Population Day was marked in Serbia on July 9, 2025, at the Princess Ljubica’s Residence in Belgrade. The event under the slogan “Family You Aspire To: Challenges of Planning and Building Families in a Modern World” was organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Serbia in cooperation with the Ministry for Family Welfare and Demography and with the support of the UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia.
After the opening speeches of the organizers, the central part of the event was held – an interactive panel in which one of the four panelists was Vladimir Nikitović, Head of the Center for Demographic Research of the Institute of Social Sciences in Belgrade.
The participants of the panel, moderated by Ms. Borka Jeremić, Head of UNFPA office in Serbia, discussed current efforts, but also what could be improved in different sectors, in order to address the challenges outlined in the global State of World Population Report, with a focus on policies that empower individuals to make informed and voluntary decisions about family formation. The latest research insights on trends affecting decisions about parenthood and family formation were pointed out, with the role of the private sector in supporting the work-family balance also discussed.
Based on the first research on the differences between women and men in the patterns of completed fertility in Serbia, which he conducted with his colleague Dragan Stanojević from the University of Belgrade – Faculty of Philosophy with the support of UNFPA, Vladimir Nikitović addressed how men perceive parenting, partnerships, and decisions on family formation, as well as behavioral patterns, obstacles, and opportunities for their greater involvement in family life. The importance of creating policies that promote gender equality, flexible working arrangements, increased involvement of men in caregiving and unpaid work, and shared responsibilities within families was also highlighted.
