Niš: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Niš: In 2025 the average monthly net salary in Niš was RSD 105,576, which ranks 4th highest of 13 major cities; the Serbian average was RSD 109,462.
- Health in Niš: The public health service in Niš employed 1,378 physicians in 2023, one for every 181 residents against one per 310 nationally; the lowest of 13 major cities by residents per doctor.
- Education in Niš: Niš had 88 preschool institutions attended by 8,233 children in 2022/23; 73.5% of them were in full-day programmes of 9 to 12 hours (Serbia: 69.2%), 4th highest of 13 major cities.
- Poverty and living standards in Niš: 1,084 adults were convicted in 2023 of criminal offences committed in Niš, a rate of 435 per 100,000 people (5th highest of 13 major cities; Serbia: 406).
- Government budget and revenue in Niš: Local budget revenue for the City of Niš came to RSD 14.8 billion in 2023: RSD 59,394 per resident, 7th highest of 13 major cities (Serbian local governments together: RSD 71,938 per head).
- Government and politics in Niš: 99,986 of 228,007 registered voters cast a ballot in the most recent elections to the assemblies of Niš's five city municipalities on record at the end of 2023, a turnout of 43.9% that ranks 4th lowest of 13 major cities (national: 50.7%).
What is the population of Niš?
An estimated 249,072 people lived in Niš in mid-2023, spread over 596 km² and 71 settlements; that is 3.8% of Serbia's population outside Kosovo and Metohija.
Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia · saved copyIs the population of Niš growing or shrinking?
The population estimate for Niš went from 257,348 in 2016 to 249,072 in 2023, a change of -3.2% (Serbia: -6.2%; 4th highest of 13 major cities by change).
Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia · saved copyWhat is the ethnic makeup of Niš?
Of the 249,501 people counted in Niš at the 2022 Census, 90.2% declared themselves Serbs, 2.3% Roma and 0.3% Bulgarians.
Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia · saved copyWho runs Niš?
In Serbia, cities and towns are run by municipalities: Assembly directly elected every four years (party lists); assembly elects the mayor (gradonačelnik) or municipal president. Local services, utilities, local roads, kindergartens, planning; cities can have municipal police.
How local power works in Serbia
Cities of a similar size in Serbia
- Beograd 1,197,714
- Novi Sad 260,438
- Kragujevac 146,315
- Subotica 88,752
- Pancevo 73,401
- Novi Pazar 71,462
- Čačak 69,598
- Zrenjanin 67,129
- Kraljevo 57,432
- Leskovac 54,091
- Kruševac 53,746
- Šabac 51,163
Up a level: all cities in Serbia · Serbia · government and power
Sources
- Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia: Municipalities and regions of the Republic of Serbia, 2024: table 18.1 (medical doctors, dentists and pharmacists in the health service, 2023; Institute of Public Health of Serbia data), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a782476fc6e5…)
- Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia: Statistical release: Average salaries and wages per employee, December 2025 (table 4: by region, area, city and municipality; January-December 2025), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fe859eb0709b…)
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