Serbia Census


 * Head of household censuses were conducted in 1815, 1824, and 1834. The earliest census listing family members was taken in 1863.
 * Censuses were also taken in 1866, 1874, 1884, and every five years between 1895-1910, then in 1912/1913.
 * Vojvodina censuses are for different years, the earliest being 1728.
 * Early censuses are located in community, historical, and provincial archives.

Censuses
Research use: Quickly identifies family groups.

Record type: Population enumerations compiled by the government. General: An Austrian census of Beograd was conducted in 1733-1734 during a temporary occupation of that city by Austrian forces. For most of Yugoslavia, the earliest census listing family members was taken in 1863. Censuses were also taken in 1866, 1874, 1884, and every five years between 1895-1910, then in 1912/1913. The first census after World War I was conducted in 1921. There are head of household censuses for 1815, 1824, and 1834. Most census records were destroyed after statistics were compiled. Vojvodina censuses are for different years, the earliest being 1728.

Time period: 1728-present.

Contents: Head of household, social status, names of family members, their age or year of birth, family relationships, religion; other details may vary.

Location: Early censuses in community, historical and provincial archives. Later censuses in state and provincial archives. The 1733-1734 census of Beograd is in the Serbian state archive. The 1921 census is probably at the National Statistical Bureau.

Population coverage: A small percentage for early years because the extant records are fragmentary; 95% for censuses after the turn of the century.

Reliability: High.

Ottoman Population Registers
Research use: Early registers quickly identify the male portion of families and later registers do the same for the whole family. Their value is somewhat limited because they are written in Ottoman Turkish which is archaic and difficult to read.

Record type: Registration of birth, marriage, and death; census reports of males and, in later years, of all family members.

General: Population registers and census returns were introduced concurrently in 1829-1831. They were amalgamated into a single system of record keeping in 1881-1889. The registers and census returns were kept by officials at the kaza (district) level. Administrative divisions in 1831 were substantially altered in 1864-1871 and remained in effect until the Balkan Wars in 1913. The reason for population registration before 1881 was to levy taxes on non-Muslims and to identify Muslims for conscription. Only males were registered. After 1881 the census was conducted to establish population figures for a variety of social and political reasons. All individuals were counted in both the census and the population registers after that date.

Time period: 1831-1913.

Contents: Before 1881 the registers only listed males. The registers for Muslims included the name, birth year, birth date of those moving in from elsewhere, height, complexion, eye color, date of death or departure if moved, and other dates with regard to military service. It is assumed the military information is missing from the registers for non-Muslims. After 1881 the registers listed all family members; sex; birth date; residence; age; religion; craft or occupation; marital status, marriage date; health; military status. The name of the deceased are crossed out with a death date noted.

Location: State and possibly provincial archives. Some may be in the Ottoman Archives at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Population coverage: There was under-reporting in the census returns caused by isolation of some groups, difficulties in communication with some areas, and the resistance of some groups to being registered. Even after women were counted, their total number was consistently half that of men. The Muslim population was undercounted more often than the Christian population because Christians were sedentary, compactly settled, and easily accessible. Population registers functioned well until 1853 and the Crimean War. They were neglected until the 1860s when they were revived until 1913.

Reliability: High.