Serbs in Slovenia - The Immigrant Community

The Immigrant Community

Most of the Serbs in Slovenia are first or second generation settlers from other republics of former Yugoslavia, mostly from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia (including Kosovo), but also from Croatia and Montenegro. After World War II, many Serbs employed in the Yugoslav People's Army were stationed in the Socialist Republic of Slovenia with their families. In the period of 1971-1981, many ethnic Serbs migrated from Bosnia and Herzegovina to pursue better careers and economical benefits in Slovenia. Before 1991, many Serbs registered as Yugoslavs, and many still prefer referring to their mother language as Serbo-Croatian rather than Serbian. In the last years, many Serbs from Montenegro started referring to themselves as Montenegrians, while some Serbs from Bosnia and Herzegovina have registered as Bosnians. It also has to be noted that in the last census in 2002, more than 10% of all Slovenian population decided not to answer the question regarding their ethnic affiliation. All these elements make the estimate of the overall number of Serbs in Slovenia difficult.

Most of Serbs in Slovenia are concentrated in larger urban areas, especially in Ljubljana and Jesenice. In the 1981 population census, there were only 5 settlements in Slovenia where Serbs had absolute ethnic majority (50.0% and more) on the territory of 300 km2. The highest concentration of the Serbs in Slovenia was in some suburban areas of Ljubljana. The 1991 population census registered 17,486 Serbs in five Ljubljana municipalities or 37.1% of the total number of Serbs in Slovenia. A higher concentration of Serbs occurred in the settlements and municipalities with developed mining and other industries.