Introduction International migrations across countries and continents are fuelled by global tragedies, globalization trends, and the search for refuge and opportunities (Pieke 2004, UNHCR 2004, Stewart et al. 2008). In the past three decades the numbers of international migrants have escalated from 75 million in 1980 to 175 million in 2000, 159 million being classified as voluntary migrants, and 16 million as refugees (United Nations 2005, Stewart et al. 2008). The civil war in the area of former Yugoslavia between 1990 and 1996 led to the largest forced migration in Europe after the Second Word War (Harvey 2006). According to the data of United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for 1993, out of the total number of 15 million refugees in the word, more than 2.5 million people were from Bosnia and Croatia, where refugees (citizens of the same country) moved to other parts of the country. One part of the refugee population ended up in Western Europe, North America and Australia. The majority of refugees were accepted by FR Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). A complicated political situation, poor resourcefulness and hesitancy of international factors to get involved more decisively in problem-solving, as well as international isolation of FRY, additionally complicated the situation of taking care and protecting the refugees. The situation of refugee population from SFRY in new living conditions and new surroundings was studied by demographers in Serbia (Knezevic 1992, Kondic 1997, Petrovic 1997, Milosavljevic 1997, Grecic 1998, Cvetkovic 1998, Jakovljevic 1998, Matkovic 1999, Lukic and Nikitovic 2004, Nikitovic 2005, Stevanovic 2005, Ladevic and Stankovic 2006, Nikitovic and Lukic 2009) and in the world (Hammond 1999, Black 2002, Black and Gent 2004, 2006, Ambroso 2006, Harvey 2006, Eastmond 2006, Black et al. 2006). Their work was the methodological and scientific base for this research. In the first section we analyzed the change in the number of refugees in Serbia, as a consequence of reintegration, repatriation and moving to the third countries in the period between 1996 and 2009. The second part of the paper refers to the analysis of spatial distribution of refugees in Serbia in different districts and regions. In the third chapter, on the basis of data from UNHCR and CRRS, we carried out the analysis of demographic and socio-economic position of refugees in Serbia. The fourth chapter refers to the integration of refugee population in Serbia, and the relationship between refugees on the one hand and local political elites on the other. Namely, local political elites manipulated the destiny of refugees, glorifying refugees as symbols of patriotism and rural purity, and then as victims and heroes. This is the reason why towns in Serbia, especially Belgrade were highly reserved in welcoming the wave of refugees. The native city way of life was threatened by newcomers from rural Croatia and Bosnia. Antagonism towards them was also present in the city media and it reflected political-economic and cultural aspects of the new situation (Martin 2002). With time, and with the political-security situation in the surroundings calming down, the mentioned tensions weakened. To confirm this fact, we found in our research that the majority of refugees wanted to continue living in Serbia. This is why the integration of refugees, as a constant challenge for state and local authorities, becomes of great significance. Methods and data In this paper we used methods of human geography and demography, which combine methods of scientific research with the methods of communicating the achieved results. Those two standpoints determined the methodology in our research, in defining and communicating results. The complexity of the subject matter required the application of scientific methods suitable for setting up hypotheses, proving attitudes, verifying and forming conclusions. In methodological procedures, a general and mathematical-statistical method were used, and as special analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization and cartographic method, which enabled demographic variables to be brought in the chorological-chronological connection and their effects in refugee population. …