Bosnia and Herzegovina has lost more than 620,000 residents since its last population census in 2013, due to mass emigration and a declining birth rate, according to new data released on Tuesday.
The Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina presented the findings in a publication titled “Demographic Changes in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2013 to 2024,” warning that large-scale emigration, especially among the youth, remains a critical concern.
Bosnia held its only post-war census in 2013, which recorded a population of 3.53 million. As of 2023, that number has fallen to approximately 2.9 million—a decrease of 626,903 residents—according to estimates based on available data, as no new census has been conducted since.
More than half of all people of Bosnian origin now live abroad. Experts say political instability, economic uncertainty, and a general sense of insecurity are driving the exodus.
“Changes in the population structure are already affecting the labor market, population aging, and overall quality of life,” said Professor Adnan Efendić, warning of increasingly visible patterns of internal and seasonal migration.
Efendić called for urgent implementation of migration policies to curb further departures and encourage return migration. “Otherwise, the consequences for society and the economy will be long-term and severe,” he said.
Academy member Mirko Pejanović said the country’s smaller and rural communities are especially at risk, as they face depopulation driven by youth emigration.
“If local communities are not urgently strengthened and long-term rural development measures launched, many of these areas may face total population collapse,” Pejanović warned.