While politicians from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are arguing over who is rattling their weapons and calling for a new war, the state is left without its population. It is no longer just about citizens who go abroad and are looking for a better future in Western countries, but it is a worrying fact that last year the lowest number of live births and the highest number of deaths in the post-war period were recorded.
Natural increase rate
Namely, the data of the Agency for Statistics of BiH show that in 1996 the number of deaths per thousand inhabitants was 6.9, and the number of live births was 12.8, which shows that the natural increase rate was 5.9 per thousand.
Last year, in 2020, the natural increase rate was reduced to -5.0 per thousand because the number of deaths per thousand inhabitants was 12.8, and the number of live births was 7.8.
But, according to the latest census, the number of citizens over the age of 65 is 473.927, which shows that BiH is becoming a country of the elderly.
Namely, the Agency claims that the natural increase rate was positive until 2007, after which only black statistics were recorded. The coronavirus pandemic certainly contributed to these negative data, and BiH has been holding the record for the number of deaths in Europe for a long time now.
Tighter conditions
The fact that 85.000 people left our country in the first half of this year also contributes to the demographic collapse, even though the conditions for living in other countries have been tightened due to epidemiological measures imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. More than half a million people left the country in the six years before the coronavirus pandemic broke out, and as many as 46 percent of those people are under the age of 35.
Domestic politicians, fighting for their positions, skillfully ignore the demographic fiasco of BiH. Although here and there, some local communities are trying to do something to keep young people, there is no systemic solution at the state or entity level, and judging by the current political situation, there will be none in the near future.
Consequences of the war in BiH
Sociologist Jusuf Ziga explained that BiH entered the demographic transition, which is characterized by a reduced number of births and a higher number of deaths, in the pre-war period, but also that the demographic picture shows the consequences of the number of victims in the war.
”The post-war period is characterized by a frustrating political and difficult economic situation, unemployment, which is very encouraging for the departure of young, fertile people. BiHsociety is certainly one of the oldest societies with the smallest percentage of young people. It poses the greatest possible danger to the future of the country. Those who should take care of that, do not care, ” Ziga pointed out.
E.Dz.
Source: avaz
