The Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ANUBiH) today presented the publication “Demographic Changes in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2013 to 2024”, offering a comprehensive overview of the country’s demographic trends over the past decade.
The analysis reveals a stark reality: BiH has lost approximately 400,000 people due to negative natural growth and widespread emigration, particularly among young people. More than half of the population originally from BiH now lives abroad. Political instability, insecurity, and economic hardship continue to fuel emigration intentions, it was noted during the presentation.
Edited by Academician Mirko Pejanović and Prof. Dr. Melika Husić-Mehmedović, the collection includes contributions from experts across various disciplines, examining depopulation, migration, aging, and declining birth rates.
Pejanović highlighted that underdeveloped municipalities, especially those established post-Dayton, are seeing the most severe population declines. Chronic unemployment, poor infrastructure, and lack of opportunity are driving both natural decline and emigration – creating a cycle of demographic and economic stagnation.
Prof. Dr. Adnan Efendić emphasized that these changes are not just numbers but indicators of deep societal challenges. The loss of young, educated citizens is already impacting the labor market, healthcare, and social cohesion. He stressed the urgent need for migration policies to prevent further loss and encourage return.
BiH has recorded negative natural growth since 2009, reaching -6.7 per 1,000 residents by 2022. From 2010 to 2019, over 400,000 people emigrated—mostly aged 20 to 29. Meanwhile, the population’s average age rose from 39.6 to 42.5 years, with an aging index of 28.4 percent.
The publication calls for integrated, long-term demographic policies, including incentives for young families, support for regional development, and a stronger role for the diaspora in the country’s recovery. The authors warn that without strategic migration and population policies, BiH risks a serious demographic collapse.
The event gathered members of the academic community, who agreed that reversing these demographic trends is among the most pressing challenges facing Bosnia and Herzegovina today.
