Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has once again found itself at the top of an infamous list. Our country is the first in terms of decreasing population. Insiders say the trend has been present for years. However, it means nothing to decision-makers, and neither does the United Nations (UN) estimate that, if the trends continue, in 50 years our country will have only one million and 600 thousand inhabitants.
By leaving BiH, Aldin Babic became part of the statistics and is in the category of those who left our country. He says that the economic situation was important, but not the deciding factor for him to go to Germany.
”The culmination of many years of political turmoil led to a socio-political situation and a total collapse in our country, where you are pushed against the wall to decide whether to side with them, and we know very well how they prosper, or to decide for the other side, where you will go abroad, where you will be valued for how well you work and so well paid,” Aldin Babic states.
Aldin is also of the opinion that employers in our country do not appreciate good workers enough, unlike in Western countries.
The exact number of people who left BiH does not exist. According to research published by the Croatian agency “Piksel”, BiH is at the top of the list of countries with the largest population decrease. Besides our country, Serbia and Croatia are also among the top 10. The Union for Sustainable Return says that around 484.000 citizens have left BiH since 2013.
”Reactions to government institutions were active. We prepared a conference called ‘Disappearing Cities’ and no one showed up to explain why and in what way his or her political party is absolutely not heard. Now the elections are coming, did anyone mention that they will make a four-year plan that will include keeping citizens in BiH,” Mirhunisa Zukic from the Union for Sustainable Return points out.
It is devastating, they say in the Union, that despite the fact that certain local areas are getting stronger economically, the trend of leaving does not stop. Demographers warn that with this approach we will become a country of old people.
”Without an economy of growth and development, that is balanced economic development, without an employment strategy, permanent employment with good incomes, people will leave,” demographer Stevo Pasalic emphasizes.
And while politicians are counting us by nation, there are fewer and fewer of us, says sociologist Vladimir Vasic. He considers the fact that BiH is more often labeled as hopeless and unsafe for life by young people as devastating. He believes that the root of the problem is corruption.
”I estimate that it takes six months to stop the process of corruption, the process of extortion, but from above and not from below… In order for this country to stabilize and to start solving these pressing problems,” Vasic states.
The UN Population Fund also warned against emigration from BiH. UN estimates are that by 2070, less than 1.6 million people could live in BiH if the current trends of population reduction continue.
