The United Nations (UN) has estimated that in 2050 the six Western Balkans will have about three million fewer inhabitants than today, that Serbia will be at the greatest loss in absolute numbers, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania in percentage terms.
Instead of last year’s 16,977,000, the Western Balkans will have 13,975,000 in 2050, Radio Free Europe reports a UN estimate.
Serbia, which last year had 6,788,000 inhabitants, will have 5,554,000 in 2050, that is, about 1.2 million fewer inhabitants. If the estimate comes true, it would be a drop of 18.2 percent.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will drop from 3,194,000 to 2,469,000 inhabitants, which is 22.7 percent less, and Albania from 2,822,000 to 2,251,000 inhabitants, which is 20.2 percent less.
North Macedonia will have 1,519,000 inhabitants instead of 1,836,000, which is a drop of 17.3 percent, while Montenegro will have 535,000 instead of 628,000, or 14.8 percent less.
According to UN estimates, Kosovo will record the smallest decrease, from 1,709,000 to 1,647,000, or only 3.6 percent.
