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Population in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Costa Rica: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bosnia and Herzegovina was 3,164,253 in 2024 vs 5,129,910 people in Costa Rica in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bosnia and Herzegovina's population is 3,116,111 people compared to 5,181,862 in Costa Rica.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 1.66 times bigger than Bosnia and Herzegovina's.
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina is ranked the 135th most populous country in the world, while Costa Rica is the 126th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.04% for Bosnia and Herzegovina vs 0.06% for Costa Rica.
  • For the last 10 years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has had an average growth rate of -1.19% per year vs +0.77% in Costa Rica.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina has decreased from 4.06M people to 3.12M (23.3% decline), while Costa Rica has grown from 4.32M to 5.18M (19.9% growth).

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Costa Rica: population by year and forecast

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bosnia Costa Rica
2100 1,368,666 3,804,183
2099 1,382,821 3,842,423
2098 1,397,565 3,880,999
2097 1,413,532 3,919,996
2096 1,429,204 3,959,352
2095 1,444,480 3,999,084
2094 1,459,743 4,039,053
2093 1,475,492 4,079,349
2092 1,490,946 4,119,898
2091 1,506,239 4,160,663
2090 1,521,837 4,201,548
2089 1,538,128 4,242,452
2088 1,554,688 4,283,327
2087 1,571,208 4,324,225
2086 1,588,504 4,364,979
2085 1,605,957 4,405,520
2084 1,624,320 4,445,770
2083 1,643,261 4,485,644
2082 1,662,175 4,525,171
2081 1,681,314 4,564,265
2080 1,701,168 4,602,737
2079 1,721,318 4,640,677
2078 1,741,916 4,677,935
2077 1,762,807 4,714,527
2076 1,784,335 4,750,309
2075 1,806,786 4,785,359
2074 1,829,227 4,819,691
2073 1,851,366 4,853,137
2072 1,874,026 4,885,727
2071 1,897,167 4,917,445
2070 1,921,183 4,948,313
2069 1,944,841 4,978,425
2068 1,968,581 5,007,604
2067 1,994,208 5,035,877
2066 2,019,687 5,063,521
2065 2,045,997 5,090,474
2064 2,071,940 5,116,546
2063 2,097,727 5,141,922
2062 2,123,391 5,166,260
2061 2,149,881 5,189,836
2060 2,177,114 5,212,549
2059 2,204,104 5,234,066
2058 2,231,438 5,254,528
2057 2,259,550 5,273,844
2056 2,289,280 5,292,013
2055 2,319,090 5,308,829
2054 2,346,686 5,324,305
2053 2,375,139 5,338,417
2052 2,402,864 5,350,974
2051 2,432,239 5,361,865
2050 2,460,425 5,371,197
2049 2,489,784 5,378,904
2048 2,517,716 5,385,081
2047 2,547,032 5,389,678
2046 2,576,313 5,392,713
2045 2,604,829 5,394,209
2044 2,633,079 5,394,124
2043 2,661,800 5,392,590
2042 2,690,344 5,389,628
2041 2,720,561 5,385,101
2040 2,749,705 5,379,344
2039 2,777,922 5,372,186
2038 2,804,291 5,363,617
2037 2,830,793 5,353,928
2036 2,857,546 5,343,027
2035 2,884,800 5,330,994
2034 2,913,808 5,317,895
2033 2,940,732 5,303,634
2032 2,967,485 5,288,416
2031 2,991,207 5,272,215
2030 3,015,049 5,255,064
2029 3,038,829 5,236,901
2028 3,064,003 5,217,724
2027 3,089,959 5,197,413
2026 3,116,111 5,176,096
2025 3,141,481 5,153,634
2024 3,164,253 5,129,910
2023 3,185,073 5,105,525
2022 3,204,802 5,081,765
2021 3,244,907 5,059,988
2020 3,299,349 5,034,320
2019 3,345,533 4,999,553
2018 3,387,000 4,957,818
2017 3,428,682 4,913,177
2016 3,473,003 4,866,998
2015 3,518,541 4,818,038
2014 3,564,829 4,767,119
2013 3,610,859 4,716,147
2012 3,670,113 4,663,934
2011 3,741,798 4,609,833
2010 3,811,472 4,555,962
2009 3,879,794 4,499,791
2008 3,947,544 4,440,056
2007 4,013,424 4,380,248
2006 4,063,272 4,321,340
2005 4,096,493 4,261,240
2004 4,140,987 4,200,078
2003 4,178,523 4,138,784
2002 4,188,002 4,075,705
2001 4,179,438 4,008,947
2000 4,159,771 3,937,739
1999 4,130,305 3,862,101
1998 4,089,356 3,782,838
1997 4,018,227 3,701,711
1996 3,875,246 3,619,013
1995 3,715,564 3,535,176
1994 3,725,412 3,451,122
1993 3,904,482 3,367,434
1992 4,234,616 3,284,258
1991 4,458,343 3,202,176
1990 4,448,652 3,121,706
1989 4,433,983 3,043,827
1988 4,414,404 2,968,103
1987 4,390,246 2,892,699
1986 4,362,115 2,817,216
1985 4,330,364 2,741,894
1984 4,295,536 2,667,595
1983 4,258,728 2,595,153
1982 4,221,100 2,524,806
1981 4,184,217 2,456,637
1980 4,148,426 2,390,633
1979 4,113,300 2,326,490
1978 4,078,240 2,264,510
1977 4,042,124 2,205,025
1976 4,004,552 2,147,774
1975 3,965,743 2,092,719
1974 3,926,472 2,039,643
1973 3,887,376 1,988,343
1972 3,848,271 1,938,248
1971 3,809,376 1,888,539
1970 3,773,247 1,838,949
1969 3,737,765 1,789,276
1968 3,698,794 1,739,731
1967 3,656,223 1,689,523
1966 3,610,562 1,638,116
1965 3,562,834 1,586,208
1964 3,513,441 1,533,960
1963 3,461,942 1,481,604
1962 3,407,532 1,429,445
1961 3,348,035 1,377,920
1960 3,281,381 1,327,496

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bosnia-and-herzegovina/costa-rica | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina decreased by 590,269 people (a 14.5% decline), while Costa Rica gained 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina lost 356,892 people (a 10.3% decline), while Costa Rica's population increased by 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth).

Bosnia and Herzegovina was ranked 123rd most populous country in 2006 and is 135th in 2026. Costa Rica was ranked 119th in 2006 and ranked 126th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Bosnia and Herzegovina's population will shrink by 21% to 2,460,425 people with a rank change from 135th to 144th. The population of Costa Rica will increase by 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Bosnia and Herzegovina's population already peaked in 1991 at 4.46M people and is projected to decrease to 1.37M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bosnia Costa Rica
2100 -1.02% -1%
2099 -1.06% -0.99%
2098 -1.13% -0.99%
2097 -1.1% -0.99%
2096 -1.06% -0.99%
2095 -1.05% -0.99%
2094 -1.07% -0.99%
2093 -1.04% -0.98%
2092 -1.02% -0.98%
2091 -1.02% -0.97%
2090 -1.06% -0.96%
2089 -1.07% -0.95%
2088 -1.05% -0.95%
2087 -1.09% -0.93%
2086 -1.09% -0.92%
2085 -1.13% -0.91%
2084 -1.15% -0.89%
2083 -1.14% -0.87%
2082 -1.14% -0.86%
2081 -1.17% -0.84%
2080 -1.17% -0.82%
2079 -1.18% -0.8%
2078 -1.19% -0.78%
2077 -1.21% -0.75%
2076 -1.24% -0.73%
2075 -1.23% -0.71%
2074 -1.2% -0.69%
2073 -1.21% -0.67%
2072 -1.22% -0.65%
2071 -1.25% -0.62%
2070 -1.22% -0.6%
2069 -1.21% -0.58%
2068 -1.29% -0.56%
2067 -1.26% -0.55%
2066 -1.29% -0.53%
2065 -1.25% -0.51%
2064 -1.23% -0.49%
2063 -1.21% -0.47%
2062 -1.23% -0.45%
2061 -1.25% -0.44%
2060 -1.22% -0.41%
2059 -1.22% -0.39%
2058 -1.24% -0.37%
2057 -1.3% -0.34%
2056 -1.29% -0.32%
2055 -1.18% -0.29%
2054 -1.2% -0.26%
2053 -1.15% -0.23%
2052 -1.21% -0.2%
2051 -1.15% -0.17%
2050 -1.18% -0.14%
2049 -1.11% -0.11%
2048 -1.15% -0.09%
2047 -1.14% -0.06%
2046 -1.09% -0.03%
2045 -1.07% 0.002%
2044 -1.08% 0.03%
2043 -1.06% 0.05%
2042 -1.11% 0.08%
2041 -1.06% 0.11%
2040 -1.02% 0.13%
2039 -0.94% 0.16%
2038 -0.94% 0.18%
2037 -0.94% 0.2%
2036 -0.94% 0.23%
2035 -1% 0.25%
2034 -0.92% 0.27%
2033 -0.9% 0.29%
2032 -0.79% 0.31%
2031 -0.79% 0.33%
2030 -0.78% 0.35%
2029 -0.82% 0.37%
2028 -0.84% 0.39%
2027 -0.84% 0.41%
2026 -0.81% 0.44%
2025 -0.72% 0.46%
2024 -0.65% 0.48%
2023 -0.62% 0.47%
2022 -1.24% 0.43%
2021 -1.65% 0.51%
2020 -1.38% 0.7%
2019 -1.22% 0.84%
2018 -1.22% 0.91%
2017 -1.28% 0.95%
2016 -1.29% 1.02%
2015 -1.3% 1.07%
2014 -1.27% 1.08%
2013 -1.61% 1.12%
2012 -1.92% 1.17%
2011 -1.83% 1.18%
2010 -1.76% 1.25%
2009 -1.72% 1.35%
2008 -1.64% 1.37%
2007 -1.23% 1.36%
2006 -0.81% 1.41%
2005 -1.07% 1.46%
2004 -0.9% 1.48%
2003 -0.23% 1.55%
2002 0.2% 1.67%
2001 0.47% 1.81%
2000 0.71% 1.96%
1999 1% 2.1%
1998 1.77% 2.19%
1997 3.69% 2.29%
1996 4.3% 2.37%
1995 -0.26% 2.44%
1994 -4.59% 2.49%
1993 -7.8% 2.53%
1992 -5.02% 2.56%
1991 0.22% 2.58%
1990 0.33% 2.56%
1989 0.44% 2.55%
1988 0.55% 2.61%
1987 0.64% 2.68%
1986 0.73% 2.75%
1985 0.81% 2.79%
1984 0.86% 2.79%
1983 0.89% 2.79%
1982 0.88% 2.77%
1981 0.86% 2.76%
1980 0.85% 2.76%
1979 0.86% 2.74%
1978 0.89% 2.7%
1977 0.94% 2.67%
1976 0.98% 2.63%
1975 1% 2.6%
1974 1.01% 2.58%
1973 1.02% 2.58%
1972 1.02% 2.63%
1971 0.96% 2.7%
1970 0.95% 2.78%
1969 1.05% 2.85%
1968 1.16% 2.97%
1967 1.26% 3.14%
1966 1.34% 3.27%
1965 1.41% 3.41%
1964 1.49% 3.53%
1963 1.6% 3.65%
1962 1.78% 3.74%
1961 2.03% 3.8%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bosnia-and-herzegovina/costa-rica | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina declined by 0.65%, while Costa Rica's population grew by 0.48%.

Live population counters

Bosnia Costa Rica
Current population
3116111
5181862
Population rank 135/197 126/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.06%
One net population change
25.2 minutes
21.6 minutes
One birth every
21.4 minutes
10.1 minutes
One death every
12.3 minutes
18.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline -57 +67
Annual growth/decline -20,820 +24,385
Annual growth/decline rate -0.65% +0.48%
Population growth rate rank 190/197 138/197
One migration net change every
1.26 hours
8.78 hours
Annual migration change -6,994 +1,000
Net migration rank 124/196 63/196
Foreign-born residents 34,120 628,404
Foreign-born residents rank 160/195 75/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.1% 12.2%
Foreign-born share rank 151/195 55/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Natural

Migration
Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bosnia Costa Rica
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,994 - 1,000
2024 - -4,497 - 967
2023 -18,292 -485 24,109 995
2022 -20,197 -485 21,409 1,006
2021 -33,670 -25,865 20,119 1,018
2020 -22,502 -26,840 29,164 1,029
2019 -15,192 -27,841 37,682 1,653
2018 -10,761 -29,147 42,469 1,673
2017 -12,810 -30,650 43,471 1,671
2016 -13,009 -32,173 45,565 1,649
2015 -11,942 -33,948 49,077 1,617
2014 -11,009 -35,683 49,559 1,589
2013 -8,367 -37,002 49,227 1,579
2012 -6,761 -66,378 52,036 1,587
2011 -5,354 -64,875 52,884 1,695
2010 -1,895 -67,228 50,803 2,357
2009 652 -68,182 55,757 3,432
2008 161 -68,140 56,491 3,794
2007 1,557 -65,335 55,244 4,080
2006 2,714 -38,622 54,177 4,321
2005 6,546 -37,086 57,139 4,567
2004 9,549 -68,008 55,769 4,856
2003 10,781 -27,396 56,743 5,216
2002 10,972 -13,312 58,388 5,812
2001 10,424 9,055 62,199 7,119
2000 11,722 8,138 64,268 8,826
1999 13,568 25,495 64,922 13,253
1998 18,492 24,335 64,788 15,556
1997 19,311 80,133 64,954 16,954
1996 13,327 173,193 66,094 17,393
1995 5,926 126,914 67,585 16,609
1994 4,895 -157,427 68,336 15,587
1993 -27,199 -178,416 69,016 14,431
1992 -17,883 -436,814 69,830 13,069
1991 33,692 -26,483 70,506 10,757
1990 34,993 -22,829 71,727 7,949
1989 36,802 -19,634 72,327 3,758
1988 39,058 -17,058 72,944 2,414
1987 41,172 -14,853 73,188 2,267
1986 42,884 -12,941 73,211 2,302
1985 44,983 -11,429 72,776 2,357
1984 46,413 -10,321 71,062 2,402
1983 47,135 -9,599 68,972 2,449
1982 47,023 -9,298 66,826 2,453
1981 45,423 -9,384 64,632 2,431
1980 42,911 -7,368 62,561 2,387
1979 42,157 -7,454 60,984 2,349
1978 44,800 -9,382 58,327 2,296
1977 48,643 -11,834 56,122 2,228
1976 52,107 -13,778 54,019 2,129
1975 53,629 -14,348 51,979 1,992
1974 53,600 -14,345 50,349 1,839
1973 52,989 -14,043 48,943 1,468
1972 54,072 -14,807 48,417 1,366
1971 54,352 -15,829 48,341 1,296
1970 54,455 -20,714 48,398 1,137
1969 58,454 -21,229 48,790 1,017
1968 61,422 -20,704 48,361 939
1967 65,618 -21,195 50,193 926
1966 70,085 -23,196 50,755 930
1965 72,896 -24,330 51,196 932
1964 74,151 -23,922 51,435 934
1963 75,380 -22,611 51,403 938
1962 77,582 -21,531 51,046 934
1961 77,601 -14,655 50,149 924
1960 76,840 -6,481 48,857 910

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bosnia-and-herzegovina/costa-rica | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 41.1% of the population change in Bosnia and Herzegovina is from natural causes (a loss of 169,384 people) and 58.9% is from migration (a loss of 243,117 people). In Costa Rica 96.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 362,624 people) and 3.69% is from migration (a gain of 13,900 people).

As of 2024, 34,120 residents or 1.1% of the population were not native-born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 628,404 people or 12.2% in Costa Rica.

Biggest cities by population

Bosnia
City Population
Sarajevo 276K
Banja Luka 185K
Tuzla 111K
Zenica 111K
Mostar 105K
Prijedor 89.4K
Doboj 68.5K
Bihac 56.3K
Bijeljina 42.3K
Sanski Most 16.9K
Costa Rica
City Population
San Jose 335K
Limon 71.5K
Liberia 65.9K
Alajuela 44.4K
Puntarenas 41.5K
Cartago 22.8K
Heredia 16.7K
Tamarindo 7.13K
Santa Teresa 3K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/bosnia-and-herzegovina/costa-rica | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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