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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bosnia and Herzegovina was 3,164,253 in 2024 vs 3,866,200 people in Croatia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bosnia and Herzegovina's population is 3,116,111 people compared to 3,812,193 in Croatia.

Population statistics:

  • Croatia's population is 1.22 times bigger than Bosnia and Herzegovina's.
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina is ranked the 135th most populous country in the world, while Croatia is the 129th.
  • The countries together account for 0.08% of the world: 0.04% for Bosnia and Herzegovina vs 0.05% for Croatia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has had an average growth rate of -1.19% per year vs -0.82% in Croatia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina has decreased from 4.06M people to 3.12M (23.3% decline), while Croatia has declined from 4.31M to 3.81M (11.6% decline).

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Croatia: population by year and forecast

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bosnia Croatia
2100 1,368,666 2,137,465
2099 1,382,821 2,155,186
2098 1,397,565 2,173,108
2097 1,413,532 2,190,995
2096 1,429,204 2,209,326
2095 1,444,480 2,227,698
2094 1,459,743 2,246,224
2093 1,475,492 2,264,550
2092 1,490,946 2,283,068
2091 1,506,239 2,301,556
2090 1,521,837 2,319,851
2089 1,538,128 2,338,604
2088 1,554,688 2,357,581
2087 1,571,208 2,376,274
2086 1,588,504 2,395,139
2085 1,605,957 2,414,304
2084 1,624,320 2,433,813
2083 1,643,261 2,453,361
2082 1,662,175 2,473,204
2081 1,681,314 2,493,128
2080 1,701,168 2,513,378
2079 1,721,318 2,534,101
2078 1,741,916 2,554,982
2077 1,762,807 2,576,370
2076 1,784,335 2,597,887
2075 1,806,786 2,619,688
2074 1,829,227 2,641,342
2073 1,851,366 2,663,253
2072 1,874,026 2,685,714
2071 1,897,167 2,708,053
2070 1,921,183 2,730,187
2069 1,944,841 2,753,302
2068 1,968,581 2,776,996
2067 1,994,208 2,800,742
2066 2,019,687 2,824,811
2065 2,045,997 2,848,913
2064 2,071,940 2,872,881
2063 2,097,727 2,897,651
2062 2,123,391 2,922,653
2061 2,149,881 2,947,832
2060 2,177,114 2,973,162
2059 2,204,104 2,998,389
2058 2,231,438 3,023,822
2057 2,259,550 3,049,085
2056 2,289,280 3,074,796
2055 2,319,090 3,100,195
2054 2,346,686 3,125,459
2053 2,375,139 3,151,016
2052 2,402,864 3,176,316
2051 2,432,239 3,201,973
2050 2,460,425 3,227,869
2049 2,489,784 3,253,597
2048 2,517,716 3,279,316
2047 2,547,032 3,305,051
2046 2,576,313 3,330,260
2045 2,604,829 3,355,638
2044 2,633,079 3,381,196
2043 2,661,800 3,406,105
2042 2,690,344 3,430,854
2041 2,720,561 3,455,487
2040 2,749,705 3,479,631
2039 2,777,922 3,503,577
2038 2,804,291 3,527,583
2037 2,830,793 3,551,581
2036 2,857,546 3,574,520
2035 2,884,800 3,596,996
2034 2,913,808 3,620,363
2033 2,940,732 3,643,692
2032 2,967,485 3,667,478
2031 2,991,207 3,691,842
2030 3,015,049 3,715,373
2029 3,038,829 3,739,203
2028 3,064,003 3,762,505
2027 3,089,959 3,787,023
2026 3,116,111 3,812,193
2025 3,141,481 3,838,346
2024 3,164,253 3,866,200
2023 3,185,073 3,859,686
2022 3,204,802 3,855,641
2021 3,244,907 3,878,981
2020 3,299,349 3,914,206
2019 3,345,533 3,949,390
2018 3,387,000 3,988,775
2017 3,428,682 4,041,407
2016 3,473,003 4,106,867
2015 3,518,541 4,151,725
2014 3,564,829 4,201,598
2013 3,610,859 4,233,922
2012 3,670,113 4,260,368
2011 3,741,798 4,280,622
2010 3,811,472 4,295,427
2009 3,879,794 4,305,181
2008 3,947,544 4,309,705
2007 4,013,424 4,310,217
2006 4,063,272 4,311,159
2005 4,096,493 4,310,145
2004 4,140,987 4,304,600
2003 4,178,523 4,303,399
2002 4,188,002 4,302,174
2001 4,179,438 4,299,642
2000 4,159,771 4,468,302
1999 4,130,305 4,512,597
1998 4,089,356 4,532,135
1997 4,018,227 4,534,920
1996 3,875,246 4,557,097
1995 3,715,564 4,620,030
1994 3,725,412 4,652,024
1993 3,904,482 4,600,463
1992 4,234,616 4,575,818
1991 4,458,343 4,689,022
1990 4,448,652 4,777,368
1989 4,433,983 4,767,260
1988 4,414,404 4,755,207
1987 4,390,246 4,739,745
1986 4,362,115 4,721,446
1985 4,330,364 4,701,417
1984 4,295,536 4,680,285
1983 4,258,728 4,658,254
1982 4,221,100 4,634,234
1981 4,184,217 4,611,509
1980 4,148,426 4,599,782
1979 4,113,300 4,594,778
1978 4,078,240 4,581,085
1977 4,042,124 4,559,571
1976 4,004,552 4,535,934
1975 3,965,743 4,512,082
1974 3,926,472 4,490,660
1973 3,887,376 4,470,161
1972 3,848,271 4,450,564
1971 3,809,376 4,431,275
1970 3,773,247 4,412,252
1969 3,737,765 4,391,490
1968 3,698,794 4,365,628
1967 3,656,223 4,338,683
1966 3,610,562 4,310,701
1965 3,562,834 4,280,923
1964 3,513,441 4,252,876
1963 3,461,942 4,225,675
1962 3,407,532 4,196,712
1961 3,348,035 4,167,292
1960 3,281,381 4,140,181

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/croatia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina decreased by 590,269 people (a 14.5% decline), while Croatia lost 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina lost 356,892 people (a 10.3% decline), while Croatia's population decreased by 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline).

Bosnia and Herzegovina was ranked 123rd most populous country in 2006 and is 135th in 2026. Croatia was ranked 120th in 2006 and ranked 129th 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 Croatia will decrease by 15.3% to 3,227,869 people and rank change from 129th to 139th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 42.7% of the population in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 31.9% in Croatia.

Population growth rate by year

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bosnia Croatia
2100 -1.02% -0.82%
2099 -1.06% -0.82%
2098 -1.13% -0.82%
2097 -1.1% -0.83%
2096 -1.06% -0.82%
2095 -1.05% -0.82%
2094 -1.07% -0.81%
2093 -1.04% -0.81%
2092 -1.02% -0.8%
2091 -1.02% -0.79%
2090 -1.06% -0.8%
2089 -1.07% -0.8%
2088 -1.05% -0.79%
2087 -1.09% -0.79%
2086 -1.09% -0.79%
2085 -1.13% -0.8%
2084 -1.15% -0.8%
2083 -1.14% -0.8%
2082 -1.14% -0.8%
2081 -1.17% -0.81%
2080 -1.17% -0.82%
2079 -1.18% -0.82%
2078 -1.19% -0.83%
2077 -1.21% -0.83%
2076 -1.24% -0.83%
2075 -1.23% -0.82%
2074 -1.2% -0.82%
2073 -1.21% -0.84%
2072 -1.22% -0.82%
2071 -1.25% -0.81%
2070 -1.22% -0.84%
2069 -1.21% -0.85%
2068 -1.29% -0.85%
2067 -1.26% -0.85%
2066 -1.29% -0.85%
2065 -1.25% -0.83%
2064 -1.23% -0.85%
2063 -1.21% -0.86%
2062 -1.23% -0.85%
2061 -1.25% -0.85%
2060 -1.22% -0.84%
2059 -1.22% -0.84%
2058 -1.24% -0.83%
2057 -1.3% -0.84%
2056 -1.29% -0.82%
2055 -1.18% -0.81%
2054 -1.2% -0.81%
2053 -1.15% -0.8%
2052 -1.21% -0.8%
2051 -1.15% -0.8%
2050 -1.18% -0.79%
2049 -1.11% -0.78%
2048 -1.15% -0.78%
2047 -1.14% -0.76%
2046 -1.09% -0.76%
2045 -1.07% -0.76%
2044 -1.08% -0.73%
2043 -1.06% -0.72%
2042 -1.11% -0.71%
2041 -1.06% -0.69%
2040 -1.02% -0.68%
2039 -0.94% -0.68%
2038 -0.94% -0.68%
2037 -0.94% -0.64%
2036 -0.94% -0.62%
2035 -1% -0.65%
2034 -0.92% -0.64%
2033 -0.9% -0.65%
2032 -0.79% -0.66%
2031 -0.79% -0.63%
2030 -0.78% -0.64%
2029 -0.82% -0.62%
2028 -0.84% -0.65%
2027 -0.84% -0.66%
2026 -0.81% -0.68%
2025 -0.72% -0.72%
2024 -0.65% 0.17%
2023 -0.62% 0.1%
2022 -1.24% -0.6%
2021 -1.65% -0.9%
2020 -1.38% -0.89%
2019 -1.22% -0.99%
2018 -1.22% -1.3%
2017 -1.28% -1.59%
2016 -1.29% -1.08%
2015 -1.3% -1.19%
2014 -1.27% -0.76%
2013 -1.61% -0.62%
2012 -1.92% -0.47%
2011 -1.83% -0.34%
2010 -1.76% -0.23%
2009 -1.72% -0.1%
2008 -1.64% -0.01%
2007 -1.23% -0.02%
2006 -0.81% 0.02%
2005 -1.07% 0.13%
2004 -0.9% 0.03%
2003 -0.23% 0.03%
2002 0.2% 0.06%
2001 0.47% -3.77%
2000 0.71% -0.98%
1999 1% -0.43%
1998 1.77% -0.06%
1997 3.69% -0.49%
1996 4.3% -1.36%
1995 -0.26% -0.69%
1994 -4.59% 1.12%
1993 -7.8% 0.54%
1992 -5.02% -2.41%
1991 0.22% -1.85%
1990 0.33% 0.21%
1989 0.44% 0.25%
1988 0.55% 0.33%
1987 0.64% 0.39%
1986 0.73% 0.43%
1985 0.81% 0.45%
1984 0.86% 0.47%
1983 0.89% 0.52%
1982 0.88% 0.49%
1981 0.86% 0.25%
1980 0.85% 0.11%
1979 0.86% 0.3%
1978 0.89% 0.47%
1977 0.94% 0.52%
1976 0.98% 0.53%
1975 1% 0.48%
1974 1.01% 0.46%
1973 1.02% 0.44%
1972 1.02% 0.44%
1971 0.96% 0.43%
1970 0.95% 0.47%
1969 1.05% 0.59%
1968 1.16% 0.62%
1967 1.26% 0.65%
1966 1.34% 0.7%
1965 1.41% 0.66%
1964 1.49% 0.64%
1963 1.6% 0.69%
1962 1.78% 0.71%
1961 2.03% 0.65%

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/croatia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina declined by 0.65%, while Croatia's population grew by 0.17%.

Live population counters

Bosnia Croatia
Current population
3116111
3812193
Population rank 135/197 129/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.05%
One net population change
25.2 minutes
1.34 hours
One birth every
21.4 minutes
16.4 minutes
One death every
12.3 minutes
10.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline -57 +18
Annual growth/decline -20,820 +6,514
Annual growth/decline rate -0.65% +0.17%
Population growth rate rank 190/197 157/197
One migration net change every
1.26 hours
2.52 hours
Annual migration change -6,994 -3,481
Net migration rank 124/196 112/196
Foreign-born residents 34,120 527,831
Foreign-born residents rank 160/195 78/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.1% 13.6%
Foreign-born share rank 151/195 50/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Natural

Migration
Croatia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bosnia Croatia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,994 - -3,481
2024 - -4,497 - -5,186
2023 -18,292 -485 -19,298 10,202
2022 -20,197 -485 -23,134 11,681
2021 -33,670 -25,865 -26,377 -4,517
2020 -22,502 -26,840 -20,354 -8,552
2019 -15,192 -27,841 -15,008 -13,239
2018 -10,761 -29,147 -15,557 -25,016
2017 -12,810 -30,650 -16,570 -44,557
2016 -13,009 -32,173 -13,553 -32,144
2015 -11,942 -33,948 -16,607 -27,501
2014 -11,009 -35,683 -11,345 -13,127
2013 -8,367 -37,002 -10,162 -6,245
2012 -6,761 -66,378 -9,799 -4,794
2011 -5,354 -64,875 -9,846 -17,463
2010 -1,895 -67,228 -8,591 -3,995
2009 652 -68,182 -7,319 1,358
2008 161 -68,140 -8,188 6,495
2007 1,557 -65,335 -10,335 8,893
2006 2,714 -38,622 -8,669 10,852
2005 6,546 -37,086 -9,022 10,629
2004 9,549 -68,008 -9,040 15,445
2003 10,781 -27,396 -12,480 12,556
2002 10,972 -13,312 -10,325 10,306
2001 10,424 9,055 -8,599 19,298
2000 11,722 8,138 -6,255 -47,629
1999 13,568 25,495 -6,769 -47,418
1998 18,492 24,335 -4,985 -47,931
1997 19,311 80,133 3,175 -52,897
1996 13,327 173,193 3,190 -53,688
1995 5,926 126,914 0 -51,882
1994 4,895 -157,427 -930 -50,444
1993 -27,199 -178,416 -2,301 -49,615
1992 -17,883 -436,814 -4,576 -47,865
1991 33,692 -26,483 -2,813 -31,968
1990 34,993 -22,829 3,344 9,538
1989 36,802 -19,634 3,337 8,471
1988 39,058 -17,058 5,707 7,242
1987 41,172 -14,853 6,161 6,956
1986 42,884 -12,941 8,499 6,261
1985 44,983 -11,429 10,343 5,550
1984 46,413 -10,321 10,764 5,757
1983 47,135 -9,599 10,714 6,323
1982 47,023 -9,298 15,756 7,475
1981 45,423 -9,384 15,680 4,872
1980 42,911 -7,368 17,939 -5,486
1979 42,157 -7,454 21,136 -5,740
1978 44,800 -9,382 20,157 -7,329
1977 48,643 -11,834 22,798 -7,339
1976 52,107 -13,778 22,226 -7,400
1975 53,629 -14,348 21,658 -7,366
1974 53,600 -14,345 22,453 -8,076
1973 52,989 -14,043 21,904 -8,335
1972 54,072 -14,807 17,802 -7,277
1971 54,352 -15,829 19,941 -5,608
1970 54,455 -20,714 16,767 -2,359
1969 58,454 -21,229 16,688 -2,796
1968 61,422 -20,704 21,828 -2,799
1967 65,618 -21,195 26,032 -3,518
1966 70,085 -23,196 33,192 -6,341
1965 72,896 -24,330 31,251 -5,253
1964 74,151 -23,922 25,942 -2,090
1963 75,380 -22,611 31,270 -1,289
1962 77,582 -21,531 30,216 -2,176
1961 77,601 -14,655 36,255 -6,567
1960 76,840 -6,481 34,778 -21,768

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

GeoRank.org/population/bosnia-and-herzegovina/croatia | 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 Croatia 54.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 177,803 people) and 45.2% is from migration (a loss of 146,770 people).

As of 2024, 34,120 residents or 1.1% of the population were not native-born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 527,831 people or 13.6% in Croatia.

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
Croatia
City Population
Zagreb 767K
Split 161K
Rijeka 108K
Osijek 96.3K
Zadar 70.8K
Velika Gorica 61.1K
Pula 52.2K
Slavonski Brod 49.9K
Karlovac 49.4K
Sibenik 42.6K

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/croatia | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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