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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bosnia and Herzegovina was 3,140,095 in 2025 vs 2,363,325 people in Lesotho in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bosnia and Herzegovina's population is 3,114,736 people compared to 2,402,837 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina's population is 1.3 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina is ranked the 135th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.04% for Bosnia and Herzegovina vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has had an average growth rate of -1.15% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina has decreased from 4.06M people to 3.11M (23.3% decline), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.5% growth).

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bosnia Lesotho
2100 1,368,062 3,280,518
2099 1,382,211 3,286,430
2098 1,396,949 3,292,231
2097 1,412,908 3,297,835
2096 1,428,574 3,302,758
2095 1,443,843 3,307,678
2094 1,459,099 3,311,734
2093 1,474,841 3,315,488
2092 1,490,288 3,319,391
2091 1,505,574 3,322,303
2090 1,521,165 3,324,499
2089 1,537,449 3,326,577
2088 1,554,002 3,328,210
2087 1,570,515 3,329,694
2086 1,587,803 3,330,185
2085 1,605,248 3,330,989
2084 1,623,603 3,331,214
2083 1,642,536 3,331,221
2082 1,661,441 3,330,964
2081 1,680,572 3,330,141
2080 1,700,417 3,328,997
2079 1,720,559 3,326,895
2078 1,741,147 3,324,376
2077 1,762,029 3,321,152
2076 1,783,547 3,317,581
2075 1,805,988 3,313,968
2074 1,828,419 3,308,905
2073 1,850,549 3,303,592
2072 1,873,199 3,297,913
2071 1,896,330 3,291,224
2070 1,920,335 3,283,387
2069 1,943,983 3,274,978
2068 1,967,713 3,265,887
2067 1,993,328 3,256,362
2066 2,018,796 3,246,639
2065 2,045,094 3,236,890
2064 2,071,026 3,226,227
2063 2,096,801 3,214,843
2062 2,122,454 3,202,027
2061 2,148,932 3,188,674
2060 2,176,154 3,174,740
2059 2,203,131 3,159,947
2058 2,230,453 3,144,797
2057 2,258,553 3,129,007
2056 2,288,270 3,112,877
2055 2,318,066 3,095,653
2054 2,345,650 3,078,317
2053 2,374,091 3,059,904
2052 2,401,804 3,040,402
2051 2,431,166 3,019,864
2050 2,459,340 2,999,214
2049 2,488,686 2,977,795
2048 2,516,605 2,955,487
2047 2,545,909 2,932,450
2046 2,575,176 2,909,071
2045 2,603,679 2,885,303
2044 2,631,917 2,861,140
2043 2,660,625 2,836,547
2042 2,689,157 2,811,435
2041 2,719,360 2,785,921
2040 2,748,491 2,760,167
2039 2,776,696 2,734,178
2038 2,803,054 2,707,996
2037 2,829,544 2,681,646
2036 2,856,285 2,654,540
2035 2,883,527 2,627,488
2034 2,912,522 2,600,669
2033 2,939,434 2,573,856
2032 2,966,176 2,547,137
2031 2,989,887 2,520,626
2030 3,013,719 2,494,444
2029 3,037,488 2,468,067
2028 3,062,650 2,441,673
2027 3,088,595 2,415,634
2026 3,114,736 2,389,322
2025 3,140,095 2,363,325
2024 3,164,253 2,337,423
2023 3,185,073 2,311,472
2022 3,204,802 2,286,110
2021 3,244,907 2,261,542
2020 3,299,349 2,235,727
2019 3,345,533 2,209,405
2018 3,387,000 2,183,603
2017 3,428,682 2,157,110
2016 3,473,003 2,130,422
2015 3,518,541 2,104,611
2014 3,564,829 2,080,089
2013 3,610,859 2,056,504
2012 3,670,113 2,034,354
2011 3,741,798 2,014,009
2010 3,811,472 1,996,251
2009 3,879,794 1,980,883
2008 3,947,544 1,966,541
2007 4,013,424 1,953,268
2006 4,063,272 1,945,063
2005 4,096,493 1,953,076
2004 4,140,987 1,971,129
2003 4,178,523 1,985,059
2002 4,188,002 1,994,679
2001 4,179,438 2,000,853
2000 4,159,771 2,003,913
1999 4,130,305 2,003,234
1998 4,089,356 1,998,049
1997 4,018,227 1,988,130
1996 3,875,246 1,972,418
1995 3,715,564 1,951,437
1994 3,725,412 1,927,707
1993 3,904,482 1,901,793
1992 4,234,616 1,873,274
1991 4,458,343 1,842,379
1990 4,448,652 1,809,696
1989 4,433,983 1,775,436
1988 4,414,404 1,739,841
1987 4,390,246 1,703,390
1986 4,362,115 1,666,138
1985 4,330,364 1,624,379
1984 4,295,536 1,578,986
1983 4,258,728 1,534,413
1982 4,221,100 1,490,732
1981 4,184,217 1,448,069
1980 4,148,426 1,406,521
1979 4,113,300 1,366,169
1978 4,078,240 1,327,240
1977 4,042,124 1,289,967
1976 4,004,552 1,253,214
1975 3,965,743 1,213,643
1974 3,926,472 1,172,420
1973 3,887,376 1,132,697
1972 3,848,271 1,094,063
1971 3,809,376 1,056,246
1970 3,773,247 1,019,273
1969 3,737,765 983,202
1968 3,698,794 948,105
1967 3,656,223 913,982
1966 3,610,562 881,870
1965 3,562,834 854,090
1964 3,513,441 829,437
1963 3,461,942 805,373
1962 3,407,532 781,814
1961 3,348,035 758,824
1960 3,281,381 736,500

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina decreased by 590,269 people (a 14.5% decline), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina lost 358,267 people (a 10.3% decline), while Lesotho's population increased by 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth).

Bosnia and Herzegovina was ranked 123rd most populous country in 2006 and is 135th in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Bosnia and Herzegovina's population will shrink by 21% to 2,459,340 people with a rank change from 135th to 144th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 24.8% to 2,999,214 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M 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
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bosnia Lesotho
2100 -1.02% -0.18%
2099 -1.06% -0.18%
2098 -1.13% -0.17%
2097 -1.1% -0.15%
2096 -1.06% -0.15%
2095 -1.05% -0.12%
2094 -1.07% -0.11%
2093 -1.04% -0.12%
2092 -1.02% -0.09%
2091 -1.02% -0.07%
2090 -1.06% -0.06%
2089 -1.07% -0.05%
2088 -1.05% -0.04%
2087 -1.09% -0.01%
2086 -1.09% -0.02%
2085 -1.13% -0.007%
2084 -1.15% -0%
2083 -1.14% 0.008%
2082 -1.14% 0.02%
2081 -1.17% 0.03%
2080 -1.17% 0.06%
2079 -1.18% 0.08%
2078 -1.19% 0.1%
2077 -1.21% 0.11%
2076 -1.24% 0.11%
2075 -1.23% 0.15%
2074 -1.2% 0.16%
2073 -1.21% 0.17%
2072 -1.22% 0.2%
2071 -1.25% 0.24%
2070 -1.22% 0.26%
2069 -1.21% 0.28%
2068 -1.29% 0.29%
2067 -1.26% 0.3%
2066 -1.29% 0.3%
2065 -1.25% 0.33%
2064 -1.23% 0.35%
2063 -1.21% 0.4%
2062 -1.23% 0.42%
2061 -1.25% 0.44%
2060 -1.22% 0.47%
2059 -1.22% 0.48%
2058 -1.24% 0.5%
2057 -1.3% 0.52%
2056 -1.29% 0.56%
2055 -1.18% 0.56%
2054 -1.2% 0.6%
2053 -1.15% 0.64%
2052 -1.21% 0.68%
2051 -1.15% 0.69%
2050 -1.18% 0.72%
2049 -1.11% 0.75%
2048 -1.15% 0.79%
2047 -1.14% 0.8%
2046 -1.09% 0.82%
2045 -1.07% 0.84%
2044 -1.08% 0.87%
2043 -1.06% 0.89%
2042 -1.11% 0.92%
2041 -1.06% 0.93%
2040 -1.02% 0.95%
2039 -0.94% 0.97%
2038 -0.94% 0.98%
2037 -0.94% 1.02%
2036 -0.94% 1.03%
2035 -1% 1.03%
2034 -0.92% 1.04%
2033 -0.9% 1.05%
2032 -0.79% 1.05%
2031 -0.79% 1.05%
2030 -0.78% 1.07%
2029 -0.82% 1.08%
2028 -0.84% 1.08%
2027 -0.84% 1.1%
2026 -0.81% 1.1%
2025 -0.76% 1.11%
2024 -0.65% 1.12%
2023 -0.62% 1.11%
2022 -1.24% 1.09%
2021 -1.65% 1.15%
2020 -1.38% 1.19%
2019 -1.22% 1.18%
2018 -1.22% 1.23%
2017 -1.28% 1.25%
2016 -1.29% 1.23%
2015 -1.3% 1.18%
2014 -1.27% 1.15%
2013 -1.61% 1.09%
2012 -1.92% 1.01%
2011 -1.83% 0.89%
2010 -1.76% 0.78%
2009 -1.72% 0.73%
2008 -1.64% 0.68%
2007 -1.23% 0.42%
2006 -0.81% -0.41%
2005 -1.07% -0.92%
2004 -0.9% -0.7%
2003 -0.23% -0.48%
2002 0.2% -0.31%
2001 0.47% -0.15%
2000 0.71% 0.03%
1999 1% 0.26%
1998 1.77% 0.5%
1997 3.69% 0.8%
1996 4.3% 1.08%
1995 -0.26% 1.23%
1994 -4.59% 1.36%
1993 -7.8% 1.52%
1992 -5.02% 1.68%
1991 0.22% 1.81%
1990 0.33% 1.93%
1989 0.44% 2.05%
1988 0.55% 2.14%
1987 0.64% 2.24%
1986 0.73% 2.57%
1985 0.81% 2.87%
1984 0.86% 2.9%
1983 0.89% 2.93%
1982 0.88% 2.95%
1981 0.86% 2.95%
1980 0.85% 2.95%
1979 0.86% 2.93%
1978 0.89% 2.89%
1977 0.94% 2.93%
1976 0.98% 3.26%
1975 1% 3.52%
1974 1.01% 3.51%
1973 1.02% 3.53%
1972 1.02% 3.58%
1971 0.96% 3.63%
1970 0.95% 3.67%
1969 1.05% 3.7%
1968 1.16% 3.73%
1967 1.26% 3.64%
1966 1.34% 3.25%
1965 1.41% 2.97%
1964 1.49% 2.99%
1963 1.6% 3.01%
1962 1.78% 3.03%
1961 2.03% 3.03%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina declined by 0.76%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.11%.

Live population counters

Bosnia Lesotho
Current population
3114736
2402837
Population rank 135/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.03%
One net population change
21.8 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
21.5 minutes
9.46 minutes
One death every
12.3 minutes
21.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline -66 +71
Annual growth/decline -24,158 +25,902
Annual growth/decline rate -0.76% +1.11%
Population growth rate rank 192/197 94/197
One migration net change every
1.26 hours
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -6,994 -5,192
Net migration rank 124/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 34,120 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 160/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 151/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bosnia Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,994 - -5,192
2024 -18,359 -4,497 31,050 -5,107
2023 -18,292 -485 31,115 -5,168
2022 -20,197 -485 30,803 -6,023
2021 -33,670 -25,865 27,806 -3,449
2020 -22,502 -26,840 30,721 -3,449
2019 -15,192 -27,841 32,279 -6,896
2018 -10,761 -29,147 33,112 -6,892
2017 -12,810 -30,650 33,601 -6,850
2016 -13,009 -32,173 33,390 -6,766
2015 -11,942 -33,948 32,087 -7,087
2014 -11,009 -35,683 30,922 -6,877
2013 -8,367 -37,002 29,789 -6,659
2012 -6,761 -66,378 27,592 -6,425
2011 -5,354 -64,875 25,647 -6,118
2010 -1,895 -67,228 21,877 -5,886
2009 652 -68,182 20,335 -5,599
2008 161 -68,140 19,349 -5,392
2007 1,557 -65,335 17,763 -5,179
2006 2,714 -38,622 15,234 -11,416
2005 6,546 -37,086 15,831 -35,679
2004 9,549 -68,008 17,271 -33,530
2003 10,781 -27,396 20,133 -31,723
2002 10,972 -13,312 22,274 -29,924
2001 10,424 9,055 23,190 -27,874
2000 11,722 8,138 24,786 -26,220
1999 13,568 25,495 27,393 -24,610
1998 18,492 24,335 30,889 -23,299
1997 19,311 80,133 34,637 -22,396
1996 13,327 173,193 36,228 -17,042
1995 5,926 126,914 37,370 -14,588
1994 4,895 -157,427 38,629 -13,953
1993 -27,199 -178,416 40,505 -13,347
1992 -17,883 -436,814 42,579 -12,707
1991 33,692 -26,483 44,026 -12,114
1990 34,993 -22,829 45,060 -11,598
1989 36,802 -19,634 46,264 -11,207
1988 39,058 -17,058 47,158 -11,028
1987 41,172 -14,853 47,718 -10,946
1986 42,884 -12,941 45,232 -7,501
1985 44,983 -11,429 44,575 1,222
1984 46,413 -10,321 43,785 1,199
1983 47,135 -9,599 42,899 1,253
1982 47,023 -9,298 41,941 1,281
1981 45,423 -9,384 40,808 1,307
1980 42,911 -7,368 39,617 1,361
1979 42,157 -7,454 38,440 1,285
1978 44,800 -9,382 37,084 1,047
1977 48,643 -11,834 35,654 746
1976 52,107 -13,778 34,117 2,986
1975 53,629 -14,348 32,311 9,723
1974 53,600 -14,345 30,444 9,972
1973 52,989 -14,043 28,859 10,183
1972 54,072 -14,807 27,841 10,386
1971 54,352 -15,829 26,838 10,563
1970 54,455 -20,714 25,935 10,605
1969 58,454 -21,229 25,137 10,465
1968 61,422 -20,704 24,490 10,108
1967 65,618 -21,195 23,911 9,734
1966 70,085 -23,196 23,326 7,248
1965 72,896 -24,330 22,755 2,239
1964 74,151 -23,922 22,116 2,198
1963 75,380 -22,611 21,585 2,220
1962 77,582 -21,531 21,132 2,172
1961 77,601 -14,655 20,581 2,100
1960 76,840 -6,481 19,981 1,989

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 45.5% of the population change in Bosnia and Herzegovina is from natural causes (a loss of 176,734 people) and 54.5% is from migration (a loss of 211,931 people). In Lesotho 84.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,964 people) and 15.4% is from migration (a loss of 57,687 people).

As of 2024, 34,120 residents or 1.1% of the population were not native-born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

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
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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