Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bosnia and Herzegovina was 3,164,253 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bosnia and Herzegovina's population is 3,116,111 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 5.86 times bigger than Bosnia and Herzegovina's.
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina is ranked the 135th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.26% of the world: 0.04% for Bosnia and Herzegovina vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has had an average growth rate of -1.19% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina has decreased from 4.06M people to 3.12M (23.3% decline), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bosnia Netherlands
2100 1,368,666 17,359,081
2099 1,382,821 17,392,412
2098 1,397,565 17,425,508
2097 1,413,532 17,459,827
2096 1,429,204 17,495,124
2095 1,444,480 17,532,593
2094 1,459,743 17,571,051
2093 1,475,492 17,610,792
2092 1,490,946 17,649,611
2091 1,506,239 17,688,532
2090 1,521,837 17,730,570
2089 1,538,128 17,770,380
2088 1,554,688 17,809,825
2087 1,571,208 17,845,820
2086 1,588,504 17,885,001
2085 1,605,957 17,921,302
2084 1,624,320 17,957,639
2083 1,643,261 17,994,232
2082 1,662,175 18,029,404
2081 1,681,314 18,063,233
2080 1,701,168 18,093,703
2079 1,721,318 18,124,294
2078 1,741,916 18,152,738
2077 1,762,807 18,181,372
2076 1,784,335 18,206,864
2075 1,806,786 18,227,791
2074 1,829,227 18,245,652
2073 1,851,366 18,263,765
2072 1,874,026 18,280,443
2071 1,897,167 18,295,700
2070 1,921,183 18,311,141
2069 1,944,841 18,326,509
2068 1,968,581 18,341,711
2067 1,994,208 18,356,770
2066 2,019,687 18,374,904
2065 2,045,997 18,396,018
2064 2,071,940 18,417,894
2063 2,097,727 18,441,434
2062 2,123,391 18,464,922
2061 2,149,881 18,492,436
2060 2,177,114 18,520,315
2059 2,204,104 18,548,786
2058 2,231,438 18,577,700
2057 2,259,550 18,608,370
2056 2,289,280 18,638,918
2055 2,319,090 18,666,514
2054 2,346,686 18,692,598
2053 2,375,139 18,718,268
2052 2,402,864 18,741,740
2051 2,432,239 18,768,309
2050 2,460,425 18,789,481
2049 2,489,784 18,809,886
2048 2,517,716 18,827,655
2047 2,547,032 18,844,635
2046 2,576,313 18,855,920
2045 2,604,829 18,867,286
2044 2,633,079 18,877,101
2043 2,661,800 18,882,735
2042 2,690,344 18,885,839
2041 2,720,561 18,885,255
2040 2,749,705 18,879,571
2039 2,777,922 18,870,248
2038 2,804,291 18,855,512
2037 2,830,793 18,837,172
2036 2,857,546 18,811,873
2035 2,884,800 18,783,312
2034 2,913,808 18,750,125
2033 2,940,732 18,708,101
2032 2,967,485 18,662,054
2031 2,991,207 18,609,452
2030 3,015,049 18,549,634
2029 3,038,829 18,481,269
2028 3,064,003 18,404,195
2027 3,089,959 18,320,644
2026 3,116,111 18,227,403
2025 3,141,481 18,118,662
2024 3,164,253 17,993,485
2023 3,185,073 17,877,117
2022 3,204,802 17,700,982
2021 3,244,907 17,533,044
2020 3,299,349 17,441,500
2019 3,345,533 17,344,874
2018 3,387,000 17,231,624
2017 3,428,682 17,131,296
2016 3,473,003 17,030,314
2015 3,518,541 16,939,923
2014 3,564,829 16,865,008
2013 3,610,859 16,804,432
2012 3,670,113 16,754,962
2011 3,741,798 16,693,074
2010 3,811,472 16,615,394
2009 3,879,794 16,530,388
2008 3,947,544 16,445,593
2007 4,013,424 16,381,696
2006 4,063,272 16,346,101
2005 4,096,493 16,319,868
2004 4,140,987 16,281,779
2003 4,178,523 16,225,302
2002 4,188,002 16,148,929
2001 4,179,438 16,046,180
2000 4,159,771 15,925,513
1999 4,130,305 15,812,088
1998 4,089,356 15,707,209
1997 4,018,227 15,610,650
1996 3,875,246 15,530,498
1995 3,715,564 15,459,006
1994 3,725,412 15,382,838
1993 3,904,482 15,290,368
1992 4,234,616 15,184,166
1991 4,458,343 15,069,798
1990 4,448,652 14,951,510
1989 4,433,983 14,848,907
1988 4,414,404 14,760,094
1987 4,390,246 14,665,037
1986 4,362,115 14,572,278
1985 4,330,364 14,491,632
1984 4,295,536 14,424,211
1983 4,258,728 14,367,070
1982 4,221,100 14,312,690
1981 4,184,217 14,247,208
1980 4,148,426 14,149,800
1979 4,113,300 14,038,270
1978 4,078,240 13,941,700
1977 4,042,124 13,856,185
1976 4,004,552 13,774,037
1975 3,965,743 13,666,335
1974 3,926,472 13,545,056
1973 3,887,376 13,439,322
1972 3,848,271 13,328,593
1971 3,809,376 13,194,497
1970 3,773,247 13,038,526
1969 3,737,765 12,877,984
1968 3,698,794 12,729,721
1967 3,656,223 12,598,201
1966 3,610,562 12,456,251
1965 3,562,834 12,294,732
1964 3,513,441 12,127,120
1963 3,461,942 11,965,966
1962 3,407,532 11,805,689
1961 3,348,035 11,638,712
1960 3,281,381 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina decreased by 590,269 people (a 14.5% decline), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina lost 356,892 people (a 10.3% decline), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Bosnia and Herzegovina was ranked 123rd most populous country in 2006 and is 135th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M 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
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bosnia Netherlands
2100 -1.02% -0.19%
2099 -1.06% -0.19%
2098 -1.13% -0.2%
2097 -1.1% -0.2%
2096 -1.06% -0.21%
2095 -1.05% -0.22%
2094 -1.07% -0.23%
2093 -1.04% -0.22%
2092 -1.02% -0.22%
2091 -1.02% -0.24%
2090 -1.06% -0.22%
2089 -1.07% -0.22%
2088 -1.05% -0.2%
2087 -1.09% -0.22%
2086 -1.09% -0.2%
2085 -1.13% -0.2%
2084 -1.15% -0.2%
2083 -1.14% -0.2%
2082 -1.14% -0.19%
2081 -1.17% -0.17%
2080 -1.17% -0.17%
2079 -1.18% -0.16%
2078 -1.19% -0.16%
2077 -1.21% -0.14%
2076 -1.24% -0.11%
2075 -1.23% -0.1%
2074 -1.2% -0.1%
2073 -1.21% -0.09%
2072 -1.22% -0.08%
2071 -1.25% -0.08%
2070 -1.22% -0.08%
2069 -1.21% -0.08%
2068 -1.29% -0.08%
2067 -1.26% -0.1%
2066 -1.29% -0.11%
2065 -1.25% -0.12%
2064 -1.23% -0.13%
2063 -1.21% -0.13%
2062 -1.23% -0.15%
2061 -1.25% -0.15%
2060 -1.22% -0.15%
2059 -1.22% -0.16%
2058 -1.24% -0.16%
2057 -1.3% -0.16%
2056 -1.29% -0.15%
2055 -1.18% -0.14%
2054 -1.2% -0.14%
2053 -1.15% -0.13%
2052 -1.21% -0.14%
2051 -1.15% -0.11%
2050 -1.18% -0.11%
2049 -1.11% -0.09%
2048 -1.15% -0.09%
2047 -1.14% -0.06%
2046 -1.09% -0.06%
2045 -1.07% -0.05%
2044 -1.08% -0.03%
2043 -1.06% -0.02%
2042 -1.11% 0.003%
2041 -1.06% 0.03%
2040 -1.02% 0.05%
2039 -0.94% 0.08%
2038 -0.94% 0.1%
2037 -0.94% 0.13%
2036 -0.94% 0.15%
2035 -1% 0.18%
2034 -0.92% 0.22%
2033 -0.9% 0.25%
2032 -0.79% 0.28%
2031 -0.79% 0.32%
2030 -0.78% 0.37%
2029 -0.82% 0.42%
2028 -0.84% 0.46%
2027 -0.84% 0.51%
2026 -0.81% 0.6%
2025 -0.72% 0.7%
2024 -0.65% 0.65%
2023 -0.62% 1%
2022 -1.24% 0.96%
2021 -1.65% 0.52%
2020 -1.38% 0.56%
2019 -1.22% 0.66%
2018 -1.22% 0.59%
2017 -1.28% 0.59%
2016 -1.29% 0.53%
2015 -1.3% 0.44%
2014 -1.27% 0.36%
2013 -1.61% 0.3%
2012 -1.92% 0.37%
2011 -1.83% 0.47%
2010 -1.76% 0.51%
2009 -1.72% 0.52%
2008 -1.64% 0.39%
2007 -1.23% 0.22%
2006 -0.81% 0.16%
2005 -1.07% 0.23%
2004 -0.9% 0.35%
2003 -0.23% 0.47%
2002 0.2% 0.64%
2001 0.47% 0.76%
2000 0.71% 0.72%
1999 1% 0.67%
1998 1.77% 0.62%
1997 3.69% 0.52%
1996 4.3% 0.46%
1995 -0.26% 0.5%
1994 -4.59% 0.6%
1993 -7.8% 0.7%
1992 -5.02% 0.76%
1991 0.22% 0.79%
1990 0.33% 0.69%
1989 0.44% 0.6%
1988 0.55% 0.65%
1987 0.64% 0.64%
1986 0.73% 0.56%
1985 0.81% 0.47%
1984 0.86% 0.4%
1983 0.89% 0.38%
1982 0.88% 0.46%
1981 0.86% 0.69%
1980 0.85% 0.79%
1979 0.86% 0.69%
1978 0.89% 0.62%
1977 0.94% 0.6%
1976 0.98% 0.79%
1975 1% 0.9%
1974 1.01% 0.79%
1973 1.02% 0.83%
1972 1.02% 1.02%
1971 0.96% 1.2%
1970 0.95% 1.25%
1969 1.05% 1.16%
1968 1.16% 1.04%
1967 1.26% 1.14%
1966 1.34% 1.31%
1965 1.41% 1.38%
1964 1.49% 1.35%
1963 1.6% 1.36%
1962 1.78% 1.43%
1961 2.03% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

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

Live population counters

Bosnia Netherlands
Current population
3116111
18252623
Population rank 135/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.22%
One net population change
25.2 minutes
4.52 minutes
One birth every
21.4 minutes
3.2 minutes
One death every
12.3 minutes
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline -57 +319
Annual growth/decline -20,820 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate -0.65% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 190/197 121/197
One migration net change every
1.26 hours
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change -6,994 +104,681
Net migration rank 124/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 34,120 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 160/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.1% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 151/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bosnia Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,994 - 104,681
2024 - -4,497 - 121,628
2023 -18,292 -485 -5,363 144,558
2022 -20,197 -485 -1,770 224,472
2021 -33,670 -25,865 7,014 106,416
2020 -22,502 -26,840 0 67,598
2019 -15,192 -27,841 17,345 109,003
2018 -10,761 -29,147 15,508 87,197
2017 -12,810 -30,650 18,844 86,332
2016 -13,009 -32,173 23,843 88,743
2015 -11,942 -33,948 23,716 55,585
2014 -11,009 -35,683 35,417 36,591
2013 -8,367 -37,002 30,248 19,973
2012 -6,761 -66,378 35,186 14,861
2011 -5,354 -64,875 45,072 31,224
2010 -1,895 -67,228 48,184 33,703
2009 652 -68,182 51,244 39,832
2008 161 -68,140 49,337 32,406
2007 1,557 -65,335 49,145 -304
2006 2,714 -38,622 49,038 -25,401
2005 6,546 -37,086 50,592 -22,496
2004 9,549 -68,008 56,987 -9,230
2003 10,781 -27,396 58,411 7,937
2002 10,972 -13,312 59,751 28,824
2001 10,424 9,055 62,580 56,096
2000 11,722 8,138 66,887 59,308
1999 13,568 25,495 60,086 47,179
1998 18,492 24,335 61,258 52,058
1997 19,311 80,133 56,198 31,302
1996 13,327 173,193 51,251 21,792
1995 5,926 126,914 54,106 15,056
1994 4,895 -157,427 61,532 20,193
1993 -27,199 -178,416 58,103 44,514
1992 -17,883 -436,814 66,811 50,148
1991 33,692 -26,483 69,321 51,670
1990 34,993 -22,829 68,777 53,564
1989 36,802 -19,634 59,396 31,165
1988 39,058 -17,058 61,993 31,026
1987 41,172 -14,853 64,526 39,559
1986 42,884 -12,941 59,746 30,380
1985 44,983 -11,429 55,069 27,356
1984 46,413 -10,321 54,812 12,902
1983 47,135 -9,599 51,722 11,007
1982 47,023 -9,298 54,388 7,644
1981 45,423 -9,384 62,688 17,643
1980 42,911 -7,368 66,504 54,010
1979 42,157 -7,454 63,172 42,772
1978 44,800 -9,382 61,344 26,639
1977 48,643 -11,834 63,739 19,809
1976 52,107 -13,778 63,361 18,774
1975 53,629 -14,348 64,232 68,569
1974 53,600 -14,345 75,853 31,645
1973 52,989 -14,043 84,668 18,705
1972 54,072 -14,807 101,297 17,470
1971 54,352 -15,829 116,112 32,756
1970 54,455 -20,714 129,082 32,438
1969 58,454 -21,229 139,082 21,850
1968 61,422 -20,704 132,389 7,243
1967 65,618 -21,195 138,580 -10,673
1966 70,085 -23,196 138,265 20,740
1965 72,896 -24,330 146,308 19,444
1964 74,151 -23,922 157,653 15,014
1963 75,380 -22,611 154,361 -21
1962 77,582 -21,531 153,474 18,024
1961 77,601 -14,655 159,450 8,258
1960 76,840 -6,481 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/bosnia-and-herzegovina/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people).

As of 2024, 34,120 residents or 1.1% of the population were not native-born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

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
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.