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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bosnia and Herzegovina was 3,164,253 in 2024 vs 6,586,476 people in Serbia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bosnia and Herzegovina's population is 3,116,111 people compared to 6,494,521 in Serbia.

Population statistics:

  • Serbia's population is 2.08 times bigger than Bosnia and Herzegovina's.
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina is ranked the 135th most populous country in the world, while Serbia is the 110th.
  • The countries together account for 0.12% of the world: 0.04% for Bosnia and Herzegovina vs 0.08% for Serbia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has had an average growth rate of -1.19% per year vs -0.76% in Serbia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina has decreased from 4.06M people to 3.12M (23.3% decline), while Serbia has declined from 7.41M to 6.49M (12.4% decline).

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Serbia: population by year and forecast

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bosnia Serbia
2100 1,368,666 3,621,418
2099 1,382,821 3,649,584
2098 1,397,565 3,677,789
2097 1,413,532 3,706,279
2096 1,429,204 3,734,933
2095 1,444,480 3,763,769
2094 1,459,743 3,792,851
2093 1,475,492 3,822,147
2092 1,490,946 3,851,865
2091 1,506,239 3,881,833
2090 1,521,837 3,911,964
2089 1,538,128 3,942,571
2088 1,554,688 3,973,274
2087 1,571,208 4,004,485
2086 1,588,504 4,036,066
2085 1,605,957 4,068,021
2084 1,624,320 4,100,403
2083 1,643,261 4,133,391
2082 1,662,175 4,166,924
2081 1,681,314 4,200,811
2080 1,701,168 4,235,306
2079 1,721,318 4,270,442
2078 1,741,916 4,306,246
2077 1,762,807 4,342,382
2076 1,784,335 4,378,754
2075 1,806,786 4,415,505
2074 1,829,227 4,452,888
2073 1,851,366 4,490,589
2072 1,874,026 4,528,672
2071 1,897,167 4,567,167
2070 1,921,183 4,606,212
2069 1,944,841 4,645,524
2068 1,968,581 4,685,090
2067 1,994,208 4,724,796
2066 2,019,687 4,764,445
2065 2,045,997 4,804,405
2064 2,071,940 4,844,434
2063 2,097,727 4,884,574
2062 2,123,391 4,924,899
2061 2,149,881 4,964,985
2060 2,177,114 5,005,138
2059 2,204,104 5,045,125
2058 2,231,438 5,085,292
2057 2,259,550 5,125,901
2056 2,289,280 5,166,530
2055 2,319,090 5,207,137
2054 2,346,686 5,247,793
2053 2,375,139 5,288,369
2052 2,402,864 5,329,487
2051 2,432,239 5,371,281
2050 2,460,425 5,413,067
2049 2,489,784 5,455,402
2048 2,517,716 5,498,031
2047 2,547,032 5,541,158
2046 2,576,313 5,584,824
2045 2,604,829 5,629,108
2044 2,633,079 5,673,908
2043 2,661,800 5,719,287
2042 2,690,344 5,765,400
2041 2,720,561 5,811,936
2040 2,749,705 5,858,464
2039 2,777,922 5,905,404
2038 2,804,291 5,952,107
2037 2,830,793 5,998,763
2036 2,857,546 6,045,097
2035 2,884,800 6,091,385
2034 2,913,808 6,137,447
2033 2,940,732 6,183,536
2032 2,967,485 6,229,136
2031 2,991,207 6,274,395
2030 3,015,049 6,319,422
2029 3,038,829 6,363,799
2028 3,064,003 6,407,914
2027 3,089,959 6,451,609
2026 3,116,111 6,494,521
2025 3,141,481 6,543,364
2024 3,164,253 6,586,476
2023 3,185,073 6,623,183
2022 3,204,802 6,664,449
2021 3,244,907 6,834,326
2020 3,299,349 6,899,126
2019 3,345,533 6,945,235
2018 3,387,000 6,982,604
2017 3,428,682 7,020,858
2016 3,473,003 7,058,322
2015 3,518,541 7,095,383
2014 3,564,829 7,131,787
2013 3,610,859 7,166,553
2012 3,670,113 7,201,497
2011 3,741,798 7,236,519
2010 3,811,472 7,291,436
2009 3,879,794 7,320,807
2008 3,947,544 7,350,222
2007 4,013,424 7,381,579
2006 4,063,272 7,411,569
2005 4,096,493 7,440,769
2004 4,140,987 7,463,157
2003 4,178,523 7,480,591
2002 4,188,002 7,500,031
2001 4,179,438 7,503,433
2000 4,159,771 7,516,346
1999 4,130,305 7,540,401
1998 4,089,356 7,567,745
1997 4,018,227 7,598,538
1996 3,875,246 7,622,185
1995 3,715,564 7,628,264
1994 3,725,412 7,622,711
1993 3,904,482 7,614,328
1992 4,234,616 7,604,063
1991 4,458,343 7,595,636
1990 4,448,652 7,897,937
1989 4,433,983 7,893,787
1988 4,414,404 7,884,218
1987 4,390,246 7,868,027
1986 4,362,115 7,853,824
1985 4,330,364 7,835,902
1984 4,295,536 7,813,549
1983 4,258,728 7,788,100
1982 4,221,100 7,763,335
1981 4,184,217 7,736,787
1980 4,148,426 7,709,544
1979 4,113,300 7,541,997
1978 4,078,240 7,504,017
1977 4,042,124 7,462,783
1976 4,004,552 7,418,973
1975 3,965,743 7,368,717
1974 3,926,472 7,326,043
1973 3,887,376 7,283,902
1972 3,848,271 7,252,012
1971 3,809,376 7,211,716
1970 3,773,247 7,164,993
1969 3,737,765 7,123,249
1968 3,698,794 7,007,586
1967 3,656,223 6,966,522
1966 3,610,562 6,927,969
1965 3,562,834 6,876,624
1964 3,513,441 6,832,855
1963 3,461,942 6,787,950
1962 3,407,532 6,740,264
1961 3,348,035 6,689,077
1960 3,281,381 6,638,992

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/serbia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina decreased by 590,269 people (a 14.5% decline), while Serbia lost 353,247 people (a 4.77% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina lost 356,892 people (a 10.3% decline), while Serbia's population decreased by 563,801 people (a 7.99% decline).

Bosnia and Herzegovina was ranked 123rd most populous country in 2006 and is 135th in 2026. Serbia was ranked 97th in 2006 and ranked 110th 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 Serbia will decrease by 16.7% to 5,413,067 people and rank change from 110th to 125th.

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 32.6% in Serbia.

Population growth rate by year

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bosnia Serbia
2100 -1.02% -0.77%
2099 -1.06% -0.77%
2098 -1.13% -0.77%
2097 -1.1% -0.77%
2096 -1.06% -0.77%
2095 -1.05% -0.77%
2094 -1.07% -0.77%
2093 -1.04% -0.77%
2092 -1.02% -0.77%
2091 -1.02% -0.77%
2090 -1.06% -0.78%
2089 -1.07% -0.77%
2088 -1.05% -0.78%
2087 -1.09% -0.78%
2086 -1.09% -0.79%
2085 -1.13% -0.79%
2084 -1.15% -0.8%
2083 -1.14% -0.8%
2082 -1.14% -0.81%
2081 -1.17% -0.81%
2080 -1.17% -0.82%
2079 -1.18% -0.83%
2078 -1.19% -0.83%
2077 -1.21% -0.83%
2076 -1.24% -0.83%
2075 -1.23% -0.84%
2074 -1.2% -0.84%
2073 -1.21% -0.84%
2072 -1.22% -0.84%
2071 -1.25% -0.85%
2070 -1.22% -0.85%
2069 -1.21% -0.84%
2068 -1.29% -0.84%
2067 -1.26% -0.83%
2066 -1.29% -0.83%
2065 -1.25% -0.83%
2064 -1.23% -0.82%
2063 -1.21% -0.82%
2062 -1.23% -0.81%
2061 -1.25% -0.8%
2060 -1.22% -0.79%
2059 -1.22% -0.79%
2058 -1.24% -0.79%
2057 -1.3% -0.79%
2056 -1.29% -0.78%
2055 -1.18% -0.77%
2054 -1.2% -0.77%
2053 -1.15% -0.77%
2052 -1.21% -0.78%
2051 -1.15% -0.77%
2050 -1.18% -0.78%
2049 -1.11% -0.78%
2048 -1.15% -0.78%
2047 -1.14% -0.78%
2046 -1.09% -0.79%
2045 -1.07% -0.79%
2044 -1.08% -0.79%
2043 -1.06% -0.8%
2042 -1.11% -0.8%
2041 -1.06% -0.79%
2040 -1.02% -0.79%
2039 -0.94% -0.78%
2038 -0.94% -0.78%
2037 -0.94% -0.77%
2036 -0.94% -0.76%
2035 -1% -0.75%
2034 -0.92% -0.75%
2033 -0.9% -0.73%
2032 -0.79% -0.72%
2031 -0.79% -0.71%
2030 -0.78% -0.7%
2029 -0.82% -0.69%
2028 -0.84% -0.68%
2027 -0.84% -0.66%
2026 -0.81% -0.75%
2025 -0.72% -0.65%
2024 -0.65% -0.55%
2023 -0.62% -0.62%
2022 -1.24% -2.49%
2021 -1.65% -0.94%
2020 -1.38% -0.66%
2019 -1.22% -0.54%
2018 -1.22% -0.54%
2017 -1.28% -0.53%
2016 -1.29% -0.52%
2015 -1.3% -0.51%
2014 -1.27% -0.49%
2013 -1.61% -0.49%
2012 -1.92% -0.48%
2011 -1.83% -0.75%
2010 -1.76% -0.4%
2009 -1.72% -0.4%
2008 -1.64% -0.42%
2007 -1.23% -0.4%
2006 -0.81% -0.39%
2005 -1.07% -0.3%
2004 -0.9% -0.23%
2003 -0.23% -0.26%
2002 0.2% -0.05%
2001 0.47% -0.17%
2000 0.71% -0.32%
1999 1% -0.36%
1998 1.77% -0.41%
1997 3.69% -0.31%
1996 4.3% -0.08%
1995 -0.26% 0.07%
1994 -4.59% 0.11%
1993 -7.8% 0.13%
1992 -5.02% 0.11%
1991 0.22% -3.83%
1990 0.33% 0.05%
1989 0.44% 0.12%
1988 0.55% 0.21%
1987 0.64% 0.18%
1986 0.73% 0.23%
1985 0.81% 0.29%
1984 0.86% 0.33%
1983 0.89% 0.32%
1982 0.88% 0.34%
1981 0.86% 0.35%
1980 0.85% 2.22%
1979 0.86% 0.51%
1978 0.89% 0.55%
1977 0.94% 0.59%
1976 0.98% 0.68%
1975 1% 0.58%
1974 1.01% 0.58%
1973 1.02% 0.44%
1972 1.02% 0.56%
1971 0.96% 0.65%
1970 0.95% 0.59%
1969 1.05% 1.65%
1968 1.16% 0.59%
1967 1.26% 0.56%
1966 1.34% 0.75%
1965 1.41% 0.64%
1964 1.49% 0.66%
1963 1.6% 0.71%
1962 1.78% 0.77%
1961 2.03% 0.75%

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/serbia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina declined by 0.65%, while Serbia's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Bosnia Serbia
Current population
3116111
6494521
Population rank 135/197 110/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.08%
One net population change
25.2 minutes
14.3 minutes
One birth every
21.4 minutes
8.63 minutes
One death every
12.3 minutes
5.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline -57 -101
Annual growth/decline -20,820 -36,707
Annual growth/decline rate -0.65% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 190/197 189/197
One migration net change every
1.26 hours
40.3 minutes
Annual migration change -6,994 -13,086
Net migration rank 124/196 140/196
Foreign-born residents 34,120 712,550
Foreign-born residents rank 160/195 70/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.1% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 151/195 64/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Natural

Migration
Serbia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bosnia Serbia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,994 - -13,086
2024 - -4,497 - -8,132
2023 -18,292 -485 -36,427 4,348
2022 -20,197 -485 -46,651 40,118
2021 -33,670 -25,865 -74,494 -8,974
2020 -22,502 -26,840 -55,193 -10,220
2019 -15,192 -27,841 -36,810 -18,891
2018 -10,761 -29,147 -37,707 -18,883
2017 -12,810 -30,650 -39,317 -18,651
2016 -13,009 -32,173 -35,998 -18,322
2015 -11,942 -33,948 -37,605 -18,789
2014 -11,009 -35,683 -34,946 -18,846
2013 -8,367 -37,002 -34,399 -17,866
2012 -6,761 -66,378 -35,288 -18,513
2011 -5,354 -64,875 -36,906 611
2010 -1,895 -67,228 -34,999 3,632
2009 652 -68,182 -33,676 6,043
2008 161 -68,140 -33,590 7,070
2007 1,557 -65,335 -34,693 7,045
2006 2,714 -38,622 -31,870 8,018
2005 6,546 -37,086 -34,227 7,945
2004 9,549 -68,008 -26,121 7,300
2003 10,781 -27,396 -24,686 6,854
2002 10,972 -13,312 -24,750 1,562
2001 10,424 9,055 -20,259 -12,007
2000 11,722 8,138 -30,065 -14,368
1999 13,568 25,495 -29,408 -4,073
1998 18,492 24,335 -23,006 -5,665
1997 19,311 80,133 -18,389 -5,817
1996 13,327 173,193 -16,007 -5,598
1995 5,926 126,914 -7,628 -6,019
1994 4,895 -157,427 -7,157 -5,934
1993 -27,199 -178,416 -5,703 -5,972
1992 -17,883 -436,814 -3,779 -4,415
1991 33,692 -26,483 2,210 -8,483
1990 34,993 -22,829 7,416 -16,260
1989 36,802 -19,634 11,872 -16,360
1988 39,058 -17,058 13,852 -15,715
1987 41,172 -14,853 16,711 -16,686
1986 42,884 -12,941 19,407 -17,990
1985 44,983 -11,429 22,090 -17,646
1984 46,413 -10,321 23,815 -15,567
1983 47,135 -9,599 27,515 -15,301
1982 47,023 -9,298 30,603 -13,550
1981 45,423 -9,384 34,304 -8,531
1980 42,911 -7,368 36,273 287
1979 42,157 -7,454 39,022 -960
1978 44,800 -9,382 43,636 -1,481
1977 48,643 -11,834 48,105 -1,953
1976 52,107 -13,778 51,399 -2,744
1975 53,629 -14,348 52,502 -3,490
1974 53,600 -14,345 51,583 -3,525
1973 52,989 -14,043 49,596 -2,396
1972 54,072 -14,807 48,248 -348
1971 54,352 -15,829 47,424 1,655
1970 54,455 -20,714 48,343 1,861
1969 58,454 -21,229 50,304 4,112
1968 61,422 -20,704 51,653 5,430
1967 65,618 -21,195 53,120 6,114
1966 70,085 -23,196 53,338 7,037
1965 72,896 -24,330 53,383 7,957
1964 74,151 -23,922 54,185 8,045
1963 75,380 -22,611 55,580 8,276
1962 77,582 -21,531 59,307 6,064
1961 77,601 -14,655 61,065 6,422
1960 76,840 -6,481 63,642 4,377

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

GeoRank.org/population/bosnia-and-herzegovina/serbia | 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 Serbia 83.3% is from natural causes (a loss of 435,148 people) and 16.7% is from migration (a loss of 87,110 people).

As of 2024, 34,120 residents or 1.1% of the population were not native-born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 712,550 people or 10.6% in Serbia.

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
Serbia
City Population
Belgrade 1.2M
Novi Sad 260K
Pristina 227K
Nis 183K
Kragujevac 151K
Subotica 106K
Valjevo 90.3K
Cacak 71.9K
Mitrovica 71.6K
Novi Pazar 66.5K

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/serbia | 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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