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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bosnia and Herzegovina was 3,164,253 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bosnia and Herzegovina's population is 3,116,111 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 21.1 times bigger than Bosnia and Herzegovina's.
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina is ranked the 135th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.83% of the world: 0.04% for Bosnia and Herzegovina vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has had an average growth rate of -1.19% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina has decreased from 4.06M people to 3.12M (23.3% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bosnia South Africa
2100 1,368,666 94,767,727
2099 1,382,821 94,556,931
2098 1,397,565 94,349,546
2097 1,413,532 94,158,472
2096 1,429,204 93,960,605
2095 1,444,480 93,752,736
2094 1,459,743 93,527,902
2093 1,475,492 93,300,398
2092 1,490,946 93,074,837
2091 1,506,239 92,826,204
2090 1,521,837 92,594,033
2089 1,538,128 92,355,184
2088 1,554,688 92,112,914
2087 1,571,208 91,866,024
2086 1,588,504 91,614,165
2085 1,605,957 91,385,350
2084 1,624,320 91,139,318
2083 1,643,261 90,877,425
2082 1,662,175 90,615,359
2081 1,681,314 90,345,492
2080 1,701,168 90,071,835
2079 1,721,318 89,801,998
2078 1,741,916 89,526,224
2077 1,762,807 89,249,206
2076 1,784,335 88,986,114
2075 1,806,786 88,713,215
2074 1,829,227 88,428,616
2073 1,851,366 88,149,885
2072 1,874,026 87,866,246
2071 1,897,167 87,540,177
2070 1,921,183 87,209,425
2069 1,944,841 86,901,512
2068 1,968,581 86,588,742
2067 1,994,208 86,268,392
2066 2,019,687 85,935,310
2065 2,045,997 85,604,376
2064 2,071,940 85,244,950
2063 2,097,727 84,875,503
2062 2,123,391 84,503,237
2061 2,149,881 84,132,885
2060 2,177,114 83,748,999
2059 2,204,104 83,354,923
2058 2,231,438 82,947,675
2057 2,259,550 82,538,045
2056 2,289,280 82,127,477
2055 2,319,090 81,698,196
2054 2,346,686 81,255,867
2053 2,375,139 80,818,632
2052 2,402,864 80,367,409
2051 2,432,239 79,886,672
2050 2,460,425 79,411,977
2049 2,489,784 78,925,493
2048 2,517,716 78,437,677
2047 2,547,032 77,922,211
2046 2,576,313 77,397,298
2045 2,604,829 76,879,838
2044 2,633,079 76,357,155
2043 2,661,800 75,827,709
2042 2,690,344 75,291,615
2041 2,720,561 74,748,408
2040 2,749,705 74,205,530
2039 2,777,922 73,663,047
2038 2,804,291 73,105,930
2037 2,830,793 72,532,742
2036 2,857,546 71,956,247
2035 2,884,800 71,362,555
2034 2,913,808 70,762,815
2033 2,940,732 70,153,205
2032 2,967,485 69,527,410
2031 2,991,207 68,890,002
2030 3,015,049 68,245,372
2029 3,038,829 67,573,179
2028 3,064,003 66,884,377
2027 3,089,959 66,190,258
2026 3,116,111 65,496,277
2025 3,141,481 64,770,314
2024 3,164,253 64,007,187
2023 3,185,073 63,212,384
2022 3,204,802 62,378,410
2021 3,244,907 61,502,603
2020 3,299,349 60,562,381
2019 3,345,533 59,587,885
2018 3,387,000 58,613,001
2017 3,428,682 57,635,162
2016 3,473,003 57,259,551
2015 3,518,541 56,723,537
2014 3,564,829 55,594,838
2013 3,610,859 54,678,791
2012 3,670,113 53,782,567
2011 3,741,798 52,995,205
2010 3,811,472 52,344,051
2009 3,879,794 51,728,516
2008 3,947,544 51,114,599
2007 4,013,424 50,528,584
2006 4,063,272 49,998,277
2005 4,096,493 49,490,033
2004 4,140,987 48,991,421
2003 4,178,523 48,500,348
2002 4,188,002 48,019,415
2001 4,179,438 47,566,800
2000 4,159,771 47,159,719
1999 4,130,305 46,730,335
1998 4,089,356 46,223,880
1997 4,018,227 45,666,838
1996 3,875,246 45,123,018
1995 3,715,564 44,541,554
1994 3,725,412 44,004,139
1993 3,904,482 43,297,156
1992 4,234,616 42,443,509
1991 4,458,343 41,687,898
1990 4,448,652 40,746,268
1989 4,433,983 39,628,575
1988 4,414,404 38,480,649
1987 4,390,246 37,326,190
1986 4,362,115 36,180,515
1985 4,330,364 35,042,093
1984 4,295,536 33,892,788
1983 4,258,728 32,739,304
1982 4,221,100 31,615,339
1981 4,184,217 30,541,044
1980 4,148,426 29,518,857
1979 4,113,300 28,634,162
1978 4,078,240 27,869,507
1977 4,042,124 27,118,952
1976 4,004,552 26,395,450
1975 3,965,743 25,690,940
1974 3,926,472 24,989,108
1973 3,887,376 24,294,263
1972 3,848,271 23,609,456
1971 3,809,376 22,942,143
1970 3,773,247 22,279,984
1969 3,737,765 21,614,676
1968 3,698,794 20,957,287
1967 3,656,223 20,314,066
1966 3,610,562 19,690,087
1965 3,562,834 19,089,380
1964 3,513,441 18,511,361
1963 3,461,942 17,954,564
1962 3,407,532 17,418,522
1961 3,348,035 16,908,035
1960 3,281,381 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina decreased by 590,269 people (a 14.5% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina lost 356,892 people (a 10.3% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Bosnia and Herzegovina was ranked 123rd most populous country in 2006 and is 135th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M 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
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bosnia South Africa
2100 -1.02% 0.22%
2099 -1.06% 0.22%
2098 -1.13% 0.2%
2097 -1.1% 0.21%
2096 -1.06% 0.22%
2095 -1.05% 0.24%
2094 -1.07% 0.24%
2093 -1.04% 0.24%
2092 -1.02% 0.27%
2091 -1.02% 0.25%
2090 -1.06% 0.26%
2089 -1.07% 0.26%
2088 -1.05% 0.27%
2087 -1.09% 0.27%
2086 -1.09% 0.25%
2085 -1.13% 0.27%
2084 -1.15% 0.29%
2083 -1.14% 0.29%
2082 -1.14% 0.3%
2081 -1.17% 0.3%
2080 -1.17% 0.3%
2079 -1.18% 0.31%
2078 -1.19% 0.31%
2077 -1.21% 0.3%
2076 -1.24% 0.31%
2075 -1.23% 0.32%
2074 -1.2% 0.32%
2073 -1.21% 0.32%
2072 -1.22% 0.37%
2071 -1.25% 0.38%
2070 -1.22% 0.35%
2069 -1.21% 0.36%
2068 -1.29% 0.37%
2067 -1.26% 0.39%
2066 -1.29% 0.39%
2065 -1.25% 0.42%
2064 -1.23% 0.44%
2063 -1.21% 0.44%
2062 -1.23% 0.44%
2061 -1.25% 0.46%
2060 -1.22% 0.47%
2059 -1.22% 0.49%
2058 -1.24% 0.5%
2057 -1.3% 0.5%
2056 -1.29% 0.53%
2055 -1.18% 0.54%
2054 -1.2% 0.54%
2053 -1.15% 0.56%
2052 -1.21% 0.6%
2051 -1.15% 0.6%
2050 -1.18% 0.62%
2049 -1.11% 0.62%
2048 -1.15% 0.66%
2047 -1.14% 0.68%
2046 -1.09% 0.67%
2045 -1.07% 0.68%
2044 -1.08% 0.7%
2043 -1.06% 0.71%
2042 -1.11% 0.73%
2041 -1.06% 0.73%
2040 -1.02% 0.74%
2039 -0.94% 0.76%
2038 -0.94% 0.79%
2037 -0.94% 0.8%
2036 -0.94% 0.83%
2035 -1% 0.85%
2034 -0.92% 0.87%
2033 -0.9% 0.9%
2032 -0.79% 0.93%
2031 -0.79% 0.94%
2030 -0.78% 0.99%
2029 -0.82% 1.03%
2028 -0.84% 1.05%
2027 -0.84% 1.06%
2026 -0.81% 1.12%
2025 -0.72% 1.19%
2024 -0.65% 1.26%
2023 -0.62% 1.34%
2022 -1.24% 1.42%
2021 -1.65% 1.55%
2020 -1.38% 1.64%
2019 -1.22% 1.66%
2018 -1.22% 1.7%
2017 -1.28% 0.66%
2016 -1.29% 0.94%
2015 -1.3% 2.03%
2014 -1.27% 1.68%
2013 -1.61% 1.67%
2012 -1.92% 1.49%
2011 -1.83% 1.24%
2010 -1.76% 1.19%
2009 -1.72% 1.2%
2008 -1.64% 1.16%
2007 -1.23% 1.06%
2006 -0.81% 1.03%
2005 -1.07% 1.02%
2004 -0.9% 1.01%
2003 -0.23% 1%
2002 0.2% 0.95%
2001 0.47% 0.86%
2000 0.71% 0.92%
1999 1% 1.1%
1998 1.77% 1.22%
1997 3.69% 1.21%
1996 4.3% 1.31%
1995 -0.26% 1.22%
1994 -4.59% 1.63%
1993 -7.8% 2.01%
1992 -5.02% 1.81%
1991 0.22% 2.31%
1990 0.33% 2.82%
1989 0.44% 2.98%
1988 0.55% 3.09%
1987 0.64% 3.17%
1986 0.73% 3.25%
1985 0.81% 3.39%
1984 0.86% 3.52%
1983 0.89% 3.56%
1982 0.88% 3.52%
1981 0.86% 3.46%
1980 0.85% 3.09%
1979 0.86% 2.74%
1978 0.89% 2.77%
1977 0.94% 2.74%
1976 0.98% 2.74%
1975 1% 2.81%
1974 1.01% 2.86%
1973 1.02% 2.9%
1972 1.02% 2.91%
1971 0.96% 2.97%
1970 0.95% 3.08%
1969 1.05% 3.14%
1968 1.16% 3.17%
1967 1.26% 3.17%
1966 1.34% 3.15%
1965 1.41% 3.12%
1964 1.49% 3.1%
1963 1.6% 3.08%
1962 1.78% 3.02%
1961 2.03% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina declined by 0.65%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Bosnia South Africa
Current population
3116111
65683993
Population rank 135/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.79%
One net population change
25.2 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
21.4 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
12.3 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -57 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -20,820 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.65% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 190/197 85/197
One migration net change every
1.26 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -6,994 +146,370
Net migration rank 124/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 34,120 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 160/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.1% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 151/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bosnia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,994 - 146,370
2024 - -4,497 - 166,972
2023 -18,292 -485 602,793 228,222
2022 -20,197 -485 603,636 233,284
2021 -33,670 -25,865 456,411 458,246
2020 -22,502 -26,840 595,873 369,901
2019 -15,192 -27,841 652,130 331,124
2018 -10,761 -29,147 648,319 318,260
2017 -12,810 -30,650 645,975 343,146
2016 -13,009 -32,173 641,365 -879,235
2015 -11,942 -33,948 668,771 641,150
2014 -11,009 -35,683 674,754 272,697
2013 -8,367 -37,002 652,427 232,230
2012 -6,761 -66,378 643,723 264,091
2011 -5,354 -64,875 601,708 65,166
2010 -1,895 -67,228 566,834 68,563
2009 652 -68,182 554,115 41,528
2008 161 -68,140 595,332 36,869
2007 1,557 -65,335 503,567 36,339
2006 2,714 -38,622 487,584 33,159
2005 6,546 -37,086 464,464 31,286
2004 9,549 -68,008 442,540 58,924
2003 10,781 -27,396 415,018 65,604
2002 10,972 -13,312 430,926 50,313
2001 10,424 9,055 484,801 -60,793
2000 11,722 8,138 526,963 -136,794
1999 13,568 25,495 594,643 -126,011
1998 18,492 24,335 627,027 -82,722
1997 19,311 80,133 667,969 -98,181
1996 13,327 173,193 710,868 -193,007
1995 5,926 126,914 743,488 -98,403
1994 4,895 -157,427 698,609 -268,849
1993 -27,199 -178,416 789,220 194,977
1992 -17,883 -436,814 794,415 -71,342
1991 33,692 -26,483 827,296 -39,131
1990 34,993 -22,829 835,421 259,718
1989 36,802 -19,634 884,629 255,605
1988 39,058 -17,058 909,221 246,382
1987 41,172 -14,853 922,330 231,009
1986 42,884 -12,941 903,644 234,378
1985 44,983 -11,429 893,889 244,940
1984 46,413 -10,321 869,011 290,789
1983 47,135 -9,599 837,013 310,172
1982 47,023 -9,298 807,550 293,195
1981 45,423 -9,384 767,833 279,985
1980 42,911 -7,368 738,415 258,127
1979 42,157 -7,454 716,541 56,323
1978 44,800 -9,382 694,341 62,121
1977 48,643 -11,834 680,929 63,739
1976 52,107 -13,778 675,011 27,333
1975 53,629 -14,348 667,862 38,809
1974 53,600 -14,345 658,438 38,518
1973 52,989 -14,043 651,596 41,125
1972 54,072 -14,807 638,754 38,163
1971 54,352 -15,829 624,761 32,961
1970 54,455 -20,714 605,102 61,514
1969 58,454 -21,229 590,794 73,225
1968 61,422 -20,704 571,841 78,932
1967 65,618 -21,195 553,741 81,932
1966 70,085 -23,196 534,862 77,417
1965 72,896 -24,330 506,632 82,514
1964 74,151 -23,922 490,606 76,298
1963 75,380 -22,611 473,821 72,844
1962 77,582 -21,531 455,634 69,771
1961 77,601 -14,655 437,851 57,728
1960 76,840 -6,481 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/bosnia-and-herzegovina/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 34,120 residents or 1.1% of the population were not native-born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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