Demographics of Bosnia and Herzegovina


Demographic features of the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Vital statistics

Source: Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Notable events in Bosnian demography:
YearMid-year populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate Crude death rate Natural change Total fertility rateFemale fertile population
19472,532,00084,60038,900 45,70033.415.418.0
19482,581,98790,70041,60049,10035.116.119.0647,112
19492,641,99098,20042,200 56,00037.216.021.2669,152
19502,662,010102,68035,99166,68938.613.525.15.17691,192
19512,721,00992,33046,35845,97233.917.016.94.51713,232
19522,790,991112,21634,81777,39940.212.527.75.33735,272
19532,863,124110,37341,19969,17438.514.424.24.84757,312
19542,916,007115,85435,15880,69639.712.127.74.93765,462
19552,973,986110,86640,51370,35337.313.623.74.59773,612
19563,025,000111,56138,32073,24136.912.724.24.48781,761
19573,076,006102,64936,83065,81933.412.021.44.02789,911
19583,126,012110,33230,12380,20935.39.625.74.22798,061
19593,185,005108,12332,50775,61633.910.223.74.06806,211
19603,240,010110,49933,36077,13934.110.323.84.06814,360
19613,291,684108,07629,41378,66332.88.923.93.91822,510
19623,338,505106,82631,08775,73932.09.322.73.86838,877
19633,385,326104,24029,16175,07930.88.622.23.75855,245
19643,432,147101,14729,84671,30129.58.720.83.62871,612
19653,478,968101,35127,81473,53729.18.021.13.61887,979
19663,525,78997,68925,13872,55127.77.120.63.46904,347
19673,572,60992,97226,195 66,77726.07.318.73.28920,714
19683,619,43089,13426,03163,10324.67.217.43.14937,081
19693,666,25187,68727,805 59,88223.97.616.33.05953,448
19703,713,07279,29626,35552,94121.47.114.32.74969,816
19713,759,89382,69424,91557,77922.06.615.42.83986,183
19723,797,52382,06826,84455,22421.67.114.52.76998,220
19733,835,15477,89624,67253,22420.36.413.92.571,010,257
19743,872,78477,83323,66154,17220.16.114.02.521,022,293
19753,910,41478,84425,571 53,27320.26.513.62.511,034,330
19763,948,04579,06125,178 53,88320.06.413.62.471,046,367
19773,985,67575,66924,821 50,84819.06.212.82.321,058,404
19784,023,30573,30626,016 47,29018.26.511.82.211,070,441
19794,060,93571,12025,370 45,75017.56.211.32.101,082,477
19804,098,56670,92826,115 44,81317.36.410.92.061,094,514
19814,136,19671,03126,222 44,80917.26.310.82.031,106,551
19824,160,28073,37526,775 46,60017.66.411.22.091,105,958
19834,184,36374,29629,99944,29717.87.210.62.121,105,366
19844,208,44774,53929,04645,49317.76.910.82.131,104,773
19854,232,53172,72228,966 43,75617.26.810.32.081,104,181
19864,256,61571,20329,127 42,07616.76.89.92.041,103,588
19874,280,69870,89829,382 41,51616.66.99.72.031,102,995
19884,304,78270,71129,55541,15616.46.99.62.031,102,403
19894,328,86666,80930,383 36,42615.47.08.41.921,101,810
19904,352,94966,95229,093 37,85915.46.78.71.931,101,218
19914,377,03364,76930,680 34,08914.87.07.81.871,100,625
1992*
1993*
1994*
1995*
19963,368,59746,59425,15221,44213.87.56.41.88862,840
19973,398,26448,06127,87520,18614.18.25.91.95866,251
19983,423,92145,00728,67916,32813.18.44.81.83870,474
19993,445,17242,46428,63713,82712.38.34.01.73874,188
20003,462,33639,56330,4829,08111.48.82.61.61876,695
20013,478,67937,71730,3257,39210.88.72.11.54879,484
20023,493,14636,48530,8315,65410.48.81.61.49881,166
20033,498,29134,69132,0182,6739.99.20.81.42879,547
20043,501,46733,86232,2231,6399.79.20.51.38877,903
20053,503,63433,23333,925-6929.59.7-0.21.36875,167
20063,500,21233,03832,6523869.49.30.11.36871,089
20073,498,02332,80134,392-1,5919.49.8-0.51.35867,212
20083,493,73734,02333,8711529.79.70.01.41859,217
20093,491,32734,44934,709-2609.99.9-0.11.43851,596
20103,488,44133,44534,905-1,4609.610.0-0.41.40847,365
20113,484,15431,69434,820-3,1269.110.0-0.91.33843,765
20123,479,33932,41435,578-3,1649.310.2-0.91.36839,698
20133,473,82630,55135,379-4,8288.810.2-1.41.30832,872
20143,466,50730,13435,692-5,5588.710.3-1.61.29825,060
20153,456,50029,64737,876-8,2298.611.0-2.41.28815,928
20163,447,00129,98536,065-6,0808.710.5-1.81.30806,794
20173,437,45330,06137,453-7,3928.710.9-2.21.31797,851
20183,427,36929,32837,237-7,9098.610.9-2.31.29789,269
20193,415,75228,19238,237-10,0458.311.2-2.91.26781,299
20203,403,63827,15643,808-16,6528.012.9-4.91.23772,876
20213,378,82126,99349,682-22,6898.014.7-6.71.24763,709
20223,358,49626,51640,692-14,1767.912.1-4.21.23755,419
20233,345,81826,29434,983-8,6897.910.5-2.61.23748,332
20243,335,61524,93834,434-9,4967.510.3-2.8

*No data for the period 1992–1995

Structure of the population

Age groupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total1 732 2701 798 8893 531 159100
0–489 44284 622174 0644.93
5–990 88186 099176 9805.01
10–1498 65394 022192 6755.46
15–19124 900117 842242 7426.87
20–24116 883111 173228 0566.46
25–29129 248123 070252 3187.15
30–34128 593124 040252 6337.15
35–39126 145123 121249 2667.06
40–44121 595119 543241 1386.83
45–49130 087130 841260 9287.39
50–54136 153140 422276 5757.83
55–59125 576132 961258 5377.32
60–64104 970118 281223 2516.32
65–6969 06684 503153 5694.35
70–7459 85480 601140 4553.98
75–7947 40369 864117 2673.32
80–8423 76938 86762 6361.77
85+9 05219 01728 0690.79
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–14278 976264 743543 71915.40
15–641 244 1501 241 2942 485 44470.39
65+209 144292 852501 99614.22

Vital statistics by entity

Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Source: Institute for Statistics of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mid-year populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate Crude death rate Natural change Total fertility rateFemale fertile population
19912,720,07442,42618,33224,09415.66.78.91.92696,784
1992
1993
1994
1995
19962,141,34134,33114,22120,11016.06.69.42.05579,263
19972,161,44234,30416,12018,18415.97.58.42.06581,215
19982,176,88531,48016,21015,27014.57.47.01.90583,979
19992,189,57627,96416,10811,85612.87.45.41.70586,234
20002,199,12825,37217,1128,26011.57.83.81.54587,282
20012,208,26324,01816,8917,12710.97.63.21.47588,612
20022,215,54823,25117,1756,07610.57.82.71.43588,834
20032,222,07923,16818,2594,90910.48.22.21.42588,042
20042,227,18122,25018,3503,90010.08.21.81.36587,226
20052,231,76421,93419,2932,6419.88.61.21.35585,319
20062,230,96721,60218,6782,9249.78.41.31.33582,071
20072,231,54821,71519,4282,2879.78.71.01.35579,026
20082,229,78722,92019,4803,44010.38.71.51.43571,863
20092,229,07222,91320,0222,89110.39.01.31.44565,074
20102,228,02722,38220,4821,90010.09.20.91.41561,677
20112,226,01121,22820,2081,0209.59.10.51.34558,911
20122,222,58721,47220,8596139.79.40.31.36555,678
20132,219,13120,14520,465-3209.19.2-0.11.29551,251
20142,215,99719,88020,283-4039.09.2-0.21.29546,324
20152,210,99419,35821,703-2,3458.89.8-1.11.26540,354
20162,206,23119,65521,105-1,4508.99.6-0.71.28534,268
20172,201,19319,82421,689-1,8659.09.9-0.81.29528,096
20182,196,23318,89921,442-2,5438.69.8-1.21.25522,242
20192,190,09818,01922,024-4,0058.210.1-1.81.21516,595
20202,184,68017,21126,026-8,8157.911.9-4.01.16512,053
20212,168,60216,87329,086-12,2137.813.4-5.61.15506,760
20222,156,84616,53823,187-6,6497.710.8-3.11.13501,018
20232,150,05416,17420,361-4,1877.59.5-1.91.12496,545
2024p2,144,74815,88320,484-4,6017.49.6-2.21.12
2025p2,138,121--------
Current vital statistics
PeriodLive birthsDeathsNatural increase
January—November 202413,96918,349-4,380
January—November 202513,78318,539-4,756
Difference -186 +190 -376

Republika Srpska

Source: Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics
Mid-year populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate Crude death rate Natural change Total fertility rateFemale fertile population
19911,569,33221,14911,7359,41413.57.56.01.79381,699
1992
1993
1994
1995
19961,193,65611,93910,6761,26310.08.91.11.54274,878
19971,194,91913,37411,4641,91011.29.61.61.73274,188
19981,196,82913,04612,12392310.910.10.81.69273,497
19991,197,08613,99512,1521,84311.710.21.51.83272,806
20001,196,39513,64312,96068311.410.80.61.78272,116
20011,195,29913,04712,93211510.910.80.11.72271,425
20021,194,17812,33612,980-64410.310.9-0.51.62270,735
20031,192,62210,53712,988-2,4518.810.9-2.11.40270,044
20041,190,52610,62813,082-2,4548.911.0-2.11.41269,354
20051,187,94010,32213,802-3,4808.711.6-2.91.37268,663
20061,185,14510,52413,232-2,7088.911.2-2.31.40267,972
20071,182,21710,11014,146-4,0368.612.0-3.41.34267,282
20081,179,71710,19813,501-3,3038.611.4-2.81.36266,591
20091,177,99510,60313,775-3,1729.011.7-2.71.41265,901
20101,176,41910,14713,517-3,3708.611.5-2.91.35265,210
20111,174,4209,56113,658-4,0978.111.6-3.51.28264,520
20121,173,1319,97813,796-3,8188.511.8-3.31.34263,829
20131,171,1799,51013,978-4,4688.111.9-3.81.29261,574
20141,167,0829,33514,409-5,0748.012.3-4.31.28258,833
20151,162,1649,35715,059-5,7028.113.0-4.91.29255,815
20161,157,5169,45213,970-4,5188.212.1-3.91.32252,911
20171,153,0179,33914,663-5,3248.112.7-4.61.31250,241
20181,147,9029,56814,763-5,1958.312.9-4.51.37247,599
20191,142,4959,27415,081-5,8078.113.2-5.11.34245,368
20201,136,2749,16116,582-7,4218.114.6-6.51.36241,626
20211,128,3099,27419,002-9,7288.216.8-8.61.41237,927
20221,120,2369,11816,263-7,1458.114.5-6.41.40235,589
20231,114,8199,30913,508-4,1998.412.1-3.81.45233,233
20241,110,4969,22714,136-4,9098.312.7-4.41.47230,897
Current vital statistics
PeriodLive birthsDeathsNatural increase
January—September 20246,19110,736-4,545
January—September 20255,91510,618-4,703
Difference -276 -118 -158

Brčko District

Source: Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Statistics of the Brčko District BiH
Mid-year populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate Crude death rate Natural change Total fertility rateFemale fertile population
199187,6271,19461358113.67.06.61.6922,142
1992
1993
1994
1995
199633,600324255699.67.62.11.388,699
199741,903383291929.16.92.21.3110,848
199850,2074813461359.66.92.71.3812,998
199958,5105053771288.66.42.21.2415,148
200066,8135484101388.26.12.11.1717,297
200175,1176525021508.76.72.01.2519,447
200283,42089867622210.88.12.71.5821,597
200383,59098677121511.89.22.61.7221,461
200483,76098479119311.79.42.31.7321,323
200583,93097783014711.69.91.81.7021,185
200684,10091274217010.88.82.01.5921,045
200784,25897681815811.69.71.91.7120,905
200884,2339058901510.710.60.21.5820,763
200984,2609339122111.110.80.21.6320,621
201083,9959169061010.910.80.11.6120,478
201183,723905954-4910.811.4-0.61.6120,335
201283,6219649234111.511.00.51.7120,191
201383,516896936-4010.711.2-0.51.6020,047
201483,4289191,000-8111.012.0-1.01.6519,903
201583,3429321,114-18211.213.4-2.21.6919,759
201683,254878990-11210.511.9-1.31.5919,615
201783,2438981,101-20310.813.2-2.41.6319,514
201883,2348611,032-17110.312.4-2.11.5819,428
201983,1598991,132-23310.813.6-2.81.6619,336
202082,6847841,200-4169.514.5-5.01.4719,197
202181,9108461,594-74810.319.5-9.11.5819,022
202281,4148601,242-38210.615.3-4.71.6318,812
202380,9458111,114-30310.013.8-3.71.5618,554
2024p80,3717911,195-4049.714.8-5.118,159
Current vital statistics
PeriodLive birthsDeathsNatural increase
January—October 20246471,000-353
January—October 2025663957-294
Difference +16 -43 +59

Marriages and divorces

Mid-yearMarriagesDivorcesCrude marriage rate Crude divorce rate Divorces per 1,000 marriages
19502,662,01030,2422,44711.40.980.9
19512,721,00930,6381,88311.30.761.5
19522,790,99133,0401,31311.80.539.7
19532,863,12431,0691,93110.90.762.2
19542,916,00731,6582,02310.90.763.9
19552,973,98629,1792,3319.80.879.9
19563,025,00027,3612,5969.00.994.9
19573,076,00627,9282,6629.10.995.3
19583,126,01233,9013,24910.81.095.8
19593,185,00531,9262,78810.00.987.3
19603,240,01032,8553,32010.11.0101.1
19613,291,68431,8423,1269.70.998.2
19623,368,77430,6203,1509.10.9102.9
19633,444,10729,7493,0028.60.9100.9
19643,517,20731,4243,2678.90.9104.0
19653,589,48633,2142,6939.30.881.1
19663,667,00231,8423,5548.71.0111.6
19673,735,39431,1163,1818.30.9102.2
19683,750,86630,8142,8658.20.893.0
19693,710,12031,8682,9608.60.892.9
19703,708,45534,4113,0749.30.889.3
19713,759,89335,2903,1149.40.888.2
19723,818,70334,6603,2019.10.892.4
19733,871,81533,9913,4298.80.9100.9
19743,924,76034,9173,5798.90.9102.5
19753,976,91335,7764,5129.01.1126.1
19764,033,03133,8493,6968.40.9109.2
19774,085,91834,9513,0238.60.786.5
19784,134,87834,9703,4238.50.897.9
19794,147,34435,1113,0558.50.787.0
19804,125,48635,0122,6108.50.674.5
19814,136,19636,6313,4198.90.893.3
19824,154,00036,4223,0758.80.784.4
19834,178,00037,2393,1498.90.884.6
19844,203,00035,7672,5998.50.672.7
19854,227,00035,0152,9268.30.783.6
19864,251,00034,3382,2288.10.564.9
19874,275,00034,4662,1188.10.561.5
19884,299,00034,7002,0898.10.560.2
19894,323,00034,5502,0988.00.560.7
19904,347,00029,9901,7566.90.458.6
19914,377,03328,2381,5906.50.456.3
1992*
1993*
1994*
1995*
19963,530,79921,1071,1156.00.352.8
19973,529,90923,1811,8356.60.579.2
19983,529,57322,3981,9646.30.687.7
19993,527,54922,4721,9956.40.688.8
20003,524,62721,8971,9296.20.588.1
20013,521,31020,3022,1265.80.6104.7
20023,517,95520,7662,3305.90.7112.2
20033,514,01920,5261,9985.80.697.3
20043,509,54221,6201,5246.20.470.5
20053,505,03721,0991,7196.00.581.5
20063,501,62120,5451,5485.90.475.3
20073,498,02322,6131,7216.50.576.1
20083,493,73721,9901,3376.30.460.8
20093,491,32720,4711,3995.90.468.3
20103,488,44119,3731,6655.60.585.9
20113,484,15419,0042,3065.50.7121.3
20123,479,23418,0892,2905.20.7126.6
20133,473,72017,4702,6075.00.8149.2
20143,466,38818,4682,6785.30.8145.0
20153,456,39419,5372,9565.70.9151.3
20163,447,00119,0062,7595.50.8145.2
20173,437,45319,6663,0055.70.9152.8
20183,427,36919,6593,0845.70.9156.9
20193,415,75218,6872,7755.50.8148.5

Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mid-yearMarriagesDivorcesCrude marriage rate Crude divorce rate Divorces per 1,000 marriages
19912,720,07418,3528136.70.344.3
1992
1993
1994
1995
19962,283,33514,6923786.40.225.7
19972,281,22616,0611,0987.00.568.4
19982,279,08314,9211,1636.50.577.9
19992,276,92714,2851,2016.30.584.1
20002,274,78913,8941,1806.10.584.9
20012,272,65512,7581,2865.60.6100.8
20022,239,41712,8891,4245.80.6110.5
20032,237,33413,1021,1745.90.589.6
20042,235,25013,6958576.10.462.6
20052,233,16713,6209666.10.470.9
20062,232,37613,0129335.80.471.7
20072,231,54814,8081,0316.60.569.6
20082,229,78714,9099386.70.462.9
20092,229,07213,6708056.10.458.9
20102,228,02712,9889945.80.476.5
20112,226,01112,5891,2215.70.597.0
20122,222,58712,0601,1765.40.597.5
20132,219,13111,3811,3645.10.6119.8
20142,215,99711,9821,3215.40.6110.2
20152,210,99412,9721,5025.90.7115.8
20162,206,23112,7901,4455.80.7113.0
20172,201,19312,9941,7255.90.8132.8
20182,196,23313,0611,8235.90.8139.6
20192,190,09812,2661,6735.60.8136.4

Republika Srpska

Mid-yearMarriagesDivorcesCrude marriage rate Crude divorce rate Divorces per 1,000 marriages
19911,569,3329,2326215.90.467.3
1992
1993
1994
1995
19961,247,4646,4157375.10.6114.9
19971,248,6837,1207375.70.6103.5
19981,250,4907,4778016.00.6107.1
19991,250,6228,1877946.50.697.0
20001,249,8388,0037496.40.693.6
20011,248,6557,5448406.00.7111.3
20021,194,1787,2338486.10.7117.2
20031,192,6226,7697445.70.6109.9
20041,190,5267,1436376.00.589.2
20051,187,9406,8107215.70.6105.9
20061,185,1456,8605265.80.476.7
20071,182,2177,0935966.00.584.0
20081,179,7176,4013175.40.349.5
20091,177,9956,1314555.20.474.2
20101,176,4195,7675174.90.489.6
20111,174,4205,8028864.90.8152.7
20121,173,1315,3268784.50.7164.9
20131,171,1795,4671,0524.70.9192.4
20141,167,0825,8231,1065.00.9189.9
20151,162,1645,8951,1435.11.0193.9
20161,157,5165,5631,0254.80.9184.3
20171,153,0175,9549855.20.9165.4
20181,147,9025,9669635.20.8161.4
20191,142,4955,8229205.10.8158.0

Brčko District

Mid-yearMarriagesDivorcesCrude marriage rate Crude divorce rate Divorces per 1,000 marriages
199187,6276541567.51.8238.5
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
200284,360644587.60.790.1
200384,063655807.81.0122.1
200483,766782309.30.438.4
200583,930669328.00.447.8
200684,100673898.01.1132.2
200784,258712948.51.1132.0
200884,233680828.11.0120.6
200984,2606701398.01.6207.5
201083,9956181547.41.8249.2
201183,7236131997.32.4324.6
201283,5167032368.42.8335.7
201383,4106221917.52.3307.1
201483,3096632518.03.0378.6
201583,2366703118.03.7464.2
201683,2546532897.83.5442.6
201783,2437182958.63.5410.9
201883,2346322987.63.6471.5
201983,1595991827.22.2303.8

Life expectancy at birth in Bosnia and Herzegovina

PeriodLife expectancy in
Years
1950-195553.67
1955-1960 58.46
1960-1965 61.93
1965-1970 64.73
1970-1975 67.57
1975-1980 69.87
1980-1985 70.72
1985-1990 71.95
1990-1995 70.13
1995-2000 73.61
2000-2005 74.81
2005-2010 75.53
2010-2015 76.53
2015-2020 77.18

Ethnic groups

According to data from the 2013 census published by the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosniaks constitute 50.11% of the population, Bosnian Serbs 30.78%, Bosnian Croats 15.43%, and others form 2.73%, with the remaining respondents not declaring their ethnicity or not answering.
The census results are contested by the Republika Srpska statistical office and by Bosnian Serb politicians, who oppose the inclusion of non-permanent Bosnian residents in the figures.
The European Union's statistics office, Eurostat, determined that the methodology used by the Bosnian statistical agency was in line with international recommendations.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, religion is often linked to ethnicity, i.e. most Bosniaks are Muslim, Serbs are Orthodox Christian, and Croats are Roman Catholic.

Languages

Bosnia's constitution does not specify any official languages; however, academics Hilary Footitt and Michael Kelly note that the Dayton Agreement states that it is "done in Bosnian, Croatian, English and Serbian", and they describe this as the "de facto recognition of three official languages" at the state level. The equal status of Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian was verified by the Constitutional Court in 2000. It ruled that the provisions of the Federation and Republika Srpska constitutions on language were incompatible with the state constitution, since they only recognised "Bosniak" and Croatian and Serbian as official languages at the entity level.
As a result, the wording of the entity constitutions was changed and all three languages were made official in both entities. The three languages are mutually intelligible and are also known collectively as Serbo-Croatian. Use of one of the three varieties has become a marker of ethnic identity. Michael Kelly and Catherine Baker argue: "The three official languages of today's Bosnian state...represent the symbolic assertion of national identity over the pragmatism of mutual intelligibility".
All standard varieties are based on the Ijekavian varieties of the Shtokavian dialect. Serbian and Bosnian are written in both Latin and Cyrillic, whereas Croatian is written only in Latin alphabet. There are also some speakers of Italian, German, Turkish and Ladino. Yugoslav Sign Language is used with Croatian and Serbian variants.
According to the results of the 2013 census, 52.86% of the population consider their mother tongue to be Bosnian, 30.76% Serbian, 14.6% Croatian and 1.57% another language, with 0.21% not giving an answer.

Religion

According to the 2013 census, 50.7% of the population identify religiously as Muslim, 30.75% as Serbian Orthodox Christian, 15.19% as Roman Catholic, 1.15% as other, 1.1% as agnostic or atheist, with the remainder not declaring their religion or not answering. A 2012 survey found that 47% of Bosnia's Muslims are non-denominational Muslims, while 45% follow Sunnism.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, religion is strongly linked to ethnicity.

Demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the, unless otherwise indicated.