Bosnia and Herzegovina population pyramid 2026
3,114,242 people in 2026 (projected). Deaths have outnumbered births in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1992, and war and emigration have cut its population by about 30% from the 1991 peak.
- 2026 population
- 3.1Mrank 138 of 237
- Median age
- 46.1 yearsoldest rank 18
- Fertility rate
- 1.50births per woman · below replacement
- Structure
- Older23.5% age 65+
Bosnia and Herzegovina population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Hover over or tap a bar to see exact values.
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Bosnia and Herzegovina age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 12.7% of the population, while 23.5% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 63.8% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Bosnia and Herzegovina’s age structure as older; the guide to constrictive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 56.8: about 57 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (19.9 children and 36.8 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Bosnia and Herzegovina’s population pyramid
Two wars in one pyramid
The 1950 pyramid carries the losses of the Second World War, which was fought with particular brutality on Bosnian territory: a notch at ages 5–9, born in 1941–45, and a severe shortage of men aged 25–34. Those small wartime cohorts produced fewer children in turn, and their echo, people born around 1967–71, is a notch at ages 55–59 in 2026, set between bulges at 60–64 and 45–49.
The war of 1992–95 left a second, sharper mark. The 30–34 band in 2026, born about 1992–96, is about 15% smaller than its neighbours, while the 25–29 band above it, born in the postwar years 1997–2001, is about 10% larger, consistent with births postponed during the fighting. The population peaked at about 4.5 million in 1991; deaths have exceeded births since 1992, and about 3.1 million people lived in the country in 2026.
Emigration as the main driver
Low fertility explains part of the decline. It fell below two children per woman by 1980 and to about 1.3 in 2000, and has recovered only to 1.5. But migration explains more. The UN estimates net emigration of about 920,000 between 1950 and 1999, much of it labour migration to western Europe and refugee flight in the 1990s, and a further 850,000 between 2000 and 2023, far exceeding the natural decrease of about 130,000 over the same years. The fastest-declining populations ranking shows how this compares internationally.
An unusual balance of the sexes
Among young adults men outnumber women by more than the sex ratio at birth would produce, with 114 men per 100 women at ages 30–34; the chart alone cannot show whether this reflects more women emigrating or differences in how emigrants are counted. At the top the pattern reverses strongly: only 73 men per 100 women at 70–74 and 46 at 80–84. Women live about six years longer than men, and wartime deaths among men of these generations may add to the gap.
Under the UN medium scenario the population falls to about 2.5 million by 2050 and 1.4 million by 2100, with about a third aged 65 or older from mid-century. Apart from Bermuda, its 2026 profile is closest to those of Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia, fellow former Yugoslav republics that share much of the same history.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
Comparing each five-year band with its neighbours picks out the cohorts that break a smooth slope. These irregularities usually record past surges or deficits in births, or migration concentrated at particular ages; the pattern alone does not identify which. The guide to baby booms and echo cohorts explains how to date and interpret them.
| Age band in 2026 | Born about | Feature | Versus neighbouring bands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30–34 | 1992–1996 | Notch (smaller cohort) | −15% |
| 45–49 | 1977–1981 | Bulge (larger cohort) | +12% |
| 55–59 | 1967–1971 | Notch (smaller cohort) | −11% |
| 25–29 | 1997–2001 | Bulge (larger cohort) | +10% |
Deaths have exceeded births every year since 2010; they also did so in 1992, but births then outnumbered deaths again. People aged 65 and older came to outnumber children under 15 between 2010 and 2015.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina is projected to record 24,034 births (about 66 births a day) and 42,697 deaths, a natural decrease of 18,663. Net migration adds −7,581 people, ranking #189 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 816,925 births, 943,609 deaths, and cumulative net migration of −847,488. Over that period migration moved the total more than the balance of births and deaths did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of −140,554 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 81.4 years49.6 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 75.1 years45.1 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 17.8 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 4.5per 1,000 births · 177 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 5.1per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 29.3 yearssex ratio at birth 106.7
Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina are projected to live 6.3 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 177 to 4.5 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #183 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 29.3 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Bosnia and Herzegovina
The median age of 46.1 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 1.50 births per woman is below the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 78.4 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,114,242 | #138 | Largest first |
| Median age | 46.1 years | #18 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 1.50 | #167 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | -0.8% | #227 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 78.4 years | #78 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 23.5% | #18 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45–49 | 252,097 | 8.1% | 122.7K / 129.4K |
| 2 | 60–64 | 240,677 | 7.7% | 111.1K / 129.6K |
| 3 | 65–69 | 235,770 | 7.6% | 106.1K / 129.7K |
| 4 | 50–54 | 228,933 | 7.4% | 111.4K / 117.5K |
| 5 | 40–44 | 221,387 | 7.1% | 113K / 108.4K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Bosnia and Herzegovina has 1,484,127 males and 1,630,115 females. That is 91.0 males per 100 females, ranking #210 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 47.7% of the population and females for 52.3%. There are 145,988 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 63.2 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 106.7 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Bosnia and Herzegovina has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 2,690,410 in 1950 to 3,114,242 in 2026, a change of 16%. Over the same span, median age moved from 19.0 to 46.1 years.
The under-15 share changed from 38.0% to 12.7%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 4.0% to 23.5%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s population is projected to decline by about 21%, reaching 2,455,167 in 2050. The median age changes from 46.1 to 51.5 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 10.5 percentage points to 34.0%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 11.7%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The annual UN series reaches its highest estimated population of 4,458,344 in 1991. Historical population totals are estimates rather than exact head counts. Compare timing across countries in the population peak ranking.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,690,410 | 19.0 | 5.07 | 47.3 | 101,146 | 50,551 | −11,467 | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 3,281,381 | 20.5 | 3.96 | 58.5 | 113,590 | 36,751 | −6,481 | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 3,773,247 | 21.2 | 2.79 | 64.8 | 84,057 | 29,602 | −20,714 | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 4,148,426 | 24.7 | 1.98 | 69.6 | 72,161 | 29,249 | −7,368 | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 4,448,652 | 28.7 | 1.79 | 71.5 | 68,555 | 33,561 | −22,829 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 4,159,772 | 32.7 | 1.28 | 75.3 | 42,557 | 30,838 | +8,138 | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 3,811,472 | 38.1 | 1.26 | 76.8 | 36,074 | 37,966 | −67,228 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 3,299,349 | 43.8 | 1.52 | 76.0 | 27,558 | 50,060 | −26,840 | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 3,185,073 | 44.9 | 1.49 | 77.9 | 24,569 | 42,861 | −485 | -0.6% |
| 2024* | 3,164,253 | 45.3 | 1.49 | 78.0 | 24,430 | 42,786 | −4,497 | -0.7% |
| 2026* | 3,114,242 | 46.1 | 1.50 | 78.4 | 24,034 | 42,697 | −7,581 | -0.8% |
| 2030* | 3,013,974 | 47.7 | 1.52 | 79.1 | 23,375 | 42,670 | −4,630 | -0.8% |
| 2040* | 2,745,010 | 50.6 | 1.55 | 80.9 | 20,763 | 43,415 | −6,597 | -1.1% |
| 2050* | 2,455,167 | 51.5 | 1.57 | 82.5 | 17,496 | 42,268 | −3,517 | -1.1% |
| 2060* | 2,171,311 | 52.9 | 1.58 | 83.9 | 15,306 | 38,777 | −3,871 | -1.3% |
| 2070* | 1,916,070 | 53.4 | 1.59 | 85.2 | 13,878 | 35,374 | −2,602 | -1.3% |
| 2080* | 1,697,349 | 53.3 | 1.60 | 86.5 | 12,185 | 30,034 | −2,078 | -1.2% |
| 2090* | 1,519,506 | 53.5 | 1.60 | 87.7 | 10,774 | 25,667 | −760 | -1.0% |
| 2100* | 1,366,461 | 53.9 | 1.61 | 88.8 | 9,875 | 22,899 | −1,268 | -1.1% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 62,403 | 58,428 | 120,831 | 3.9% |
| 5–9 | 69,790 | 65,148 | 134,938 | 4.3% |
| 10–14 | 72,469 | 67,475 | 139,944 | 4.5% |
| 15–19 | 81,934 | 75,927 | 157,861 | 5.1% |
| 20–24 | 86,296 | 79,528 | 165,824 | 5.3% |
| 25–29 | 92,112 | 83,507 | 175,619 | 5.6% |
| 30–34 | 81,332 | 71,213 | 152,545 | 4.9% |
| 35–39 | 95,309 | 86,485 | 181,794 | 5.8% |
| 40–44 | 112,964 | 108,423 | 221,387 | 7.1% |
| 45–49 | 122,721 | 129,376 | 252,097 | 8.1% |
| 50–54 | 111,418 | 117,515 | 228,933 | 7.4% |
| 55–59 | 100,876 | 109,037 | 209,913 | 6.7% |
| 60–64 | 111,069 | 129,608 | 240,677 | 7.7% |
| 65–69 | 106,097 | 129,673 | 235,770 | 7.6% |
| 70–74 | 84,665 | 115,405 | 200,070 | 6.4% |
| 75–79 | 51,142 | 83,201 | 134,343 | 4.3% |
| 80–84 | 23,692 | 51,163 | 74,855 | 2.4% |
| 85–89 | 13,283 | 41,334 | 54,617 | 1.8% |
| 90–94 | 3,967 | 20,583 | 24,550 | 0.8% |
| 95–99 | 566 | 6,051 | 6,617 | 0.2% |
| 100+ | 23 | 1,032 | 1,055 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Bermuda97% overlap · median age 46.4
- Croatia97% overlap · median age 45.5
- Slovenia96% overlap · median age 45.0
- Serbia96% overlap · median age 44.7
- Portugal95% overlap · median age 47.2
- Spain95% overlap · median age 46.3
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Bosnia and Herzegovina Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/bosnia-and-herzegovina/
MLA
“Bosnia and Herzegovina Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/bosnia-and-herzegovina/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Bosnia and Herzegovina Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/bosnia-and-herzegovina/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Bosnia and Herzegovina's population in 2026 is projected at 3,114,242.
What is the median age in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The projected median age in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2026 is 46.1 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 1.50 births per woman, below the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Bosnia and Herzegovina's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will decline by about 21%, from 3.1M to 2.5M.
What share of Bosnia and Herzegovina is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 23.5% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 34.0%.
How many babies are born in Bosnia and Herzegovina each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 24,034 births and 42,697 deaths in 2026, about 66 births a day. Deaths exceed births by 18,663.
What is life expectancy in Bosnia and Herzegovina for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 81.4 years for women and 75.1 years for men, a gap of 6.3 years in favour of women.
Does Bosnia and Herzegovina have more immigrants or emigrants?
Bosnia and Herzegovina is projected to lose about 7,581 more people through emigration than it gains in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of −847,488.
What is the sex ratio in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 91.0 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.