Bosnia and Herzegovina sees reduced natural population decline in early 2024

Official statistics show that from January to March 2024 Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded 5,551 births, 6.2 % more than the same period a year earlier, while deaths fell to 9,000, down 4.6 % from 9,433. The natural population decrease therefore narrowed to 3,449 people, a reduction of about 18 % compared with the 4,208 loss recorded in the first quarter of 2023.

The vital index, which measures the ratio of live births to deaths, rose from 55.39 to 61.68. Marriages also declined to 1,879 from 2,077 a year earlier, and divorces dropped to 410 from 523. Analysts caution that, although the figures signal a short‑term improvement, Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to face long‑standing demographic challenges such as aging, emigration and a historically negative natural growth rate.