Western Balkans sees mass emigration of over 660,000 people

Between 2019 and 2023, more than 660,000 people emigrated from Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to OECD data. This trend is predominantly driven by young people leaving the former Yugoslav territories due to systemic dysfunction, unemployment, poverty, and a lack of organized social infrastructure.

Croatia leads the region in emigration, losing approximately 47,000 people annually. Serbia follows with an average of 43,000 departures per year, while Bosnia and Herzegovina loses about 40,000 citizens annually. Experts warn that the Western Balkans could lose between a quarter and a half of its qualified and educated youth in the coming decades.

Beyond economic factors, the migration of entire families has led to cultural integration challenges. Migrant families report difficulties in maintaining native languages among children born abroad, often resulting in a generational gap regarding linguistic and cultural identity.