New York, 23 August 2024 (MIA) - United Nations estimates show the population of the Western Balkan countries will drop by around 3 million people by 2050. A total of 16.977.000 people live in the Western Balkans based on figures from 2023, according to estimates, this number would drop to 13.975.000 by 2050.

According to the UN, the population of North Macedonia would drop from 1.836.000 to 1.519.000 or by 17.3 percent.

The biggest drop is estimated to happen in Serbia, which had a population of 6.788.000 in 2023, and will have 5.556.000 in 2050 – 1.2 million people less or a drop of 18.2 percent.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania are expected to suffer the biggest decline in population in terms of percentages, with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s population dropping by 22,7 percent – from 3.194.000 in 2023 to 2.469.000 in 2050.  

Albania on the other hand will suffer a population drop of 20.2 percent, from 2.822.000 in 2023 to 2.251.000 in 2050.

The estimates show Montenegro’s population in 2050 would stand at 545.000 - a 14.8 percent drop from 628.000 in 2023. 

Photo: MIA Archive