- Ethnic Composition Notes
- Based on 2013 census data; no official census since 1991.
Good to know
Good to Know
- Sarajevo is the capital and largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina; the metropolitan area exceeds 348,000 residents and continues experiencing modest growth.
- The city's ethnic composition reflects post-1995 demographic changes from the Bosnian War; Bosniaks comprise the overwhelming majority at 77%+.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina experiences significant emigration (~1.7 million born there living abroad), driven by economic and political instability; this contrasts sharply with the country's low immigration rates.
- Tech sector is genuinely emerging with Techstars backing and recent accelerator programs; sectors include SaaS, AI, fintech, and urban mobility rather than mature tech clusters.
- International organizations and NGOs are major employers; local job market salaries average around 1,600 BAM monthly (~$943 USD), though IT and consulting roles pay ~2,755 BAM.
- English proficiency is valuable, especially in international organizations; knowledge of Bosnian, Croatian, or Serbian enhances employment prospects significantly.
City Population
- Canton
- 413593
- Year Reference
- 2025
- Metropolitan Area
- 348000
- Administrative Four Municipalities
- 275524
Notable Diaspora
- Bosnian Born Abroad
- Approximately 1.7 million (as of 2020)
- Including Second Generation
- Estimated 2 million
- Diaspora Context
- Represents nearly half the domestic population; Bosnia has among Europe's highest emigration rates due to economic and political factors.
Population Notes
Sarajevo's four central municipalities comprise the administrative city; the Canton encompasses a wider administrative region. Metropolitan area estimates reflect urban agglomeration.
Ethnic Composition
Bosniaks
- Percentage
- 77.4
- Estimated Count
- 230000
Croats
- Percentage
- 5
- Estimated Count
- 14000
Serbs
- Percentage
- 3
- Estimated Count
- 10000
Other/Undeclared
- Percentage
- 14.6
- Estimated Count
- 9283
Foreign Born Population
- Percentage Of Total
- Estimated below 3%
- Context
- Bosnia and Herzegovina has relatively limited immigration compared to Western Europe. Historical foreign-born presence linked primarily to post-war movements between former Yugoslav countries.
Ethnic Composition Notes
Based on 2013 census data; no official census since 1991.
Business And Tech Presence
- Economic Center Status
- Sarajevo serves as Bosnia and Herzegovina's primary economic hub, hosting international organizations, NGOs, and an emerging tech sector.
- International Employers
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, UN agencies, international NGOs focused on post-conflict development
- Internal Migration Note
- Up to 10% of all city jobs held by internal migrants from rural areas and smaller towns.
Tech Ecosystem
- Status
- Emerging and rapidly growing
- Recent Developments
- Sarajevo received Techstars Startup Community Partner status (2025). According to 2026 Global Startup Ecosystem Index, Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded one of the fastest growth rates in the region, nearly doubling progress year-over-year.
Key Initiatives
- Techstars Sarajevo program and accelerator
- Sarajevo Slush'D
- HUB387 (IT park promoting local IT ecosystem)
Startup Sectors
- SaaS
- AI and machine learning
- Fintech and cryptocurrency
- Urban mobility solutions
- Biotech
Employment Indicators
- Other Sectors
- Typically range 1,000-2,000 BAM per month
- Average Net Salary
- BAM 1,611
- It Consulting Sectors
- BAM 2,755
- Salary Note
- Average monthly net salary; international organizations typically offer higher compensation
Key Employment Sectors
- Information technology
- Finance
- Tourism
- International development
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this local demographics research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Sarajevo
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.