Quick facts
Sarajevo overview
Sarajevo (orange) and the other large cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo lies in Federation of B&H in Bosnia and Herzegovina at 43.85°N, 18.36°E, about 509 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Sarajevo (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Bosnia and Herzegovina: the next largest cities are Banja Luka (221,106), Zenica (164,423), Tuzla (142,486). Together, the three largest cities hold 34.8% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Ilidža, about 4 km away, followed by Visoko (21 km).
Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole has a live population of 3,107,144 (-0.8% a year) and ranks #137 of 238 countries — see the Bosnia and Herzegovina population page for the full statistics and the Bosnia and Herzegovina atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Sarajevo
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Ilidža Federation of B&H | 4 km | 71,277 |
| Visoko Federation of B&H | 21 km | 17,890 |
| Konjic Federation of B&H | 39 km | 15,950 |
| Zenica Federation of B&H | 53 km | 164,423 |
| Goražde Federation of B&H | 54 km | 17,650 |
| Travnik Federation of B&H | 69 km | 31,127 |
| Mostar Federation of B&H | 71 km | 104,518 |
| Bugojno Federation of B&H | 76 km | 41,378 |
Largest cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SarajevoCapital | Federation of B&H | 696,731 |
| 2 | Banja Luka | Srpska | 221,106 |
| 3 | Zenica | Federation of B&H | 164,423 |
| 4 | Tuzla | Federation of B&H | 142,486 |
| 5 | Mostar | Federation of B&H | 104,518 |
| 6 | Bihać | Federation of B&H | 75,641 |
| 7 | Ilidža | Federation of B&H | 71,277 |
| 8 | Lukavac | Federation of B&H | 44,520 |
| 9 | Bugojno | Federation of B&H | 41,378 |
| 10 | Brčko | Brčko | 38,968 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sarajevo?
Sarajevo has about 696,731 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Sarajevo the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Yes — Sarajevo is the national capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
How big is Sarajevo compared with the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Its 696,731 residents are 22.4% of the 3,107,144 people living in Bosnia and Herzegovina today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Sarajevo?
In Federation of B&H, Bosnia and Herzegovina, at latitude 43.85 and longitude 18.36, 509 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Ilidža (4 km), Visoko (21 km), Konjic (39 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Sarajevo Population 2026 — Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/bosnia-and-herzegovina/sarajevo/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/bosnia-and-herzegovina/sarajevo/">Sarajevo Population 2026 — Bosnia and Herzegovina</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.