Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Zelenih beretki 26, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
25 August 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
25 August 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
25 August 2025
3.1. Data description
Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.
International Standard Classification of Occupations ISCO-08.
International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems – 10th revision (ICD-10).
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Population estimates are based on data from the most recent census adjusted by the components of natural population change that occured since the last census.
In order to determine the total number of inhabitants on the last census in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the concept of „usually resident population“ was used, according to which a person is considered to be an inhabitant of the place in which she/he alone (in case of a one-person household) or with the members of her/his household lives, irrespective of where the person has her/his residence registered. According to the definition of the place of usual residence, the usually resident population includes persons who live in that place continuously for at least 12 months before the critical census moment, as well as persons who live in that place for less than 12 months but with an intention to stay there for at least one year.
Due to lack of data on international migration, which should certainly be included in calculation of annual population estimates, it may be supposed that population estimates are not completely reliable data.
Live birth is the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, which, after such separation, breaths or shows any other evidence of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movements of voluntary muscles. If a product of such a births dies, it is first registered as live-born and then as died.
A dead person is every live-born person in which there is a permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth has taken place, without capability of resuscitation. Stillbirths are not included here.
Dead infants are considered children who died under one year of age.
In establishing birth order all children are taken into account (live births and stillbirths), irrespective of whether born in or out of wedlock.
Marriage is a legally regulated community of a man and a woman.
Divorce is a legal act issued by the respective court, which declares that marriage is legally divorced, annulled and void.
3.5. Statistical unit
Number of population, live births, deaths, marriages, divorces and emigrants.
3.6. Statistical population
Not applicable
3.7. Reference area
Population, live births and deaths data are available at national level.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Live births, deaths, marriages and divorces: since1996.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
Data is collected at unit (person) level.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31December). The reference period for vital and dual events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Law on Statistics of BiH (Official Gazette of BiH 26/04 and 42/04), Multi-annual statistical programs and annual work plans of BiH.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
National Statistics Act defines the role and co-operation of Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina and authorised producers concerning the organisation, preparation, execution of statistical programmes and reporting about them as well as respect of the fundamental principles, data dissemination and international co-operation.Specific agreements are signed with data producing agencies, determining the procedures, deadlines etc. regarding data sharing and transmission.
Eurostat Demographic Balance Data Collection (DEMOBAL).
Eurostat Population statistics data collection ( POPSTAT).
Eurostat Demography NOWCAST.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The confidentiality of statistical data is regulated by law, and the staff conducting statistical research has the obligation to protect confidentiality on the same legal basis. The Law on Statistics of BiH (Official Gazette of BiH 26/04 and 42/04 - Chapter XI - Articles 23-29) establishes the principle of confidentiality as one of the main principles.
The Agency for Statistics of BiH distributes statistics in accordance with the statistical principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice, and in particular with the principle of statistical confidentiality.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The document "Ordinance on the protection of statistical data in the Agency for Statistics" lists the procedures for ensuring confidentiality during collection, processing and dissemination - which includes protocols for ensuring individual data to be accessed, rules for defining confidential cells in output tables and procedures for the detection and prevention of subsequent disclosures, as well as access to microdata for research purposes.
8.1. Release calendar
At the end of December each year, BHAS publishes a Publishing Calendar with the exact date and time of publication of statistics for the following year.
Live births, deaths, marriage and divorce, quarterly previous results.
31 October Bulletin Demography
28 February Statistical release of Internal Migrations
The principle that all users have equal access to statistical data on an impartial basis is set out in Article 8, paragraph 2, item h. , and Article 19, paragraph 2 of the Law on Statistics of BiH and BHAS are consistently implemented in practice.
Births and deaths: provisional data are published quarterly, final data annually.
Marriages and divorces: provisional data are published quarterly, final data annually.
Please see the information in the annex, BA_POPSTAT.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Please see the information in the annex, BA_POPSTAT.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The key users of data from the statistical survey of livebirths, deaths, marriages and divorces are:
State and other public administration institutions such as: Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, Directorate for European Integration at the Council of Ministers of BiH, Directorate for Economic Planning of BiH at the Council of Ministers of BiH,
Academic and business community,
General public,
Foreign users: Eurostat, UNSD,WHO, UNICEF.
Media.
The key users of migration data depends on the delivered data base for migration statistics.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The Agency for Statistics of BiH periodically conducts the User Satisfaction Survey and the results are available on the official website of the Agency. No special measurement of user satisfaction with the birth and death survey is performed.
12.3. Completeness
Statistical data are fully produced in accordance with the plan and program of official statistics.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Please see the information in the annex, BA_POPSTAT.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
According to Art 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata ( In the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Art 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
The Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina publishes preliminary data for births and deaths in March for previous year. Data for total population and final detailed data for births and deaths publishes in October for previous year.
14.2. Punctuality
Statistics on population and vital events are published in accordance with the pre-determined calendar of publications.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
There are no problems with comparability within the country and with EU countries.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Please see the information in the annex, BA_POPSTAT.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
There is no such surveys conducted by another organization.
15.4. Coherence - internal
All data are consistent.
Not applicable.
17.1. Data revision - policy
There was no need to revise the data.
17.2. Data revision - practice
No data revision is performed.
18.1. Source data
Please see the information in the annex, BA_POPSTAT.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data are collected annually.
18.3. Data collection
Data for the statistical survey on births, deaths, marriages and divorces are collected through forms that reporting units fill out and submit to statistical institutions.
Data obtained from the entity statistical institutes and branches of the Agency in the Brčko District, the Agency for Statistics of BiH publishes in aggregate form.
The Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina receives data in the form of a database from the competent institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina for monitoring migration flows.
18.4. Data validation
Data validity and reliability checks are performed. Data authentication involves checking the accuracy of the data and estimating all possible errors related to the data. Logical controls are done after data entry.
18.5. Data compilation
Data processing is done by the program for tabulation.
Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.
Population estimates are based on data from the most recent census adjusted by the components of natural population change that occured since the last census.
In order to determine the total number of inhabitants on the last census in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the concept of „usually resident population“ was used, according to which a person is considered to be an inhabitant of the place in which she/he alone (in case of a one-person household) or with the members of her/his household lives, irrespective of where the person has her/his residence registered. According to the definition of the place of usual residence, the usually resident population includes persons who live in that place continuously for at least 12 months before the critical census moment, as well as persons who live in that place for less than 12 months but with an intention to stay there for at least one year.
Due to lack of data on international migration, which should certainly be included in calculation of annual population estimates, it may be supposed that population estimates are not completely reliable data.
Live birth is the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, which, after such separation, breaths or shows any other evidence of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movements of voluntary muscles. If a product of such a births dies, it is first registered as live-born and then as died.
A dead person is every live-born person in which there is a permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth has taken place, without capability of resuscitation. Stillbirths are not included here.
Dead infants are considered children who died under one year of age.
In establishing birth order all children are taken into account (live births and stillbirths), irrespective of whether born in or out of wedlock.
Marriage is a legally regulated community of a man and a woman.
Divorce is a legal act issued by the respective court, which declares that marriage is legally divorced, annulled and void.
Number of population, live births, deaths, marriages, divorces and emigrants.
Not applicable
Population, live births and deaths data are available at national level.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31December). The reference period for vital and dual events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
Please see the information in the annex, BA_POPSTAT.
Data is collected at unit (person) level.
Data processing is done by the program for tabulation.
Please see the information in the annex, BA_POPSTAT.
Births and deaths: provisional data are published quarterly, final data annually.
Marriages and divorces: provisional data are published quarterly, final data annually.
According to Art 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata ( In the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Art 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
The Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina publishes preliminary data for births and deaths in March for previous year. Data for total population and final detailed data for births and deaths publishes in October for previous year.
There are no problems with comparability within the country and with EU countries.
Please see the information in the annex, BA_POPSTAT.
