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Bosnia and Herzegovina

2025 Edition · 414 data fields

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Introduction

Background

After four centuries of Ottoman rule over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria-Hungary took control in 1878 and held the region until 1918, when it was incorporated into the newly created Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. After World War II, Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). Bosnia and Herzegovina declared sovereignty in October 1991 and independence from the SFRY on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. Bosnian Serb militias, with the support of Serbia and Croatia, then tried to take control of territories they claimed as their own. From 1992 to 1995, ethnic cleansing campaigns killed thousands and displaced more than two million people. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement, and the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995. The Dayton Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a multiethnic and democratic government composed of two entities roughly equal in size: the predominantly Bosniak-Bosnian Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the predominantly Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Dayton Accords also established the Office of the High Representative to oversee the agreement's implementation. In 1996, the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) took over responsibility for enforcing the peace. In 2004, European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR. As of 2022, EUFOR deploys around 1,600 troops in Bosnia in a peacekeeping capacity. Bosnia and Herzegovina became an official candidate for EU membership in 2022.

Geography

Area

Land: 51,187 sq km
Total: 51,197 sq km
Water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Climate

hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast

Coastline

20 km

Continent

Europe

Elevation

Highest point: Maglic 2,386 m
Lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 500 m

Geographic coordinates

44 00 N, 18 00 E

Geography - note

within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Montenegro

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

Border countries: Croatia 956 km; Montenegro 242 km; Serbia 345 km
number of neighbors: 3
Total: 1,543 km

Land use

Agricultural land: 21.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 12.8% (2023 est.)
arable land: 7.23%
Forest: 42.2% (2023 est.)
Other: 36.1% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 1.45%

Landlocked

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Map links

Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bosnia+and+Herzegovina
OpenStreetMap: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/2528142

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Natural resources

coal, iron ore, antimony, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, timber, hydropower

Population distribution

the northern and central areas of the country are the most densely populated

Subregion

Southeast Europe

Terrain

mountains and valleys

Time zone

UTC+01:00
number of time zones: 1

People and Society

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.1% (male 257,444/female 240,209)
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 1,305,271/female 1,290,920)
65 years and over: 18.6% (2024 est.) (male 289,449/female 415,378)

Alcohol consumption per capita

Beer: 4.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

6.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

12.29 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
adult female: 60 per 1,000
adult male: 119 per 1,000

Dependency ratios

Elderly dependency ratio: 27.8 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.)
Total dependency ratio: 44.5 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 16.7 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved total: 86.4%
Improved: rural: rural: 97.3% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 94.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 2.7% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 5.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.2% national budget (2021 est.)

Education expenditures

3 % of GDP

Ethnic groups

Bosniak 50.1%, Serb 30.8%, Croat 15.4%, other 2.7%, not declared/no answer 1% (2013 est.)
note: note: Republika Srpska authorities dispute the methodology and refuse to recognize the results; Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid confusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of Islam

Gross reproduction rate

0.56 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

9 % of GDP
Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Female: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births
neonatal: 5 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages: Bosnian (official) 52.9%, Serbian (official) 30.8%, Croatian (official) 14.6%, other 1.6%, no answer 0.2% (2013 est.)
Major-language sample(s): Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Bosnian) Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, nužan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Croatian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
number of languages: 3

Life expectancy at birth

Female: 81.6 years
Male: 75.5 years
Total population: 78.5 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

346,000 SARAJEVO (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

Female: 46.5 years
Male: 43.1 years
Total: 45.7 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.7 years (2019 est.)

Nationality

Adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian
Noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)

Net migration rate

-1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

17.9% (2016)

Physician density

2.58 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Population

Female: 1,874,951
Male: 1,778,548
Total: 3,653,499 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.67% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim 50.7%, Orthodox 30.7%, Roman Catholic 15.2%, atheist 0.8%, agnostic 0.3%, other 1.2%, undeclared/no answer 1.1% (2013 est.)

Sanitation facility access

Improved: urban: urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Female: 15 years (2023 est.)
Male: 14 years (2023 est.)
Total: 14 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

Female: 29% (2025 est.)
Male: 39.2% (2025 est.)
Total: 34% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.15 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Urban population: 50.3% of total population (2023)

Vaccination rate

measles: 69%

Government

Administrative divisions

3 first-order administrative divisions - Brcko District (Brcko Distrikt) (ethnically mixed), Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine) (predominantly Bosniak-Croat), Republika Srpska (predominantly Serb)

Capital

Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Etymology: the name derives from the Turkish word saray, meaning "palace" or "mansion"
Geographic coordinates: 43 52 N, 18 25 E
Name: Sarajevo
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dual citizenship recognized: yes, provided there is a bilateral agreement with the other state
Residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years

Coat of arms

svg: https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/ba.svg

Constitution

Amendment process: decided by the Parliamentary Assembly, including a two-thirds majority vote of members present in the House of Representatives; the constitutional article on human rights and fundamental freedoms cannot be amended
History: 14 December 1995 (constitution included as part of the Dayton Peace Accords)
Note: note: each of the political entities has its own constitution

Country name

Abbreviation: BiH
alternative spellings: BA, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Босна и Херцеговина
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Etymology: the larger northern territory is named for the Bosna River; the smaller southern section takes its name from the Old Serbian word herceg, meaning "duke," combined with the possessive -ov and the suffix -ina, meaning "country," to denote "dukedom"
FIFA code: BIH
Former: People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local long form: none
local long form (bos): Bosna i Hercegovina
Local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina

Diplomatic representation from the US

Branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar
Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires John GINKEL (since September 2025)
Email address and website: sarajevoACS@state.gov https://ba.usembassy.gov/
Embassy: 1 Robert C. Frasure Street, 71000 Sarajevo
FAX: [387] (33) 659-722
Mailing address: 7130 Sarajevo Place, Washington DC  20521-7130
Telephone: [387] (33) 704-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
Chief of mission: Ambassador Sven ALKALAJ (since 30 June 2023)
Consulate(s) general: Chicago
Email address and website: info@bhembassy.org http://www.bhembassy.org/index.html
FAX: [1] (202) 337-1502
Telephone: [1] (202) 337-1500

Executive branch

Cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairperson, approved by the state-level House of Representatives
Chief of state: Chairperson of the Presidency Zeljko KOMSIC (chairperson since 16 July 2025; presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Croat seat); Denis BECIROVIC (presidency member since 16 November 2022 - Bosniak seat); Zeljka CVIJANOVIC (presidency member since 16 November 2022 - Serb seat)
Election results: 2022: percent of vote - Denis BECIROVIC - (SDP BiH) 57.4% - Bosniak seat; Zeljko KOMSIC (DF) 55.8% - Croat seat; Zeljka CVIJANOVIC (SNSD) 51.7% - Serb seat 2018: percent of vote - Milorad DODIK (SNSD) 53.9% - Serb seat; Zeljko KOMSIC (DF) 52.6% - Croat seat; Sefik DZAFEROVIC (SDA) 36.6% - Bosniak seat
Election/appointment process: 3-member presidency (1 Bosniak and 1 Croat elected from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 1 Serb elected from the Republika Srpska) directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term but then ineligible for 4 years); the presidency chairpersonship rotates every 8 months, with the new member of the presidency elected with the highest number of votes starting the new mandate as chair; the chairperson of the Council of Ministers appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the state-level House of Representatives
Expected date of next election: October 2026
Head of government: Chairperson of the Council of Ministers Borjana KRISTO (since 25 January 2023)
Most recent election date: 2 October 2022
Note: note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Lidiia BRADARA (since 28 February 2023)

Flag

description: a wide blue vertical band on the right side, with a large yellow isosceles triangle in the middle of the flag, based at the top; the rest of the flag is blue, with seven five-pointed white stars and two half-stars along the triangle's hypotenuse meaning: the triangle approximates the country's shape, and its three points stand for the Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs; the stars represent Europe; the colors (white, blue, and yellow) are traditional and are also associated with neutrality and peace
note: note: one of four national flags that reflect the shape of the country in the flag design; the others are Brazil, Eritrea, and Vanuatu

Flag description

The flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a blue field, at the center of which is a large yellow hoist-side facing right-angled triangle that is based on the top edge and spans the height of the field. Adjacent to the hypotenuse of this triangle are nine adjoining five-pointed white stars with the top and bottom stars cut in half by the edges of the field.

Flag image

svg: https://flagcdn.com/ba.svg

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia)
note: note: referendum for independence completed on 1 March 1992; independence declared on 3 March 1992

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
note: note: Bosnia-Herzegovina is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership

Judicial branch

Highest court(s): Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members); Court of BiH (consists of 44 national judges and 7 international judges organized into 3 divisions - Administrative, Appellate, and Criminal, which includes a War Crimes Chamber)
Judge selection and term of office: BiH Constitutional Court judges - 4 selected by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Representatives, 2 selected by the Republika Srpska's National Assembly, and 3 non-Bosnian judges selected by the president of the European Court of Human Rights; Court of BiH president and national judges appointed by the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council; Court of BiH president appointed for renewable 6-year term; other national judges appointed to serve until age 70; international judges recommended by the president of the Court of BiH and appointed by the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina; international judges appointed to serve until age 70
Subordinate courts: the Federation has 10 cantonal courts plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpska has a supreme court, 5 district courts, and a number of municipal courts

Legal system

civil law system; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

Legislative structure: bicameral
Legislature name: Parliamentary Assembly (Skupstina)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

Chamber name: House of Representatives (Predstavnicki dom)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Expected date of next election: October 2026
Most recent election date: 2/16/2023
Number of seats: 42 (all directly elected)
Parties elected and seats per party: Party of Democratic Action (SDA) (9); Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) (6); Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDP) (5); HDZ BiH, HSS, HSP BiH, HKDU, HSPAS, HDU, HSPHB, HRAST (4); Democratic Front (DF) - Civic Alliance (GS) (3); People and Justice (NAROD I PRAVDA) (3); (3); Republican Party of the Social Order (PROS) (3); Other (15)
Percentage of women in chamber: 19%
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

Chamber name: House of Peoples (Dom Naroda)
Expected date of next election: February 2027
Most recent election date: 10/2/2022
Number of seats: 15 (all appointed)
Percentage of women in chamber: 6.7%
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years

National color(s)

blue, yellow, white

National heritage

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Bridge Area of Mostar (c); Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad (c); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe - Janj Forest (n); Vjetrenica Cave, Ravno (n)
Total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 March (1992) and Statehood Day, 25 November (1943) - both observed in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity; Victory Day, 9 May (1945) and Dayton Agreement Day, 21 November (1995) - both observed in the Republika Srpska entity
note: note: there is no national-level holiday

National symbol(s)

golden lily

Political parties

Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD Bosnian-Herzegovinian Initiative or BHI KF Civic Alliance or GS Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HDZ-BiH Democratic Front or DF Democratic Union or DEMOS For Justice and Order Our Party or NS/HC Party for Democratic Action or SDA Party of Democratic Progress or PDP People and Justice Party or NiP People's European Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or NES Serb Democratic Party or SDS Social Democratic Party or SDP United Srpska or US

Start of week

Monday

Suffrage

18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

UN Member

Yes

Economy

Agricultural products

maize, milk, vegetables, potatoes, plums, wheat, apples, barley, chicken, tomatoes (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

On alcohol and tobacco: 7.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On food: 32.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

Expenditures: $10.463 billion (2023 est.)
Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $10.196 billion (2023 est.)

Currency

code: BAM
name: Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark (BAM) [KM]

Current account balance

$-1,027,731,964
Current account balance 2022: -$1.078 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$638.769 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: -$1.176 billion (2024 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$13.89 billion
Debt - external 2023: $5.359 billion (2023 est.)
Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

import-dominated economy; remains consumption-heavy; lack of private sector investments and diversification; jointly addressing structural economic challenges; Chinese energy infrastructure investments; high unemployment; tourism industry impacted by COVID-19

Exchange rates

Currency: konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 1.717 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 1.654 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 1.859 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 1.809 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 1.808 (2024 est.)

Exports

$12.1 billion
Exports 2022: $11.838 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $12.126 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $12.141 billion (2024 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

footwear, electricity, garments, plastic products, insulated wire (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Germany 15%, Croatia 14%, Serbia 12%, Austria 10%, Slovenia 9% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Foreign direct investment

net inflows: $1 billion

GDP - composition, by end use

Exports of goods and services: 43.9% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 19.1% (2023 est.)
Household consumption: 68.3% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -55.7% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 23.1% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Agriculture: 4.3% (2024 est.)
Industry: 22% (2024 est.)
Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Services: 58% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$28.343 billion (2024 est.)
note: note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP per capita (nominal)

$9,359

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

33 (2011)

GNI (gross national income)

$29.55 billion

GNI per capita

$8,790

Gross domestic investment

27 % of GDP

Imports

$16.08 billion
Imports 2022: $15.166 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $15.37 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $16.202 billion (2024 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, garments, plastic products, packaged medicine (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Italy 13%, Germany 11%, Serbia 11%, China 9%, Croatia 8% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

-2.4% (2024 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, ammunition, domestic appliances, oil refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.69%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 14% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

1.356 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total: 1.34 million persons

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 16.71%
industry: 30.6%
services: 52.69%

Population below poverty line

16.9% (2015 est.)
note: note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

40 % of GDP
Note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2023: 40.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$79.24 billion
Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $61.843 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $63.077 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $64.641 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

2.97%
Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.5% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

$25,043
Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $19,300 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $19,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $20,400 (2024 est.)

Remittances

$3.12 billion
Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 10.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 10.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 11% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$9.42 billion
Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $8.762 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $9.205 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $9.419 billion (2024 est.)

Revenue (excl grants)

38 % of GDP

Tax revenue

20 % of GDP

Taxes and other revenues

19.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

11.04%
Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 12.7% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 10.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 10.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Female: 30.9% (2024 est.)
Male: 25.4% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 27.3% (2024 est.)

Energy

Coal

Consumption: 12.304 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 1.254 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.327 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Production: 12.311 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 2.264 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption: 12.867 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption per capita: 3,677 kWh
Exports: 7.104 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 3.6 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 4.682 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.339 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

Biomass and waste: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 64% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectric: 39.34%
Hydroelectricity: 31.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear: 0%
renewable: 39.34%
Solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Wind: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

2,171 kg of oil equivalent
Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 91.227 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

Consumption: 228.855 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 228.855 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Refined petroleum consumption: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Renewable energy consumption

36.6%

Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

per 100 inhabitants: 29 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2023 est.)
Total: 908,000 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

3 public TV broadcasters: Radio and TV of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federation TV (operating 2 networks), and Republika Srpska Radio-TV; a local commercial network of 5 TV stations; 3 private, near-national TV stations and dozens of small independent TV stations; 3 large public radio broadcasters and many private radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.ba

Internet users

Percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)

Postal code format

#####

Telephone calling code

+387

Telephones - fixed lines

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2024 est.)
Total subscriptions: 583,000 (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100: 118 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2024 est.)
Total subscriptions: 3.84 million (2024 est.)

Transportation

Airports

20 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Driving side

Right

Heliports

3 (2025)

Ports

Key ports: Neum
Large: 0
Medium: 0
Ports with oil terminals: 0
Small: 1
Total ports: 1 (2024)
Very small: 0

Railways

Standard gauge: 965 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (565 km electrified)
Total: 965 km (2014)

Vehicle registration code

BIH

Military and Security

Land forces

armored vehicles
tanks

Military - note

the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) are responsible for territorial defense, providing assistance to civil authorities during disasters or other emergencies, and participating in collective security and peace support operations; each of the AFBiH's three combat brigades are headquartered inside of their respective ethnicity territory, while its main headquarters is in Sarajevo; Bosnia and Herzegovina aspires to join NATO; Bosnia and Herzegovina joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 2006 and was invited to join NATO’s Membership Action Plan in 2010; the AFBiH is undergoing a 10-year (2017-2027) defense modernization and reform program for preparing to join and integrate with NATO; it has contributed small numbers of troops to EU, NATO, and UN missions NATO maintains a military headquarters in Sarajevo with the mission of assisting Bosnia and Herzegovina with the PfP program and promoting closer integration with NATO, as well as providing logistics and other support to the EU Force Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR), which has operated in the country to oversee implementation of the Dayton/Paris Agreement since taking over from NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR) in 2004 (2025)

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH or Oruzanih Snaga Bosne i Hercegovine, OSBiH): Army, Air, Air Defense forces organized into an Operations Command and a Support Command Ministry of Security: Border Police (2025)
active duty personnel: 11,000
percent of total labor force: 0.81 %

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 10,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory of weapons and equipment is a combination of material originating from the former Soviet Union/former Yugoslavia and some newer acquisitions from suppliers such as Türkiye, the UK, and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

1 % of GDP
current USD: $215,974,869
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
percent of central government expenditure: 1.73 %
percent of GDP: 0.75 % of GDP

Military service age and obligation

18 -27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended in January 2006 (2025)
note: note: as of 2024, women made up about 9% of the military's full-time personnel

Military strength ranking

PowerIndex score: 3.1291

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 94,796 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 685 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons: 23 (2024 est.)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force
note: note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Environment

Carbon dioxide emissions

From coal and metallurgical coke: 19.292 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 436,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 4.785 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Total emissions: 24.513 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

air pollution; deforestation and illegal logging; inadequate wastewater treatment and flood management facilities; urban waste disposal; uncleared land mines from the 1990s

International environmental agreements

Party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Particulate matter emissions

26.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Protected areas

10 % of total land area

Renewable electricity output

3 % of total

Total renewable water resources

37.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

1 % of internal resources
Industrial: 475 million cubic meters (2022)
Municipal: 320 million cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.249 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23.8% (2022 est.)