Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 11.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bosnia and Herzegovina stood at 11.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and down 60.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bosnia and Herzegovina peaked at 31.1% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 10.7%, in 2023.
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks 33rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 17.6% | — |
| 1992 | 18.5% | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 19.4% | +5.0% |
| 1994 | 20.2% | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 20.9% | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 21.7% | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 22.6% | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 23.5% | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 24.4% | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 25.4% | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 26.5% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 27.5% | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 28.4% | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 29.3% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 30.2% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 31.1% | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 29.0% | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 23.4% | -19.2% |
| 2009 | 24.1% | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 27.3% | +13.5% |
| 2011 | 27.6% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 28.0% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 27.5% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 27.5% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 27.7% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 25.4% | -8.3% |
| 2017 | 20.5% | -19.2% |
| 2018 | 18.4% | -10.4% |
| 2019 | 15.7% | -14.7% |
| 2020 | 15.9% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 14.9% | -6.1% |
| 2022 | 12.7% | -15.0% |
| 2023 | 10.7% | -15.7% |
| 2024 | 10.7% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 11.0% | +3.2% |
Bosnia and Herzegovina compared with similar countries
- Bosnia and Herzegovina's 11.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 2.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina's 11.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 2.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.0% | 17.6% | 24.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 27.5% | 23.4% | 31.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.6% | 15.7% | 28.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.6% | 10.7% | 15.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bosnia and Herzegovina
More education data for Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 27,426 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 145 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 15,512 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 13,894 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 226,755 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 141,518 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.64 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0444 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 11.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- The highest recorded value was 31.1% in 2006.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.7% in 2023.
- How does Bosnia and Herzegovina rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks 33rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bosnia and Herzegovina data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.