Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 49.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded 49.0% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Bosnia and Herzegovina peaked at 55.1% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 47.5%, in 2020.
That places Bosnia and Herzegovina 162nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 54.4% | — |
| 1991 | 54.9% | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 55.1% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 54.7% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 54.3% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 53.8% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 53.5% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 53.4% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 53.2% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 53.0% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 52.8% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 52.6% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 52.4% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 52.2% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 52.0% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 51.7% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 51.5% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 51.4% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 51.4% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 51.3% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 51.2% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 50.9% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 50.7% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 50.4% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 50.1% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 49.9% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 49.6% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 49.4% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 49.1% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 48.8% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 47.5% | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 47.7% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 48.8% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 49.4% | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 49.2% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 49.0% | -0.5% |
Bosnia and Herzegovina compared with similar countries
- Bosnia and Herzegovina's 49.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.5%, 81% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina's 49.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 81% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.0% | 53.0% | 55.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.9% | 51.3% | 52.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.0% | 48.8% | 51.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.6% | 47.5% | 49.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bosnia and Herzegovina
More work & labour data for Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.04 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.13 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.2135 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1,976 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,082 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 676.82 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 689.64 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 1,366 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 49.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- The highest recorded value was 55.1% in 1992.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.5% in 2020.
- How does Bosnia and Herzegovina rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks 162nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. 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 Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.