Unemployment rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Unemployment rate was 11.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate 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 rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina peaked at 31.1% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 10.7%, in 2023.
That places Bosnia and Herzegovina 33rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina, year by year
| Year | % | 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% |
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 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 unemployment rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- Unemployment rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 11.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- The highest recorded value was 31.1% in 2006.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.7% in 2023.
- How does Bosnia and Herzegovina rank for unemployment rate?
- Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks 33rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate 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, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.