Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 28.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 28.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and down 56.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bosnia and Herzegovina peaked at 65.2% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 27.3%, in 2023.
That places Bosnia and Herzegovina 24th out of 187 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 34.9% | — |
| 1992 | 36.9% | +5.9% |
| 1993 | 39.0% | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 40.6% | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 42.0% | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 43.1% | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 44.7% | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 46.4% | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 48.3% | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 50.4% | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 52.6% | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 54.9% | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 57.1% | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 59.3% | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 61.6% | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 64.0% | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 60.1% | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 48.8% | -18.7% |
| 2009 | 50.1% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 59.7% | +19.0% |
| 2011 | 59.6% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 65.0% | +9.2% |
| 2013 | 60.9% | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 64.6% | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 65.2% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 56.3% | -13.8% |
| 2017 | 47.9% | -14.8% |
| 2018 | 40.5% | -15.4% |
| 2019 | 35.3% | -13.0% |
| 2020 | 37.9% | +7.5% |
| 2021 | 35.8% | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 31.7% | -11.4% |
| 2023 | 27.3% | -14.1% |
| 2024 | 27.3% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 28.2% | +3.2% |
Bosnia and Herzegovina compared with similar countries
- Bosnia and Herzegovina's 28.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.8%, 1.8× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina's 28.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14.4%, 2.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.8% | 34.9% | 48.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 55.9% | 48.8% | 64.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.5% | 35.3% | 65.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.4% | 27.3% | 37.9% | 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 28.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- The highest recorded value was 65.2% in 2015.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.3% in 2023.
- How does Bosnia and Herzegovina rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks 24th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.8%. 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 Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.