GeoRealityMatch
Scenic view of a historic stone bridge over the Miljacka River in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.Beautiful view of Sarajevo city with mountains in the background during the day.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Europe · Southeast Europe

High safetyAffordable cost of livingVery high development

Human development is high. Youth unemployment is high for Europe.

BackpackerCombines affordable cost of living and high safety.ExpatCombines very high development, high safety and affordable cost of living.RetireeCombines high life expectancy, high safety and affordable cost of living.
Safety

48th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.810lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#48 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
1.2per 100,000 people a yearLowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
58.7Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$9,940national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
8.1New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
12.9years of median income to buy a median flatModerateNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 228% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 103% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$15K$30K$25,814 PPP$10,382Inflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $3,166 a person, $6,869 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2007, $3,931 a person, $7,686 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2008, $4,842 a person, $8,587 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2009, $4,540 a person, $8,698 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2010, $4,506 a person, $9,086 at PPP, inflation 2%2011, $4,983 a person, $9,761 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2012, $4,694 a person, $10,121 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2013, $5,035 a person, $10,808 at PPP2014, $5,206 a person, $11,168 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2015, $4,662 a person, $11,845 at PPP, inflation -1%2016, $4,929 a person, $12,899 at PPP, inflation -1.6%2017, $5,345 a person, $13,627 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2018, $6,048 a person, $14,859 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2019, $6,122 a person, $16,429 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2020, $6,130 a person, $16,370 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2021, $7,295 a person, $18,287 at PPP, inflation 2%2022, $7,656 a person, $21,651 at PPP, inflation 14%2023, $8,663 a person, $23,376 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2024, $9,398 a person, $25,148 at PPP2025, $10,382 a person, $25,814 at PPP$0$15K$30KInflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $3,166 a person, $6,869 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2007, $3,931 a person, $7,686 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2008, $4,842 a person, $8,587 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2009, $4,540 a person, $8,698 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2010, $4,506 a person, $9,086 at PPP, inflation 2%2011, $4,983 a person, $9,761 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2012, $4,694 a person, $10,121 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2013, $5,035 a person, $10,808 at PPP2014, $5,206 a person, $11,168 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2015, $4,662 a person, $11,845 at PPP, inflation -1%2016, $4,929 a person, $12,899 at PPP, inflation -1.6%2017, $5,345 a person, $13,627 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2018, $6,048 a person, $14,859 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2019, $6,122 a person, $16,429 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2020, $6,130 a person, $16,370 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2021, $7,295 a person, $18,287 at PPP, inflation 2%2022, $7,656 a person, $21,651 at PPP, inflation 14%2023, $8,663 a person, $23,376 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2024, $9,398 a person, $25,148 at PPP2025, $10,382 a person, $25,814 at PPP

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
78.0years, at birthHigh
#53 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
64WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
23.0PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Among the highest youth unemployment in Europe

Youth unemployment
32.5%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceVery high
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
37 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
591EF English Proficiency Index scoreHighEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet37 MbpsModerate
Mobile28 MbpsVery slow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Beautiful view of Sarajevo city with mountains in the background during the day.
How it changed

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Human Development Index

0.804Very high human development

74th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 41st of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #72Trinidad and Tobago0.807
  2. #73Mauritius0.806
  3. #74Bosnia and Herzegovina0.804
  4. #75Iran0.799
  5. #76Saint Vincent and the Grenadines0.798
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2000

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.674 in 2000 to 0.804 in 2023.

0.650.750.850.8042000201020232000: 0.6742001: 0.6772002: 0.6832003: 0.6892004: 0.6942005: 0.6982006: 0.7012007: 0.7092008: 0.7192009: 0.7222010: 0.7252011: 0.7312012: 0.7422013: 0.7562014: 0.7652015: 0.7692016: 0.7762017: 0.7802018: 0.7852019: 0.7882020: 0.7832021: 0.7832022: 0.7992023: 0.8040.650.750.852000201020232000: 0.6742001: 0.6772002: 0.6832003: 0.6892004: 0.6942005: 0.6982006: 0.7012007: 0.7092008: 0.7192009: 0.7222010: 0.7252011: 0.7312012: 0.7422013: 0.7562014: 0.7652015: 0.7692016: 0.7762017: 0.7802018: 0.7852019: 0.7882020: 0.7832021: 0.7832022: 0.7992023: 0.804

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 24 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
78 years2024at birthUp 1.6 years from 76.4 years in 2005
Internet users
86%2024of people onlineUp 61 points from 25% in 2006
Urban population
53%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 8 points from 44% in 2006
Births per woman
1.492024births per womanUp 0.29 from 1.20 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
37%2021of energy usedUp 17 points from 20% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 1 point from 99% in 2005
Infant mortality
62024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 6 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
6.5 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 2.3 t from 4.1 t in 2005
Forest area
43%2023of land under forestUp 2 points from 41% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Sarajevo's singular culture; an EU candidate, very affordable, recovering from the 90s war. The case for living here is very high human development. The case against is high youth unemployment for Europe, patchy access to essential health services and polluted air.

About Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a small Balkan country where Ottoman mosques, Austro-Hungarian architecture, and medieval fortresses coexist in the same city streets, most visibly in the extraordinary old town of Mostar and the hills of Sarajevo. The landscape is rugged and beautiful, with rivers, waterfalls, and mountains largely untouched by mass tourism. The warmth of local hospitality and the richness of the food and coffee culture make it a deeply rewarding destination.

Practical facts

  • CapitalSarajevo
  • LanguagesBosnian, Croatian, Serbian
  • CurrencyBosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark (BAM)
  • Area51,200 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Bosnia and Herzegovina's Human Development Index?

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Human Development Index is 0.804 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #74 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Bosnia and Herzegovina safe?

Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 1.81 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #48 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Bosnia and Herzegovina at 38.7 (New York = 100); that is #60 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Life expectancy at birth in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 78.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #53 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Bosnia and Herzegovina at 136.5, ranked #48 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.