Bosnia and Herzegovina
Europe · Southeast Europe
Sarajevo's singular culture; an EU candidate, very affordable, recovering from the 90s war.
Backpacker
Ideal destination
Retiree
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Bosnia and Herzegovina's Human Development Index
0.779
High human development#79 of 191 countries worldwide, #40 of 44 in Europe.
Higher than 59% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
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.
- Has three presidents simultaneously — one per ethnic group, rotating every 8 months.
- Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics; the stadium became a war cemetery 8 years later.
- Coffee culture is Bosnian, not Turkish — locals will correct you firmly.
Quick Facts
Capital
Sarajevo
Languages
Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Currency
KM BAM
Area
51,200 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
37Mbps
Mobile
28Mbps
GDP / Capita
$10K
PPP / Capita
$26K
Inflation
6.1%
Unemployment
11.0%
Innovation (GII)
23.4
GNI / Capita
$10K
Tax Revenue
20.2%
FDI Inflows
2.2%
Education Spend
3.2%
Cost of Living
38.7
Price Level Index
59th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 2000
0.656 → 0.779 (+0.123)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 23 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Bosnia and Herzegovina's Human Development Index?
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Human Development Index is 0.779 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #79 of 191 countries.
Is Bosnia and Herzegovina safe?
Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 1.81 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #48 of 160 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.