Bosnia and Herzegovina — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Bosnia and Herzegovina was 48.99% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 55.09% in 1992. The lowest was 47.47% in 2020 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.30% per year.
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks 162 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 87%. The median for Europe & Central Asia is 60.12%, so Bosnia and Herzegovina sits below it. It peaked in 1992 and has fallen 11% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 2%. Within Europe & Central Asia it ranks 47 of 49 economies; Turkmenistan (42.03%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 145th of 187 in 1990 → 148th of 187 in 2000 → 153rd of 187 in 2010 → 165th of 187 in 2020 → 160th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 48.99% | -0.3 pp |
| 2024 | 49.24% | -0.2 pp |
| 2023 | 49.43% | +0.6 pp |
| 2022 | 48.84% | +1.1 pp |
| 2021 | 47.72% | +0.2 pp |
| 2020 | 47.47% | -1.3 pp |
| 2019 | 48.8% | -0.3 pp |
| 2018 | 49.13% | -0.3 pp |
| 2017 | 49.41% | -0.2 pp |
| 2016 | 49.62% | -0.2 pp |
| 2015 | 49.86% | -0.2 pp |
| 2014 | 50.07% | -0.3 pp |
| 2013 | 50.36% | -0.3 pp |
| 2012 | 50.68% | -0.2 pp |
| 2011 | 50.91% | -0.2 pp |
| 2010 | 51.15% | -0.2 pp |
| 2009 | 51.31% | -0.1 pp |
| 2008 | 51.37% | -0.1 pp |
| 2007 | 51.43% | -0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 51.53% | -0.2 pp |
| 2005 | 51.69% | -0.3 pp |
| 2004 | 51.96% | -0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 52.18% | -0.3 pp |
| 2002 | 52.44% | -0.2 pp |
| 2001 | 52.62% | -0.2 pp |
| 2000 | 52.81% | -0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 53.04% | -0.1 pp |
| 1998 | 53.17% | -0.2 pp |
| 1997 | 53.4% | -0.1 pp |
| 1996 | 53.52% | -0.3 pp |
| 1995 | 53.83% | -0.5 pp |
| 1994 | 54.31% | -0.4 pp |
| 1993 | 54.68% | -0.4 pp |
| 1992 | 55.09% | +0.2 pp |
| 1991 | 54.88% | +0.5 pp |
| 1990 | 54.4% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Labor participation in 1991?
54.88% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population ages 15+, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -9.9% in total — about 0.3% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 48.99%; 2024: 49.24%; 2023: 49.43%; 2022: 48.84%; 2021: 47.72%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.TLF.CACT.ZS — Labor Force Participation Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.