Bosnia and Herzegovina Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Bosnia and Herzegovina's labor force participation was 48.99% in 2025, ranked 159th globally. This represents a 0.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Bosnia and Herzegovina's labor force participation stood at 48.99% in 2025, a decline of +0.25pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 49.73% by 2026. Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked 159th globally.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s labor force participation rate has slipped from a post‑war high of 55.09 % in 1992 to a trough of 47.47 % in 2020 before reaching 48.99 % in 2025, placing the country 159th in the World Bank ranking. The 36‑year series shows a gradual decline, with the most pronounced drop occurring after 1992 and accelerating in the 2010s, reflecting demographic aging, emigration of working‑age adults, and limited job creation. By contrast, Italy’s participation rate of 49.30 % and Sri Lanka’s 48.52 % illustrate that Bosnia lags slightly behind peers with comparable rankings, while still outperforming Libya’s 47.96 %. The modest rebound from the 2020 trough suggests some recovery, yet the rate remains below its early‑1990s peak. Continued reforms to improve labor market flexibility, invest in skills development, and stem out‑migration could reverse the downward trajectory and push participation closer to the levels observed during the early 1990s.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 50.32% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 50.02% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 49.73% | - | - |
| 2025 | 48.99% | −0.25pp | #159 |
| 2024 | 49.24% | −0.19pp | #159 |
| 2023 | 49.43% | +0.59pp | #160 |
| 2022 | 48.84% | +1.12pp | #161 |
| 2021 | 47.72% | +0.25pp | #162 |
| 2020 | 47.47% | −1.33pp | #164 |
| 2019 | 48.80% | −0.33pp | #166 |
| 2018 | 49.13% | −0.28pp | #163 |
| 2017 | 49.41% | −0.22pp | #161 |
| 2016 | 49.62% | −0.24pp | #161 |
| 2015 | 49.86% | −0.20pp | #159 |
| 2014 | 50.07% | −0.30pp | #159 |
| 2013 | 50.36% | −0.32pp | #156 |
| 2012 | 50.68% | −0.23pp | #154 |
| 2011 | 50.91% | −0.24pp | #153 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Bosnia and Herzegovina matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Bosnia and Herzegovina's labor force participation was 48.99% in 2025. Ranked 159th globally. This represents a 0.5% decrease from the previous year.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's labor force participation peaked at 55.09% in 1992.
The lowest labor force participation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 47.47% in 2020.
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks 159th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's labor force participation is projected to reach 49.73% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2025 was 48.99%. This ranks 159th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_bosnia-and-herzegovina_labor-force-participation,
title = {Bosnia and Herzegovina Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/bosnia-and-herzegovina/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}