9 answers, 4 from Bosnia and Herzegovina's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
248,585 pupils were enrolled in primary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2025/2026 school year, 1.3% fewer than a year earlier, according to the BHAS primary education release. 108,413 pupils were enrolled in 315 secondary schools, 0.3% more, according to the secondary education release.
57.2% of secondary pupils attended technical schools, 19.7% vocational schools and 19.6% grammar schools. 26,962 children started first grade, 2% fewer than a year earlier. The figures are final data for the school year.
71,282 students were enrolled in the first cycle of higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the winter semester of 2025/2026, according to the BHAS higher education release. 10,025 students graduated in 2025, 0.7% more than in 2024, and 63% of graduates were women.
The first cycle includes short-cycle and integrated studies; of those enrolled, 64,476 were enrolled in a year of study and 6,806 were candidates for graduation. Higher education institutions employed 10,521 teachers and assistants, or 7,836 in full-time equivalents.
Spending on formal education in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 2,372 million KM in 2024, 4.4% of GDP, according to the BHAS financial education statistics release. Public, private and foreign spending on educational institutions was 2,612 million KM, or 4.9% of GDP; 88.8% of it was public.
Primary education took 49.0% of spending on institutions, secondary 21.6%, higher education 21.5% and pre-school 7.8%. Education is run by the entities, the cantons in the Federation and Brčko District, so there is no single national education budget. Private spending covers fees and other payments by households.
48,246 children attended pre-school institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2025/2026 school year, 5.4% more than a year earlier, according to the BHAS pre-school education release. 56.9% attended public institutions and 43.1% private ones.
9,964 children were waiting for a place, 14.4% more than a year earlier. 13,538 children attended the compulsory programme for the year before starting school, 4,140 of them only that programme. There were 350 head pre-school institutions, 109 public and 241 private. Some children are registered in more than one institution, so the totals may count a few twice.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2023, is 87.9%. Its high point since 2007 was 2013, at 92.3%; its low point was 2007, at 81.0%. It is 45th highest of 48 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 102.3%. Worldwide: 91st of 138.
In 2023, gross tertiary enrolment in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 45.5%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. The peak was 57.0% in 2016 and the low 24.2% in 2005. It is 45th highest of 49 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 75.9%. Worldwide: 70th of 120.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2023, is 3.2% of GDP. Since 2014 it has ranged from 2.8% of GDP (2017) to 4.3% of GDP (2016). It is 11th highest of 16 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 3.7% of GDP. Of 112 countries with 2023 data, 69th highest.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts the number of primary pupils per teacher in Bosnia and Herzegovina at 17 in 2018. Since 2013 it has ranged from 17 (2014) to 17 (2016). Europe & Central Asia median: 15; Bosnia and Herzegovina is 7th highest of 15. Of 85 countries with 2018 data, 57th highest.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the primary completion rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 100.5% in 2023. The peak was 100.9% in 2022 and the low 72.4% in 2010. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 97.9%, and Bosnia and Herzegovina placed 10th highest of 42. Worldwide: 29th of 131.
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