Bosnia and Herzegovina: health and care

How much does Bosnia and Herzegovina spend on health?

Total health spending in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 4.829 billion KM in 2024, according to the BHAS national health accounts release. 68% was public and 32% private spending, and total spending was about 9% of GDP. Almost all private spending (99%) was paid directly by households.

The national health accounts follow the International Classification for Health Accounts (ICHA) and aggregate data from the statistics offices of the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska and from Brčko District. Public health care is financed mostly from mandatory health insurance contributions.

Official sources: BHAS: National Health Accounts Statistics, 2024 (PDF)

How many people are born and die in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

11,604 live births and 17,568 deaths were registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina in January to June 2026, according to the BHAS natural population change release, a natural decrease of 5,964. 45 infants died in the same period.

The figures are preliminary. Deaths have exceeded births in every month of 2026 so far. The same release reports 5,921 marriages and 849 divorces in the first half of the year.

Official sources: BHAS: Natural population change and marriages, I-VI 2026 (PDF)

What is the life expectancy in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Life expectancy at birth in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 78.0 years in 2024, according to World Bank Open Data, based on UN population estimates.

Life expectancy at birth is the number of years a newborn would live if the death rates of that year held throughout their life. The figure is a modelled estimate; the last census was in 2013, when BHAS counted 3,531,159 residents, as shown on its home page.

Official sources: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, Bosnia and Herzegovina · BHAS home page

What is the infant mortality rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Bosnia and Herzegovina's infant mortality rate was 5.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to UN inter-agency estimates on World Bank Open Data. The under-five mortality rate was 6.9 per 1,000.

BHAS's natural population change release recorded 45 infant deaths and 11,604 live births in January to June 2026, about 3.9 per 1,000. Small numbers make half-year rates unstable. The country has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe, 7.72 per 1,000 people in 2024.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data · 6.9 per 1,000 (API) · natural population change release

How much do patients in Bosnia and Herzegovina pay for health care themselves?

Households paid 30.96% of current health spending in Bosnia and Herzegovina directly out of pocket in 2023, according to WHO estimates on World Bank Open Data. Current health spending was 8.92% of GDP.

Out-of-pocket payments include fees for private doctors and dentists, co-payments and medicines bought at pharmacies. Health insurance is organised separately in each entity, in the cantons of the Federation and in Brčko District. BHAS's national health accounts put private spending at 32% of total health spending in 2024.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data (API)

How long do people live in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

78.0 years: that is life expectancy at birth in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. That is the highest since at least 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 79.5 years; Bosnia and Herzegovina is 32nd highest of 52. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 53rd highest.

What is the infant mortality rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation puts the infant mortality rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina at 5.5 per 1,000 in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 6.4 per 1,000; its low point was 2023, at 5.3 per 1,000. Europe & Central Asia median: 3.4 per 1,000; Bosnia and Herzegovina is 14th highest of 51. World rank, highest first: 140th of 192.

What is the maternal mortality rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 6.0 per 100,000. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 6.0 per 100,000, and Bosnia and Herzegovina placed 26th highest of 51. World rank, highest first: 160th of 192.

How much does Bosnia and Herzegovina spend on health?

The WHO puts current health spending in Bosnia and Herzegovina at 8.9% of GDP in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2020, at 9.7% of GDP; its low point was 2022, at 8.7% of GDP. It is 17th highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 7.5% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 44th of 191.

How much do people in Bosnia and Herzegovina pay for health care themselves?

According to the WHO, out-of-pocket health spending in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 31.0% in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 28.6% (2016) to 45.2% (2005). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 22.0%, and Bosnia and Herzegovina placed 15th highest of 51. World rank, highest first: 80th of 191.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2019, is 2.6 per 1,000. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 3.6 per 1,000, and Bosnia and Herzegovina placed 41st highest of 47. World rank, highest first: 55th of 135.

How many hospital beds does Bosnia and Herzegovina have?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2019, is 2.4 per 1,000. Its high point since 2005 was 2016, at 2.4 per 1,000; its low point was 2005, at 2.0 per 1,000. Europe & Central Asia median: 4.5 per 1,000; Bosnia and Herzegovina is 46th highest of 48. Worldwide: 76th of 136.

What is the measles vaccination rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

69.0%: that is measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. The peak was 96.0% in 2007 and the low 55.0% in 2023. Europe & Central Asia median: 94.0%; Bosnia and Herzegovina is 50th highest of 51. Of 191 countries with 2024 data, 169th highest.