If you lived in Iceland instead of Bosnia and Herzegovina, you would:

Health

live 4.8 years longer

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Iceland, that number is 83 years (81 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 3.5 times more spent on your healthcare

Bosnia and Herzegovina spends $1,989 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Iceland spends $6,927 as of 2024.

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have 34.8% more access to essential health services

Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 66 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Iceland scores 89 as of 2021.

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be 32.8% more likely to die by suicide

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a suicide rate of 9.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Iceland, it is 11.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 67.2% less likely to be unemployed

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 11.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Iceland, that number is 3.6% as of 2025.

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be 47.9% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 16.9% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In Iceland, however, that number is 8.8% as of 2017.

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make 9.5 times more money

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a GDP per capita of $10,382 as of 2025, while in Iceland, the GDP per capita is $98,323 as of 2025.

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Life

be 50.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, approximately 6.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Iceland, 3.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 61.8% less likely to die during infancy

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, approximately 5.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Iceland, on the other hand, 2.1 children do as of 2024.

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have 45.1% more children

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are approximately 7.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Iceland, there are 11.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 14.1% more likely to have internet access

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, approximately 86.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Iceland, about 98.2% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 2.2 times more on education

Bosnia and Herzegovina spends 3.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Iceland spends 7.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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Geography

see 248.5 times more coastline

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a total of 20 km of coastline. In Iceland, that number is 4,970 km.

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Safety

be 82.5% less likely to die in a road accident

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, road accidents kill 13.7 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Iceland, they kill 2.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 27.7% more home broadband

Bosnia and Herzegovina has 29.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Iceland has 37.5 as of 2024.

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live with 81.2% less strain on fresh water

Bosnia and Herzegovina withdraws 2% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Iceland withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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use 13.3 times more electricity

Bosnia and Herzegovina uses 3,677 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Iceland uses 48,998 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

be 85.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, air pollution causes 55.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Iceland, it causes 8.0 as of 2019.

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emit 32.1% more CO2

Bosnia and Herzegovina emits 6.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Iceland emits 8.5 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Iceland: At a glance

Iceland is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 100,250 sq km. Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Denmark granted limited home rule in 1874 and complete independence in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but Iceland was especially hard hit by the global financial crisis in the years following 2008. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first rate by world standards.
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