Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 1.2 years longer

In Illinois, the average life expectancy is 77 years (76 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

make 71.8% less money

Illinois has a GDP per capita of $70,691 as of 2024, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the GDP per capita is $19,900 as of 2023.

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be 2.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In Illinois, 4.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, that number is 10.4% as of 2023.

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Basic Needs

be 15.2% less likely to have internet access

In Illinois, approximately 89.6% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, about 76.0% do as of 2021.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Compare further: Illinois vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Bosnia and Herzegovina is 42.8% cheaper than Illinois
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Size Comparison · See true size
Illinois is about 2.8 times bigger than Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Bosnia and Herzegovina: At a glance

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 51,187 sq km. Bosnia and Herzegovina declared sovereignty in October 1991 and independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia and Montenegro - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to form a "Greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement that ended three years of interethnic civil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Peace Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a multi-ethnic and democratic government charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government composed of two entities roughly equal in size: the Bosniak/Bosnian Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments are responsible for overseeing most government functions. Additionally, the Dayton Accords established the Office of the High Representative (OHR) to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. The Peace Implementation Council (PIC) at its conference in Bonn in 1997 also gave the High Representative the authority to impose legislation and remove officials, the so-called "Bonn Powers." An original NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops assembled in 1995 was succeeded over time by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR). In 2004, European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR. Currently EUFOR deploys around 600 troops in theater in a policing capacity.
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How big is Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Illinois? See an in-depth size comparison.

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