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

Health

live 11.5 years longer

In Zambia, the average life expectancy is 67 years (64 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2024. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 8.2 times more spent on your healthcare

Zambia spends $244 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Bosnia and Herzegovina spends $1,989 as of 2023.

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have 8.0 times more doctors per person

Zambia has 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Bosnia and Herzegovina has 25.8 as of 2019.

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have 17.9% more access to essential health services

Zambia scores 56 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 66 as of 2021.

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be 81.1% more likely to be obese

In Zambia, 11.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, that number is 21.0% of people as of 2024.

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be 25.8% more likely to die by suicide

Zambia has a suicide rate of 7.1 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is 9.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 7.9 times more money

Zambia has a GDP per capita of $1,318 as of 2025, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the GDP per capita is $10,382 as of 2025.

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be 86.5% more likely to be unemployed

In Zambia, 5.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, that number is 11.0% as of 2025.

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Life

be 92.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Zambia, approximately 85.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 6.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 36.7% more likely to be literate

In Zambia, the literacy rate is 71.8% as of 2024. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is 98.1% as of 2021.

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be 84.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Zambia, approximately 34.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the other hand, 5.5 children do as of 2024.

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have 76.4% fewer children

In Zambia, there are approximately 32.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are 7.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 95.7% more likely to have access to electricity

In Zambia, approximately 51% of people have electricity access (90% in urban areas, and 18% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 5.0 times more likely to have internet access

In Zambia, approximately 17.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, about 86.1% do as of 2024.

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be 30.9% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Zambia, approximately 73% of people have access to drinking water (90% in urban areas, and 58% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, that number is 96% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 20.1% less on education

Zambia spends 4.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Bosnia and Herzegovina spends 3.2% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 49.2% more on healthcare

Zambia spends 6.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, that number is 8.9% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 19.9% less likely to die in a road accident

In Zambia, road accidents kill 17.1 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, they kill 13.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 37.2 times more home broadband

Zambia has 0.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Bosnia and Herzegovina has 29.4 as of 2024.

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live with 27.1% less strain on fresh water

Zambia withdraws 3% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Bosnia and Herzegovina withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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use 5.1 times more electricity

Zambia uses 727 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Bosnia and Herzegovina uses 3,677 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 10.0% more likely to die from air pollution

In Zambia, air pollution causes 50.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, it causes 55.0 as of 2019.

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emit 11.9 times more CO2

Zambia emits 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Bosnia and Herzegovina emits 6.5 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

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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