Bosnia and Herzegovina

The life expectancy of 77.85 years is quite high, approaching the average of many higher-income European countries. Achieving this longevity despite a moderate GDP per capita suggests effective public health measures or cultural factors that mitigate the effects of lower economic development on health outcomes.

Bosnia and Herzegovina maintains substantial natural capital, with over 42.7% of its land covered by forest area. This high percentage contributes significantly to biodiversity and carbon sequestration, positioning BiH favorably in terms of environmental health compared to many industrialized nations.

Only about 51.6% of the population resides in urban areas, which is lower than many developed European nations where urbanization often exceeds 70-80%. This suggests a more dispersed population structure, potentially indicating less centralized economic activity or slower rural-to-urban migration compared to regional trends.

With a fertility rate of just 1.49 children per woman, BiH is significantly below the replacement level of 2.1, indicating a rapidly aging population and future demographic contraction. This trend is exacerbated by emigration, posing long-term challenges to the labor market, pension systems, and economic vitality.