4 GeoFroggy

Economy Overview

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a transitional economy with limited market reforms. The economy relies heavily on the export of metals, energy, textiles, and furniture as well as on remittances and foreign aid. A highly decentralized government hampers economic policy coordination and reform, while excessive bureaucracy and a segmented market discourage foreign investment. The economy is among the least competitive in the region. Foreign banks, primarily from Austria and Italy, control much of the banking sector, though the largest bank is a private domestic one. The konvertibilna marka (convertible mark) - the national currency introduced in 1998 - is pegged to the euro through a currency board arrangement, which has maintained confidence in the currency and has facilitated reliable trade links with European partners. Bosnia and Herzegovina became a full member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement in September 2007. In 2016, Bosnia began a three-year IMF loan program, but it has struggled to meet the economic reform benchmarks required to receive all funding installments.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's private sector is growing slowly, but foreign investment dropped sharply after 2007 and remains low. High unemployment remains the most serious macroeconomic problem. Successful implementation of a value-added tax in 2006 provided a steady source of revenue for the government and helped rein in gray-market activity, though public perceptions of government corruption and misuse of taxpayer money has encouraged a large informal economy to persist. National-level statistics have improved over time, but a large share of economic activity remains unofficial and unrecorded.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's top economic priorities are: acceleration of integration into the EU; strengthening the fiscal system; public administration reform; World Trade Organization membership; and securing economic growth by fostering a dynamic, competitive private sector.

Agriculture Products

wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Industries

steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, ammunition, domestic appliances, oil refining

Industrial Production Growth Rate

3% (2017 est.)

Labor Force

1.38 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force by Occupation

Agriculture: 18%

Industry: 30.4%

Services: 51.7% (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2017: 20.5%

2016: 25.4%

Population Below Poverty Line

16.9% (2015 est.)

Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share

Lowest 10: 2.9%

Highest 10: 25.8% (2011 est.)

Distribution of Family Income Gini Index

2011: 33.8

2007: 33.1

Budget

Revenues: 7.993 billion (2017 est.)

Expenditures: 7.607 billion (2017 est.)

Public Debt

2017: 39.5% of GDP

2016: 44.1% of GDP

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2017: 4.38%

31 December 2016: 5.24%

Stock of Narrow Money

31 December 2017: $6.483 billion

31 December 2016: $5.013 billion

Stock of Broad Money

31 December 2017: $6.483 billion

31 December 2016: $5.013 billion

Stock of Domestic Credit

31 December 2017: $11.3 billion

31 December 2016: $9.27 billion

Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares

<p>NA</p>

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

31 December 2017: $6.474 billion

31 December 2016: $5.137 billion

Debt External

31 December 2017: $10.87 billion

31 December 2016: $10.64 billion

Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016: $7.332 billion

31 December 2015: $7.071 billion

Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

2014: $0

Exchange Rates

Currency: konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:

Year

GDP Official Exchange Rate

  • $18.17 billion 2017 est.

Taxes and Other Revenues

  • 44% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus or Deficit

  • 2.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Fiscal Year

  • calendar year

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

  • 2017
    $44.83 billion
  • 2016
    $43.54 billion
  • 2015
    $42.19 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

  • 2017
    3%
  • 2016
    3.2%
  • 2015
    3.1%

GDP Per Capital

  • 2017
    $12,800
  • 2016
    $12,400
  • 2015
    $11,900

Gross National Saving

  • 2017
    11% of GDP
  • 2016
    11.1% of GDP
  • 2015
    10.5% of GDP

GDP Composition by end Use

  • Household consumption
    77.4% (2017 est.)
  • Government consumption
    20% (2017 est.)
  • Investment in fixed capital
    16.6% (2017 est.)
  • Investment in inventories
    2.3% (2017 est.)
  • Exports of goods and services
    38.7% (2017 est.)
  • Imports of goods and services
    -55.1% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition by Sector of Origin

  • Agriculture
    6.8% (2017 est.)
  • Industry
    28.9% (2017 est.)
  • Services
    64.3% (2017 est.)

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

  • 2017
    1.2%
  • 2016
    -1.1%

Current Account Balance

  • 2017
    -$873 million
  • 2016
    -$821 million

Exports

  • 2017
    $5.205 billion
  • 2016
    $4.288 billion

Exports Partners

  • Germany
    14.7%
  • Croatia
    11.8%
  • Italy
    11.1%
  • Serbia
    10%
  • Slovenia
    9%
  • Austria
    8.3%

Exports Commodities

    Metals, clothing, wood products

Imports

  • 2017
    $9.547 billion
  • 2016
    $8.337 billion

Imports Partners

  • Germany
    11.6%
  • Italy
    11.3%
  • Serbia
    11.1%
  • Croatia
    10.1%
  • China
    6.5%
  • Slovenia
    5%
  • Russia
    4.7%
  • Turkey
    4.2%

Imports Commodities

    Machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs