| 1. | PROLOGUE |
| 2. | MAPPED AND LEARNED |
| 3. | DAYTON@30 IN NUMBERS |
| 3.1. | Political Corruption |
| 3.2. | Judicial Corruption |
| 3.3. | Political Rights |
| 3.4. | Electoral Democracy |
| 3.5. | Political Polarization |
| 3.6. | Women's Political Empowerment |
| 3.7. | Civil Liberties |
| 3.8. | Human Rights |
| 3.9. | Media Freedom |
| 3.10. | Freedom of Expression |
| 3.11. | Engaged Society |
| 3.12. | Female Labor Force Participation |
| 3.13. | Unemployment Rate |
| 3.14. | Share of Industry Jobs |
| 3.15. | GDP from Manufacturing |
| 3.16. | GDP from Agriculture |
| 3.17. | GDP from Trade |
| 3.18. | GDP per Capita |
| 3.19. | Money Sent Back by Migrants |
| 3.20. | Foreign Aid Received |
| 3.21. | Number of Emigrants |
| 3.22. | Population Born Abroad |
| 3.23. | Old-Age Dependency Ratio |
| 3.24. | Median Age |
| 3.25. | Vaccination Coverage |
| 3.26. | Primary Energy Consumption |
| 3.27. | Annual CO₂ Emissions |
| 3.28. | Greenhouse Gas Emissions |
| 3.29. | Mobile Phone Usage |
| 3.30. | Internet Usage |
| 4. | DAYTON@30 IN PERCEPTIONS |
| 5. | REFERENCES |
The Art of Negotiations #1 HOW TO END A WAR |
The Art of Negotiations #2 LESSONS LEARNED |
| 1. | PROLOGUE |
| 2. | MAPPED AND LEARNED |
| 3. | DAYTON@30 IN NUMBERS |
| 3.1. | Political Corruption |
| 3.2. | Judicial Corruption |
| 3.3. | Political Rights |
| 3.4. | Electoral Democracy |
| 3.5. | Political Polarization |
| 3.6. | Women's Political Empowerment |
| 3.7. | Civil Liberties |
| 3.8. | Human Rights |
| 3.9. | Media Freedom |
| 3.10. | Freedom of Expression |
| 3.11. | Engaged Society |
| 3.12. | Female Labor Force Participation |
| 3.13. | Unemployment Rate |
| 3.14. | Share of Industry Jobs |
| 3.15. | GDP from Manufacturing |
| 3.16. | GDP from Agriculture |
| 3.17. | GDP from Trade |
| 3.18. | GDP per Capita |
| 3.19. | Money Sent Back by Migrants |
| 3.20. | Foreign Aid Received |
| 3.21. | Number of Emigrants |
| 3.22. | Population Born Abroad |
| 3.23. | Old-Age Dependency Ratio |
| 3.24. | Median Age |
| 3.25. | Vaccination Coverage |
| 3.26. | Primary Energy Consumption |
| 3.27. | Annual CO₂ Emissions |
| 3.28. | Greenhouse Gas Emissions |
| 3.29. | Mobile Phone Usage |
| 3.30. | Internet Usage |
| 4. | DAYTON@30 IN PERCEPTIONS |
| 5. | REFERENCES |
The Art of Negotiations #1 HOW TO END A WAR |
The Art of Negotiations #2 LESSONS LEARNED |
3.3.
Political Rights
The index reflects Freedom House assessments of the extent of free and fair elections, political pluralism and participation, and the functioning of government.
Scale: Lower ratings indicate more political rights.
Direction of Change
POLITICAL RIGHTS SHOW MIXED BUT LIMITED IMPROVEMENT
The data indicate that political rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina improved after 1995 but did not continue to progress. Rights expanded during the early 2000s and reached their most open phase in the mid-2000s, after which conditions remained relatively steady for several years. This period of greater openness was not sustained, as subsequent years show a gradual weakening, with recent ratings moving further away from the mid-2000s positive peak. By the early 2020s, political rights had narrowed and plateaued compared with that earlier high point. Overall, the trend reflects initial progress, followed by stagnation and a partial reversal, rather than continuous long-term improvement.
Global Rank
Compared with all geographic entities listed in the Index
| 1995 | 2024 | ||
| 6 | 5 | ||
| #148 out of 203 | #128 out of 208 |
| Europe | World | ||
| 1995 | 2024 | 1995 | 2024 |
| /// | /// | /// | /// |
Note: Population-weighted averages for Europe and the world.
Regional Rank
Compared with six former Yugoslav countries and Albania
| Country | 1995 | 2024 |
|
Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia Kosovo Montenegro North Macedonia Serbia Slovenia |
3 6 4 7 6 4 6 1 |
3 5 2 3 3 3 4 1 |
Note: In 1995, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo were part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
1995 (highest → lowest): Slovenia, Albania, Croatia/North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina/Montenegro/Serbia, Kosovo.
2024 (highest → lowest): Slovenia, Croatia, Albania/Kosovo/Montenegro/North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Conclusion
Political rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina improved after 1995, peaked in the mid-2000s, and have since weakened, leaving recent levels above the baseline yet noticeably below the earlier period of more progressive dynamics.
Freedom House (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.