Civil Liberties

Data from Freedom House. The rating reflects the extent of freedom of expression and association, the rule of law, and personal autonomy.

Scale: Lower ratings indicate more civil liberties.

Direction of Change

CIVIL LIBERTIES IMPROVED EARLY BUT HAVE STAGNATED SINCE

The data indicate that civil liberties in Bosnia and Herzegovina improved significantly in the decade following 1995, but this progress did not sustain itself. Starting from a restrictive baseline in the mid-1990s, ratings became more favourable by around 2000 and reached their strongest level in the mid-2000s. This more open decade maintained a stable trajectory before conditions weakened around 2016, when liberties were again more constrained. That constrained intensity persisted for eight years, suggesting an entrenched status quo rather than a clear directional change. By 2024, Bosnia and Herzegovina had not moved beyond the level first reached in the mid-2000s, suggesting that early gains have been offset by a long period of stagnation.

Global Rank

Compared with all geographic entities listed in the Index

Note: Population-weighted averages for Europe and the world.

Regional Rank

Compared with six former Yugoslav countries and Albania

Note: In 1995, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo were part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

1995 (highest → lowest): Slovenia, North Macedonia, Albania/Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina/Montenegro/Serbia, Kosovo.

2024 (highest → lowest): Slovenia, Croatia, Albania/Bosnia and Herzegovina/Montenegro/North Macedonia/Serbia, Kosovo.

Conclusion

Civil liberties in Bosnia and Herzegovina improved considerably after 1995 and peaked in the mid-2000s, but later stagnated, leaving 2024 conditions stronger than the start year yet still unchanged from that earlier high point.

Source: Freedom House (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.