Bosnia and Herzegovina is the Poorest Country in the Region

16 December 2004

Elderly are the most common users of soup-kitchens for the poor in B&H

According to official estimates, every one in four citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina is poor. The B&H Development Strategy states the approximately 20 percent of the population in the country lives under the general poverty line. Thirty percent of the population is just above the poverty line, with possibility to fall under.

According to the most recent data available from the Bureau of Statistics, the consumers basket for the previous month (November 9) cost 460 KM, or one percent more expensive than for October. The average salary for August of this year was 381 KM in the Republic of Srpska and 530 KM in the BH Federation, while the average pensions were at 140 and 190 KM, respectively.

The research shows that poverty is a problem for about 25 percent of the population in RS, compared to 17 percent in the B&H Federation. Inside the entities, there are differences. The greatest standard of living is found in the areas with majority of Croatian population, followed by the Bosniaks - with the exception of Gorazde Municipality, with the standard of living lowest in the Republic of Srpska. Regionally, by far the poorest is the region of eastern RS.