An analysis of income per capita within the former Yugoslavia revealed significant disparities between different municipalities. The data shows that only 128 municipalities had incomes above the average.
According to data from the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the average salary in Bosnia and Herzegovina has increased by almost 37% over the past decade. According to the latest statistics for November 2024, the average net salary in BiH was 1,406 BAM, as reported by Večernji list BiH. In the Republic of Srpska, the average was slightly higher, at 1,420 BAM, while in the Federation of BiH it was recorded at 1,401 BAM. The lowest average income was in the Brčko District, at 1,373.30 BAM.
In 2023, Sarajevo Canton had the highest average salary in the Federation of BiH, at 1,558 BAM. In contrast, the Central Bosnia Canton had the lowest average salary at just 1,030 BAM. In 2023, the average salary in RS was 1,126 BAM, but there were significant differences between municipalities. Stanari had the highest average salary at 1,575 BAM, followed by Ugljevik (1,550 BAM), Gacko (1,500 BAM), Istočna Ilidža (1,477 BAM), and Banja Luka (1,450 BAM). On the other hand, Kupres had the lowest average salary in RS at 800 BAM, while Donji Žabari and Jezero had average salaries of 875 and 893 BAM, respectively. In 2023, the average salary in the West Herzegovina Canton was 1,130 BAM, 1,327 BAM in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, and 1,168 BAM in the Bosnian-Podrinje Canton. In the Posavina Canton, the average was 1,153 BAM. The most populous canton in FBiH, Tuzla Canton, had an average salary of 1,161 BAM.
What about past salaries? An analysis by Serbian newspaper Kurir covered the entire former SFRJ region, but we will focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the analysis of income per capita within the former Yugoslavia, large disparities between different municipalities were observed. The data shows that only 128 municipalities had incomes above the average, which was expected since the top municipalities were mostly larger cities with more developed economies, a higher number of employees, and higher average wages. These municipalities accounted for about 9.7 million inhabitants, with an average income of 38,283 dinars per person from the public sector.
On the other hand, the remaining 343 municipalities, with a total of 12.7 million inhabitants, had significantly lower incomes, averaging 13,390 dinars per capita, according to 1981 data. Interestingly, wage differences were not as pronounced. The average income during the observed period was 91,585 dinars, with higher income municipalities averaging 101,453 dinars, while less developed ones had an average of 75,632 dinars. The key factor in these disparities was the employment rate, rather than the wage level, according to Kurir.
The average employment rate in the former SFRJ was 26.3%, or 5.9 million employed people out of a total population of 22.5 million. 154 municipalities had higher than average employment rates, while the remaining 317 had lower rates. The top 50 municipalities, according to employment rates, included municipalities from Slovenia, Croatia, as well as Budva (18th), Novi Sad (22nd), Tuzla (27th), Štip (30th), Belgrade (33rd), Sarajevo (41st), Niš (43rd), Cetinje (44th), and Titovo Užice (48th).
On the other hand, the municipalities with the lowest employment rates were mainly in central Serbia, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Regarding average wages, 35 of the top 50 municipalities were in Slovenia, with seven from Croatia. Budva stood out with high wages, ranking 4th with 119,124 dinars. After Budva, outside of Slovenia and Croatia, Novi Sad ranked 15th with an annual income of 110,607 dinars, Belgrade ranked 29th with 108,047 dinars (almost the same as Zagreb), followed by Kotor in 31st place with 106,199 dinars, Glogovac in 36th with 104,583 dinars, Pančevo in 43rd with 103,101 dinars, Posušje in 48th with 101,054 dinars, and Sarajevo in 49th place with 100,747 dinars of annual personal income per capita.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the highest incomes were in Posušje, while the highest employment rate was in Tuzla. Sarajevo ranked second in both cases. The municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the lowest incomes were Glamoč, Srebrenica, and Velika Kladuša.
ai-translated
