All countries, overall, 2025

Environment overall, 2025, % of EU

Montenegro led the region in the Governance area in 2025, at 79% of the EU average. Albania and North Macedonia followed, both at 72%, and Kosovo and Serbia at 69% and 66%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina was furthest behind, at 59%.

Environment overall, annual change in 2025

3 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU average in 2025. Montenegro recorded the largest gain, of 2.3 pp, followed by Albania and North Macedonia, with 1.6 pp and 1.2 pp. Kosovo stagnated, while Bosnia and Herzegovina slipped back by 0.2 pp and Serbia fell back by 1.5 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

Albania100+

Bosnia & Herzegovina100+

Kosovo99

Montenegro100+

North Macedonia100+

Serbia100+

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, Montenegro would reach the EU level in the Governance area in 26 years, and North Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania in 31-37 years. Bosnia and Herzegovina would need almost a century, while Serbia is diverging from the EU average.

Premature deaths due to PM 2.5

Premature deaths due to PM 2.5, 2025

CountryValueUnit

Albania196Per 100,000 of population aged 30+

Bosnia & Herzegovina199Per 100,000 of population aged 30+

Kosovo172Per 100,000 of population aged 30+

Montenegro142Per 100,000 of population aged 30+

North Macedonia222Per 100,000 of population aged 30+

Serbia188Per 100,000 of population aged 30+

Voice and accountability in 2025 was highest in Montenegro, at 57.8 index points (0–100 scale), followed by Kosovo, at 53.2. North Macedonia and Albania stood at 51.5 and 49.8, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia had the lowest scores, at 42.1 and 40.7.

Premature deaths due to PM 2.5, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, Montenegro scored highest, at 79% of the EU level, followed by Kosovo, at 73%. North Macedonia and Albania stood at 70% and 68%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia were furthest behind, at 58% and 56%.

Premature deaths due to PM 2.5, annual change in 2025

4 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. Montenegro recorded the largest gain, of 4.7 pp, followed by North Macedonia, with 2.0 pp, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 1.3 pp, and Albania, with 0.6 pp. Kosovo slipped back by 0.3 pp, while Serbia saw the largest decline, of 2.5 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

AlbaniaDiverging

Bosnia & HerzegovinaDiverging

Kosovo26

Montenegro64

North MacedoniaDiverging

SerbiaDiverging

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, Montenegro would reach the EU level in 15 years and North Macedonia in 35 years. Kosovo would need almost 9 decades and Bosnia and Herzegovina more than 100 years, while Albania and Serbia are diverging from the EU average.

Renewable energy share

Renewable energy share, 2025

CountryValueUnit

Albania97.3% of total capacity

Bosnia & Herzegovina51.4% of total capacity

Kosovo17.2% of total capacity

Montenegro80.4% of total capacity

North Macedonia58.8% of total capacity

Serbia40.9% of total capacity

Political stability in 2025 was highest in Montenegro, at 56.6 index points (0–100 scale), followed by North Macedonia and Albania, at 53.1 and 50.4. Serbia and Kosovo stood at 46.6 and 43.6, while Bosnia and Herzegovina had the lowest score, at 40.

Renewable energy share, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, Montenegro was almost at the EU level, at 95%, followed by North Macedonia, at 89%, and Albania, at 84%. Serbia and Kosovo stood at 78% and 73%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina was furthest behind, at 67%.

Renewable energy share, annual change in 2025

3 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. Montenegro recorded the largest gain, of 6.5 pp, followed by Albania, with 3.7 pp, and North Macedonia, with 2.0 pp. Kosovo fell back by 2.5 pp, while Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina saw larger declines, of 4.7 pp and 6.6 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

AlbaniaConverged

Bosnia & HerzegovinaDiverging

Kosovo82

MontenegroConverged

North Macedonia5

SerbiaDiverging

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, Montenegro would reach the EU level in just 2 years, North Macedonia in 6 years and Albania in 12 years. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia are diverging from the EU average.

Energy intensity

Energy intensity, 2025

CountryValueUnit

Albania161KGOE per thousand euro of GDP in chain linked volumes (2015)

Bosnia & Herzegovina359KGOE per thousand euro of GDP in chain linked volumes (2015)

Kosovo338KGOE per thousand euro of GDP in chain linked volumes (2015)

Montenegro239KGOE per thousand euro of GDP in chain linked volumes (2015)

North Macedonia236KGOE per thousand euro of GDP in chain linked volumes (2015)

Serbia313KGOE per thousand euro of GDP in chain linked volumes (2015)

Government effectiveness in 2025 was highest in Montenegro and Albania, at 57.3 and 56.2 index points (0–100 scale), followed by Serbia, at 52. North Macedonia and Kosovo stood at 49.4 and 48.8, while Bosnia and Herzegovina had the lowest score, at 37.3.

Energy intensity, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, Montenegro and Albania scored highest, at 80% and 78% of the EU level, followed by Serbia, at 72%. North Macedonia and Kosovo stood at 69% and 68%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina was far behind, at 52%.

Energy intensity, annual change in 2025

3 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. Montenegro recorded the largest gain, of 2.6 pp, while Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina improved more modestly, by 0.6 pp and 0.3 pp. Serbia stagnated, while North Macedonia and Kosovo fell back by 1.5 pp and 1.9 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

Albania61

Bosnia & Herzegovina100+

KosovoDiverging

MontenegroDiverging

North Macedonia100+

SerbiaDiverging

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, Albania would reach the EU level in 13 years, and Kosovo and Montenegro in 21 years. Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia would need 53 and 61 years, while Serbia is more than 100 years away.

Carbon intensity

Carbon intensity, 2025

CountryValueUnit

Albania317KG per thousand euro of GDP in chain linked volumes (2015)

Bosnia & Herzegovina1,009KG per thousand euro of GDP in chain linked volumes (2015)

Kosovo995KG per thousand euro of GDP in chain linked volumes (2015)

Montenegro495KG per thousand euro of GDP in chain linked volumes (2015)

North Macedonia607KG per thousand euro of GDP in chain linked volumes (2015)

Serbia825KG per thousand euro of GDP in chain linked volumes (2015)

Regulatory quality in 2025 was highest in North Macedonia, at 55.3 index points (0–100 scale). Albania, Montenegro and Serbia followed closely, at 51.6-52.7, while Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina had the lowest scores, at 45.5 and 43.

Carbon intensity, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, North Macedonia scored highest, at 78% of the EU level, followed by Albania, Montenegro and Serbia, at 73-74%. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina were furthest behind, at 64% and 61%.

Carbon intensity, annual change in 2025

5 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. Kosovo recorded the largest gain, of 5.0 pp, followed by Albania and North Macedonia, with 2.4 pp and 2.3 pp. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia improved only marginally, by 0.3 pp and 0.2 pp. Montenegro was the only country to fall back, by 1.6 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

Albania87

Bosnia & HerzegovinaDiverging

KosovoDiverging

MontenegroDiverging

North MacedoniaDiverging

SerbiaDiverging

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, North Macedonia and Kosovo would reach the EU level in around 3 decades (27 and 31 years), and Albania in 42 years. Serbia would need around 6 decades and Bosnia and Herzegovina almost 9, while Montenegro is diverging from the EU average.

Waste that is recovered

Waste that is recovered, 2025

CountryValueUnit

Albania23.2% of total diverted waste

Bosnia & Herzegovina18.2% of total diverted waste

Kosovo3.2% of total diverted waste

Montenegro5% of total diverted waste

North Macedonia29.2% of total diverted waste

Serbia32.3% of total diverted waste

Rule of law in 2025 was strongest in Montenegro and Kosovo, at 53.6 and 51 index points (0–100 scale). Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia stood at 45.5-47.6, while Bosnia and Herzegovina had the lowest score, at 43.6.

Waste that is recovered, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, Montenegro and Kosovo scored highest, at 75% and 71% of the EU level. Albania stood at 67% and North Macedonia and Serbia at 64%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina was furthest behind, at 61%.

Waste that is recovered, annual change in 2025

5 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. Kosovo recorded the largest gain, of 2.6 pp, followed by Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania, with 0.9-1.5 pp. Serbia was the only country to fall back, by 0.5 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

Albania99

Bosnia & Herzegovina50

Kosovo100+

MontenegroDiverging

North MacedoniaDiverging

Serbia13

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, Kosovo would reach the EU level in 12 years, and Albania and Montenegro in 32 and 37 years. Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia would need more than 8 decades, while Serbia is diverging from the EU average.

Protected areas

Protected areas, 2025

CountryValueUnit

Albania23.1% of land area

Bosnia & Herzegovina9% of land area

Kosovo11.6% of land area

Montenegro21.7% of land area

North Macedonia26.3% of land area

Serbia10.8% of land area

Control of corruption in 2025 was highest in Montenegro, at 48.8 index points (0–100 scale), followed by Kosovo, at 44.9. North Macedonia and Albania stood at 43.4 and 41.6, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia had the lowest scores, at 39.7 and 38.8.

Protected areas, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, Montenegro scored highest, at 70% of the EU level, followed by Kosovo and North Macedonia, at 64% and 62%. Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina stood at 59% and 57%, and Serbia at 55%.

Protected areas, annual change in 2025

4 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded the largest gain, of 2.6 pp, followed by Albania, with 1.3 pp, while North Macedonia and Montenegro improved by 0.8 pp and 0.4 pp. Serbia and Kosovo fell back, by 1.6 pp and 2.9 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

Albania36

Bosnia & Herzegovina100+

KosovoDiverging

Montenegro58

North Macedonia1

Serbia100+

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, North Macedonia would reach the EU level in around 5 decades, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 58 years and Kosovo in 66 years. Montenegro is more than 100 years away, while Serbia is diverging from the EU average.