This guide provides an overview of how to interpret and utilise the data presented in the Economic Convergence Scoreboard for the Western Balkans 2026. Further information on the overall approach and methodology, including the selection of indicators and the calculation of scores, is included in (Annex B).
Economic Convergence Scoreboard for the Western Balkans 2026
The Scoreboard assesses the level of convergence of the Western Balkan economies across a total of 43 indicators, grouped under six policy clusters key to economic performance:
Macro-financial Stability
Infrastructure and Connectivity
Skills
Business Environment
Digital Transformation
Greening
The analytical framework builds on the growth models in the economic literature:
Exogenous growth models (Solow-Swan): Infrastructure and Connectivity and Business Environment contribute to capital accumulation (physical capital) and productivity growth.
Endogenous growth models (Romer and Lucas): Skills and Digital Transformation contribute to human capital and knowledge accumulation. Greening can drive technological change and ensure the sustainability of economic growth.
Macroeconomic stability literature (Fischer, Barro): Macro-financial Stability provides the enabling conditions under which capital accumulation and human capital formation translate into sustained growth, by reducing macroeconomic vulnerabilities and preserving investor confidence.
Each policy cluster includes five to eight indicators selected for their relevance to economic growth and the availability and comparability of data.
The primary data source for the selected indicators was Eurostat to maximise comparability between the European Union (EU) and the Western Balkan economies. When this was not possible, data were directly sourced from the national statistical offices of the Western Balkan economies and other international sources, including the OECD. The dataset used to calculate scores and rankings includes the six Western Balkan economies (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) as well as the EU member states. The economy abbreviations used throughout the report are:
Albania | ALB |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | BIH |
Kosovo | KOS |
Montenegro | MNE |
North Macedonia | MKD |
Serbia | SRB |
Convergence for indicators is measured over four sub-periods: 2014-2016, 2017-2019, 2020-2022, and 2023-2024, rather than annually. Each data point represents the average value of the available years within each sub-period. This approach allows for the following: 1) integrating the inclusion of indicators not updated annually; 2) smoothing out cyclical variations or shocks; and 3) overcoming data inconsistencies or gaps.
The limited statistical coverage in the Western Balkans, compared to EU member states, influenced the selection of indicators, with some indicators initially considered for the Scoreboard due to their strong correlation with economic growth ultimately excluded primarily due to limitations in data availability. Alternative indicators were selected as proxies to capture comparable dimensions of economic performance and development. For indicators with incomplete time-series coverage, missing data were addressed through imputation.
The Scoreboard leverages two methods to calculate scores and rankings.
Each indicator score represents the ratio of a specific Western Balkan economy's sub-period value to the EU average, which is set at 100. Scores above 100 indicate values higher than the EU average, while scores below 100 indicate that the economy's convergence towards the EU average remains incomplete. For example, Albania's employment rate was 73.8% in 2023-2024, compared to the EU average of 77.1%. The indicator score is therefore (73.8/77.1) × 100 = 96, which means that Albania's employment rate is 96% of the EU average, indicating a high level of convergence (Figure 1).
The Western Balkan economies are also benchmarked against a group of EU neighbouring economies (Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia). This additional comparison accounts for structural factors, such as geography and demography, that shape convergence independently of economic policies, and provides a more proximate reference point than the EU average alone.
Macro-financial stability indicators are scored differently to reflect compliance with established EU macro-financial benchmarks. These include, most notably, the Maastricht convergence criteria and the thresholds used under the EU's macroeconomic imbalance surveillance framework. A score of 100 indicates full compliance, whereas scores below 100 signal a growing distance from compliance. For example, Albania's general government balance stood at -1.0% of GDP over 2023-2024, within the -3% ceiling set by the European Central Bank. The indicator score is therefore 100, reflecting full compliance with the threshold.
Cluster scores are derived from a dedicated composite indicator. As with individual indicator scores, the EU average is set at 100. Scores above 100 indicate overperformance relative to the EU average, while scores below 100 signal lower convergence. For example, Albania's eight skills-related indicators for the period 2023-2024 yield an average standardised score of 36, against an EU average of 100 (Figure 2).
Macro-financial stability cluster scores are calculated as the simple average of the underlying indicator scores. A score of 100 indicates full compliance with the relevant macro-financial stability criteria.
The underlying raw data used to determine scores are provided in the indicator-level graphs throughout the chapters. For more details on the scoring, please consult the Methodology section in (Annex B).
The 2026 edition of the Scoreboard incorporates new and refined indicators, reflecting a partial evolution in scope aimed at improving data robustness and comparability and providing better insight into the policy drivers of economic convergence. As a result, it is advisable not to directly compare the results of this edition with those released in 2025.
The Scoreboard serves multiple purposes, offering significant benefits for various stakeholders:
Policy makers in the Western Balkans
The Scoreboard helps to identify economic strengths and weaknesses, assess the effectiveness of current policies, and pinpoint areas requiring targeted reforms. By leveraging a data-driven approach, it supports evidence-based policy making and the development of tailored economic strategies to accelerate sustainable growth.
As it was developed in close co-ordination with national statistical offices across the region, the Scoreboard strengthens the collection of high-quality and reliable data, enhancing the ability to track policy outcomes more effectively.
EU member states and institutions
The Scoreboard provides an objective, data-driven assessment of the region’s progress towards economic convergence with the EU. It offers insights into policy implementation, highlighting the extent to which measures are effectively enforced rather than merely transposing the EU acquis into laws and regulations.
By identifying priority policy areas that require further efforts, the Scoreboard can help guide the EU’s funding priorities, including those under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance and the Western Balkans Investment Framework.