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Bosnia and Herzegovina

Thirty-second orientation

Bosnia and Herzegovina at a glance

Capital: Sarajevo; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Population: 3,140,095; World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025
Area: 51,197 sq km; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Nationality / demonym: noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s); adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Government: parliamentary republic; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Languages: Bosnian (official) 52.9%, Serbian (official) 30.8%, Croatian (official) 14.6%, other 1.6%, no answer 0.2% (2013 est.); CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04

Independently structured milestones · not a complete national history

Bosnia and Herzegovina through time

1992-05-22
Admitted to the United Nations
Bosnia and Herzegovina became a member of the United Nations.
United Nations, Member States · source checked 2026-09-04

Source history · changed fields only

Changes since the final CIA profile

Field	Maintained Almanac value	Final CIA profile
Population	3,140,095World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025	total: 3,653,499 (2025 est.) male: 1,778,548 female: 1,874,951CIA World Factbook · as of 2026-01-20

A difference may reflect a newer observation, a revised estimate, or a different source definition. This table reports the values and dates; it does not manufacture a trend.

World Development Indicators · latest available observation

People, economy, and access

Observation years vary by measure. Each row identifies the series and year instead of presenting unlike dates as one current snapshot.

Gross domestic product: $32.6 billion; World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
Gross domestic product per person: $10,382; World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
Life expectancy at birth: 78.0 years; World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
Urban population: 52.7%; World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
Access to electricity: 100.0%; World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS. Underlying providers: World Bank ESMAP, Tracking SDG 7. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
People using the internet: 86.1%; World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS. Underlying providers: International Telecommunication Union. Source footnote: Source and notes: Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Retrieved 2026-09-08.

World Development Indicators data are provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The linked indicator metadata identifies the underlying statistical providers.

Maintained profile

Capital: Sarajevo; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04The nation set and displayed federal short name follow the current State Department independent-states register, dated August 11, 2026.
Area: 51,197 sq km; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04Final CIA source data preserved by a community mirror after the Factbook was retired; the mirror is not the issuing authority.
Population: 3,140,095; World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.POP.TOTL. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
Currency: konvertibilna markas (BAM); CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04Currency label extracted from the Factbook exchange-rate field.
Languages: Bosnian (official) 52.9%, Serbian (official) 30.8%, Croatian (official) 14.6%, other 1.6%, no answer 0.2% (2013 est.); CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04Factbook language listing reproduced without inferring official status beyond the source wording.
Nationality / demonym: noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s); adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04The source’s noun and adjective forms are retained. These are language labels, not evidence of any individual person’s citizenship.
Government: parliamentary republic; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
UN membership: 1992-05-22; United Nations, Member States · as of 2026-09-04
Continent: Europe; CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-20Continental label standardized from the archived profile region “Europe.”
Coastline: 20 km; CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-20Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
Climate: hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast; CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-20Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
Religions: Muslim 50.7%, Orthodox 30.7%, Roman Catholic 15.2%, atheist 0.8%, agnostic 0.3%, other 1.2%, undeclared/no answer 1.1% (2013 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-20Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
Flag colors: blue, yellow, white; CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-20Colors extracted from the flag description in the preserved final CIA profile.
National symbol: golden lily; CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-20Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
Highest point: Maglic · 7,828 ft (2,386 m); CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-20Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
Lowest point: Adriatic Sea · 0 ft (0 m); CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-20Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
NATO membership: Not a member; NATO, What is NATO? · as of 2026-09-06Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
BRICS membership: Not a member; BRICS Brazil, About the BRICS · as of 2026-09-06Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.

Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data

Final CIA World Factbook profile

This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.

CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated 2026-01-20 · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b

Introduction1 fields

Background: After four centuries of Ottoman rule over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria-Hungary took control in 1878 and held the region until 1918, when it was incorporated into the newly created Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. After World War II, Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). Bosnia and Herzegovina declared sovereignty in October 1991 and independence from the SFRY on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. Bosnian Serb militias, with the support of Serbia and Croatia, then tried to take control of territories they claimed as their own. From 1992 to 1995, ethnic cleansing campaigns killed thousands and displaced more than two million people. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement, and the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995. The Dayton Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a multiethnic and democratic government composed of two entities roughly equal in size: the predominantly Bosniak-Bosnian Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the predominantly Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Dayton Accords also established the Office of the High Representative to oversee the agreement's implementation. In 1996, the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) took over responsibility for enforcing the peace. In 2004, European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR. As of 2022, EUFOR deploys around 1,600 troops in Bosnia in a peacekeeping capacity. Bosnia and Herzegovina became an official candidate for EU membership in 2022.; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source

Geography18 fields

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Geographic coordinates: 44 00 N, 18 00 E; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Map references: Europe; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Area: total : 51,197 sq km land: 51,187 sq km water: 10 sq km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Land boundaries: total: 1,543 km border countries (3): Croatia 956 km; Montenegro 242 km; Serbia 345 km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Coastline: 20 km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Maritime claims: NA; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Climate: hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Terrain: mountains and valleys; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Elevation: highest point: Maglic 2,386 m lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 500 m; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, antimony, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, timber, hydropower; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Land use: agricultural land: 21.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.8% (2023 est.) forest: 42.2% (2023 est.) other: 36.1% (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (2012); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Population distribution: the northern and central areas of the country are the most densely populated; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Geography - note: within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Montenegro; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source

People and Society32 fields

Population: total: 3,653,499 (2025 est.) male: 1,778,548 female: 1,874,951; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Nationality: noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Ethnic groups: Bosniak 50.1%, Serb 30.8%, Croat 15.4%, other 2.7%, not declared/no answer 1% (2013 est.) note: Republika Srpska authorities dispute the methodology and refuse to recognize the results; Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid confusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of Islam; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Languages: Bosnian (official) 52.9%, Serbian (official) 30.8%, Croatian (official) 14.6%, other 1.6%, no answer 0.2% (2013 est.) major-language sample(s): Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Bosnian) Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, nužan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Croatian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Religions: Muslim 50.7%, Orthodox 30.7%, Roman Catholic 15.2%, atheist 0.8%, agnostic 0.3%, other 1.2%, undeclared/no answer 1.1% (2013 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Age structure: 0-14 years: 13.1% (male 257,444/female 240,209) 15-64 years: 68.3% (male 1,305,271/female 1,290,920) 65 years and over: 18.6% (2024 est.) (male 289,449/female 415,378); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 44.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 16.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 27.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Median age: total: 45.7 years (2025 est.) male: 43.1 years female: 46.5 years; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Population growth rate: -0.67% (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Birth rate: 6.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Death rate: 12.29 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Net migration rate: -1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Population distribution: the northern and central areas of the country are the most densely populated; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Urbanization: urban population: 50.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Major urban areas - population: 346,000 SARAJEVO (capital) (2023); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.7 years (2019 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Maternal mortality ratio: 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.5 years (2024 est.) male: 75.5 years female: 81.6 years; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Total fertility rate: 1.15 children born/woman (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Gross reproduction rate: 0.56 (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Drinking water source: urban: 94.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 97.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 96.1% of population (2022 est.) urban: 5.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 2.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 3.9% of population (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Health expenditure: 9.6% of GDP (2021) 14.8% of national budget (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Physician density: 2.58 physicians/1,000 population (2019); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Hospital bed density: 2.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Sanitation facility access: urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 17.9% (2016); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Tobacco use: total: 34% (2025 est.) male: 39.2% (2025 est.) female: 29% (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Education expenditure: 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 10.2% national budget (2021 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years (2023 est.) male: 14 years (2023 est.) female: 15 years (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source

Environment10 fields

Environmental issues: air pollution; deforestation and illegal logging; inadequate wastewater treatment and flood management facilities; urban waste disposal; uncleared land mines from the 1990s; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
International environmental agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Climate: hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Land use: agricultural land: 21.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.8% (2023 est.) forest: 42.2% (2023 est.) other: 36.1% (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Urbanization: urban population: 50.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Carbon dioxide emissions: 24.513 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 19.292 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 4.785 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 436,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Particulate matter emissions: 26.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.249 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23.8% (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 320 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 475 million cubic meters (2022); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Total renewable water resources: 37.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source

Government25 fields

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina local long form: none local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina former: People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina abbreviation: BiH etymology: the larger northern territory is named for the Bosna River; the smaller southern section takes its name from the Old Serbian word herceg, meaning "duke," combined with the possessive -ov and the suffix -ina, meaning "country," to denote "dukedom"; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Government type: parliamentary republic; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Capital: name: Sarajevo geographic coordinates: 43 52 N, 18 25 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name derives from the Turkish word saray, meaning "palace" or "mansion"; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Administrative divisions: 3 first-order administrative divisions - Brcko District (Brcko Distrikt) (ethnically mixed), Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine) (predominantly Bosniak-Croat), Republika Srpska (predominantly Serb); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Legal system: civil law system; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Constitution: history: 14 December 1995 (constitution included as part of the Dayton Peace Accords) amendment process: decided by the Parliamentary Assembly, including a two-thirds majority vote of members present in the House of Representatives; the constitutional article on human rights and fundamental freedoms cannot be amended note: each of the political entities has its own constitution; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina dual citizenship recognized: yes, provided there is a bilateral agreement with the other state residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Suffrage: 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Executive branch: chief of state: Chairperson of the Presidency Zeljko KOMSIC (chairperson since 16 July 2025; presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Croat seat); Denis BECIROVIC (presidency member since 16 November 2022 - Bosniak seat); Zeljka CVIJANOVIC (presidency member since 16 November 2022 - Serb seat) head of government: Chairperson of the Council of Ministers Borjana KRISTO (since 25 January 2023) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairperson, approved by the state-level House of Representatives election/appointment process: 3-member presidency (1 Bosniak and 1 Croat elected from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 1 Serb elected from the Republika Srpska) directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term but then ineligible for 4 years); the presidency chairpersonship rotates every 8 months, with the new member of the presidency elected with the highest number of votes starting the new mandate as chair; the chairperson of the Council of Ministers appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the state-level House of Representatives most recent election date: 2 October 2022 election results: 2022: percent of vote - Denis BECIROVIC - (SDP BiH) 57.4% - Bosniak seat; Zeljko KOMSIC (DF) 55.8% - Croat seat; Zeljka CVIJANOVIC (SNSD) 51.7% - Serb seat 2018: percent of vote - Milorad DODIK (SNSD) 53.9% - Serb seat; Zeljko KOMSIC (DF) 52.6% - Croat seat; Sefik DZAFEROVIC (SDA) 36.6% - Bosniak seat expected date of next election: October 2026 note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Lidiia BRADARA (since 28 February 2023); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Legislative branch: legislature name: Parliamentary Assembly (Skupstina) legislative structure: bicameral; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name: House of Representatives (Predstavnicki dom) number of seats: 42 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 2/16/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Party of Democratic Action (SDA) (9); Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) (6); Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDP) (5); HDZ BiH, HSS, HSP BiH, HKDU, HSPAS, HDU, HSPHB, HRAST (4); Democratic Front (DF) - Civic Alliance (GS) (3); People and Justice (NAROD I PRAVDA) (3); (3); Republican Party of the Social Order (PROS) (3); Other (15) percentage of women in chamber: 19% expected date of next election: October 2026; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name: House of Peoples (Dom Naroda) number of seats: 15 (all appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/2/2022 percentage of women in chamber: 6.7% expected date of next election: February 2027; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members); Court of BiH (consists of 44 national judges and 7 international judges organized into 3 divisions - Administrative, Appellate, and Criminal, which includes a War Crimes Chamber) judge selection and term of office: BiH Constitutional Court judges - 4 selected by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Representatives, 2 selected by the Republika Srpska's National Assembly, and 3 non-Bosnian judges selected by the president of the European Court of Human Rights; Court of BiH president and national judges appointed by the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council; Court of BiH president appointed for renewable 6-year term; other national judges appointed to serve until age 70; international judges recommended by the president of the Court of BiH and appointed by the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina; international judges appointed to serve until age 70 subordinate courts: the Federation has 10 cantonal courts plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpska has a supreme court, 5 district courts, and a number of municipal courts; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Political parties: Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD Bosnian-Herzegovinian Initiative or BHI KF Civic Alliance or GS Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HDZ-BiH Democratic Front or DF Democratic Union or DEMOS For Justice and Order Our Party or NS/HC Party for Democratic Action or SDA Party of Democratic Progress or PDP People and Justice Party or NiP People's European Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or NES Serb Democratic Party or SDS Social Democratic Party or SDP United Srpska or US; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sven ALKALAJ (since 30 June 2023) chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 337-1500 FAX: [1] (202) 337-1502 email address and website: info@bhembassy.org http://www.bhembassy.org/index.html consulate(s) general: Chicago; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires John GINKEL (since September 2025) embassy: 1 Robert C. Frasure Street, 71000 Sarajevo mailing address: 7130 Sarajevo Place, Washington DC 20521-7130 telephone: [387] (33) 704-000 FAX: [387] (33) 659-722 email address and website: sarajevoACS@state.gov https://ba.usembassy.gov/ branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
International organization participation: BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) note: Bosnia-Herzegovina is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Independence: 1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia) note: referendum for independence completed on 1 March 1992; independence declared on 3 March 1992; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 March (1992) and Statehood Day, 25 November (1943) - both observed in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity; Victory Day, 9 May (1945) and Dayton Agreement Day, 21 November (1995) - both observed in the Republika Srpska entity note: there is no national-level holiday; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Flag: description: a wide blue vertical band on the right side, with a large yellow isosceles triangle in the middle of the flag, based at the top; the rest of the flag is blue, with seven five-pointed white stars and two half-stars along the triangle's hypotenuse meaning: the triangle approximates the country's shape, and its three points stand for the Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs; the stars represent Europe; the colors (white, blue, and yellow) are traditional and are also associated with neutrality and peace note: one of four national flags that reflect the shape of the country in the flag design; the others are Brazil, Eritrea, and Vanuatu; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
National symbol(s): golden lily; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
National color(s): blue, yellow, white; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
National anthem(s): title: "Drzavna himna Bosne i Hercegovine" (The National Anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina) lyrics/music: none officially/Dusan SESTIC history: music adopted 1999; lyrics proposed in 2009 were accepted by a parliamentary commission but are still awaiting adoption, so the anthem remains officially wordless; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Bridge Area of Mostar (c); Mehmed Pa&scaron;a Sokolović Bridge in Vi&scaron;egrad (c); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe - Janj Forest (n); Vjetrenica Cave, Ravno (n); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source

Economy30 fields

Economic overview: import-dominated economy; remains consumption-heavy; lack of private sector investments and diversification; jointly addressing structural economic challenges; Chinese energy infrastructure investments; high unemployment; tourism industry impacted by COVID-19; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $64.641 billion (2024 est.) $63.077 billion (2023 est.) $61.843 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Real GDP growth rate: 2.5% (2024 est.) 2% (2023 est.) 4.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Real GDP per capita: $20,400 (2024 est.) $19,800 (2023 est.) $19,300 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
GDP (official exchange rate): $28.343 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (2024 est.) 6.1% (2023 est.) 14% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4.3% (2024 est.) industry: 22% (2024 est.) services: 58% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 68.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 19.1% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.1% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 3.2% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.9% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -55.7% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Agricultural products: maize, milk, vegetables, potatoes, plums, wheat, apples, barley, chicken, tomatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Industries: steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, ammunition, domestic appliances, oil refining; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Industrial production growth rate: -2.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Labor force: 1.356 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Unemployment rate: 10.8% (2024 est.) 10.7% (2023 est.) 12.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 27.3% (2024 est.) male: 25.4% (2024 est.) female: 30.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Population below poverty line: 16.9% (2015 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Average household expenditures: on food: 32.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 7.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Remittances: 11% of GDP (2024 est.) 10.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 10.5% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Budget: revenues: $10.196 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $10.463 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Public debt: 40.3% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Taxes and other revenues: 19.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Current account balance: -$1.176 billion (2024 est.) -$638.769 million (2023 est.) -$1.078 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Exports: $12.141 billion (2024 est.) $12.126 billion (2023 est.) $11.838 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Exports - partners: Germany 15%, Croatia 14%, Serbia 12%, Austria 10%, Slovenia 9% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Exports - commodities: footwear, electricity, garments, plastic products, insulated wire (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Imports: $16.202 billion (2024 est.) $15.37 billion (2023 est.) $15.166 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Imports - partners: Italy 13%, Germany 11%, Serbia 11%, China 9%, Croatia 8% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, garments, plastic products, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $9.419 billion (2024 est.) $9.205 billion (2023 est.) $8.762 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Debt - external: $5.359 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Exchange rates: konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar - 1.808 (2024 est.) 1.809 (2023 est.) 1.859 (2022 est.) 1.654 (2021 est.) 1.717 (2020 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source

Energy7 fields

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 4.682 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 12.867 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 7.104 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 3.6 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.339 billion kWh (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 64% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 31.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Coal: production: 12.311 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 12.304 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1.254 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 1.327 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.264 billion metric tons (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Natural gas: consumption: 228.855 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 228.855 million cubic meters (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Energy consumption per capita: 91.227 million Btu/person (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source

Communications6 fields

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 583,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2024 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 3.84 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2024 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Broadcast media: 3 public TV broadcasters: Radio and TV of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federation TV (operating 2 networks), and Republika Srpska Radio-TV; a local commercial network of 5 TV stations; 3 private, near-national TV stations and dozens of small independent TV stations; 3 large public radio broadcasters and many private radio stations (2019); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Internet country code: .ba; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Internet users: percent of population: 83% (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 908,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source

Transportation5 fields

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T9; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Airports: 20 (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Heliports: 3 (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Railways: total: 965 km (2014) standard gauge: 965 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (565 km electrified); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Ports: total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 0 key ports: Neum; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source

Military and Security6 fields

Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH or Oruzanih Snaga Bosne i Hercegovine, OSBiH): Army, Air, Air Defense forces organized into an Operations Command and a Support Command Ministry of Security: Border Police (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Military expenditures: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2020 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 10,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory of weapons and equipment is a combination of material originating from the former Soviet Union/former Yugoslavia and some newer acquisitions from suppliers such as Türkiye, the UK, and the US (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Military service age and obligation: 18 -27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended in January 2006 (2025) note: as of 2024, women made up about 9% of the military's full-time personnel; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source
Military - note: the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) are responsible for territorial defense, providing assistance to civil authorities during disasters or other emergencies, and participating in collective security and peace support operations; each of the AFBiH's three combat brigades are headquartered inside of their respective ethnicity territory, while its main headquarters is in Sarajevo; Bosnia and Herzegovina aspires to join NATO; Bosnia and Herzegovina joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 2006 and was invited to join NATO’s Membership Action Plan in 2010; the AFBiH is undergoing a 10-year (2017-2027) defense modernization and reform program for preparing to join and integrate with NATO; it has contributed small numbers of troops to EU, NATO, and UN missions NATO maintains a military headquarters in Sarajevo with the mission of assisting Bosnia and Herzegovina with the PfP program and promoting closer integration with NATO, as well as providing logistics and other support to the EU Force Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR), which has operated in the country to oversee implementation of the Dayton/Paris Agreement since taking over from NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR) in 2004 (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source

Terrorism1 fields

Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source

Transnational Issues1 fields

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 685 (2024 est.) IDPs: 94,796 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 23 (2024 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-20 · source

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Bosnia and Herzegovina at a glance

Bosnia and Herzegovina through time

Admitted to the United Nations

Changes since the final CIA profile

People, economy, and access

Maintained profile