# Bosnia and Herzegovina

> country in Southeast Europe

**Wikidata**: [Q225](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q225)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bosnia-and-herzegovina

## Summary
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a sovereign state and country situated in Southeast Europe, specifically within the Balkans and Southern Europe regions. It declared independence on March 1, 1992, succeeding the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and operates as a federal republic with Sarajevo as its capital. The nation is characterized by its complex administrative structure, comprising two main entities—the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska—as well as the Brčko District.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Country, sovereign state, constitutional republic, federal republic, Mediterranean country.
- **Location**: Southeast Europe; borders Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and the Adriatic Sea.
- **Capital**: Sarajevo.
- **Independence**: March 1, 1992.
- **Area**: 51,197 km² (total), 57,187 km² (land), 10 km² (lake).
- **Population**: 3,816,459 (2022 estimate), 3,531,159 (2013 census).
- **Official Languages**: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian (all de facto).
- **Currency**: Convertible mark.
- **GDP (Nominal)**: $27,514,782,476 (2023).
- **HDI**: 0.780 (2021).
- **Government**: Tripartite Presidency; Chairman of the Council of Ministers is Borjana Krišto (since 2023).
- **Administrative Divisions**: Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, Brčko District.
- **Time Zone**: CET (UTC+01:00), CEST (UTC+02:00).
- **Calling Code**: +387.
- **ISO Codes**: BA, BIH, 070.
- **Top Level Domain**: .ba.
- **Flag**: Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina (current since Feb 4, 1998).
- **Anthem**: National anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina (official since 2001).
- **Highest Point**: Maglić (2,386 m).
- **Lowest Point**: Adriatic Sea (0 m).
- **UN Membership**: May 22, 1992.

## FAQs
**What is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina?**
The capital city is Sarajevo.

**When did Bosnia and Herzegovina gain independence?**
Bosnia and Herzegovina became an independent state on March 1, 1992, following the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

**What languages are spoken in Bosnia and Herzegovina?**
The country uses Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian as de facto official languages.

**What is the currency used in Bosnia and Herzegovina?**
The official currency is the convertible mark.

**How is the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina structured?**
It is a federal republic consisting of two entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, and the Brčko District. The head of state is a collective Presidency, currently including members such as Denis Bećirović and Željka Cvijanović, while the head of government is the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, currently Borjana Krišto.

**What international organizations is Bosnia and Herzegovina a member of?**
The country is a member of the United Nations (since 1992), the Council of Europe (since 2002), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Interpol, UNESCO, the World Bank Group, and the World Trade Organization, among others.

**What is the tourism slogan of Bosnia and Herzegovina?**
The country is promoted with the slogan "The heart shaped land."

## Why It Matters
Bosnia and Herzegovina holds significant geopolitical importance as a bridge between the Mediterranean and Central Europe within the Western Balkans. Its transition from a socialist republic to an independent sovereign state in 1992 marked a pivotal moment in the post-Cold War reorganization of Europe. The nation's unique administrative and governmental structure, designed to accommodate a diverse ethnic composition, serves as a complex model of power-sharing and consociationalism. Additionally, its cultural heritage reflects centuries of influence from both Eastern and Western civilizations, making it a focal point for historical and cultural studies in Southeast Europe.

## Notable For
- Possessing a unique tripartite presidency system that rotates among members representing different constituent peoples.
- Administrative division into two highly autonomous entities (Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina) and one self-governing district (Brčko District).
- Hosting the highest peak of the country, Maglić, which stands at 2,386 meters.
- Tourism branding as "The heart shaped land."
- Having a coastline on the Adriatic Sea, representing the country's lowest point at 0 meters elevation.
- Using the convertible mark as its currency, which is pegged to the euro.

## Body
### Geography and Location
Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in Southeast Europe, with geographic classifications placing it within the Balkans, Southern Europe, and post-Yugoslavia states. The country shares borders with Croatia to the north, west, and southwest; Serbia to the east; and Montenegro to the southeast. It also possesses a narrow coastline along the Adriatic Sea. The total area of the country is 51,197 square kilometers, comprising 57,187 square kilometers of land and 10 square kilometers of lake area. The coordinates for the central location are approximately 44°N latitude and 18°E longitude. The highest elevation point is Maglić at 2,386 meters, while the lowest point is the Adriatic Sea at 0 meters. The country is located in/on physical features such as the Balkans and Southern Europe.

### History and Governance
Bosnia and Herzegovina emerged as a sovereign state on March 1, 1992, succeeding the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Historically, the territory was part of the Ottoman Empire until 1878, followed by Austria–Hungary until 1918, and subsequently the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). During World War II, it was part of the Independent State of Croatia (1941–1945). After the war, it became the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until independence.

The nation is a federal republic and constitutional republic. It contains three main administrative territorial entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, and the Brčko District. The capital city is Sarajevo.

The executive body is the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, headed by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. As of 2023, the head of government is Borjana Krišto, succeeding Zoran Tegeltija (2019–2023), Denis Zvizdić (2015–2019), and Vjekoslav Bevanda (2012–2015).

The head of state is the collective Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Current presidency members (since 2022) include Denis Bećirović, Željka Cvijanović, and Željko Komšić. Previous presidency members include Milorad Dodik, Šefik Džaferović (2018–2022), Mladen Ivanić, Dragan Čović, and Bakir Izetbegović (2014–2018), among others dating back to the 1990s.

### Demographics and Society
The population of Bosnia and Herzegovina has fluctuated in recent years. According to the 2013 census, the population was 3,531,159. Estimates place the population at 3,507,017 in 2017 and 3,816,459 in 2022.
Demographic breakdowns for 2022 indicate:
- Male population: 1,591,814
- Female population: 1,641,713
- Urban population: 1,611,622
- Rural population: 1,621,904

Life expectancy has shown gradual increases, reaching a preferred value of 76.911 years in 2016, with estimates of 77 years in 2019, and 75 years in both 2021 and 2022. The total fertility rate has been in decline, with a preferred value of 1.263 in 2014. The literacy rate was recorded at 97% in 2013.

The society is multilingual, with Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian serving as de facto official languages. Major religions include Islam, Judaism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Catholicism. The country observes Independence Day as a public holiday on March 1.

### Economy
Bosnia and Herzegovina's economy uses the convertible mark as its currency. The nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has seen significant growth and fluctuation since the 1990s.
- 1990: $7.75 billion
- 1995: $1.86 billion (post-war low)
- 2022: $24.52 billion
- 2023 (preferred): $27.51 billion

Economic indicators include a Value Added Tax (VAT) rate of 17% and an unemployment rate of 28% as of 2014. The Gini coefficient was 33 in 2011. The Human Development Index (HDI) has improved over time, reaching a preferred value of 0.780 in 2021. The Inequality-adjusted HDI for 2021 was 0.677. Other economic metrics include a democracy index of 4.84 (2020) and a Happy Planet Index score of 47.8 (2019).

### International Relations and Membership
Bosnia and Herzegovina maintains diplomatic relations with numerous countries, including Italy, Germany, Australia, France, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey, the Holy See, Romania, Indonesia, Spain, the United States, Russia, Hungary, and China.

The country is a member of various international organizations:
- **United Nations** (Member since May 22, 1992)
- **Council of Europe** (Member since April 24, 2002)
- **Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe** (Member since April 30, 1992)
- **Interpol** (Member since November 4, 1992)
- **UNESCO** (Member since June 2, 1993)
- **World Bank Group**: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Development Association, International Finance Corporation, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.
- **International Monetary Fund** (implied via IBRD/World Bank memberships and standard economic data, though specific IMF join date is not in source, the World Bank memberships are detailed).

It also holds official observer status in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (since 1994).

### Infrastructure and Standards
- **Time Zone**: Central European Time (UTC+01:00) and Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00); Timezone ID: Europe/Sarajevo.
- **Driving Side**: Right.
- **Railway Traffic Side**: Right.
- **Telephone Country Code**: +387.
- **Top Level Internet Domain**: .ba.
- **Electrical Plug**: Europlug and C/F types.
- **Voltage**: 230V at 50Hz.
- **Emergency Numbers**: 112 (general), 122 (police), 123 (fire), 124 (ambulance).

### Symbols and Culture
The national flag is the "Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina," adopted on February 4, 1998, replacing a previous flag used from 1992 to 1998. The national anthem, officially adopted in 2001, is the "National anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina." Previous anthems include "Jedna si jedina" (1992–1998). The coat of arms is the "Coat of arms of Bosnia and Herzegovina." The country's tourism motto is "The heart shaped land." The native label is "Bosna i Hercegovina."

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