Introduction
Background
Austria-Hungary controlled Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1878 to 1918, when it joined the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. In 1945, Bosnia and Herzegovina became part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY), until declaring independence in 1992. Three years of interethnic war ended in 1995, and the country became an official candidate for EU membership in 2022.
Geography
Area
total : 51,197 sq km
land: 51,187 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Climate
hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast
Natural resources
coal, iron ore, antimony, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, timber, hydropower
People and Society
Population
total: 3,798,671
Ethnic groups
Bosniak 50.1%, Serb 30.8%, Croat 15.4%, other 2.7%, not declared/no answer 1% (2013 est.)
Languages
Bosnian (official) 52.9%, Serbian (official) 30.8%, Croatian (official) 14.6%, other 1.6%, no answer 0.2% (2013 est.)
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.)
Population growth rate
-0.25% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Sarajevo
Executive branch
chief of state: Chairperson of the Presidency Denis BECIROVIC (chairperson since 16 March 2024; presidency member since 16 November 2022 - Bosniak seat); Zeljka CVIJANOVIC (presidency member since 16 November 2022 - Serb seat); Zeljko KOMSIC (presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Croat seat)
head of government: Chairperson of the Council of Ministers Borjana KRISTO (since 25 January 2023)
Legislative branch
summary: bicameral Parliamentary Assembly consists of the House of Peoples (15 seats) and the House of Representatives (42 seats)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Sven ALKALAJ (since 30 June 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. MURPHY (since 23 February 2022)
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$63.769 billion (2023 est.)
$62.717 billion (2022 est.)
$60.174 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$19,900 (2023 est.)
$19,400 (2022 est.)
$18,400 (2021 est.)
Exports
$11.942 billion (2023 est.)
$11.794 billion (2022 est.)
$10.058 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
Croatia 14%, Germany 14%, Serbia 13%, Italy 10%, Austria 9% (2022)
Exports - commodities
aluminum, electricity, footwear, garments, plastic products (2022)
Imports
$15.398 billion (2023 est.)
$15.162 billion (2022 est.)
$12.738 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
Croatia 16%, Serbia 13%, Germany 8%, Italy 8%, China 7% (2022)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, aluminum, garments, coal, cars (2022)
Page last updated: Thursday, September 12, 2024
