2017 Edition

Background

Bosnia and Herzegovina declared sovereignty in October 1991 and independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia and Montenegro - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to form a "Greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement that ended three years of interethnic civil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Peace Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a multiethnic and democratic government charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of 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 Federation and RS governments are responsible for overseeing most government functions. Additionally, the Dayton Accords established the Office of the High Representative to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. The Peace Implementation Council at its conference in Bonn in 1997 also gave the High Representative the authority to impose legislation and remove officials, the so-called "Bonn Powers." An original NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops assembled in 1995 was succeeded over time by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR). In 2004, European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR. Currently, EUFOR deploys around 600 troops in theater in a security assistance and training capacity.

The Dayton Peace Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a multiethnic and democratic government charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government compose

the predominantly Bosniak-Bosnian Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the predominantly Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments are responsible for overseeing most government functions. Additionally, the Dayton Accords established the Office of the High Representative to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. The Peace Implementation Council at its conference in Bonn in 1997 also gave the High Representative the authority to impose legislation and remove officials, the so-called "Bonn Powers." An original NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops assembled in 1995 was succeeded over time by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR). In 2004, European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR. Currently, EUFOR deploys around 600 troops in theater in a security assistance and training capacity.

Area

51,197 sq km 51,187 sq km 10 sq km

land

51,187 sq km

total

51,197 sq km

water

10 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Climate

hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast

Coastline

20 km

Elevation

500 m lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maglic 2,386 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m

highest point

Maglic 2,386 m

mean elevation

500 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution; deforestation and illegal logging; inadequate wastewater treatment and flood management facilities; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; land mines left over from the 1992-95 civil strife are a hazard in some areas

Environment - international agreements

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

44 00 N, 18 00 E

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, and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority in the west and an ethnic Serb majority in the east

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

1,543 km Croatia 956 km, Montenegro 242 km, Serbia 345 km

border countries (3)

Croatia 956 km, Montenegro 242 km, Serbia 345 km

total

1,543 km

Land use

42.2% arable land 19.7%; permanent crops 2%; permanent pasture 20.5% 42.8% 15% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

42.2%

forest

42.8%

other

15% (2011 est.)

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

NA

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Natural resources

coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, timber, hydropower

Population - distribution

the northern and central areas of the country are the most densely populated

Terrain

mountains and valleys

Age structure

13.29% (male 264,718/female 247,587) 11.58% (male 230,495/female 216,107) 45.88% (male 889,686/female 879,514) 14.83% (male 275,550/female 296,236) 14.43% (male 218,823/female 337,465) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

13.29% (male 264,718/female 247,587)

15-24 years

11.58% (male 230,495/female 216,107)

25-54 years

45.88% (male 889,686/female 879,514)

55-64 years

14.83% (male 275,550/female 296,236)

65 years and over

14.43% (male 218,823/female 337,465) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

8.8 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.5% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

45.8% (2011/12)

Death rate

10 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

43.3 20.7 22.5 4.4 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

22.5

potential support ratio

4.4 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

43.3

youth dependency ratio

20.7

Drinking water source

urban: 99.7% of population rural: 100% of population total: 99.9% of population urban: 0.3% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)

rural

0% of population

total

0.1% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0.3% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Bosniak 50.1%, Serb 30.8%, Croat 15.4%, other 2.7%, not declared/no answer 1% the methodology remains disputed and Republika Srspka authorities 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 (2013 est.)

note

the methodology remains disputed and Republika Srspka authorities 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 (2013 est.)

Health expenditures

9.6% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

5.5 deaths/1,000 live births 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

5.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

5.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Bosnian (official) 52.9%, Serbian (official) 30.8%, Croatian (official) 14.6%, other 1.6%, no answer 0.2% (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

76.9 years 73.9 years 80.2 years (2017 est.)

female

80.2 years (2017 est.)

male

73.9 years

total population

76.9 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 98.5% 99.5% 97.5% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97.5% (2015 est.)

male

99.5%

total population

98.5%

Major urban areas - population

SARAJEVO (capital) 318,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

11 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

42.1 years 40.5 years 43.5 years (2017 est.)

female

43.5 years (2017 est.)

male

40.5 years

total

42.1 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

27 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) Bosnian, Herzegovinian

adjective

Bosnian, Herzegovinian

noun

Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

17.9% (2016)

Physicians density

1.89 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

3,856,181 (July 2017 est.)

Population distribution

the northern and central areas of the country are the most densely populated

Population growth rate

-0.16% (2017 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.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 98.9% of population rural: 92% of population total: 94.8% of population urban: 1.1% of population rural: 8% of population total: 5.2% of population (2015 est.)

rural

8% of population

total

5.2% of population (2015 est.)

urban

1.1% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

14 years 14 years 15 years (2014)

female

15 years (2014)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

1.07 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 0.64 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.07 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.64 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.3 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

62.3% 43.5% 62.3% (2015 est.)

female

62.3% (2015 est.)

male

43.5%

total

62.3%

Urbanization

40.1% of total population (2017) 0.38% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.38% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

40.1% of total population (2017)

Administrative divisions

3 first-order administrative divisions - Brcko District (Brcko Distrikt) (ethnically mixed), the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine) (predominantly Bosniak-Croat), the Republic of Srpska (Republika Srpska) (predominantly Serb)

Capital

Sarajevo 43 52 N, 18 25 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

43 52 N, 18 25 E

name

Sarajevo

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

no at least one parent must be a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina yes, provided there is a bilateral agreement with the other state 8 years

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

Constitution

14 December 1995 (constitution included as part of the Dayton Peace Accords); note - each of the political entities has its own constitution 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; amended several times, last in 2009 (2016)

amendments

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; amended several times, last in 2009 (2016)

history

14 December 1995 (constitution included as part of the Dayton Peace Accords); note - each of the political entities has its own constitution

Country name

none Bosnia and Herzegovina none Bosna i Hercegovina People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina BiH the larger northern territory is named for the Bosna River; the smaller southern section takes its name from the German word "herzog," meaning "duke," and the ending "-ovina," meaning "land," forming the combination denoting "dukedom"

abbreviation

BiH

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Bosnia and Herzegovina

etymology

the larger northern territory is named for the Bosna River; the smaller southern section takes its name from the German word "herzog," meaning "duke," and the ending "-ovina," meaning "land," forming the combination denoting "dukedom"

former

People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

local long form

none

local short form

Bosna i Hercegovina

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Maureen CORMACK (since 16 January 2015) 1 Robert C. Frasure Street, 71000 Sarajevo use embassy street address [387] (33) 704-000 [387] (33) 659-722 Banja Luka, Mostar

branch office(s)

Banja Luka, Mostar

chief of mission

Ambassador Maureen CORMACK (since 16 January 2015)

embassy

1 Robert C. Frasure Street, 71000 Sarajevo

FAX

[387] (33) 659-722

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[387] (33) 704-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Haris HRLE (since 23 October 2015) 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 [1] (202) 337-1500 [1] (202) 337-1502 Chicago, New York

chancery

2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

chief of mission

Ambassador Haris HRLE (since 23 October 2015)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 337-1502

telephone

[1] (202) 337-1500

Executive branch

Chairman of the Presidency Dragan COVIC (chairman since 17 July 2017, presidency member since 17 November 2014 - Croat), Mladen IVANIC (presidency member since 17 November 2014 - Serb); Bakir IZETBEGOVIC (presidency member since 10 November 2010 - Bosniak) Chairman of the Council of Ministers Denis ZVIZDIC (since 11 February 2015) Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman, approved by the state-level House of Representatives 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 and resumes where it left off following each general election; election last held on 12 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2018); the chairman of the Council of Ministers appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the state-level House of Representatives percent of vote - Mladen IVANIC (PDP) 48.7% - Serb seat; Dragan COVIC (HDZ-BiH) 52.2% - Croat seat; Bakir IZETBEGOVIC (SDA) 32.9% - Bosniak seat President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Marinko CAVARA (since 11 February 2015); Vice Presidents Melika MAHMUTBEGOVIC (since 11 February 2015), Milan DUNOVIC (since 11 February 2015); President of the Republika Srpska Milorad DODIK (since 15 November 2010); Vice Presidents Ramiz SALKIC (since 24 November 2014), Josip JERKOVIC (since 24 November 2014)

cabinet

Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman, approved by the state-level House of Representatives

chief of state

Chairman of the Presidency Dragan COVIC (chairman since 17 July 2017, presidency member since 17 November 2014 - Croat), Mladen IVANIC (presidency member since 17 November 2014 - Serb); Bakir IZETBEGOVIC (presidency member since 10 November 2010 - Bosniak)

election results

percent of vote - Mladen IVANIC (PDP) 48.7% - Serb seat; Dragan COVIC (HDZ-BiH) 52.2% - Croat seat; Bakir IZETBEGOVIC (SDA) 32.9% - Bosniak seat

elections/appointments

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 and resumes where it left off following each general election; election last held on 12 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2018); the chairman of the Council of Ministers appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the state-level House of Representatives

head of government

Chairman of the Council of Ministers Denis ZVIZDIC (since 11 February 2015)

note

President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Marinko CAVARA (since 11 February 2015); Vice Presidents Melika MAHMUTBEGOVIC (since 11 February 2015), Milan DUNOVIC (since 11 February 2015); President of the Republika Srpska Milorad DODIK (since 15 November 2010); Vice Presidents Ramiz SALKIC (since 24 November 2014), Josip JERKOVIC (since 24 November 2014)

Flag description

a wide blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; the remainder of the flag is blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle; the triangle approximates the shape of the country and its three points stand for the constituent peoples - Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs; the stars represent Europe and are meant to be continuous (thus the half stars at top and bottom); the colors (white, blue, and yellow) are often associated with neutrality and peace, and traditionally are linked with Bosnia one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Brazil, Eritrea, and Vanuatu

note

one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Brazil, Eritrea, and Vanuatu

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia); note - referendum for independence completed on 1 March 1992; independence declared on 3 March 1992

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, MINUSMA, 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)

Judicial branch

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) 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 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

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

Legal system

civil law system; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of the House of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15 seats - 5 Bosniak, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members designated by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's House of Peoples and the Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve 4-year terms) and the state-level House of Representatives or Predstavnicki Dom (42 seats to include 28 seats allocated to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 to the Republika Srpska; members directly elected by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a bicameral legislature that consists of the House of Peoples (58 seats - 17 Bosniak, 17 Croat, 17 Serb, 7 other) and the House of Representatives (98 seats; members directly elected by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms); Republika Srpska's unicameral legislature is the National Assembly (83 directly elected delegates serve 4-year terms) House of Peoples - last constituted in 11 February 2015 (next likely to be constituted in 2019); state-level House of Representatives - election last held on 12 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2018) House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - NA; state-level House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - Federation votes: SDA 27.9%, DF 15.3%, SBB BiH 14.4%, Croat People's Assembly coalition or HNS (HDZ BiH-HSS-NHI-HKDU-HSP BiH-HSP HB) 12.2%, SDP 9.5%, HDZ-1990 4.1%, BPS-Sefer Halilovic 3.7%, A-SDA 2.3%, other 10.6%; Republika Srpska votes: SNSD 38.5%, SDS 32.6%, PDP-NDP 7.8%, DNS 5.7%, SDA 4.9%, other 10.5%; seats by party/coalition - SDA 10, SNSD 6, SDS 5, DF 5, SBB BiH 4, Croat People's Assembly coalition or HNS (HDZ BiH-HSS-NHI-HKDU-HSP BiH-HSP HB) 4, SDP 3, PDP-NDP 1, HDZ-1990 1, BPS-Sefer Halilovic 1, DNS 1, A-SDA 1

description

bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of the House of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15 seats - 5 Bosniak, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members designated by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's House of Peoples and the Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve 4-year terms) and the state-level House of Representatives or Predstavnicki Dom (42 seats to include 28 seats allocated to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 to the Republika Srpska; members directly elected by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a bicameral legislature that consists of the House of Peoples (58 seats - 17 Bosniak, 17 Croat, 17 Serb, 7 other) and the House of Representatives (98 seats; members directly elected by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms); Republika Srpska's unicameral legislature is the National Assembly (83 directly elected delegates serve 4-year terms)

election results

House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - NA; state-level House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - Federation votes: SDA 27.9%, DF 15.3%, SBB BiH 14.4%, Croat People's Assembly coalition or HNS (HDZ BiH-HSS-NHI-HKDU-HSP BiH-HSP HB) 12.2%, SDP 9.5%, HDZ-1990 4.1%, BPS-Sefer Halilovic 3.7%, A-SDA 2.3%, other 10.6%; Republika Srpska votes: SNSD 38.5%, SDS 32.6%, PDP-NDP 7.8%, DNS 5.7%, SDA 4.9%, other 10.5%; seats by party/coalition - SDA 10, SNSD 6, SDS 5, DF 5, SBB BiH 4, Croat People's Assembly coalition or HNS (HDZ BiH-HSS-NHI-HKDU-HSP BiH-HSP HB) 4, SDP 3, PDP-NDP 1, HDZ-1990 1, BPS-Sefer Halilovic 1, DNS 1, A-SDA 1

elections

House of Peoples - last constituted in 11 February 2015 (next likely to be constituted in 2019); state-level House of Representatives - election last held on 12 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2018)

National anthem

"Drzavna himna Bosne i Hercegovine" (The National Anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina) none officially; Dusan SESTIC and Benjamin ISOVIC/Dusan SESTIC music adopted 1999; lyrics accepted 2009 but not yet approved

lyrics/music

none officially; Dusan SESTIC and Benjamin ISOVIC/Dusan SESTIC

name

"Drzavna himna Bosne i Hercegovine" (The National Anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina)

note

music adopted 1999; lyrics accepted 2009 but not yet approved

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 there is no national-level holiday

note

there is no national-level holiday

National symbol(s)

golden lily; national colors: blue, yellow, white

golden lily; national colors

blue, yellow, white

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for a Better Future of BiH or SBB BiH [Fahrudin RADONCIC] Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD [Milorad DODIK] Alternative Party for Democratic Activity or A-SDA [Nermin OGRESEVIC] Bosnian-Herzegovinian Patriotic Party-Sefer Halilovic or BPS-Sefer Halilovic [Sefer HALILOVIC] Croat Peasants' Party or HSS [Mario KARAMATIC] Croatian Christian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HKDU [Ivan MUSA] Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HDZ-BiH [Dragan COVIC] Croatian Democratic Union 1990 or HDZ-1990 [Ilija CVITANOVIC] Croatian Party of Rights or HSP BiH [Stanko PRIMORAC] Croatian Party of Rights of Herceg-Bosne or HSP HB [Vesna PINJUH] Croatian People's Party-Liberal Democrats or HNS [Ivan VRDOLJAK] Democratic Front of DF [Zeljko KOMSIC] Democratic Peoples' Alliance or DNS [Marko PAVIC] Party for Democratic Action or SDA [Bakir IZETBEGOVIC] Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Branislav BORENOVIC] People's Democratic Movement or NDP [Dragan CAVIC] Serb Democratic Party or SDS [Vukota GOVEDARICA] Social Democratic Party or SDP [Nermin NIKSIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders

war veterans; displaced persons associations; family associations of missing persons; private media

Suffrage

18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

Agriculture - products

wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Budget

$7.329 billion $7.464 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$7.464 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$7.329 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.24% (31 December 2016 est.) 5.79% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$-741 million (2016 est.) $-892.4 million (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$10.64 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $12.89 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36.2 (2007)

Economy - overview

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a transitional economy with limited market reforms. The economy relies heavily on the export of metals, energy, textiles, and furniture as well as on remittances and foreign aid. A highly decentralized government hampers economic policy coordination and reform, while excessive bureaucracy and a segmented market discourage foreign investment. Foreign banks, primarily from Austria and Italy, control much of the banking sector, though the largest bank in the Republika Srpska entity is a private domestic one. The konvertibilna marka (convertible mark) - the national currency introduced in 1998 - is pegged to the euro through a currency board arrangement, which has maintained confidence in the currency and has facilitated reliable trade links with European partners. In 2016, Bosnia began a three-year IMF loan program that requires Bosnia to meet economic reform benchmarks to receive future funding installments. Interethnic warfare in Bosnia and Herzegovina caused production to plummet by 80% from 1992 to 1995 and unemployment to soar, but the economy made progress until 2008, when the global economic crisis caused a downturn. Since 2013, Bosnia and Herzegovina has posted positive economic growth, though severe flooding hampered recovery in 2014. Bosnia and Herzegovina became a full member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement in September 2007. Bosnia and Herzegovina's private sector is growing slowly, but foreign investment has dropped sharply since 2007. High unemployment remains the most serious macroeconomic problem. Successful implementation of a value-added tax in 2006 provided a steady source of revenue for the government and helped rein in gray-market activity, though public perceptions of government corruption and misuse of taxpayer money has encouraged a large informal economy to persist. National-level statistics have improved over time, but a large share of economic activity remains unofficial and unrecorded. Bosnia and Herzegovina's top economic priorities are: acceleration of integration into the EU; strengthening the fiscal system; public administration reform; World Trade Organization membership; and securing economic growth by fostering a dynamic, competitive private sector.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's top economic priorities are

acceleration of integration into the EU; strengthening the fiscal system; public administration reform; World Trade Organization membership; and securing economic growth by fostering a dynamic, competitive private sector.

Exchange rates

konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar - 1.7674 (2016 est.) 1.7674 (2015 est.) 1.7626 (2014 est.) 1.4718 (2013 est.) 1.52 (2012 est.)

Exports

$4.288 billion (2016 est.) $3.95 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

metals, clothing, wood products

Exports - partners

Germany 16.6%, Italy 12.7%, Croatia 11%, Serbia 9.2%, Slovenia 9.1%, Austria 8.2%, Turkey 4.5% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

78.6% 20% 16.9% 2.1% 34.6% -52.1% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

34.6%

government consumption

20%

household consumption

78.6%

imports of goods and services

-52.1% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

16.9%

investment in inventories

2.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

7.8% 26.8% 65.4% (2016 est.)

agriculture

7.8%

industry

26.8%

services

65.4% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$10,900 (2016 est.) $10,700 (2015 est.) $10,300 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2016 est.) 3% (2015 est.) 1.1% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$16.57 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$42.04 billion (2016 est.) $40.71 billion (2015 est.) $39.09 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Gross national saving

11.9% of GDP (2016 est.) 10.5% of GDP (2015 est.) 10.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.7% 27.3% (2007)

highest 10%

27.3% (2007)

lowest 10%

2.7%

Imports

$8.361 billion (2016 est.) $8.155 billion (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Germany 12.3%, Italy 11.7%, Serbia 11.2%, Croatia 9.9%, China 6.8%, Slovenia 5%, Russia 4.4%, Turkey 4.3% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

4.4% (2016 est.)

Industries

steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, ammunition, domestic appliances, oil refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1.1% (2016 est.) -1% (2015 est.)

Labor force

1.401 million (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

19% 30% 51% (2013)

agriculture

19%

industry

30%

services

51% (2013)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

17.2% (2011 est.)

Public debt

44.2% of GDP (2016 est.) 44.7% of GDP (2015 est.) data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.

note

data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.137 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $4.791 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money

$10.89 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $10.38 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$0 (2014)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$7.92 billion (2014 est.) $7.721 billion (2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$9.271 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $9.389 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$5.013 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $4.554 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

44.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

25.4% (2016 est.) 43.2% (2015 est.) official rate; actual rate is lower as many technically unemployed persons work in the gray economy

note

official rate; actual rate is lower as many technically unemployed persons work in the gray economy

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

17 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

18,940 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

11.44 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

6.007 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

41.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

48.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

3.872 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

4.243 million kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

14.97 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

100% (2016)

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

881 million cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - imports

200 million cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

31,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

5,910 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

15,700 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

20,700 bbl/day (2014 est.)

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 broadcasting stations; 3 large public radio broadcasters and many private radio stations (2010)

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 broadcasting stations; 3 large public radio broadcasters and many private radio stations (2010)

Internet country code

.ba

Internet users

2,677,502 69.3% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

69.3% (July 2016 est.)

total

2,677,502

Telephone system

post-war reconstruction of the telecommunications network, aided by an internationally sponsored program, resulted in sharp increases in fixed-line telephone availability fixed-line teledensity roughly 20 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly and stands at roughly 90 telephones per 100 persons country code - 387; no satellite earth stations (2016)

domestic

fixed-line teledensity roughly 20 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly and stands at roughly 90 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

post-war reconstruction of the telecommunications network, aided by an internationally sponsored program, resulted in sharp increases in fixed-line telephone availability

international

country code - 387; no satellite earth stations (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

744,991 19 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

19 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

744,991

Telephones - mobile cellular

3,404,043 88 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

88 (July 2016 est.)

total

3,404,043

Airports

24 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2 (2017)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

2,438 to 3,047 m

4

total

7

under 914 m

2 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

11 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

5

total

17

under 914 m

11 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

T9 (2016)

Heliports

6 (2013)

National air transport system

7,070 87 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

87 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

7,070

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

1

number of registered air carriers

1

Pipelines

gas 147 km; oil 9 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, Brcko, Orasje (Sava River)

river port(s)

Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, Brcko, Orasje (Sava River)

Railways

965 km 965 km 1.435-m gauge (565 km electrified) (2014)

standard gauge

965 km 1.435-m gauge (565 km electrified) (2014)

total

965 km

Roadways

22,926 km 19,426 km (4,652 km of interurban roads) 3,500 km (2010)

paved

19,426 km (4,652 km of interurban roads)

total

22,926 km

unpaved

3,500 km (2010)

Waterways

(Sava River on northern border; open to shipping but use limited) (2011)

Military branches

Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Oruzanih Snaga Bosne i Hercegovine, OSBiH): Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Air Force and Air Defense (Brigada Zracnih Snaga i Protuzracne Odbrane, br ZSiPZO), Tactical Support Brigade (Brigada Takticke Podrske, br TP) (2015)

Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Oruzanih Snaga Bosne i Hercegovine, OSBiH)

Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Air Force and Air Defense (Brigada Zracnih Snaga i Protuzracne Odbrane, br ZSiPZO), Tactical Support Brigade (Brigada Takticke Podrske, br TP) (2015)

Military expenditures

0.99% of GDP (2016) 1% of GDP (2015) 1.03% of GDP (2014) 1.09% of GDP (2013) 1.15% of GDP (2012)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 35 or after 15 years of service for E-1 through E-4, mandatory retirement at age 50 and 30 years of service for E-5 through E-9, mandatory retirement at age 55 and 30 years of service for all officers (2014)

Disputes - international

Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute

Illicit drugs

increasingly a transit point for heroin being trafficked to Western Europe; minor transit point for marijuana; remains highly vulnerable to money-laundering activity given a primarily cash-based and unregulated economy, weak law enforcement, and instances of corruption

Refugees and internally displaced persons

5,164 (Croatia) (2016) 98,000 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Bosniaks displaced by inter-ethnic violence, human rights violations, and armed conflict during the 1992-95 war) (2016) 49 (2016)

IDPs

98,000 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Bosniaks displaced by inter-ethnic violence, human rights violations, and armed conflict during the 1992-95 war) (2016)

refugees (country of origin)

5,164 (Croatia) (2016)

stateless persons

49 (2016)