Bosnia and Herzegovina - BA - BIH - BIH - Europe

Last updated: April 29, 2025

Bosnia and Herzegovina Images

Trebevic Mountain, located outside Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina, was the site of many 1984 Winter Olympics events. During the 1,425-day Siege of Sarajevo, Trebevic was heavily mined, and its elevation provided an ideal position for snipers and artillery units attacking Sarajevo. After lengthy restoration work, the mountain was declared a national park and reopened to the public in 2017. The restored graffiti-covered bobsleigh track is a cultural landmark and beloved by admirers of street art the world-over.
A view of Sarajevo from one of the cable cars that connects the old section of the city with Trebevic Mountain. The original cable car system was built and opened in 1959 but was completely destroyed during the Bosnian War (1992-95). In 2018, the Trebevic Cable Car was officially re-opened as a modernized, faster, and larger system, still crossing the border between the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska.
The Latin Bridge is the oldest of over a dozen bridges crossing the Miljacka River in Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The original wooden bridge dates to around 1541 but was replaced by a stone structure in 1565. After a flood, it was rebuilt around 1798. The bridge acquired its name because it connected to the Catholic quarter of the city (“Latinluk”). At the foot of the bridge on June 28, 1914, Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip shot and killed Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, sparking WWI.
Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina lies in its namesake valley surrounded by the Dinaric Alps; the Miljacka River flows through the city.
Part of Sarajevo's massive cemetery, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, lies at the base of the hill supporting the city's communication tower.
The Cathedral of Jesus' Heart is the largest cathedral in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is the center of Catholic worship in the city of Sarajevo. Located in the Old Town district, the church was constructed between 1884 and 1889 in the Neo-Gothic style but displays Romanesque elements. Damaged during the Siege of Sarajevo (1992-1994), it has been completely restored.
Dedicated on 6 April 1946, the Eternal Flame Memorial in Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina honors the military and civilian victims of World War II.
The Stari Most (Old Bridge) in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, connects the two parts of the city divided by the Neretva River. Built during the 16th century under Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the bridge was destroyed in 1993 during the Bosnian War, but it was rebuilt and reopened in 2004. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, the elegant bridge -- a model of Balkan Islamic architecture -- is the most visited tourist site in the city.
Trebevic Mountain, located outside Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina, was the site of many 1984 Winter Olympics events. During the 1,425-day Siege of Sarajevo, Trebevic was heavily mined, and its elevation provided an ideal position for snipers and artillery units attacking Sarajevo. After lengthy restoration work, the mountain was declared a national park and reopened to the public in 2017. The restored graffiti-covered bobsleigh track is a cultural landmark and beloved by admirers of street art the world-over.
A view of Sarajevo from one of the cable cars that connects the old section of the city with Trebevic Mountain. The original cable car system was built and opened in 1959 but was completely destroyed during the Bosnian War (1992-95). In 2018, the Trebevic Cable Car was officially re-opened as a modernized, faster, and larger system, still crossing the border between the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska.

1 of 8

Bosnia and Herzegovina Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. MURPHY (since 23 February 2022)

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

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)

This is the population pyramid for Bosnia and Herzegovina. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

44 00 N, 18 00 E

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.)

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2005 (2024)

note: as of 2024, women made up about 9% of the military's full-time personnel

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.

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

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

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2022)
0.9% of GDP (2021)
0.9% of GDP (2020)
0.8% of GDP (2019)

Population below poverty line

16.9% (2015 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Exports - commodities

footwear, electricity, garments, plastic products, insulated wire (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Germany 15%, Croatia 14%, Serbia 12%, Austria 10%, Slovenia 9% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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)

Agricultural products

maize, milk, vegetables, potatoes, plums, wheat, apples, barley, chicken, tomatoes (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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)

Budget

revenues: $10.195 billion (2023 est.)

expenditures: $9.739 billion (2023 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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"

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, garments, plastic products, packaged medicine (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

Constitution

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

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

Exchange rates

konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
1.809 (2023 est.)
1.859 (2022 est.)
1.654 (2021 est.)
1.717 (2020 est.)
1.747 (2019 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: Chairperson of the Presidency Zeljka CVIJANOVIC (chairperson since 16 November 2024; presidency member since 16 November 2022 - Serb seat); Denis BECIROVIC (presidency member since 16 November 2022 - Bosniak 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)

cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairperson, approved by the state-level House of Representatives

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 with the new member of the presidency elected with the highest number of votes starting the new mandate as chair; election last held on 2 October 2022 (next to be held in October 2026); the chairperson of the Council of Ministers appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the state-level House of Representatives

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

note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Lidiia BRADARA (since 28 February 2023); Vice Presidents Refik LENDO (since 28 February 2023) and Igor STOJANOVIC (since 28 February 2023); President of the Republika Srpska Milorad DODIK (since 15 November 2022); Vice Presidents Camil DURAKOVIC (since 15 November 2022) and Davor PRANJIC (since 15 November 2022)

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

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

Illicit drugs

drug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of of large quantities of cocaine destined for European markets

Independence

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

Industries

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

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

Land boundaries

total: 1,543 km

border countries (3): Croatia 956 km; Montenegro 242 km; Serbia 345 km

Land use

agricultural land: 44.2% (2022 est.)

arable land: 19.7% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 2.1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 22.4% (2022 est.)

forest: 42.7% (2022 est.)

other: 13.1% (2022 est.)

Legal system

civil law system; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliamentary Assembly (Skupstina)

legislative structure: bicameral

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.1%

male: 99.4%

female: 98.1% (2021)

Maritime claims

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

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

Nationality

noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)

adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian

Natural resources

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

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

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

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

Railways

total: 965 km (2014)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: the telecom market has been liberalized and a regulatory framework created based on the EU’s regulatory framework for communications; although Bosnia-Herzegovina remains an EU candidate country, in July 2017 it applied amended mobile roaming charges to fit in with changes introduced across the Union; further roaming agreements were made in 2019 with other western Balkan countries; the fixed-line broadband network is comparatively underdeveloped, with the result that investments made in mobile upgrades to facilitate broadband connectivity in the country to a greater extent than is common elsewhere in Europe; internet services are available; DSL and cable are the main platforms for fixed-line connectivity, while fiber broadband as yet has only a small market presence; the three MNOs, each affiliated with one of the incumbent fixed-line operators, provide national coverage with 3G, though LTE coverage is only about 89%; their upgraded networks are helping to support broadband in rural areas where fixed-line infrastructure is insufficient; mobile data and mobile broadband offers will provide future revenue growth given the limited potential of mobile voice services; the MNOs tested LTE services under trial licenses from 2013, commercial launches were delayed until the award of spectrum in early 2019; the regulator stipulated that licenses must provide national coverage within five years; trials of 5G technology have been undertaken, though there are no plans to launch services commercially in the short term, given that the MNOs can continue to exploit the capacity of their existing LTE networks (2021)

domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 21 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership stands at 114 telephones per 100 persons (2021)

international: country code - 387; no satellite earth stations

Terrain

mountains and valleys

Government type

parliamentary republic

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"

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia

Map references

Europe

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2012)

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

Internet users

percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)

Internet country code

.ba

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 91,000 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Bosniaks displaced by inter-ethnic violence, human rights violations, and armed conflict during the 1992-95 war) (2022)

stateless persons: 48 (2022)

note: 153,304 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-March 2024)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$27.515 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

Moody's rating: B3 (2012)

Standard & Poors rating: B (2011)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

37.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 15 years (2014)

Urbanization

urban population: 50.3% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 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 (2019)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 99.9% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 99.9% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.1% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)

National anthem

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

lyrics/music: none officially/Dusan SESTIC

note: music adopted 1999; lyrics proposed in 2008 and others in 2016 were not approved

This is an audio of the National Anthem for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

346,000 SARAJEVO (capital) (2023)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Physician density

2.58 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Hospital bed density

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2014)

National symbol(s)

golden lily; national colors: blue, yellow, white

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.7 years (2019 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

45.8% (2011/12)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 68.5% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 19.2% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 23.1% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 3.3% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 44.1% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -55.8% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 43.5 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 16.8 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 26.7 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 3.7 (2024 est.)

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

Population distribution

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

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 99.5% of population

rural: NA

total: NA

unimproved:

urban: 0.5% of population

rural: NA

total: (2020 est.) NA

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

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.)

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.

Bosnian/Montenegrin audio sample

Serbian audio sample

Croatian audio sample

Imports - partners

Italy 13%, Germany 11%, Serbia 11%, China 9%, Croatia 8% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Elevation

highest point: Maglic 2,386 m

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 500 m

Current health expenditure

9.6% of GDP (2021)

Military - note

the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) are comprised of the former Bosnian-Croat Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Vojska Federacije Bosne i Hercegovin, VF) and the Bosnian-Serb Republic of Serbia Army (Vojska Republike Srpske, VRS); the two forces were unified under the 2006 Law on Defense, and the combined force includes each ethnic group; the 2006 law also established the country’s Ministry of Defense

the AFBiH is 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; it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 2007 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; EUFOR has about 1,100 troops from 22 countries (2024)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 10,000 active-duty personnel (2024)

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 secondhand deliveries from Western suppliers such as the UK and especially the US (2024)

Terrorist group(s)

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

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 310 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,248,718 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 12 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0% (2015 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 32.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 7.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 26.19 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 21.85 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 2.92 megatons (2020 est.)

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Bridge Area of Mostar (c); Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad (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)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

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.)

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.)

Natural gas

consumption: 228.855 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 228.855 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.67 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

63.8% (2023 est.)

Remittances

10.26% of GDP (2023 est.)
10.52% of GDP (2022 est.)
10.47% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Ports

total ports: 1 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 1

very small: 0

ports with oil terminals: 0

key ports: Neum

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: 10/2/2022

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); Other (12)

percentage of women in chamber: 19%

expected date of next election: October 2026

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: 2/16/2023

percentage of women in chamber: 6.7%

expected date of next election: February 2027

Labor force

1.382 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 26.5% (2023 est.)

male: 24.6% (2023 est.)

female: 30.1% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Net migration rate

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 44.8 years (2024 est.)

male: 43.1 years

female: 46.5 years

Debt - external

$5.602 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Maternal mortality ratio

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$9.205 billion (2023 est.)
$8.762 billion (2022 est.)
$9.475 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Public debt

40.42% of GDP (2023 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Total fertility rate

1.38 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

10.42% (2023 est.)
12.66% (2022 est.)
14.9% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 3,798,671 (2024 est.)

male: 1,852,164

female: 1,946,507

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.)

Area

total : 51,197 sq km

land: 51,187 sq km

water: 10 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

19.11% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$64.104 billion (2023 est.)
$62.717 billion (2022 est.)
$60.174 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Airports

20 (2025)

Infant mortality rate

total: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 3.87 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.11% (2023 est.)
14.02% (2022 est.)
1.98% (2021 est.)

Current account balance

-$638.769 million (2023 est.)
-$1.078 billion (2022 est.)
-$349.24 million (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$20,100 (2023 est.)
$19,600 (2022 est.)
$18,500 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 908,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 35% (2020 est.)

male: 42% (2020 est.)

female: 28% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

17.9% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

91.227 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Death rate

10.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

8.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

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.)

Imports

$15.37 billion (2023 est.)
$15.166 billion (2022 est.)
$12.739 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$12.126 billion (2023 est.)
$11.838 billion (2022 est.)
$10.116 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Heliports

3 (2025)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 614,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2023 est.)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.5 years (2024 est.)

male: 75.5 years

female: 81.6 years

Real GDP growth rate

2.21% (2023 est.)
4.23% (2022 est.)
7.39% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

-0.47% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 4.7% (2023 est.)

industry: 23.8% (2023 est.)

services: 55.8% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Revenue from forest resources

0.49% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0.34% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

Population growth rate

-0.25% (2024 est.)

Sources: