Discover Fascinating Bosnia and Herzegovina Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Background
Bosnia and Herzegovina has a colorful history! ๐จ It was controlled by Austria-Hungary from 1878 to 1918. After that, it became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. Things changed again in 1945 when it joined the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). ๐ But the country wanted its independence and declared it in 1992! Sadly, the aftermath led to three years of interethnic war, wrapping up in 1995. ๐ก๏ธ Today, Bosnia and Herzegovina is an official candidate for EU membership since 2022! ๐ช๐บ
Years controlled by Austria-Hungary
40 years
Years as part of the SFRY
47 years
Years of independence before EU candidacy
30 years
Years of war following independence
3 years
Key Historical Events in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Exports - commodities
โจ Bosnia and Herzegovina is known for a variety of exports! In 2022, the country's key export commodities included aluminum, electricity, footwear, garments, and plastic products. ๐ Each of these items plays an essential role in the economy, bringing in revenue and creating jobs. Let's explore these commodities and their significance!
Exports Commodities of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2022)
Exports - partners
Bosnia and Herzegovina has a variety of export partners! ๐ In 2022, the leading countries that bought goods from Bosnia and Herzegovina were:
- Croatia: 14% ๐
- Germany: 14% ๐ฉ๐ช
- Serbia: 13% ๐ท๐ธ
- Italy: 10% ๐ฎ๐น
- Austria: 9% ๐ฆ๐น
These percentages show how the export market is divided among these countries. Croatia and Germany are tied for the top spot, each taking 14% of Bosnia and Herzegovina's exports! Isn't it interesting to see how close they are? ๐ฒ
Total Export Partners
5
Exports by Partner Countries (2022)
Capital
๐๏ธ Welcome to Sarajevo! This vibrant city is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, known for its rich history and cultural diversity. Nestled in the heart of the country, Sarajevo is often referred to as the 'Jerusalem of Europe' due to its fascinating blend of Eastern and Western influences. Whether you're exploring its historic sites, enjoying delicious local cuisine, or soaking in the breathtaking views, Sarajevo has something for everyone! ๐
Capital City
Sarajevo
Imports - commodities
Bosnia and Herzegovina imports a variety of essential commodities that play a crucial role in its economy. Hereโs a quick look at the key imports in 2022:
- Refined Petroleum: This is vital for transportation and energy needs! ๐
- Aluminum: Used in various industries, from construction to packaging! ๐๏ธ
- Garments: Clothing imports are important for the fashion industry and everyday wear! ๐๐
- Coal: An essential energy source, especially for heating and electricity! โก
- Cars: These are crucial for mobility and trade! ๐
Each of these commodities brings something unique to the table, supporting both everyday life and the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Top Imports in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2022)
Climate
Bosnia and Herzegovina has some really interesting weather! โ๏ธ๐จ๏ธ In the summer, it gets hot, while in winter, you can expect it to be super cold. If you go to the high areas, the summers are short and cool, and the winters can be quite severe! โ๏ธ On the coast, the winters are mild and rainy, which sounds cozy! ๐ง๏ธ So, whether you like warm beaches or snowy mountains, there's something for everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina!
Executive branch
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Executive branch consists of notable leaders making key decisions! ๐คโจ
Chief of State
- Zeljka CVIJANOVIC: Chairperson of the Presidency since 16 November 2024 (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
- Borjana KRISTO: Chairperson of the Council of Ministers since 25 January 2023
The diverse leadership in Bosnia and Herzegovina reflects its rich cultural tapestry. Each member represents a different community within the nation. ๐๐ค
Zeljka CVIJANOVIC's leadership start date
16 November 2024
Denis BECIROVIC's leadership start date
16 November 2022
Zeljko KOMSIC's leadership start date
20 November 2018
Borjana KRISTO's leadership start date
25 January 2023
Legislative branch
Bosnia and Herzegovina has a bicameral Parliamentary Assembly ๐๏ธ, meaning it has two separate chambers that work together to make laws. Let's take a closer look at how these chambers are structured:
- House of Peoples: This house has 15 seats. Each seat represents a part of the country, ensuring that diverse voices are heard.
- House of Representatives: This house is larger, with 42 seats! More representatives mean more opinions and ideas ๐ก, which helps in making well-rounded decisions for the nation.
Imagining these two chambers working together, it's clear that they play a vital role in shaping the laws and policies of Bosnia and Herzegovina. ๐๐ง๐ฆ
Total seats in Parliamentary Assembly
57
Proportion of seats in House of Peoples
26.32%
Proportion of seats in House of Representatives
73.68%
Seats in the Parliamentary Assembly
Natural resources
๐ Bosnia and Herzegovina is rich in natural resources! Hereโs a fun list of what this beautiful country has to offer:
- Coal: A vital source of energy!
- Iron ore: Perfect for making steel!
- Antimony: Used in various alloys and flame retardants!
- Bauxite: The main source of aluminum!
- Copper: Shiny and used for electrical wires!
- Lead: Heavy and used in batteries!
- Zinc: Helps prevent rust!
- Chromite: Important for stainless steel!
- Cobalt: Powers our electronics!
- Manganese: Adds strength to steel!
- Nickel: Another metal used in alloys!
- Clay: Useful for pottery and construction!
- Gypsum: Used in drywall and cement!
- Salt: Essential for both health and food preservation!
- Sand: Key for building and construction!
- Timber: For furniture and building materials!
- Hydropower: A clean energy source from rivers! ๐
Isn't that amazing? Bosnia and Herzegovina has lots of valuable treasures beneath its surface! ๐
Economic overview
Bosnia and Herzegovina's economy is quite interesting! ๐ It's mainly import-driven, which means it relies heavily on goods brought in from other countries. This also leads to a strong focus on consumption ๐. Unfortunately, the nation faces some challenges, like a lack of private sector investments and not enough variety in its economy. But there's hope! Joint efforts are being made to tackle these structural problems โ๏ธ. One bright spot is the Chinese investments in energy infrastructure, which could help boost the economy! ๐ก However, high unemployment remains a serious issue, and the tourism industry took a big hit due to COVID-19 ๐.
Economic reliance on imports
Import-dominated
Tourism impact from COVID-19
Impacted
Investment in energy infrastructure
Chinese investments
High unemployment
High
Government type
Bosnia and Herzegovina operates as a parliamentary republic! ๐ง๐ฆโจ This means that the country has a parliamentary system where the government is elected by the parliament, and the head of state is usually a president. In this type of government, the executive branch derives its legitimacy from the legislature (parliament) and is held accountable to it. It's an interesting system that promotes collaboration between the branches of government!
Ethnic groups
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the people come from diverse ethnic backgrounds! ๐ According to estimates from 2013, the major ethnic groups are:
- Bosniak: 50.1% ๐ณ๏ธโ๐
- Serb: 30.8% ๐ท๐ธ
- Croat: 15.4% ๐ญ๐ท
- Other: 2.7% ๐ฅ
- Not declared/no answer: 1% โ
This colorful mix of ethnicities creates a rich cultural tapestry in the country! ๐จ
Total Percentage of Ethnic Groups
100%
Year of Estimation
2013
Ethnic Groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2013)
Religions
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the religious landscape is as diverse as its people! ๐ Here's the breakdown of the major religions:
- Muslim: 50.7% โช๏ธ
- Orthodox: 30.7% โช
- Roman Catholic: 15.2% โ๏ธ
- Atheist: 0.8% ๐ค
- Agnostic: 0.3% โ
- Other: 1.2% ๐
- Undeclared/No answer: 1.1% ๐คทโโ๏ธ
These statistics from 2013 show just how varied the beliefs are in this beautiful country! ๐
Percentage of Muslims
50.7%
Percentage of Orthodox
30.7%
Percentage of Roman Catholics
15.2%
Percentage of Atheists
0.8%
Percentage of Agnostics
0.3%
Percentage of Others
1.2%
Percentage of Undeclared/No Answer
1.1%
Religious Distribution in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Languages
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, several languages are spoken, with Bosnian taking the lead! ๐ฃ๏ธ Here's how the languages break down:
- Bosnian: 52.9% (official)
- Serbian: 30.8% (official)
- Croatian: 14.6% (official)
- Other languages: 1.6%
- No answer: 0.2%
This interesting mix shows the cultural diversity in the country! ๐
Percentage of Bosnian speakers
52.9%
Percentage of Serbian speakers
30.8%
Percentage of Croatian speakers
14.6%
Percentage of other language speakers
1.6%
Percentage of responses with no answer
0.2%
Language Distribution in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Imports - partners
Bosnia and Herzegovina has a diverse set of import partners! ๐ Hereโs how the imports break down by country based on data from 2022:
- Croatia: 16% ๐ฅ
- Serbia: 13% ๐ฅ
- Germany: 8% ๐ฅ
- Italy: 8% ๐ฎ๐น
- China: 7% ๐จ๐ณ
Itโs interesting to see that Croatia leads the way as Bosniaโs top import partner! ๐ Each of these countries plays a significant role in supplying goods to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Total percentage of top import partners
52%
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Import Partners - 2022
Population
๐ Bosnia and Herzegovina has a total population of 3,798,671 people! Thatโs a lot of neighbors and friends to share your journey with! Imagine all the diverse cultures and traditions that thrive in this beautiful country! ๐ง๐ฆ
Total Population
3,798,671
Area
๐ Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with a total area of 51,197 sq km! That's a lot of space to explore! Here's a breakdown of its area:
- Land Area: 51,187 sq km ๐ณ
- Water Area: 10 sq km ๐ง
This means Bosnia and Herzegovina has plenty of land for its amazing cities, forests, and mountains, while also having a bit of water too!
Total Area
51197 sq km
Land Area
51187 sq km
Water Area
10 sq km
Area Distribution of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
๐๐ฐ Bosnia and Herzegovina's economy has been growing! Let's take a look at its Real GDP (purchasing power parity) over the last few years:
- In 2021, the GDP was $60.174 billion.
- In 2022, it increased to $62.717 billion.
- We estimated $63.769 billion for 2023.
This upward trend shows that Bosnia and Herzegovina is making strides in its economy! ๐โจ
Estimated GDP for 2023
$63.769 billion
Estimated GDP for 2022
$62.717 billion
Estimated GDP for 2021
$60.174 billion
Real GDP Growth Over Time in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Real GDP per capita
๐ Let's take a look at the Real GDP per capita of Bosnia and Herzegovina! This number shows how much money, on average, each person would get if the country's total money was split up. ๐ Hereโs how it has changed over the last few years:
- In 2021, it was $18,400
- In 2022, it increased to $19,400
- By 2023, it grew even more to $19,900!
This shows that the economy is slowly getting better! ๐ค
GDP per capita in 2021
18,400
GDP per capita in 2022
19,400
GDP per capita in 2023
19,900
Real GDP per capita over the years
Imports
๐ Let's dive into the imports of Bosnia and Herzegovina! ๐ฆ In the year 2023, the country imported a whopping $15.398 billion worth of goods! Thatโs a lot of stuff! ๐๏ธ To see how this has changed over the years, check out the estimates:
- 2022: $15.162 billion
- 2021: $12.738 billion
The trend shows that imports have been rising. ๐ Isn't that exciting? Letโs visualize this growth with a chart!
Imports in 2023
$15.398 billion
Imports in 2022
$15.162 billion
Imports in 2021
$12.738 billion
Imports Over the Years in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Exports
๐ Bosnia and Herzegovina is making waves in the world of trade! Let's take a closer look at their export performance over the years. ๐ In 2023, the estimated exports reached $11.942 billion, up from $11.794 billion in 2022. This shows steady growth from $10.058 billion in 2021! It's exciting to see this positive trend as the country continues to strengthen its economy through international trade.
Estimated Exports in 2023
$11.942 billion
Estimated Exports in 2022
$11.794 billion
Estimated Exports in 2021
$10.058 billion
Exports of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2021-2023)
Population growth rate
Bosnia and Herzegovina's population is experiencing a little bit of a shrink! ๐ In 2024, the estimated population growth rate is -0.25%. This means that more people are leaving than coming in! ๐ Let's take a closer look at how this impacts the country and its future.
Estimated Population Growth Rate (2024)
-0.25%