Note--An interethnic civil strife started in the spring of 1992, after the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on independence. Bosnia's Serbs - supported by neig.htmng Serbia - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to 'greater Serbia'. In March 1994, Bosnia's Muslims and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by sng Serbia - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to 'greater Serbia'. In March 1994, Bosnia's Muslims and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by s.htmg an agreement in Washington, DC, creating the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A group of rebel Muslims, however, continues to battle government forces in the northwest enclave of Bihac. A Contact Group of countries, the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, and Russia, continues to seek a resolution between the Federation and the Bosnian Serbs. In July of 1994 the Contact Group presented a plan to the warring parties that roughly equally divides the country between the two, while maintaining Bosnia in its current internationally recognized borders. The Federation agreed to the plan almost immediately, while the Bosnian Serbs rejected it. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the former Yugoslavia's three warring parties signed a peace agreement that brought to a halt over three years of interethnic civil strife in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Agreement, signed by Bosnian President IZETBEGOVIC, Croatian President TUDJMAN, and Serbian President MILOSEVIC, divides Bosnia and Herzegovina roughly equally between the Muslim/Croat Federation and the Bosnian Serbs while maintaining Bosnia's currently recognized borders. An international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops began to enter Bosnia in late 1995 to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement and is scheduled to depart the country within one year. A High Representative appointed by the UN Security Council is responsible for civilian implementation of the accord, including monitoring implementation, facilitating any difficulties arising in connection with civilian implementation, and coordinating activities of the civilian organizations and agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Bosnian conflict began in the spring of 1992 when the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on independence and the Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia - 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, Bosnia's Muslims and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement in Washington creating their joint Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosnia And Herzegovina

 

Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia

Area

Total area: 51,233 sq km
Land area: 51,233 sq km
Comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee

Land Boundaries

Total 1,459 km, Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km (312 km with Serbia; 215 km with Montenegro)

Coastline

20 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

none

Climate

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

Terrain

Mountains and valleys
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Maglic 2,386 m

Natural Resources

Coal
Iron
Bauxite
Manganese
Timber
Wood products
Copper
Chromium
Lead
Zinc

Land Use

Arable land: 20%
Permanent crops: 2%
Meadows and pastures: 25%
Forest and woodland: 36%
Other: 17%

Irrigated Land

Environment

Current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; widespread casualties, water shortages, and destruction of infrastructure because of civil strife
Natural hazards: frequent and destructive earthquakes
International agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
Geographic note: as of January 1996, Bosnian Serb leaders continued to demand revisions to the territorial aspects of the Dayton Agreement, especially in Sarajevo - designated to be under Federation control - and the Brcko/Posavina corridor area; members of the Bosnian Croat community also reject several territorial aspects of the agreement, citing that historically Bosnian Croat lands are to be transferred to Bosnian Serb control; despite disagreements, initial implementation of the agreement as of January 1996 appeared on course with the warring parties meeting the deadline for withdrawal of forces from the front lines in Sarajevo

PEOPLE

Population

2,656,240 (July 1996 est.) 3,201,823 (July 1995 est.)

Note: All data dealing with population is subject to considerable error because of the dislocations caused by military action and ethnic cleansing

Age Structure

0-14 Years

20% (male 276,530; female 248,519) (July 1996 est.) 22% (male 370,966; female 337,787) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

68% (male 892,807; female 915,686) (July 1996 est.) 68% (male 1,085,610; female 1,082,357) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

12% (male 133,081; female 189,617) (July 1996 est.) 10% (male 134,111; female 190,992) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.65% (1995 est.) -2.84% (1996 est.)

Birth Rate

11.29 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) 6.34 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death Rate

7.51 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) 15.92 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net Migration Rate

2.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) -18.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) 43.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total population: 75.47 years (1995)
56.11 years (1996)
Male: 72.75 years (1995) 51.16 years (1996)
Female: 78.37 years (1995 est.) 61.39 years (1996 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.65 children born/woman (1995 est.) 1 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality

Noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)
Adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian

Ethnic Divisions

Muslim 38%
Serb 40%
Croat 22% (est.)

Religions

Muslim 40%
Orthodox 31%
Catholic 15%
Protestant 4%
Other 10%

Languages

Serbo-Croatian 99%

Literacy

Labor Force

1,026,254

By occupation:

GOVERNMENT

Note: The U.S. recognizes the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, formed by the Muslims and Croats in March 1994, remains in the implementation stages.

Names

Conventional long form: Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local long form: Republika Bosna i Hercegovina
Local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina
note: under the new constitution initialed in Dayton, Ohio, on 21 November 1995, the name of the country will be changed from Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina to simply Bosnia and Herzegovina and will be made up of the Muslim/Croat Federation and the Bosnian Serb entity now called Republika Srpska

Digraph

Type

Emerging democracy

Capital

Sarajevo

Administrative Divisions

109 districts (opstinas, singular - opstina) Banovici, Banja Luka, Bihac, Bijeljina, Bileca, Bosanska Dubica, Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanska Krupa, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Novi, Bosanski Petrovac, Bosanski Samac, Bosansko Grahovo, Bratunac, Brcko, Breza, Bugojno, Busovaca, Cazin, Cajnice, Capljina, Celinac, Citluk, Derventa, Doboj, Donji Vakuf, Foca, Fojnica, Gacko, Glamoc, Gorazde, Gornji Vakuf, Gracanica, Gradacac, Grude, Han Pijesak, Jablanica, Jajce, Kakanj, Kalesija, Kalinovik, Kiseljak, Kladanj, Kljuc, Konjic, Kotor Varos, Kresevo, Kupres, Laktasi, Listica, Livno, Lopare, Lukavac, Ljubinje, Ljubuski, Maglaj, Modrica, Mostar, Mrkonjic-Grad, Neum, Nevesinje, Odzak, Olovo, Orasje, Posusje, Prijedor, Prnjavor, Prozor, (Pucarevo) Novi Travnik, Rogatica, Rudo, Sanski Most, Sarajevo-Centar, Sarajevo-Hadzici, Sarajevo-Ilidza, Sarajevo-Ilijas, Sarajevo-Novi Grad, Sarajevo-Novo, Sarajevo-Pale, Sarajevo-Stari Grad, Sarajevo-Trnovo, Sarajevo-Vogosca, Skender Vakuf, Sokolac, Srbac, Srebrenica, Srebrenik, Stolac, Sekovici, Sipovo, Teslic, Tesanj, Drvar, Duvno, Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla, Ugljevik, Vares, Velika Kladusa, Visoko, Visegrad, Vitez, Vlasenica, Zavidovici, Zenica, Zvornik, Zepce, Zivinice

Note: administrative reorganization is currently under negotiation with the assistance of international mediators; spellings not yet approved by the US Board on Geographic Names

Independence

NA April 1992 (from Yugoslavia)

National Holiday

Constitution

first promulgated in 1974 (under the Communists), amended 1989, 1990, and 1991; constitution of Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified April 1994; under the Dayton Agreement signed 21 November 1995, the Muslim/Croat Federation and the Serb republic government agreed to accept new basic principles in their constitutions

Legal System

Based on civil law system

Suffrage

16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: President Alija IZETBEGOVIC (since 20 December 1990),
President Alija IZETBEGOVIC (since 20 December 1990) was elected by a collective (seven-member) presidency (of which he is a member); other members of the collective presidency are: Ejup GANIC (since NA November 1990), Nijaz DURAKOVIC (since NA October 1993), Stjepan KLJUJIC (since NA October 1993), Ivo KOMSIC (since NA October 1993), Mirko PEJANOVIC (since NA June 1992), Tatjana LJUJIC-MIJATOVIC (since NA December 1992); the collective presidency is elected from among the National Assembly with at least two members drawn from each of the three main ethnic groups
Head of government: Prime Minister Haris SILAJDZIC (since NA October 1993) (Re-elected 30 january 1996 by the collective presidency and the National Assembly)
Cabinet: there is an executive body of ministers with no formal name who are members of, and responsible to, the National Assembly

Note: the president of the Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is Kresimir ZUBAK (since 31 May 1994); Vice President Ejup GANIC (since 31 May 1994); elections held on 22 and 23 november 1997

Legislative Branch

Bicameral National Assembly

Chamber of Municipalities (Vijece Opeina)

elections last held November-December 1990 (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party NA; seats - (110 total) SDA 43, SDS BiH 38, HDZ BiH 23, Party of Democratic Changes 4, DSS 1, SPO 1

Chamber of Citizens (Vijece Gradanstvo)

Elections last held November-December 1990 (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party NA; seats - (130 total) SDA 43, SDS BiH 34, HDZ BiH 21, Party of Democratic Changes 15, SRSJ BiH 12, LBO 2, DSS 1, DSZ 1, LS 1

Note: the new constitution signed as part of the Dayton agreement on 21 November 1995 provides for a new bicameral Parliamentary assembly which will consist of a House of Peoples with 15 delegates, two-thirds from the Muslim/Croat Federation and one-third from the Serbian republic, and a House of Representatives with 42 members, two-thirds from the Muslim/Croat Federation and one-third from the Serbian republic; elections are scheduled to be held six to nine months after the entry into force of the Dayton Agreement

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court, Constitutional Court

Political Parties and Leaders

Civic Democratic Party (GDS), Ibrahim SPAHIC; Party for Bosnia, Haris SILAJDZIC; Croatian Democratic Union of BiH (HDZ), Bozo RAJIC; Croatian Peasants' Party of BiH (HSS), Stanko STISKOVIC; Independent Serbian Democratic Party (NSDS), Petar DODIK; Liberal Bosniak Organization (LBO), Muhamed FILIPOVIC; Liberal Party (LS), Rasim KADIC, president; Muslim-Bosniac Organization (MBO), Adil ZULFIKARPASIC; Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Alija IZETBEGOVIC; Republican Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Stjepan KLUJIC; Serb Democratic Party (SDS), Radovan KARADZIC, president; Serbian Civic Council (SGV), Mirko PEJANOVIC; Serbian Consultative Council, Ljubomir BERBEROVIC; Social Democratic Party (SDP - formerly the Democratic Party of Socialists (DSS)), Nijaz DURAKOVIC, president; Socialist Party of Republika Srpska, Zivko RADISIC; Union of Social Democrats (SSDB), Salim BESLAGIC; United Left of the Bosnian Serb Republic (ULRS), Mile IVOSEVIC; Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), Milan TRIVUNCIC, note - this party participated in the 1990 elections, but may not exist now; Party of Democratic Changes, leader NA, note - this party participated in the 1990 elections, but may not exist now; Alliance of Reform Forces of Yugoslavia for Bosnia and Herzegovina (SRSJ BiH), Dr. Nenad KECMANOVIC, president, note - this party participated in the 1990 elections, but may not exist now; Democratic League of Greens (DSZ), Drazen PETROVIC, note - this party participated in the 1990 elections, but may not exist now; Yugoslav United Left (JUL), CAREVIC; Serb Liberal Party, Miodrag ZIVANOVIC; Serb Radical Party; Serb Patriotic Party, Slavko ZUPLJANIN; Serb Homeland Party

Other Political or Pressure Groups

Member of

CE (guest), CEI, ECE, FAO, ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

National Anthem

Anthem native text

Flag

White with a large blue shield; the shield contains white Roman crosses with a white diagonal band running from the upper hoist corner to the lower fly side

ECONOMY

Overview

Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture has been almost all in private hands, farms have been small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally has been a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the rigidities of Communist central planning and management. TITO had pushed the development of military industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia hosted a large share of Yugoslavia's defense plants. The bitter interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet, unemployment and inflation to soar, and human misery to multiply. No economic statistics for 1992-95 are available, although output clearly has fallen substantially below the levels of earlier years and almost certainly is well below $1,000 per head. The country receives substantial amounts of humanitarian aid from the international community.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1995 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

National Product Per Capita

$300 (1995 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

Unemployment Rate

Budget

Revenues: NA
Expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA

Exports

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

Industrial Production

Growth rate NA; production is sharply down because of interethnic and interrepublic warfare (1991-94)

Electricity

Capacity: 3,800,000 kW
Production: NA kWh
Consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)

Industries

Steel production
Mining (coal
Iron ore
Lead
Zinc
Manganese
And bauxite)
Manufacturing (vehicle assembly
Textiles
Tobacco products
Wooden furniture
40% of former Yugoslavia's armaments including tank and aircraft assembly
Domestic appliances)
Oil refining (1991)
much of capacity damaged or shut down (1995)

Agriculture

Accounted for 9.0% of GDP in 1989; regularly produces less than 50% of food needs; the foothills of northern Bosnia support orchards, vineyards, livestock, and some wheat and corn; long winters and heavy precipitation leach soil fertility reducing agricultural output in the mountains; farms are mostly privately held, small, and not very productive (1991)

Illicit Drugs

Economic Aid

Currency

1 dinar = 100 para; Croatian dinar used in Croat-held area, presumably to be replaced by new Croatian kuna; old and new Serbian dinars used in Serb-held area; hard currencies probably supplanting local currencies in areas held by Bosnian government

Exchange Rates

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

Total: 1,021 km (electrified 795 km)
Standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (1994)

Highways

Total: 21,168 km
Paved: 11,436 km
Unpaved: gravel 8,146 km; earth 1,586 km (1991)

Inland Waterways

NA km

Pipelines

Crude oil 174 km; natural gas 90 km (1992); note - pipelines now disrupted

Ports

Bosanski Brod

Merchant Marine

None

Airports

Total: 27
With paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
With paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 7
With unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (1995 est.)

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

727,000 telephones; telephone and telegraph network is in need of modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average when compared with services in other former Yugoslav republics

Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: no earth stations

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 840,000

Television

Broadcast stations: 6
Televisions: 1,012,094

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

Army

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 815,055 (1995) 654,326 (1996) Males fit for military service 657,454 (1995) 524,963 (1996) Males reach military age (19) annually 38,201 (1995 est.) 22,902 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

NA, % of GDP: NA

History
World Atlas

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