Facts and figures

Official name: Bosna i Hercegovina / Bosnia and Herzegovina

National flag:

Profile:

Bosnia and Herzegovina is made of three administrative parts: Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska (Republic of Srpska) and Brčko District. In addition, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is split into 10 cantons, smaller administrative parts.

Geographically, Bosnia and Herzegovina is made of two parts: inland Bosnia characterized by high mountains and green forests and Herzegovina in the south, warmer and lower part of the country extending to the Adriatic Sea.

Capital: Sarajevo

Time: GMT +1

GDP: €8,730 per capita (2015 estimate)

Area: 51,197 km2

Borders:

Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for 20km of Adriatic Sea coastline, around the town of Neum.

Climate:

The Mediterranean and Alpine influences meet in Bosnia and Herzegovina and create a mosaic of climate types within a relatively small area. The south enjoys warm, sunny and dry weather, with very mild winters. In the more continental areas the weather is similar to that of central Europe – hot summers, cool springs and autumns, and cold winters with considerable snowfall. The Mediterranean and continental climates meet in the middle, creating one of the most diverse eco-systems in Europe.

The mountains create a climate of their own. The Alpine climate rules the mountain terrains of the high Dinarides above 1,700m. The winters there are extremely cold, with temperatures well below zero for more than six months per year

Population:

Final 2013 census results are still pending, but estimate for 2015 was that 3,871,643 inhabitants live in Bosnia and Herzegovina and over one million Bosnians live abroad.

People:

  • Bosniaks
  • Serbs
  • Croats
  • Minority peoples

Bosnia is home to three ethnic “constituent peoples”: Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats. Despite different religious and/or ethnic background their language, traditions and culture are more similar than not. The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina are southern Slavs, with varying religious backgrounds.

Religion:

  • Islam
  • Orthodox
  • Christianity
  • Roman Catholicism
  • Judaism
  • Minority religions (Baptism, Evangelism, Adventism, ISKCON etc.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country at the crossroads of eastern and western civilizations. Muslims, Orthodox, Catholics, Jews and others live here together. In this country it is hard to find a town that doesn’t have both churches and mosques.

Language:

There are three official languages spoken in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian. For the local people there is a great importance attached to the name of the language. For practical purposes, there are no significant differences.

Both Cyrillic and Latin alphabet are used. However, Cyrillic alphabet is more dominant in Republic of Srpska while Latin alphabet prevails in Federation of BiH.

English is the most outspoken foreign language in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Most young people will have at least some knowledge of English almost anywhere you go.

Visas:

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a very open country. Citizens of EU, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia can enter the country with valid ID Cards and others need valid passport.

Citizens of following countries do not require the visa: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Maurice, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, UAE, USA, Vatican and Venezuela.

Others are required visas and can get one through the Bosnian Embassies in their respective countries.

Officially, people who enter the country need to register with the police within 24 hours after their arrival in the country if they are not accommodated in hotels.

For more information visit: www.mfa.ba

National and nature parks:

Sutjeska National Park, Una National Park, Kozara National Park, Hutovo blato, Blidinje.

Longest river:

Sava is the largest river of the country and it forms northern natural border with Croatia.

Other major rivers in BiH are: Bosna, Drina, Neretva, Una, Vrbas.

Highest mountain peak:

Bosnia and Herzegovina is mostly mountainous, encompassing the central Dinaric Alps and mountains measuring up to 2,386m in height. 1984 Olympic Games were held on mountains surrounding Sarajevo.

HIGHEST MOUNTAINS IN BiH
NameHighest peak
1. Maglić  2,386m 
2. Volujak  2,333m 
3.  Čvrsnica  2,228m  
4.  Vranica 2,110m 
5.  Prenj   2,103m 
6.  Treskavica  2,086m 
7.  Vran  2,074m 
8.  Bjelašnica 2,006m 
9.  Lelija 2,032m 
10.  Zelengora  2,014m 

Spas and health resorts:

There are 15 spas and thermal resorts currently registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina as health care institutions in the areas of Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Bihać, Bosanska Dubica, Fojnica, Gradačac, Kiseljak, Laktaši, Olovo, Srebrenica, Sanski Most, Sarajevo, Teslić, Tuzla and Višegrad. Their use has a long tradition visible from the fact that the first known spa Aqua Sulphurae was built in Ilidža, close to Sarajevo.