Bosnia and Herzegovina

Internet country code

.ba

Internet hosts

69,370 (2009) country comparison to the world: 79

Internet users

1.308 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 81

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: post-war reconstruction of the telecommunications network, aided by a internationally sponsored program under ERBD, resulted in sharp increases in the number of main telephone lines available; mobile cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 22 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density has reached 70 per 100 persons international: country code - 387; no satellite earth stations (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.031 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 80

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.179 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 106

Television broadcast stations

33 (plus 277 repeaters) (September 1995)

Agriculture - products

wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Budget

revenues: $8.516 billion expenditures: $8.867 billion (2008 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.98% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 120 7.17% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$2.764 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 -$1.931 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$7.388 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $6.734 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

56.2 (2007) country comparison to the world: 11

Economy - overview

The interethnic warfare in Bosnia and Herzegovina caused production to plummet by 80% from 1992 to 1995 and unemployment to soar. With an uneasy peace in place, output recovered in 1996-99 at high percentage rates from a low base; but output growth slowed in 2000-02. Part of the lag in output was made up in 2003-08 when GDP growth exceeded 5% per year. Banking reform accelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era payments bureaus were shut down; foreign banks, primarily from Western Europe, now control most of the banking sector. The konvertibilna marka (convertible mark or BAM)- the national currency introduced in 1998 - is pegged to the euro, and confidence in the currency and the banking sector has increased. Bosnia's private sector is growing and foreign investment is slowly increasing, but government spending, at nearly 40% of adjusted GDP, remains high because of redundant government offices at the state, entity and municipal level. Implementing privatization, however, has been slow, particularly in the Federation where political division between ethnically-based political parties makes agreement on economic policy more difficult. A sizeable current account deficit and high unemployment rate remain the two most serious macroeconomic problems. Successful implementation of a value-added tax in 2006 provided a predictable source of revenue for the government and helped rein in gray market activity. National-level statistics have also improved over time but a large share of economic activity remains unofficial and unrecorded. Bosnia and Herzegovina became a full member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement in September 2007. Bosnia's economy has been largely sheltered from the global financial downtown although key economic indicators have worsened. Key exporters in the metal, automobile and wood processing industries have reported a worsening performance and have announced layoffs and output reductions.

Electricity - consumption

8.488 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Electricity - exports

4.344 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

3.743 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

11.32 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Exchange rates

konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar - 1.3083 (2008 est.), 1.4419 (2007), 1.5576 (2006), 1.5727 (2005), 1.5752 (2004) note: the convertible mark is pegged to the euro

Exports

$5.194 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 $4.243 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

metals, clothing, wood products

Exports - partners

Croatia 20.7%, Slovenia 16.7%, Italy 16.7%, Germany 13%, Austria 10.3%, Hungary 4.8% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$18.47 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$29.77 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 $28.22 billion (2007 est.) $26.62 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars Bosnia has a large informal sector that may be as much as 50% of official GDP

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 10.2% industry: 23.9% services: 66% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 $6,200 (2007 est.) $5,900 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 6% (2007 est.) 6.9% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 27.4% (2004)

Imports

$12.29 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 $9.947 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Croatia 24.6%, Slovenia 12.7%, Germany 12.3%, Italy 10.5%, Hungary 6.6%, Turkey 6.5%, Austria 6.3% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

11.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Industries

steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 1.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force

1.863 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 122

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 19.8% industry: 32.6% services: 47.6% (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

310 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 50

Natural gas - imports

310 million cu m country comparison to the world: 63

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Oil - consumption

29,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Oil - exports

191.8 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Oil - imports

25,990 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Population below poverty line

25% (2004 est.)

Public debt

40% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 34% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.516 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $4.525 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$10.26 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 70 $8.895 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$4.49 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 57 $5.13 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$5.614 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 62 $5.597 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

29% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 45.5% (31 December 2004 est.) note: official rate; gray economy may reduce actual unemployment to 25-30%

Area

total: 51,197 sq km country comparison to the world: 128 land: 51,187 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 extremes

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

Environment - current issues

air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife; deforestation

Environment - international 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 (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,538 km border countries: Croatia 932 km, Montenegro 249 km, Serbia 357 km

Land use

arable land: 19.61% permanent crops: 1.89% other: 78.5% (2005)

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

no data available

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mountains and valleys

Total renewable water resources

37.5 cu km (2003)

Administrative divisions

2 first-order administrative divisions and 1 internationally supervised district* - Brcko district (Brcko Distrikt)*, the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska; note - Brcko district is in northeastern Bosnia and is an administrative unit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina; the district remains under international supervision

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

Constitution

the Dayton Peace Accords, signed 14 December 1995 in Paris, included a new constitution now in force; note - each of the entities also has its own constitution

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles L. ENGLISH embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [387] (33) 445-700 FAX: [387] (33) 659-722 branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Mitar KUJUNDZIC chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 337-1500 FAX: [1] (202) 337-1502 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Zeljko KOMSIC (chairman since 6 July 2009; presidency member since 1 October 2006 - Croat); other members of the three-member presidency rotating (every eight months): Haris SILAJDZIC (presidency member since 1 October 2006 - Bosniak); and Nebojsa RADMANOVIC (presidency member since 1 October 2006 - Serb) head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Nikola SPIRIC (since 11 January 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman; approved by the National House of Representatives elections: the three members of the presidency (one Bosniak, one Croat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term, but then ineligible for four years); the chairmanship rotates every eight months and resumes where it left off following each national election; election last held 1 October 2006 (next to be held in 2010); the chairman of the Council of Ministers is appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the National House of Representatives election results: percent of vote - Nebojsa RADMANOVIC with 53.3% of the votes for the Serb seat; Zeljko KOMSIC with 39.6% of the votes for the Croat seat; Haris SILAJDZIC with 62.8% of the votes for the Bosniak seat note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Borjana KRISTO (since 21 February 2007); Vice Presidents Spomenka MICIC (since NA 2007) and Mirsad KEBO (since NA 2007); President of the Republika Srpska: Rajko KUSMANOVIC (since 28 December 2007)

Flag description

a wide medium 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 medium blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle

Government type

emerging federal democratic republic

Independence

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

International organization participation

BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

BH Constitutional Court (consists of nine members: four members are selected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of Representatives, two members by the Republika Srpska's National Assembly, and three non-Bosnian members by the president of the European Court of Human Rights); BH State Court (consists of nine judges and three divisions - Administrative, Appellate and Criminal - having jurisdiction over cases related to state-level law and appellate jurisdiction over cases initiated in the entities); a War Crimes Chamber opened in March 2005 note: the entities each have a Supreme Court; each entity also has a number of lower courts; there are 10 cantonal courts in the Federation, plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpska has five municipal courts

Legal system

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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 elected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of Representatives and the Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve four-year terms); and the national House of Representatives or Predstavnicki Dom (42 seats, 28 seats allocated for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 seats for the Republika Srpska; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation, to serve four-year terms); note - Bosnia's election law specifies four-year terms for the state and first-order administrative division entity legislatures elections: House of Peoples - last constituted in January 2003 (next to be constituted in 2007); national House of Representatives - elections last held 1 October 2006 (next to be held in 2010) election results: House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - NA; national House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDA 9, SBiH 8, SNSD 7, SDP 5, SDS 3, HDZ-BH 3, HDZ1990 2, other 5 note: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature that consists of a House of Peoples (58 seats - 17 Bosniak, 17 Croat, 17 Serb, 7 other); last constituted December 2002; and a House of Representatives (98 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 1 October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDA 28, SBiH 24, SDP 17, HDZ-BH 8, HDZ1990 7, other 14; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 1 October 2006 (next to be held in the fall of 2010); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party/coalition - SNSD 41, SDS 17, PDP 8, DNS 4, SBiH 4, SPRS 3, SDA 3, other 3; as a result of the 2002 constitutional reform process, a 28-member Republika Srpska Council of Peoples (COP) was established in the Republika Srpska National Assembly including eight Croats, eight Bosniaks, eight Serbs, and four members of the smaller communities

National holiday

National Day, 25 November (1943)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD [Milorad DODIK]; Bosnian Party or BOSS [Mirnes AJANOVIC]; Bosnian Patriotic Party of BPS [Sefer HALILOVIC]; Civic Democratic Party or GDS [Ibrahim SPAHIC]; Croat Christian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HKDU [Marin TOPIC]; Croat Party of Rights or HSP [Zvonko JURISIC]; Croat Peasants Party or HSS [Marko TADIC]; Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HDZ-BH [Dragan COVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union 1990 or HDZ1990 [Bozo LJUBIC]; Croatian Peoples Union [Milenko BRKIC]; Democratic National Union or DNZ [Rifet DOLIC]; Democratic Party of DP [Dragan CAVIC]; Democratic Peoples Alliance or DNS [Marko PAVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Rasim KADIC]; Nasa Stranka or NS [Bojan BAJIC]; New Croat Initiative or NHI [Kresimir ZUBAK]; Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina or SBiH [Haris SILAJDZIC]; Party for Democratic Action or SDA [Sulejman TIHIC]; Party for Work and Progress or RzB [Mladen IVANKOVIC-LIJANOVIC]; Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Mladen IVANIC]; Serb Democratic Party or SDS [Mladen BOSIC]; Serb Radical Party of the Republika Srpska or SRS-RS [Milanko MIHAJLICA]; Serb Radical Party-Dr. Vojislav Seselj or SRS-VS [Radislav KANJERIC]; Social Democratic Party of BIH or SDP [Zlatko LAGUMDZIJA]; Social Democratic Union or SDU [Sejfudin TOKIC]; Socialist Party of Republika Srpska or SPRS [Petar DJOKIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: displaced persons associations; student councils; war veterans

Suffrage

18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

Background

Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of sovereignty in October 1991 was followed by a declaration of 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 brought to a halt 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 joint multi-ethnic and democratic government charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government comprised of two entities roughly equal in size: the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments were charged with overseeing most government functions. The Office of the High Representative (OHR) was established to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. In 1995-96, a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission was to deter renewed hostilities. European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR in December 2004; their mission is to maintain peace and stability throughout the country. EUFOR's mission changed from peacekeeping to civil policing in October 2007, with its presence reduced from nearly 7,000 to less than 2,500 troops.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,212,007 females age 16-49: 1,170,645 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 991,953 females age 16-49: 959,226 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 27,368 female: 25,644 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Bosnia and Herzegovina Armed Forces (OSBiH): Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Air and Air Defense Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzracna Obrana, ZPO) (2009)

Military expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished January 2006; 4-month service obligation (2009)

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.5% (male 344,760/female 323,303) 15-64 years: 70.7% (male 1,645,274/female 1,617,136) 65 years and over: 14.8% (male 279,781/female 403,160) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

8.85 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 214

Death rate

8.63 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Bosniak 48%, Serb 37.1%, Croat 14.3%, other 0.6% (2000) note: Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid confusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of Islam

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

HIV/AIDS - deaths

100 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

900 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 155 male: 10.44 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.5 years country comparison to the world: 43 male: 74.92 years female: 82.34 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.7% male: 99% female: 94.4% (2000 est.)

Median age

total: 39.8 years male: 38.7 years female: 41 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian

Net migration rate

3.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Population

4,613,414 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Population growth rate

0.339% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Religions

Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 14%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.25 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Urbanization

urban population: 47% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

sections along the Drina River remain in dispute between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia; discussions continue with Croatia on several small disputed sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinder final ratification of the 1999 border agreement

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

refugees (country of origin): 7,269 (Croatia) IDPs: 131,600 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Bosniaks displaced in 1992-95 war) (2007)

Airports

25 (2009) country comparison to the world: 132

Airports - with paved runways

total: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (2009)

Heliports

5 (2009)

Ports and terminals

Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (all inland waterway ports on the Sava River), Orasje

Railways

total: 1,000 km country comparison to the world: 88 standard gauge: 1,000 km 1.435-m gauge (590 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways

total: 21,846 km country comparison to the world: 107 paved: 11,425 km (4,714 km of interurban roads) unpaved: 10,421 km (2006)

Waterways

Sava River (northern border) open to shipping but use limited (2008)