Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in southeastern Europe, in the Balkan Peninsula. The country shares borders with Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. Since Bosnia and Herzegovina is situated on a tectonic fault line, it occasionally suffers from destructive earthquakes.
Quick Facts
Population: 3.850 million
Ethnic Groups: Bosniak (50.1%), Serb (370.8%), Croat (15.4%), Other (2.7%), Not Declared/No Answer (1.0%)
Languages: Bosnian (Official) (52.9%), Serbian (30.8%), Croatian (Official) (14.6%), Other (1.6%), Other (0.2%)
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%)
Capital: Sarajevo
CIA: The World Factbook — Last Updated December 29, 2019
Bosnians in Canada
Bosnians Population in Canada
26,740
Useful Links
The three main ethnic groups are Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats. A three-way war between these groups resulted in a high number of casualties and massive damage. Millions of people were displaced by the time the war ended in 1995 — there was no winner.
The post-war recovery has been slow. Traditionally, Bosniaks are Muslim, Serbs are Eastern Orthodox, and Croats are Roman Catholics. Religion plays a large role in each group’s identity. Islam in Bosnia and Herzegovina is of the tolerant form — fundamentalism has been discouraged by the government and the religious communities. The Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic religions are similar, but the Eastern Orthodox Church is less hierarchical (for example, it has no pope, and priests are elected as opposed to appointed).
- Bosnians. (2009). In T. L. Gall & J. Hobby (Eds.), Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life (2nd ed., Vol. 5, pp. 81-86). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- Central Intelligence Agency. (2019, December 18). The World Factbook: Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved December 29, 2019, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/bosnia-and-herzegovina/
- Encyclopedia of the Nations. (n.d.). Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved July 8, 2014, from http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/geography/Afghanistan-to-Comoros/Bosnia-and-Herzegovina.html
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. (2009, October 15). Cultural Information – Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved July 8, 2014, from https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/culture-culture_ba.aspx?lang=eng
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. (2011, December 15). Overview – Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved July 8, 2014, from https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/overview-apercu_ba.aspx?lang=eng
- Mandryk, J. (2010). Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation (7th ed.). Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing.
- Prayercast. (n.d.). Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved July 8, 2014, from https://www.prayercast.com/bosnia-and-herzegovina.html
- Statistics Canada. (2017, October 25). Data Tables, 2016 Census – Ethnic Origin (279), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3), Generation Status (4), Age (12) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2016 Census – 25% Sample Data. Retrieved December 14, 2017, from http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/olc-cel/olc.action?objId=98-400-X2016187&objType=46&lang=en&limit=0