Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its countryside is home to medieval villages, rivers and lakes, plus the craggy Dinaric Alps. National capital Sarajevo has a well preserved old quarter, Baš?aršija, with landmarks like 16th-century Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque. Ottoman-era Latin Bridge is the site of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which ignited World War I.
Languages: The official language of Bosnia and Herzegovina is Bosnian, which is a South Slavic language spoken by the majority of the population. Bosnian is used in government, education, and the media, and it is the language of instruction in schools. In addition to Bosnian, many people in Bosnia and Herzegovina also speak Croatian and Serbian, which are closely related to Bosnian and are mutually intelligible with it. Finally, English is also widely spoken in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in business and tourism.
Ethnic Groups: Bosniak 41.47%, Serb 33.21%, Croats 17.38%, Yugoslavs 5.54%
Belief Systems: Muslim 40%, Roman Catholic 15%, Orthodox Christians 31%, other 14%
Demographics:
Population: 3.73 million people (World Rank: 131st) (2014 estimate)
Population Density: 189 people/mi^2 (People per Square Mile) (World Rank: 139th) (2014 estimate)
Population Growth: -0.223 %/yr (World Rank: 226th) (2013 estimate)
Life Expectancy: 76.4 years (World Rank: 78th) (2013 estimate)
Median Age: 38.6 years (World Rank: 34th) (2010 estimate)
Sites for More Information:
Map of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Worldatlas.com
Bosnia and Herzegovina - General Information
Encyclopedia.com
Travel Info for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Travelnotes.org
Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina
in Washington D.C.
Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina Web Sites
by Gunnar Anzinger
