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Bosnia & Hercegovina

History

Bosnia dates from the 12th century and later gave rise to Herzegovina from its southern region. After the 15th century, many Slavs in both areas adopted Islam under the Ottoman Turks. The assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914 precipitated World War I.

Muslim Slavs and Roman Catholic Croats voted in early 1992 for independence from Yugoslavia; most Eastern Orthodox Serbs were fiercely opposed. In the ensuing civil war, thousands of people died, and hundreds of thousands were displaced.

As the new century begins, the eyes of the West follow the shaky peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina that was established after a fragile peace accord was signed in late 1995.

Ongoing Disputes: Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia & Montenegro have delimited about half of their boundary, but sections remain in dispute; discussions continue with Croatia on problem areas.

Environment 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.

Statistics

Climate: Hot summers and cold winters
Terrain: Mountains and valleys
Population: 4 million
Infant Mortality: 22.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 72.29 years
Ethnic Groups: Serb 37.1%, Bosniak 48%, 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
Religions: Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, Protestant 4%, other 10%
Labour Force: 1 million
Unemployment Rate: 40%

Map

Map courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

News/Events:

» Forgotten Refugees in MONTENEGRO!
» Diary dates for 2008

Current Project:

» NEXGEN ZAMBIA 2 - School Building Rental Costs