COUNTRY FACTS

 

The Dayton agreement signed on 14 December 1995 defines Bosnia and Herzegovina as a State with two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska. The Federation is further divided into ten cantons. The country has enormous problems as a result of a large refugee population (one third of the number of pre-war inhabitants). The country has further problems because of deep political divisions and divisions along religious lines between Muslims, Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics. The repatriation of refugees is a very slow process, and upon their return they face discrimination in terms of basic human rights, job opportunities, and education. 

 

Population:

3,700,000 (July 2000 est.)

 

Location:

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia

 

Area:

51,129 sq km

 

Languages:

Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian

 

Literacy:

N/A

 

Compulsory Education:

Age 15

 

Currency:

Convertible Marka (KM)

 

Note: Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid confusion with the religious term Muslim--an adherent of Islam.

 

Source: UNESCO IBE Database and World Fact Book, CIA

This country profile was developed by WES with funding from the Government of Ontario.

Revised: 05/06/2004
© 2003 World Education Services.
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