Each year, Canada welcomes people from other countries who move here to begin a new life. Your interest in reading this profile may come from your involvement in an organized HOST program. Perhaps you have students from Bosnia and Herzegovina at your school, or Bosnian colleagues at work. Whatever your source of your interest, this profile will help you learn more about Bosnia and Herzegovina and the people who live there.

Bosnians have been immigrating to Canada for a long time; however, after the outbreak of civil war in 1992, Bosnians came to Canada in larger numbers as refugees. Some are now being joined by family members. Newly arrived Bosnians will have many of the same questions you would have if you moved to a new city or country. They will wonder how to find work, where to shop, how to get around, which school their children should attend and what their new community will be like. Answering your new friends’ questions will help them settle. You’ll also find that you have much to learn from them.

Although this cultural profile provides insights into some customs, it does not cover all facets of life. The customs described may not apply in equal measure to all newcomers from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Summary Fact Sheet
Official Name	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Capital	Sarajevo
Type of Government	Democracy
Population	3.9 million
Area	51,129 sq. km
Major Ethnic Groups	Bosniak, Serb, Croat
Languages	Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian
Religions	Islam, Christianity
Unit of Currency	Konvertibilna marka
National Flag	Two vertical stripes of blue separated by a yellow triangle, which is bordered on the left by a diagonal line of nine white five-pointed stars.
Date of Independence	March 1, 2022

Did you know?

The name Sarajevo comes from the Turkish word saraj, meaning palace. The city is the most Arabic in Europe, with cathedrals churches and synagogues alongside mosques and the central Bascarsija or Turkish bazaar.