Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Europe
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Sarajevo
- Flag adopted
- 1998
- Population
- 3,422,000
- Area
- 51,209 km²
- Languages
- Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
- Currency
- Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark (KM) — BAM
- Demonym
- Bosnian, Herzegovinian
- Government
- parliamentary republic
- Subregion
- Southeast Europe
- Driving side
- Right
- Timezones
- UTC+01:00
- Independence
- 1992
Religions
- Muslim 50.7%
- Orthodox 30.7%
- Roman Catholic 15.2%
- Other 1.2%
- Unspecified 1.1%
- Atheist 0.8%
- Agnostic 0.3%
About This Flag
The flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina features a medium blue field with a yellow right triangle along the fly side and a diagonal row of white five-pointed stars running along the hypotenuse of the triangle. The triangle represents the approximate shape of the country's territory and its three constituent peoples (Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs).
The stars, which extend beyond the edges of the flag at top and bottom to suggest infinity, represent Europe and the country's aspiration for European integration. The blue and stars evoke the flag of the European Union.
This flag was imposed by the Office of the High Representative on February 4, 1998, after the country's three ethnic groups could not agree on a design following the Bosnian War.
What the colors & design mean
The yellow triangle represents the three constituent peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs) and the country's approximate geographic shape. Blue and white stars reference Europe and the EU, symbolizing the country's European aspirations.
Pattern: Diagonal Design
Bordering countries (3)
Fun Facts
- Bosnia and Herzegovina's flag was not chosen by its own citizens — it was imposed by the international High Representative Carlos Westendorp after parliament failed to agree on a design, making it one of the few national flags designed by an outside authority.
- The stars are intentionally cut off at the top and bottom edges of the flag to represent an infinite line, symbolizing hope for a limitless future.
- The previous flag used during the Bosnian War (1992-1998) featured a medieval Bosnian coat of arms with gold fleurs-de-lis on a blue shield, which was rejected as too closely associated with one ethnic group.
- Sarajevo, the capital, hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics — just eight years before the devastating 1992-1995 siege that lasted 1,425 days, the longest siege in modern warfare.
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