How are Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats connected to different religious traditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the three primary ethnic groups—Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats—are closely associated with distinct religious traditions, a connection that has historically shaped their national identities.12

• Bosniaks: Historically associated with Islam, this group comprises the majority of the country's Muslim population. During the period of the Ottoman Empire, a significant portion of the native population converted to Islam, partly due to the privileged legal status of Muslims and the influence of urban centers like Sarajevo and Mostar. In the 20th century, "Muslim" became an ethnic identifier, which was replaced by the term Bosniak in the 1990s.2413
• Serbs: This group is overwhelmingly associated with the Serbian Orthodox Church. While the Orthodox presence was historically concentrated in Herzegovina and the Drina valley, it expanded into other parts of Bosnia during the Ottoman period through the migration of settlers.24
• Croats: This group is overwhelmingly associated with Roman Catholicism. The presence of the Franciscans in Bosnia, beginning in the 14th century, played a significant role in maintaining the Catholic faith in the region.25

These religious affiliations became central to national identity, particularly during the 19th-century nationalist movements in the Balkans, when Bosnians practicing Serbian Orthodoxy were increasingly labeled as Serbs and those practicing Roman Catholicism as Croats.1