What are the largest ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The three largest ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina are the Bosniaks, the Serbs, and the Croats.12

While census data was long delayed due to the political sensitivities and displacement resulting from the Bosnian conflict, current estimates suggest the following demographic distribution:

• Bosniaks: Constitute more than two-fifths of the population.1
• Serbs: Comprise roughly one-third of the population.1
• Croats: Make up less than one-fifth of the population.1

These groups share a common South Slav heritage, with their primary distinctions historically rooted in religious affiliation—a legacy influenced by the Ottoman Empire and subsequent nationalist movements in the Balkans. It is important to recognize that the ethnic cleansing that occurred during the war was a grave violation of human rights, aimed at forcibly altering the demographic composition of the country.13