Date of independence, or formation date: 1992
Date when current borders were established: 1992
National day: March 1
Vehicle country identifying code: BIH
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): +1
International telephone dialling code: +387
Internet country identifying code: .ba

A mountainous country in southeast Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina has access to the Adriatic Sea via a corridor south of Mostar. The collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia gave rise to fierce ethnic rivalries between the country's Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats. Around 250,000 died and more than two million were displaced before the 1995 Dayton peace accord ended three years of war. The country is now effectively an international protectorate.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004