Bosnia and Herzegovina, often known simply as Bosnia, is a nation located in the Balkans region of southern Europe. Bosnia, once a Christian kingdom during the Middle Ages, was converted to Islam by the Ottoman Empire from the mid-15th century to the 20th century; in 1878, Austria-Hungary occupied Bosnia, and it proceeded to annex the region in 1908. Bosnia became a part of Yugoslavia after World War I, and it became a socialist republic during the 1940s. In 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence with Sarajevo as its capital, and the nation fought for independence against Serbia and Croatia in the Bosnian War of 1992-1995. After successfully breaking away from Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina became an independent nation, and it was one of the most-visited countries in the world due to its rich culture and scenic landscapes. Bosnia is currently divided into two political entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (also known as the Bosniak-Croat Federation) in the west and center of the country, and the Republika Srpska in the north and east of the country, with both having their own parliaments in addition to answering to the national parliament. In 2013, Bosnia and Herzegovina had a population of 3,531,159 people, with 50.11% being Muslim Bosniaks, 30.78% Orthodox Christian Serbs, 15.43% Catholic Croats, and 2.73% other ethnic groups (including Jews and Roma).
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