Sarajevo Canton
Sarajevo Canton is one of ten cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its seat is the city of Sarajevo, which is also the national capital. The canton borders Republika Srpska to the north and east, and other cantons to the south and west.
It covers about 1,269 square kilometers and had a population of about 413,600 in 2013. The population density is around 326 people per square kilometer. The canton includes 9 municipalities; four of them are part of the city of Sarajevo, which has its own city government.
The government is headed by a Premier and a Cantonal Assembly with 35 members.
Economy: Sarajevo Canton is the strongest economic region in Bosnia and Herzegovina, contributing roughly 37% of the country’s GDP. Main industries include tourism, food processing, manufacturing, and IT. Many major companies are based here, and international firms also have operations in the canton.
People: The population is mainly Bosniak (about 84%), with small communities of Croats and Serbs.
Geography: The area is mountainous, with peaks such as Bjelašnica, Igman, Jahorina, Trebević and Treskavica. The Miljacka River runs through the canton, and Vrelo Bosne is the source of the Bosna River, supplying water to many residents. The city of Sarajevo sits in a valley known as the Sarajevo field.
History: The region has ancient roots, with Illyrian and Roman presence, later shaped by the Ottoman Empire and Austro-Hungarian rule. It grew during Yugoslav times and hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. After the Bosnian War, the Sarajevo Canton was created in 1995 through the Dayton peace agreement.
Demographics detail: population 413,593 (2013); ethnic: Bosniaks 83.8%, Croats 4.2%, Serbs 3.2%. The largest municipality by population is Novi Grad; the smallest is Trnovo.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 15:21 (CET).