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First post-war census reveals Bosniaks are now the absolute majority in Bosnia

Bosnian Serb entity does not recognize results, argues the Bosniaks' figure is overinflated

The Bosniak ethnonational group now makes up the absolute majority of the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Or, at least, that is what the figures of the 2013 population census reveal. Bosnian Serb-majority Republic of Srpska authorities say they will not recognize the results because they do not agree with the methodology used -according to them, the real share of Serbs has been lowered artificially.

Official results released yesterday by the Agency for Statistics of the Balkan country show 3.51 million people registered now, that is 800,000 people less than in 1991, the year the last census was made. The decline is caused by deaths of 1992-1995 war, people having fled -or having been expelled- during the conflict, and subsequent economic emigration.

Bosniaks make up 50.1% of the population, followed by Serbs with 30.8% and Croats with 15.4%. The rest (3.7%) are minority groups or people who decided not to state their nationality or ethnic affiliation.

The only group that increases proportionally is the Bosniak. In 1991 -under the name "Muslims by nationality"- it made up 43.5% of the population. Serbs were 31.2% and Croats 17.4%. At that time, 5.5% of registered people in Bosnia and Herzegovina still declared themselves to be of Yugoslav nationality.

Republic of Srpska rejects results

Republic of Srpska authorities claim that the methodology used in the census reduces the share of Serbs in the country and increases the Bosniaks'. According to Bosnian Serb authorities, the Agency for Statistics has counted some 200,000 people -mostly Bosniaks- who in fact do not live in the country but abroad. Therefore, the authorities claim, those people should not have been counted.

According to Bosnian Serb president Milorad Dodik, the situation "shows the farce in which Bosnia and Hercegovina lives." Dodik further said the Republic of Srpska "will not accept these results," SRNA news agency reports. The Bosnian Serb entity warned that it could withdraw its representatives at the federal level, and that it is considering to release the results calculated under its own methodology.