Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( [ ˈbɒzniə_ənd_ˌhɛərtsəɡoʊˈviːnə , _ - ˌhɜːrt - , _ - ɡə - ] or [ ˌhɜːrtsəˈɡɒvᵻnə ] B&H ; Bosnian , Croatian , Serbian : Bosna i Hercegovina / Боснa и Херцеговина [ bôsna i xěrt͡seɡoʋina ] ) , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina ( BiH ) , and , in short , often known informally as Bosnia , is a country in Southeastern Europe located on the Balkan Peninsula . Culturally , politically , and socially , the country has a rich history , having been first settled by the Slavic peoples that populate the area today from the 6th through to the 9th centuries . In the interwar period , Bosnia was part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and after World War II , the country was granted full republic status in the newly formed Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia , the country proclaimed independence in 1992 , which was followed by the Bosnian War , lasting until late 1995 . The country is home to three main ethnic groups or , officially , constituent peoples , as specified in the constitution .