View source for Republika Srpska

{{Short description|Political entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
{{About|the present-day Republika Srpska|the entity which existed from 1992 to 1995| Republika Srpska (1992–1995)}}
{{Distinguish|Serbia{{!}}Republic of Serbia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox dependency
| native_name                 = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Република Српска}}
| settlement_type             = [[Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
| subdivision_type            = Country
| subdivision_name            = [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
| image_flag                  = Flag of Republika Srpska.svg
| image_seal                  = Amblem republike srpske.svg
| seal_size                   = 80px
| seal_type                   = Emblem
| seal_link                   = Seal of Republika Srpska
| national_motto              = 
| anthem                      = Моја Република (Serbian)<br/>''[[Moja Republika]]''<br />"My Republic"<br/>[[File:Moja republika.ogg|center]]
| anthem_link                 = 
| image_map                   = Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg
| map_caption                 = Red indicates the location of Republika Srpska within Bosnia and Herzegovina. Pink is [[Brčko District]].
| image_map2             = Republika Srpska in BiH and Europe.png
| map_caption2       = {{Legend|#247524|Location of Republika Srpska in [[Europe]]}}
| capital                     = [[Sarajevo]] (de jure)<ref name="ohr.int">{{cite web |url=http://www.ohr.int/ohr-dept/legal/oth-legist/doc/rs-constitution.doc |title=Constitution of the Republika Srpska – official website of the Office of the High Representative |access-date=13 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001162720/http://www.ohr.int/ohr-dept/legal/oth-legist/doc/rs-constitution.doc |archive-date=1 October 2008 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><br />[[Banja Luka]] (de facto)<ref name="Mihaylov 2020">{{cite book |author-last=Mihaylov |author-first=Valentin |year=2020 |chapter=Ethnoterritorial Divisions and Urban Geopolitics in Post-Yugoslav Mostar |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jTMPEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA95 |title=Spatial Conflicts and Divisions in Post-socialist Cities |location=[[Cham, Switzerland]] |publisher=[[Springer Verlag]] |series=The Urban Book Series |page=95 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-61765-3_6 |isbn=978-3-030-61765-3 |s2cid=234970806 |issn=2365-7588 |quote=[[Bosniaks]] prevail in the capital city of [[Sarajevo]], while [[Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Serbs]] are dominant in their [[Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina|entity]] and its capital, '''Banja Luka'''. Although Sarajevo is the capital of the entire multinational federation, Serbs and [[Croats]] often perceive it as a city governed by Bosniaks. Like many other cities, villages, municipalities and regions across Bosnia and Herzegovina, [[Mostar]] underwent the period of national homogenization as a result of [[Ethnic cleansing in the Bosnian War|ethnic cleansing]] or forced migration in the face of extreme nationalism and violence. Unlike Sarajevo and Banja Luka, no ethnic group succeeded in achieving full supremacy in Mostar.}}</ref>
| largest_city                = [[Banja Luka]]
| languages_type              = [[Official language]]s<ref name=Constitution>{{cite web |url=http://www.ustavnisud.org/upload/4_8_2009_48_ustav_srpski.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212023932/http://www.ustavnisud.org/upload/4_8_2009_48_ustav_srpski.pdf |url-status=dead |title=Constitution of Republika Srpska |archive-date=12 February 2012}}</ref>
| official_languages          = {{hlist|[[Serbian language|Serbian]]|[[Bosnian language|Bosnian]]|[[Croatian language|Croatian]]}}
| ethnic_groups               = {{vunblist|81.51% [[Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Serbs]]|13.99% [[Bosniaks]]|2.41% [[Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Croats]]|2.09% others}}
| ethnic_groups_year          = 2013 census<ref name="census2013">{{cite report |title=Census 2013 - Final Results |url=http://www.statistika.ba/?lang=en |access-date=22 June 2024}}</ref>
| government_type             = [[Federated state]]
| leader_title1               = [[President of Republika Srpska|President]]
| leader_name1                = [[Milorad Dodik]]
| leader_title2               = [[List of prime ministers of Republika Srpska|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name2                = [[Radovan Višković]]
| leader_title3               = [[List of vice presidents of Republika Srpska|Vice Presidents]]
| leader_name3                = [[Ćamil Duraković]]<br />[[Davor Pranjić]]
| leader_title4               = [[List of speakers of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska|President of the National Assembly]]
| leader_name4                = [[Nenad Stevandić]]
| legislature                 = [[National Assembly (Republika Srpska)|National Assembly]]
| sovereignty_type            = <!--[[History of Republika Srpska|Formation]]-->
| established_title           = [[Republika Srpska (1992–1995)|Proclaimed]]
| established_date            = 9 January 1992
| established_title2          = {{nowrap|Recognised as<br />[[Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina|part of Bosnia<br />and Herzegovina]]}}
| established_date2           = 14 December 1995
| area_km2                    = 24,641
| area_sq_mi                  = 9,504.78
| population_census           = {{decrease}} 1,228,423<ref name="census2013" />
| population_census_year      = 2013
| population_density_km2      = 45.2
| population_density_sq_mi    = 129.24
| population_density_rank     = 
| population_data2            = {{decrease}} 1,114,819<ref name="rzs.rs.ba">{{cite web |title=Database of Economic Indicators |url=https://www.rzs.rs.ba/ |website=rzs.rs.ba |publisher=Republic of Srpska Bureau of Statistics}}</ref>
| population_label2           = 2023 estimate
| GDP_PPP                     = 
| GDP_PPP_rank                = 
| GDP_PPP_year                = 
| GDP_PPP_per_capita          = 
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank     = 
| GDP_nominal                 = {{increase}} $9.429 billion<ref name="rzs.rs.ba" />
| GDP_nominal_rank            = 
| GDP_nominal_year            = 2024
| GDP_nominal_per_capita      = {{increase}} $8,458
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 
| Gini_year                   = 
| Gini_change                 = <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini                        = <!--number only-->
| Gini_ref                    = 
| Gini_rank                   = 
| HDI_year                    = 2022
| HDI_change                  = <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI                         = 0.776
| HDI_ref                     = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/BIH/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=0&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019&colour_scales=national|title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab |website=hdi.globaldatalab.org |language=en |access-date=3 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923120638/https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/ |archive-date=23 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| HDI_rank                    = 
| currency                    = [[Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark|Convertible mark]]<sup>e</sup>
| currency_code               = BAM
| utc_offset                  = +01:00
| DST_note                    = 
| utc_offset_DST              = +02:00
| drives_on                   = right
| calling_code                = [[+387]]
|iso_code                     = BA-SRP
| footnotes                   = <sup>a</sup> Although the north-eastern [[Brčko District]] is formally held in [[condominium (international law)|condominium]] by both entities, it is a ''de facto'' autonomous political entity, having the same powers as the other two entities and is under the direct sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina.<br /><sup>b</sup> The [[Constitution of Republika Srpska]] avoids naming "Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian", instead listing them as "the language of the Serb people, the language of the Bosniak people and the language of the Croat people" due to the ongoing debate over the separation of these languages.{{small|<ref>{{cite web |title=Decision on Constitutional Amendments in Republika Srpska |url=http://www.ohr.int/print/?content_id=7474 |publisher=Office of the High Representative |access-date=3 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118131924/http://www.ohr.int/print/?content_id=7474 |archive-date=18 January 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>}}<br /><sup>c</sup> Including refugees abroad<br /><sup>d</sup> Excluding Republika Srpska's 48% of the [[Brčko District]]<br /><sup>e</sup> [[Serbian Cyrillic alphabet|Cyrillic version]]
|flag_size=130px}}

'''Republika Srpska''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Република Српска}}, {{IPA|sh|repǔblika sr̩̂pskaː|pron|RepublikaSrpska.ogg}}; also referred to as the '''Republic of Srpska''' or '''Serb Republic''') is one of the two [[Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina|entities]] within [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], the other being the [[Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. Situated in the northern and eastern regions of the country, it recorded a population of 1,228,423 in the 2013 census. Its largest city and administrative hub is [[Banja Luka]], located on the banks of the [[Vrbas (river)|Vrbas River]].

Republika Srpska was established in 1992 at the onset of the [[Bosnian War]] with the stated purpose of safeguarding the interests of the [[Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. During the conflict, the [[Ethnic cleansing in the Bosnian War|expulsion]] of the majority of [[Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Croats]] and [[Bosniaks]] from territories controlled by Republika Srpska occurred, while the majority of [[Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Serbs]] were displaced or expelled from the [[Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] to Republika Srpska. The 1995 [[Dayton Agreement]] created Republika Srpska as one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's two constituent entities. Today, it is inhabited by the Serb population of the country.

The entity operates under a parliamentary system, with legislative power vested in the [[National Assembly (Republika Srpska)|National Assembly]], which comprises 83 seats. While Republika Srpska is relatively centralized, it is administratively divided into 64 municipalities, known as ''[[Municipalities of Republika Srpska|opštine]]'' (singular: ''opština'').<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17211415 |title=Bosnia-Herzegovina profile |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411171804/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17211415 |archive-date=11 April 2013 |url-status=live |access-date=14 April 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The current legislative term marks the tenth session since its inception.

==Name==
[[File:Board of Republika Srpska.JPG|thumb|left|163x163px|Welcome sign on the [[Inter-Entity Boundary Line|administrative line]] with the [[Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]]]
In the name ''{{lang|sr-Latn|Republika Srpska}}'', ''{{lang|sr-Latn|[[wiktionary:Srpska|Srpska]]}}'' is a [[noun]] [[Morphological derivation|derived]] from the [[ethnonym]] of the [[Serbs]] with a different [[suffix]] from ''{{lang|sr-Latn|Srbija}}'' ‘[[Serbia]]’. In [[Serbian language|Serbian]], many [[List of country-name etymologies|names of countries]] are formed with the ''{{lang|sr|[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/-ьskъ|-sk-]]}}'' suffix (e.g. ''{{lang|sr|[[:sr:Бугарска|Bugarska]]}}'' ‘Bulgaria’, ''{{lang|sr|[[:sr:Данска|Danska]]}}'' ‘Denmark’, ''{{lang|sr|[[:sr:Финска|Finska]]}}'' ‘Finland’, ''{{lang|sr|[[:sr:Хрватска|Hrvatska]]}}'' ‘Croatia’, ''{{lang|sr|[[:sr:Република Ирска|Irska]]}}'' ‘Ireland’, ''{{lang|sr|[[:sr:Турска|Turska]]}}'' ‘Turkey’). An analogous English formation would be ''Serbland'' (used sporadically).<ref>{{cite web |title=Srpski jezik u Londonu |url=https://www.rastko.rs/filologija/odbor/odluka028.html |website=rastko.rs |date=2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Brborić |first1=Branislav |editor1-last=Tošović |editor1-first=Branko |editor2-last=Wonisch |editor2-first=Arno |title=Srpski pogledi na odnose između srpskog, hrvatskog i bošnjačkoga jezika |url=https://www.academia.edu/34909103 |date=2012 |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=33–59 |chapter=Standardni jezik i jezički standard |isbn=978-3-950305357}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Andjelic |first1=Neven |title=Bosnia-Herzegovina: The End of a Legacy |date=2004 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781135757144 |page=100 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m-eQAgAAQBAJ&q=Serbland&pg=PA100}}</ref> The government uses the name "Republic of Srpska" in English.<ref>{{cite web|title=Government of Republic of Srpska|url=https://www.vladars.net/eng/Pages/default.aspx|website=www.vladars.net|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>

Although {{lang|sr-Latn|Republika Srpska}} is variously [[Gloss (annotation)#In linguistics|gloss]]ed in English as “'''Serb Republic'''”,<ref>{{cite web |author=Related Articles |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/535337/Serb-Republic|title=Serb Republic (region, Bosnia and Herzegovina) – Britannica Online Encyclopedia |publisher=Britannica.com |access-date=29 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223130257/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/535337/Serb-Republic |archive-date=23 December 2008 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> “'''Bosnian Serb Republic'''”,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7021232.stm |work=BBC News |title=Bosnian Serb republic leader dies |date=30 September 2007 |access-date=22 May 2010}}</ref> or “'''Republic of Srpska'''”, the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and English-language news sources such as the [[BBC]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8121166.stm |work=BBC News |title=Bosnia echoes to alarming rhetoric |date=27 June 2009 |access-date=22 May 2010 |first=Paul |last=Moss |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027130433/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8121166.stm |archive-date=27 October 2014|url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'',<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/opinion/24iht-edlyon.1.20395827.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |first=James |last=Lyon |date=4 December 2009 |access-date=22 May 2010 |title=Halting the downward spiral |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520235208/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/opinion/24iht-edlyon.1.20395827.html |archive-date=20 May 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and ''[[The Guardian]]''<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/03/bosnia-war-nationalism-poor-economy |work=The Guardian |location=London, UK |title=Bosnia lurches into a new crisis |first=Peter |last=Beaumont |date=3 May 2009 |access-date=22 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906135655/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/03/bosnia-war-nationalism-poor-economy |archive-date=6 September 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> generally refer to the entity by its transliteration.

According to ''[[Glas Srpske]]'', a Banja Luka daily, the modern entity's name was created by its first minister of culture, Ljubomir Zuković.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.glassrpske.com/drustvo/panorama/Kako-je-nastalo-ime-Republika-Srpska/lat/68634.html |title=Kako je nastalo ime Republika Srpska |website=Glas Srpske |date=7 January 2012 |access-date=2019-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408015731/https://www.glassrpske.com/drustvo/panorama/Kako-je-nastalo-ime-Republika-Srpska/lat/68634.html |archive-date=8 April 2019 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==History==
{{main|History of Bosnia and Herzegovina}}

=== Early history ===
{{main|Early history of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Illyrians}}
[[File:NHM - Bandin Fahrzeug mit Vögeln.jpg|thumb|left|Iron Age cult carriage from Banjani near Sokolac]]
Archaeological evidence in Republika Srpska and bordering areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina attest to pronounced human activity in the [[Paleolithic]]. Specifically, in 1976, near the modern-day town of [[Stolac]] in the then relatively hospitable [[Neretva|Neretva basin]], archaeological artifacts in the form of cave engravings in [[Badanj Cave|Badanj]] and deer bones in the area were discovered to show hunter-gatherer activity from as far back as 14,000–10,000 BC.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stolac.gov.ba/index.php/turizam-i-kultura/znamenitosti/badanj |title=Službene stranice Općine Stolac – Badanj – paleolitsko nalazište|website=stolac.gov.ba |access-date=2019-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914042100/http://www.stolac.gov.ba/index.php/turizam-i-kultura/znamenitosti/badanj |archive-date=14 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Within the wider region of Herzegovina, similar discoveries tie the region's early activities to Montenegro and coastal Croatia.

With the Neolithic, however, came more permanent settlement. Naturally, this occurred along the rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina as farming spread from the southeast; most notably, the [[Butmir culture]] developed near today's East Sarajevo on the river [[Bosna (river)|Bosna]]. A variety of idols, mostly of female characters, were found in the Butmir site, along with dugouts.

With the [[Indo-European migrations]] of the [[Bronze Age]] came the first use of metal tools in the region. Along with this came the construction of burial mounds&mdash;[[Tumulus|tumuli]], or [[kurgan]]s. Remains of these mounds can be found in northwestern Bosnia near [[Prijedor]], testament to not only denser settlement in the northern core of today's Republika Srpska but also Bronze Age relics.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Babaic |first=Haris |date=Spring 2019 |title=Prethistorija na tlu BiH |url=https://forzes.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/prethistorija-na-tlu-bih.doc}}</ref>

With the influx of the [[Iron Age]], the [[Glasinac culture]], developing near [[Sokolac]] in eastern Republika Srpska, was one of the most important of the country's long-standing Indo-European inhabitants, the [[Illyrians]]. Later, these Illyrians&mdash;the [[Autariatae]]&mdash;were influenced by the [[Celts]] after the [[Celtic settlement of Southeast Europe|Gallic invasion of the Balkans]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Illyrians |last=Wilkes |first=John |publisher=Blackwell Publishing |year=1996 |isbn=0-631-19807-5 |location=Oxford, United Kingdom}}</ref>

=== Roman period ===
[[File:Ancient balkans 4thcentury.png|thumb|right|Territory of Republika Srpska within the [[Roman Empire]], 4th century]]
With the end of the [[Illyrian Wars]], most of Bosnia and Herzegovina came under [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] control within the province of [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]]. In this period, the Romans consolidated the region through the construction of a dense road network and the Romanisation of the local population. Among these roads was the ''Via Argentaria'', or 'Silver Way', which transported silver from the eastern mines of Bosnia to Roman population centres. Modern placenames, such as the [[Una (Sava)|Una]] and [[Sana (river)|Sana]] rivers in the northwest, have Latin origins, meaning "the one" and "the healthy", respectively. This rule was not uninterrupted, however; with the suppression of the once-dominant Illyrian population came revolts such as the [[Bellum Batonianum]]. After 20 AD, however, the entirety of the country was conquered by the Romans, and it was split between [[Pannonia]] and [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]]. The most prominent Roman city in Bosnia was the relatively small [[Servitium]], near modern-day [[Gradiška, Bosnia and Herzegovina|Gradiška]] in the northern part of the entity.

Christianity spread to the region relatively late at least partially due to the countryside's mountainous nature and its lack of large settlements. In the fourth century, however, the country began to be [[Christianised]] en masse.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.diercke.com/kartenansicht.xtp?artId=978-3-14-100790-9&seite=22&id=17448&kartennr=1 |title=The spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire |last=Lückemeier |first=K. |website=Diercke |access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref> With the split of the Western and Eastern Roman Empires in 395, modern-day Republika Srpska fell under the Western Roman Empire. Testament to its and Bosnia and Herzegovina's later religious polarisation, it was later conquered as a frontier of the Eastern Roman Empire, a harbinger for religious division to come.

=== Middle Ages ===
[[File:Тврђава Кастел 2.jpg|thumb|[[Kastel Fortress]] in Banja Luka, first appearing as an early Slavic [[hillfort]] or ''gradina'']]
With the loosening of the Roman grip on the region came the [[Migration Period]], which, given Republika Srpska's position in southeastern Europe, involved a wide variety of peoples. Among the first was the invasion of Germanic peoples from the east and north, and the territory became a part of the [[Ostrogothic Kingdom]] in 476.

By 535, the territory was taken once again by the Byzantine Empire. At this time, the Empire's grip was once again relatively loose and Slavs invaded the surrounding area. Modern-day Republika Srpska was therefore split between the mediaeval [[Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102)|Kingdom of Croatia]]<ref name="Larousse">{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Grand Larousse encyclopédique |trans-title=Larousse online encyclopedia |url=http://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/pays/Croatie/115207#395864 |article=Histoire de la Croatie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327102048/https://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/pays/Croatie/115207#395864 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |quote=Liée désormais à la Hongrie par une union personnelle, la Croatie, pendant huit siècles, formera sous la couronne de saint Étienne un royaume particulier ayant son ban et sa diète. |lang=fr}}</ref> and, according to [[De Administrando Imperio]], [[Serbia in the Middle Ages|mediaeval Serbian]] ''[[župan]]ije'', including, [[Bosna (region)|Bosna]], [[Zachlumia]], [[Travunija]], and Serbia, then including land in eastern Bosnia.<ref>Moravcsik (1967)</ref> Parts of present-day Srpska were locations of settlement of the original [[White Serbs|White Serb]] people.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ćirković |first1=Sima M. |title=Srbi među europskim narodima |date=2008 |publisher=Golden Marketing-Tehnička Knjiga |isbn=978-9532123388 |pages=26–27 |url=http://www.mo-vrebac-pavlovac.hr/attachments/article/451/Sima%20%C4%86irkovi%C4%87%th20SRBI%20ME%C4%90U%20EVROPSKIM%20NARODIMA.pdf|access-date=26 October 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Stećak na Gvoznom polju.jpg|thumb|left|[[Stećak]], a [[List of World Heritage Sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina|UNESCO World Heritage Site]], on [[Treskavica]] mountain]]
By the end of the 11th century, the entirety of Bosnia became part of the [[Hungarian Crown Lands]]. Under Hungarian rule, the area was known as the [[Banate of Bosnia]]. Later, however, with the rule of [[Ban Kulin]], who is regarded as the founder of Bosnia, the region became ''de facto'' independent. In 1377, the Banate of Bosnia became the medieval Kingdom of Bosnia, under [[Tvrtko I]] of [[House of Kotromanić]]. The capitals of the kingdom were all located in its centre, while the northern periphery remained under nominal Hungarian rule as the region of [[Usora (province)|Usora]]. Architectural legacies from this period include [[Kastel Fortress]] in Banja Luka, the fortress of [[Doboj]] as well as castles, churches, and monasteries across the country.

With the growth of the Ottoman Empire, [[Stefan Tomašević]], the last [[Kotromanić dynasty|Kotromanić]] ruler, surrendered Bosnia and Serbia to Ottoman tributary status. A Catholic, he was unpopular among the Orthodox population of Serbia, as well as the members of the [[Bosnian Church]].<ref>Ćirković (1964) p.276</ref> Refusing to pay tribute to [[Mehmed the Conqueror]], King Stefan was executed and much of Bosnia fell under direct [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule in 1463 as the [[Bosnia Eyalet|Eyalet of Bosnia]]. The entirety of the country fell in 1482, with the founding of the [[Sanjak of Herzegovina]].

=== 16th to 19th centuries ===
[[File:Mehmet pasa bridge and green Drina river.jpg|thumb|right|[[Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge]], a [[List of World Heritage Sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina|UNESCO World Heritage Site]], in [[Višegrad]], founded by Ottoman Grand vizier of Serb origin [[Sokollu Mehmed Pasha]]]]
Ottoman rule in modern-day Republika Srpska saw another addition to its religious fabric&mdash;Islam. Members of the Bosnian Church, as well as many Orthodox and Catholic Bosnians, gradually converted to Islam. Ottoman rule left a profound architectural legacy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska. The most famous mosque from this period is the [[Ferhat Pasha Mosque (Banja Luka)|Ferhadija mosque]], located in [[Banja Luka]]. In addition, the subject of [[Ivo Andrić]]'s book ''[[The Bridge on the Drina]],'' [[Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge]] in [[Višegrad]], was constructed by [[Mimar Sinan]], the most famous Ottoman architect, in 1577, for [[Grand vizier|Grand Vizier]] [[Sokollu Mehmed Pasha]]. Years earlier, the same Grand Vizier was born into an [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] family in a small town in Bosnia and taken from his parents as a child for upbringing as a [[Janissaries|janissary]]. His bridge is a symbol of the religious and cultural spans&mdash;and eventually conflict&mdash; that characterise Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

With the [[Ottoman–Habsburg wars|Ottoman-Habsburg]] conflicts of the late 17th and 18th centuries, parts of northern Republika Srpska became a part of the Habsburg Empire for relatively short periods. The rule was more permanent following the Austro-Hungarian invasion in 1878. Characterised by economic and social development not seen in the by-then backwards Ottoman Empire, [[Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina|Austro-Hungarian rule]] was welcomed by many. However, many Muslims left Bosnia, leaving Serbs as the majority in the entirety of the [[Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina|Condominium]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Religious Separation and Political Intolerance in Bosnia-Herzegovina |last=Velikonja |first=Mitja |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |year=2003 |isbn=1-58544-226-7 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/religiousseparat0000veli/page/130 130]–135 |url=https://archive.org/details/religiousseparat0000veli|url-access=registration}}</ref>

=== 20th century ===
[[File:Topola užasa Donja Gradina.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The ''Poplar of horror'' in the [[Jasenovac concentration camp|Jasenovac Memorial Site]], one of the key sites in the [[Genocide of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia|Genocide of Serbs]], in which tens of thousands of Bosnian Serb civilians were brutally killed]]
With the assassination of [[Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria]], carried out by Bosnian Serb [[Gavrilo Princip]], a member of the [[Yugoslavism|Yugoslavist]] [[Young Bosnia|Mlada Bosna]], World War I broke out in 1914. Following the war, the territory of modern-day Republika Srpska was incorporated into the [[Vrbas Banovina|Vrbas]], [[Drina Banovina|Drina]], and [[Zeta Banovina|Zeta]] [[Banovinas of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia|banovinas]] of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, renamed Yugoslavia in 1929.

Following the outbreak of [[World War II]] and the [[invasion of Yugoslavia]] in 1941, modern-day Republika Srpska fell under the rule of the Nazi [[puppet state]], The [[Independent State of Croatia]]. Around 300,000 Serbs are estimated to have died under the [[Ustashe]] regime as a result of their [[Genocide of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia|genocide campaign]];<ref>{{cite book |last1=Totten |first1=Samuel |last2=Parsons |first2=William S. |title=Century of Genocide: Critical Essays and Eyewitness Accounts |date=2004 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-13594-558-9 |page=422 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HVSSAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA422}}</ref> a slew of [[List of massacres in the Independent State of Croatia|massacres]], as well as the use of a variety of concentration and extermination camps, took place in Republika Srpska during the war. The [[Jasenovac concentration camp]], located in modern-day Croatia, was the site of the deaths of some 100,000 people, about 47,000-52,000 of which were Serbs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/jasenovac |title=Jasenovac |website=United States Holocaust Memorial Museum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403014704/https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/jasenovac|archive-date=3 April 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=12 April 2019 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Massacres also occurred at [[Garavice]] and [[Kruščica concentration camp]] in the eastern part of Bosnia. The regime systematically and brutally massacred Serbs in villages in the countryside, using a variety of tools.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yeomans |first1=Rory |title=Visions of Annihilation: The Ustasha Regime and the Cultural Politics of Fascism, 1941–1945 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yxv4-iqVe2wC&pg=PA17 |date=2012 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh Press |isbn=978-0822977933 |page=17}}</ref> The scale of the violence meant that approximately every sixth Serb living in Bosnia-Herzegovina was the victim of a massacre and virtually every Serb had a family member that was killed in the war, mostly by the Ustaše.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pavković |first1=Aleksandar |title=The Fragmentation of Yugoslavia: Nationalism in a Multinational State |date=1996 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-0-23037-567-3 |page=43 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YPaADAAAQBAJ&pg=PA43}}</ref> An estimated 209,000 Serbs or 16.9% of its Bosnia population were killed on the territory of Bosnia–Herzegovina during the war.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rogel |first1=Carole |title=The Breakup of Yugoslavia and the War in Bosnia |date=1998 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-3132-9918-6 |page=48 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GPQKYuWisi0C&pg=PA48}}</ref> Today, [[List of World War II monuments and memorials in Bosnia and Herzegovina|monuments honouring these victims]] can be found across Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Yugoslav royalist  and [[Serbian nationalist]] movement [[Chetniks]], a guerilla force that engaged in tactical or selective [[Collaborationism|collaboration]] with the occupying forces for almost all of the war,<ref>{{cite book|last=Milazzo|first=Matteo J.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NizQyAEACAAJ&q=The+Chetnik+Movement+|title=The Chetnik Movement and the Yugoslav Resistance|date=2019-12-01|publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|isbn=978-1-4214-3339-4|pages=182|language=en}}</ref> pursued [[Chetnik war crimes in World War II|genocide against Croats and Muslims]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Redžić|first=Enver|author-link=Enver Redžić|title=Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Second World War|year=2005|publisher=Frank Cass|location=London; New York|isbn=978-0-7146-5625-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pVCx3jerQmYC|page=155}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Hoare|first=Marko Attila|author-link=Marko Attila Hoare|title=The History of Bosnia: From the Middle Ages to the Present Day|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OWQtAQAAIAAJ|year=2007|publisher=Saqi|isbn=978-0-86356-953-1|page=279}}</ref> which included thousands of Croat and Muslim civilians killed on the territory of modern-day Republika Srpska. The Chetniks killed an estimated 50,000 to 68,000 Muslims and Croats.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Vladimir Geiger|publisher=Croatian Institute of History|title=Human Losses of the Croats in World War II and the Immediate Post-War Period Caused by the Chetniks (Yugoslav Army in the Fatherand) and the Partisans (People's Liberation Army and the Partisan Detachments of Yugoslavia/Yugoslav Army) and the Communist Authorities: Numerical Indicators|url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/103223|pages=86–87|journal=Review of Croatian History|volume=VIII|issue=1|year=2012}}</ref> A December 1941 directive, attributed to Chetnik leader [[Draža Mihailović]], explicitly ordered the [[ethnic cleansing]] of Muslims and Croats from [[Sandžak]] and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Tomasevich |first=Jozo |title=War and revolution in Yugoslavia. 1: The Chetniks |date=1975 |publisher=Stanford Univ. Press |isbn=978-0-8047-0857-9 |location=Stanford, Calif |pages=259}}</ref> About 300 villages and small towns were destroyed, along with a large number of mosques and Catholic churches.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ramet |first=Sabrina P. |year=2006 |title=The Three Yugoslavias: State-Building and Legitimation, 1918–2005 |publisher=Indiana University Press |location=Bloomington |isbn=978-0-253-34656-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FTw3lEqi2-oC |page=146}}</ref> The Chetniks were almost exclusively made up of [[Serbs]] except for a large number of [[Montenegrins]] who identified as Serbs.<ref name=":2" />

During the entire course of World War II in Yugoslavia, 64.1% of all Bosnian Partisans were Serbs.<ref name="anubih.ba-Hoare">{{cite web |author1=Marko Attila Hoare |author1-link=Marko Attila Hoare |title=The Great Serbian threat, ZAVNOBiH and Bosnian Muslim entry into the People's Liberation Movement |url=https://publications.anubih.ba/bitstream/handle/123456789/52/Zbornik%20ZAVNOBiH%20sve%2015-04-2019-4-115-130.pdf?sequence=7&isAllowed=y |website=anubih.ba |publisher=Posebna izdanja ANUBiH |access-date=21 December 2020 |pages=123 |language=en |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201071114/https://publications.anubih.ba/bitstream/handle/123456789/52/Zbornik%20ZAVNOBiH%20sve%2015-04-2019-4-115-130.pdf?sequence=7&isAllowed=y |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After World War II came a period of relative peace and economic development. [[Ljubija mine]] and companies like [[Agrokomerc]] played a vital role in much of the economic development of the [[Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. Literacy rates increased greatly, and the University of Banja Luka was founded in 1975.

=== Bosnian War ===

==== Bosnian War and the proclamation of the Republika Srpska====
{{main|Republika Srpska (1992–1995)}}
{{see also|Bosnian War|Bosnian genocide}}
[[File:Bsa controlled.png|thumb|200px|right|Territories which were controlled by [[Army of Republika Srpska]] during the war at its greatest extent (around 1993) compared with current borders.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}]]
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| footer            = [[Biljana Plavšić]], former president of Republika Srpska, and [[Ratko Mladić]], former Commander of the [[Army of Republika Srpska]]. Mladić was found guilty of numerous [[atrocity crimes]] (including [[genocide]]) by the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia|ICTY]]. Plavšić pleaded guilty at the ICTY to one count of persecution as a [[crime against humanity]].
| image1            = Biljana Plavsic.JPG
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| image2            = Evstafiev-ratko-mladic-1993-w.jpg
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}}
Representatives of main political parties and some other national organisations and institutions of [[Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Serb people in Bosnia and Herzegovina]] met on 13 October 1990 in [[Banja Luka]] and formed the 'Serbian National Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina' as a Serb political body.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7g4UAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Serbian+National+Council+of+Bosnia%22 |via=Google Books |title=Foreign Broadcast Information Service Daily Reports: Eastern Europe |year=1990 |pages=58–59 |publisher=Serbian National Council of Bosnia |access-date=7 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209123751/https://books.google.rs/books?id=7g4UAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Serbian+National+Council+of+Bosnia%22 |archive-date=9 December 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> In a session on 14–15 October 1991, the [[People's Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina]], then part of the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]], approved the 'Memorandum on Sovereignty', as had already been done by [[Slovenia]] and [[Croatia]], as a way to proclaim independence from the rest of Yugoslavia. The memorandum was adopted despite opposition from 83 Serb deputies belonging to the [[Serb Democratic Party (Bosnia and Herzegovina)|Serb Democratic Party]] (most of the Serb parliamentary representatives) as well as the [[Serbian Renewal Movement]] and the [[Union of Reform Forces]], who regarded the move as illegal.<ref name=WP>{{cite news |last=Silber |first=Laura |author-link=Laura Silber |date=16 October 1991 |title=Bosnia Declares Sovereignty |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |page=A29 |issn=0190-8286 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/balkans/stories/independence101691.htm |access-date=4 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527092908/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/balkans/stories/independence101691.htm |archive-date=27 May 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Nenad |last=Kecmanović |title=Dayton is not Lisbon |url=http://www.ex-yupress.com/nin/nin117.html |magazine=[[NIN (magazine)|NIN]] |publisher=ex-yupress.comex-yupress.comex-yupress.com |access-date=8 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605042355/http://www.ex-yupress.com/nin/nin117.html |archive-date=5 June 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On 24 October 1991, the Serb deputies formed the [[National Assembly of Republika Srpska|Assembly of the Serb People in Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (''Skupština srpskog naroda u Bosni i Hercegovini'') to be the highest representative and legislative body of the [[Bosnian Serb]] population,<ref name=OG1.1>{{cite press release |date=15 January 1992 |title=The Decision on Establishment of the Assembly of the Serb People in Bosnia and Herzegovina |publisher=Official Bulletin of the Serb People in Bosnia and Herzegovina |volume=1 |issue=1 |page=1 |language=sr}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_RSi4WL0RP8C&pg=PA12 |title=Women, violence, and war: Wartime ... |access-date=29 August 2010 |isbn=978-963-9116-60-3 |year=2000 |last1=Nikoli?-Ristanovi? |first1=Vesna|publisher=Central European University Press }}</ref> ending the tripartite coalition.

The Union of Reform Forces soon ceased to exist, but its members remained in the assembly as the [[Independent Members of Parliament Caucus]]. The assembly undertook to address the achievement of equality between the Serbs and other peoples and the protection of the Serbs' interests, which they contended had been jeopardised by decisions of the Bosnian parliament.<ref name=OG1.1 /> On 9 January 1992, the assembly proclaimed the Republic of the Serb People of Bosnia and Herzegovina ({{lang|sr-Latn|Republika srpskoga naroda Bosne i Hercegovine}}), declaring it part of Yugoslavia.<ref>{{cite press release |date=27 January 1992 |title=The Declaration of Proclamation of the Republic of the Serb People of Bosnia and Herzegovina |publisher=Official Bulletin of the Serb People in Bosnia and Herzegovina |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=13–14 |language=sr}}</ref>

On 28 February 1992, the assembly adopted the [[Constitution of Republika Srpska|Constitution of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (the name adopted instead of the previous ''Republika srpskog naroda Bosne i Hercegovine''), which would include districts, municipalities, and regions where Serbs were the majority and also those where they had allegedly become a minority because of [[World War II persecution of Serbs|persecution during World War II]]. The republic was part of Yugoslavia and could enter into union with political bodies representing other peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina.<ref name=OG1.3>{{cite press release |date=16 March 1992 |title=The Constitution of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |publisher=Official Bulletin of the Serb People in Bosnia and Herzegovina |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=17–26 |language=sr}}</ref>

The Bosnian parliament, without its Serb deputies, held a [[referendum]] on the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 29 February and 1 March 1992, but most Serbs boycotted it since the assembly had previously (9–10 November 1991) held a [[plebiscite]] in the Serb regions, 96% having opted for membership of the Yugoslav federation formed by [[Serbia]] and [[Montenegro]].<ref name=Kreca>{{cite report |author=Kreća, Milenko |date=11 July 1996 |chapter=The Legality of the Proclamation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Independence in Light of the Internal Law of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia <!-- |alt-title=The Legality of the Proclamation of Independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Light of International Law --> |chapter-url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/91/7365.pdf?PHPSESSID=1f1615e6112c0279dde6f359b53b0659 |title=Dissenting Opinion of Judge Kreća |type=PDF |series=Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Preliminary Objections, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1996 |place=[[The Hague]] |publisher=The Registry of the [[International Court of Justice]] |pages=711–747 |issn=0074-4441 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
The referendum had a 64% turnout and 92.7% or 99% (according to different sources) voted for independence.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Bideleux, Robert |author2=Jeffries, Ian |title=The Balkans: A post-communist history |url=https://archive.org/details/balkanspostcommu00jeff |url-access=limited |year=2007 |place=New York |publisher=Routledge |page=[https://archive.org/details/balkanspostcommu00jeff/page/n363 343]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AYQLyuN4_twC&pg=PA249 |title=Saving strangers: Humanitarian |access-date=29 August 2010 |isbn=978-0-19-829621-8 |year=2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627193105/http://books.google.com/books?id=AYQLyuN4_twC&pg=PA249 |archive-date=27 June 2014 |url-status=live|df=dmy-all |last1=Wheeler |first1=Nicholas J.|publisher=OUP Oxford }}</ref> On 6 March the Bosnian parliament promulgated the results of the referendum, proclaiming the republic's independence from Yugoslavia. The republic's independence was recognised by the [[European Community]] on 6 April 1992 and by the United States on 7 April. On the same day the Serbs' assembly in session in Banja Luka declared a severance of governmental ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Decision on Proclamation of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |agency=[[Tanjug]] |newspaper=[[Večernje novosti]] |publisher=[[Novosti a.d.]] |location=[[Belgrade]] |issn=0350-4999 |date=8 April 1992 |language=sr}}</ref> The name ''Republika Srpska'' was adopted on 12 August 1992.<ref>{{cite press release |date=29 September 1992 |title=The Amendments VII and VIII to the Constitution of the Republika Srpska |publisher=Official Bulletin of the Republika Srpska |volume=1 |issue=15 |page=569 |language=sr}}</ref>

The political controversy escalated into the [[Bosnian War]], which would last until the autumn of 1995.<ref name=ICTYkaradzic2009>{{cite web |series=Prosecutor v. Radovan Karadžić |title=Second Amended Indictment |publisher=UN [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]] |date=26 February 2009 |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/karadzic/ind/en/090218.pdf |access-date=18 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606114240/http://www.icty.org/x/cases/karadzic/ind/en/090218.pdf |archive-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The war was ended by the [[Dayton Agreement|General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina]], reached at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]] near [[Dayton, Ohio]], on 21 November and formally signed in Paris on 14 December 1995. Annex 4 of the Agreement is the current [[Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina]], recognising Republika Srpska as one of its two main [[Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina|political-territorial divisions]] and defining the governmental functions and powers of the two entities. The [[Inter-Entity Boundary Line|boundary lines]] between the entities were delineated in Annex 2 of the Agreement.<ref>{{cite web |title=The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina |url=http://www.ohr.int/dpa/default.asp?content_id=380 |publisher=OHR.int |access-date=28 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604163946/http://www.ohr.int/dpa/default.asp?content_id=380 |archive-date=4 June 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Between 1992 and 2008, the Constitution of Republika Srpska was amended 121 times. Article 1 states that Republika Srpska is a territorially unified, indivisible, and inalienable constitutional and legal entity that shall perform its constitutional, legislative, executive, and judicial functions independently.<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitution of Republika Srpska |url=http://www.ustavnisud.org/html/pravno%20utemeljenje/ustav%20e.html |publisher=The Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska |access-date=28 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406123518/http://www.ustavnisud.org/html/pravno%20utemeljenje/ustav%20e.html |archive-date=6 April 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Impact of war===
The [[Bosnian War|war in Bosnia and Herzegovina]] resulted in major changes in the country, some of which were quantified in a 1998 [[UNESCO]] report. Some two million people, about half the country's population, were displaced. In 1996, there were some 435,346 ethnic Serb refugees from the Federation in Republika Srpska, while another 197,925 had gone to Serbia. In 1991, 27% of the non-agricultural labour force was unemployed in Bosnia, and this number increased due to the war.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unesco.org/education/educprog/erd/english/com/docs/eur/bih2/srp_cont.html |author=UNESCO |title=Review of the education system in the Republika Srpska |year=1998 |access-date=10 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207000927/http://www.unesco.org/education/educprog/erd/english/com/docs/eur/bih2/srp_cont.html |archive-date=7 December 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> By 2009, the unemployment rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina was estimated at 29%, according to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s ''[[The World Factbook]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/bosnia-and-herzegovina/ |title=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |place=Dulles, VA |website=cia.gov |access-date=8 April 2015}}</ref> Republika Srpska's population of Serbs had increased by 547,741 due to the influx of ethnic Serb refugees from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the former unrecognised state of the [[Republic of Serbian Krajina]] in the new [[Republic of Croatia]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://pressrs.ba/sr/vesti/vesti_dana/story/9058/Od+pola+miliona,+u+FBiH+ostalo+50.000+Srba.html |newspaper=Press Online Republika Srpska (pressrs.ba) |title=Od pola miliona, u FBiH ostalo 50.000 Srba |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202101903/http://pressrs.ba/sr/vesti/vesti_dana/story/9058/Od+pola+miliona%2C+u+FBiH+ostalo+50.000+Srba.html |archive-date=2 February 2012 |access-date=8 April 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Memorijalni centar Srebrenica-Potočari.JPG|thumb|right|[[Srebrenica Genocide Memorial]]]]

In Eastern Bosnia, Bosnian Serbs besieged the town of Srebrenica, among others. Srebrenica was declared a UN 'Safe Area' in 1993, and it served as an enclave for Muslim refugees for the final years of the Bosnian War. In the middle of July 1995, more than 8,000 Muslim [[Bosniaks]], mainly men and boys, in and around the town of [[Srebrenica]], were killed in what became known as the [[Srebrenica massacre]], which was subsequently designated as an act of [[genocide]] by the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]] and the [[International Court of Justice]].

Acts of [[ethnic cleansing]] against the non-Serb populations reduced the numbers of other groups. Serb police, soldiers, and irregulars attacked Muslims and Croats and burned and looted their homes. Some were killed on the spot; others were rounded up and killed elsewhere or forced to flee.<ref>{{cite book|last=Judah|title=The Serbs|year=2009|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-15826-7|pages=225–41}}</ref> The number of Croats was reduced by 114,593 (the majority of the Croatian pre-war population), and the number of Bosniaks by some 268,907. Some 136,000 of approximately 496,000 Bosniak refugees forced to flee the territory of what is now Republika Srpska have since returned home.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 February 2004 |title=Written statement submitted by the Society for Threatened Peoples |department=Commission of Human Rights |id=Sixtieth session Item 11 (d) of the provisional agenda |page=2 |publisher=United Nations |url=http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/0/116959be7b8cf279c1256e5a003b5e6b?Opendocument |access-date=13 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830205526/http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/0/116959be7b8cf279c1256e5a003b5e6b?Opendocument |archive-date=30 August 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
[[File:Bratunac-Serbian-Cemetery-Bosnia-War.jpg|thumb|left|A Serbian cemetery for the victims of the war in [[Bratunac]]]]

{{As of|2008}}, 40% of Bosniaks and 8.5% of Croats had returned to Republika Srpska, while 14% of Serbs who left their homes in territories controlled by Bosniaks or Croats also returned to their pre-war communities.<ref name=revstrat>{{cite web |url=http://www.mhrr.gov.ba/PDF/Izbjeglice/Revidirana%20Strategija%20BiH%20za%20provedbu%20Aneksa%20VII%20DMS.pdf |title=Revidirana strategija Bosne i Hercegovine za provedbu Aneksa VII Dejtonskog mirovnog sporazuma |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215173959/http://www.mhrr.gov.ba/PDF/Izbjeglice/Revidirana%20Strategija%20BiH%20za%20provedbu%20Aneksa%20VII%20DMS.pdf |archive-date=15 February 2010 |department=Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees |publisher=Bosnia and Herzegovina |website=mhrr.gov.ba |date=October 2008 |access-date=13 July 2015}}</ref>

In the early 2000s, discrimination against non-Serbs was alleged by NGOs and the [[Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe|Helsinki Commission]]. The [[International Crisis Group]] reported in 2002 that in some parts of Republika Srpska a non-Serb returnee is ten times more likely to be the victim of violent crime than a local Serb.<ref>{{cite report |date=13 December 2002 |title=The Continuing Challenge of Refugee Return in Bosnia & Herzegovina |publisher=Crisis Group |url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1473&l=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419161757/http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?l=1&id=1473 |archive-date=19 April 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Helsinki Commission, in a 2001 statement on 'Tolerance and Non-Discrimination', pointed at violence against non-Serbs, stating that in the cities of [[Banja Luka]]<ref>{{cite news |date=8 May 2001 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1318283.stm |title=UN Condemns Serb 'Sickness' |work=BBC News |access-date=4 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023232223/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1318283.stm |archive-date=23 October 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and [[Trebinje]],<ref>{{cite news |date=6 May 2001 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1315262.stm |title=Serbs block Bosnia mosque ceremony |work=BBC News |access-date=4 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108081952/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1315262.stm |archive-date=8 November 2010 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> mobs attacked people who sought to lay foundations for new [[mosque]]s.

Non-Serbs have reported continuing difficulties in returning to their original homes, and the assembly has a poor record of cooperation in apprehending individuals indicted for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.<ref>{{cite press release |date=20 September 2001 |url=http://www.csce.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=UserGroups.Home&ContentRecord_id=188&ContentType=P&ContentRecordType=P&UserGroup_id=62&Subaction=ByDate&IsTextOnly=True&CFID=18849146&CFTOKEN=53 |title=Helsinki Commission Releases U.S. Statement on Tolerance and Non-Discrimination at OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting |publisher=Helsinki Commission |access-date=8 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511104546/http://www.csce.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=UserGroups.Home&ContentRecord_id=188&ContentType=P&ContentRecordType=P&UserGroup_id=62&Subaction=ByDate&IsTextOnly=True&CFID=18849146&CFTOKEN=53 |archive-date=11 May 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Organisations such as the [[Society for Threatened Peoples]], reporting to the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] in 2008, have made claims of discrimination against non-Serb refugees in Republika Srpska, particularly areas with high unemployment in the Drina Valley such as [[Srebrenica]], [[Bratunac]], [[Višegrad]], and [[Foča]].<ref>{{cite press release |date=21 February 2008 |title=7th Session of the UN Human Rights Council |publisher=Society for Threatened Peoples |page=2 |url=http://forum-menschenrechte.de/cms/upload/PDF/ab_05-2008/aides_memoires/Bosnia_Herzegowina-GfbV.pdf |access-date=12 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719021433/http://forum-menschenrechte.de/cms/upload/PDF/ab_05-2008/aides_memoires/Bosnia_Herzegowina-GfbV.pdf |archive-date=19 July 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

According to the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, [[European Union Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina|European Union Police Mission]], [[UNHCR]], and other international organisations, security in both Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015 was satisfactory.<ref name=revstrat />

== Governance ==

{{Main|Politics of Republika Srpska|Constitution of Republika Srpska}}

[[File:Стари Дом војске, Краља Алфонса ХIII 3.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[National Assembly (Republika Srpska)|National Assembly of Republika Srpska]] in [[Banja Luka]]]]
According to [[Constitution of Republika Srpska|its constitution]], Republika Srpska has its president, legislature (the 83-member unicameral [[National Assembly (Republika Srpska)|National Assembly of Republika Srpska]]), executive government, [[Police of Republika Srpska|police force]], court system, customs service (under the state-level customs service), and postal service. It also has official symbols, including a coat of arms, a flag (a variant of the [[Flag of Serbia|Serbian flag]] without the coat of arms displayed) and its entity anthem. The Constitutional Law on the Coat of Arms and Anthem of Republika Srpska was ruled not in concordance with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina as it states that those symbols 'represent the statehood of Republika Srpska' and are used 'under moral norms of the Serb people'. According to the Constitutional Court's decision, the Law was to be corrected by September 2006. Republika Srpska later changed its emblem.

Although the constitution names [[Sarajevo]] as the capital, the northwestern city of [[Banja Luka]] is the headquarters of most of the institutions of government, including the parliament, and is, therefore, the ''de facto'' capital. After the war, Republika Srpska retained its army, but in August 2005, the parliament consented to transfer control of [[Army of Republika Srpska]] to a state-level ministry and abolish the entity's defence ministry and army by 1 January 2006. These reforms were required by [[NATO]] as a precondition of Bosnia and Herzegovina's admission to the [[Partnership for Peace]] programme. Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the programme in December 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=Signatures of Partnership for Peace Framework Document |url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_82584.htm |publisher=[[NATO]] |access-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311063625/http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_82584.htm |archive-date=11 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In July 2023, legislation was passed to criminalise insult and defamation with up to 10 years in prison. This is likely to jeopardize freedom of speech and silence critics. Critics have said that this could make the Republika Srpska an authoritarian regime.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bosnian Serb Autonomous Region Reinstates Insult and Defamation in Criminal Code |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/17857-bosnian-serb-autonomous-region-reinstates-insult-and-defamation-in-criminal-code |date=21 July 2023}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2025}}

=== Law and judicial system ===

The highest court of appeal is the [[Supreme Court of Republika Srpska]]. The regional courts are an instance between the Supreme Court and the basic courts. Commercial courts handle cases in their respective domains. [[High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Republika Srpska]] is responsible for the appointment of judges and prosecutors.

In February 2025, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina sentenced Milorad Dodik to one year in prison and banned him from serving as President of Republika Srpska for six years, for non-compliance with the decisions of the [[High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Dodik sentenced to a year in prison and and[sic] banned from serving as RS president |url=https://n1info.ba/english/news/dodik-sentenced-to-one-year-in-prison-and-and-banned-from-holding-office/ |work=N1 |date=26 February 2025}}</ref> Dodik rejected the ruling, claiming he was a target of political persecution.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Counter |first1=Nicholas |title=Bosnian Serb leader Dodik rejects court summons |url=https://www.dw.com/en/bosnian-serb-leader-dodik-rejects-court-summons/a-71849764 |work=Deutsche Welle |agency=Agence France-Presse/Reuters |date=6 March 2025}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Orlovačko jezero na Zelengori, nacionalni park Sutjeska.jpg|thumb|[[Orlovačko Lake]] located in [[Sutjeska National Park]]]]
Situated in [[Southeast Europe]], Republika Srpska is located on the [[Balkan Peninsula]], with its northern extents reaching into the [[Pannonian Basin]]. Republika Srpska lies between latitudes [[41st parallel north|42°]] and [[47th parallel north|46° N]] and longitudes [[13th meridian east|16°]] and [[20° E]]. The entity is split into two main parts by the [[Brčko District]]; a hilly western part and a more varied eastern part, with high mountains in the south and flat, fertile farmland in the north. Republika Srpska, unlike its counterpart entity, is landlocked.

Like the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska is split into a [[Bosnia (region)|Bosnian]] region in the north and a [[Herzegovina|Herzegovinian]] region in the far south. Within these two macroregions exist smaller geographical regions, from the forested hills of [[Bosanska Krajina]] in the northwest to the fertile plains of [[Semberija]] in the northeast.

Republika Srpska covers {{convert|24816.2|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=off}}, excluding the Brčko District, which is held in [[Condominium (international law)|condominium]] by both entities, but is ''[[de facto]]'' sovereign within Bosnia and Herzegovina. Republika Srpska, if it were a country, would be the 146th largest in the world. Elevation varies greatly, with [[Maglić (mountain)|Maglić]], a peak in the Dinaric Alps near Montenegro, reaching {{Convert|2386|m}}, and parts nearer the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] going down to sea level. The largest and most popular ski resort in Bosnia and Herzegovina is situated on the slopes of the mountain [[Jahorina]], in the eastern part of the entity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/jahorina/ |title=Jahorina ski resort |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411125959/https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/jahorina/ |archive-date=11 April 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=9 April 2019 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Other major mountains in Republika Srpska include [[Volujak (mountain)|Volujak]], [[Zelengora]], [[Lelija]], [[Lebršnik]], [[Crvanj]], [[Orjen]], [[Klekovača]], [[Vitorog]], [[Kozara]], [[Romanija]], [[Treskavica]] and [[Trebević]].

===Boundary===
Republika Srpska shares international borders with [[Croatia]] to the north, [[Serbia]] to the east, and [[Montenegro]] to the southeast. Within Bosnia and Herzegovina, the [[Inter-Entity Boundary Line|Inter-Entity Boundary Line (IEBL)]] marks Republika Srpska's administrative division with the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and essentially follows the front lines at the end of the [[Bosnian War]] with some adjustments (most importantly in the western part of the country and around Sarajevo) as defined by the [[Dayton Agreement]]. The total length of the IEBL is approximately {{formatnum:1080}} km. The IEBL is an administrative demarcation uncontrolled by military or police, and there is free movement across it.<ref>{{cite book |title=Building Democracy from the Outside: the Dayton Agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina |last=Cox |first=Marcus |publisher=Zed Books |year=2003 |isbn=1-84277-150-7 |location=London |pages=253–276}}</ref>

=== Forests ===
Republika Srpska is one of the most forested areas in Europe, with over 50% of its area consisting of forest cover. [[Perućica]] is one of the last [[old-growth forest]]s in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npsutjeska.net/stranica.php?id=8&naziv=perucica&jez=en |title=Perućica official website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723022258/http://www.npsutjeska.net/stranica.php?id=8&naziv=perucica&jez=en |archive-date=23 July 2015 |website=npsutjeska.net |access-date=24 November 2015}}</ref>

Two densely wooded national parks—[[Sutjeska National Park]] and [[Kozara National Park]]—are located in the entity.

===Waters===
[[File:Требиње, Стари град 1.jpg|right|thumb|[[Trebinje]] on the banks of the [[Trebišnjica]]]]
[[File:SPR001 STROGI PRIRODNI REZERVAT PRAŠUMA JANJ, ŠIPOVO 2.jpg|right|thumb|[[Protected area Pliva, Janj with Janjske Otoke reserve|The protected area of Pliva, Janj and Janjske Otoke Reserve]]]]
[[File:Посебни резерват природе Кањон Цврцке 2.jpg|right|thumb|[[Cvrcka|Cvrcka Canyon]]]]
Most rivers belong to the [[Black Sea]] drainage basin. The principal rivers are the [[Sava]], a tributary of the [[Danube]] that forms the northern boundary with [[Croatia]]; the [[Bosna (river)|Bosna]], [[Vrbas (river)|Vrbas]], [[Sana (river)|Sana]] and [[Una (Sava)|Una]], which all flow north and empty into the Sava; the [[Drina]], which flows north and forms a significant part of the eastern boundary with [[Serbia]], and is also a tributary of the Sava. The [[Trebišnjica]] is one of the longest [[sinking river]]s in the world. It belongs to the [[Adriatic Sea]] drainage basin. [[Skakavac Waterfall, Perućica|Skakavac Waterfall]] on the [[Perućica]] is one of the highest waterfalls in the country, at about {{convert|75|m|ft|abbr=off}} in height. The most important lakes are [[Bileća Lake]], [[Lake Bardača]] (which includes a protected wetland area) and [[Balkana Lake]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krejic |first=Ljiljana |date=2017-09-26 |title=Endangered wetlands of Bardača Nature Park |url=https://www.itinari.com/endangered-wetlands-of-bardaca-nature-park-p3lb |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=itinari |language=en}}</ref>

===National Parks===
{{main|List of protected areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
{| class="wikitable"  style="margin:1em auto;"
! Name !! Image !! Area (km<sup>2</sup>) !! Established
|-
| align="left"| [[Sutjeska National Park]]
| [[File:NP001 nacionalni park sutjeska perucica.jpg|150px]]
| align="center"|173
| align="center"|1965<ref>{{cite web |url=http://npsutjeska.info/en/history-of-the-park/ |title=History of the Park |publisher=Sutjeska National Park |access-date=1 November 2020 |archive-date=11 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411093054/http://npsutjeska.info/en/history-of-the-park/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| align="left"|[[Drina|Drina National Park]]
| [[File:Drina Canyon.JPG|150px]]
| align="center"|63
| align="center"|2017<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mojaplaneta.net/nacionalni-park-drina-novo-zasticeno-podrucje-u-republici-srpskoj-bih/ |title= Nacionalni park "Drina" – novo zaštićeno područje u Republici Srpskoj, BIH |publisher=Moja planeta |date=20 September 2017}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"|[[Kozara National Park]]
| [[File:NP002 - 14.jpg|150px]]
| align="center"|34
| align="center"|1967<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npkozara.com/v1/index.php/en/np-kozara/history-park-kozara |title=The History of the Park |publisher=Kozara National Park |access-date=1 November 2020 |archive-date=3 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203225755/http://www.npkozara.com/v1/index.php/en/np-kozara/history-park-kozara |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|}

==Demographics==
{{main|Demographics of Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
{{As of|2013||alt=As of the 2013 census}}, Republika Srpska has a total population of 1,228,423 and a population density of 49.9 inhabitants per square kilometre. Republika Srpska comprises 48% of the land area of [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], and is home to 34.79% of the country's total population. The overall life expectancy in Republika Srpska at birth was 77.15 years in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rzs.rs.ba/front/article/4339/?left_mi=None&add=None |title=Abbreviated (approximate) life tables, 2019|publisher=Republika Srpska |department=Institute of Statistics (RZS)}}</ref>

The Republika Srpska Bureau of Statistics estimated a population of 1,114,819 in 2023.<ref name="rzs.rs.ba" />

The [[total fertility rate]] in Republika Srpska is, as of 2023, 1.45 children per mother. In 2023, the total number of live births, according to the Institute of Statistics of Republika Srpska (RZS), was 16,174. That same year, the number of deaths was 20,361, resulting in a natural population decrease of 4,187 inhabitants. 

{| style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; width: 100%; border: 1px solid #a2a9b1; border-spacing: 3px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: black; margin: 0.5em 0 0.5em 1em; padding: 0.2em;	float: right; clear: right; line-height: 1.5em;"
! colspan="10" style="text-align:center;" |Most populous municipalities of Republika Srpska
|-
!rowspan=23 width:150|<br />
[[File:Црква Свете Тројице Бања Лука.jpg|200px|Banja Luka]]<br />[[Banja Luka]]<br />
[[File:Bijeljina1.jpg|200px|Bijeljina]]<br />[[Bijeljina]]

!style="text-align:center;background:#f5f5f5;"|Rank
!style="text-align:center;background:#f5f5f5;"|[[Municipalities of Republika Srpska|Municipality]]
!style="text-align:center;background:#f5f5f5;"|Population
!style="text-align:center;background:#f5f5f5;"|City-governed territory
!rowspan=23 width:150|
[[File:Парк природе Сана - доњи ток, (21).jpg|200px|Prijedor]]<br />[[Prijedor]]<br />
[[File:Tvrdjava Gradina Doboj 1.jpg|200px|Doboj]]<br />[[Doboj]]

|- 
|style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;" | 1 || style="text-align:left;" | '''[[Banja Luka]]''' ||185,042||{{convert|1239|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;" | 2 || style="text-align:left;" | '''[[Bijeljina]]''' ||107,715||{{convert|734|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} 
|-
|style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;" | 3 || style="text-align:left;" | '''[[Prijedor]]''' ||89,397||{{convert|834|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;" | 4 || style="text-align:left;" | '''[[Doboj]]''' ||71,441||{{convert|772|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;" | 5 || style="text-align:left;" | '''[[Istočno Sarajevo]]''' ||61,516||{{convert|1450|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;" | 6 || style="text-align:left;" | '''[[Zvornik]]''' ||58,856||{{convert|376|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;" | 7 || style="text-align:left;" | '''[[Gradiška, Bosnia and Herzegovina|Gradiška]]''' ||51,727||{{convert|762|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;" | 8 || style="text-align:left;" | '''[[Teslić]]''' ||38,536||{{convert|838|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;" | 9 || style="text-align:left;" | '''[[Prnjavor, Bosnia and Herzegovina|Prnjavor]]''' ||38,399||{{convert|762|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;" | 10 || style="text-align:left;" | '''[[Laktaši]]''' ||34,966||{{convert|388|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}

|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;background:#f5f5f5;" |Source: 2013 Census
|}
{{clear}}

=== Education ===
[[File:Univerzitetska_zgrada,_Pale_05.jpg|thumb|right|[[University of East Sarajevo]], in [[Pale, Bosnia and Herzegovina|Pale]]]]
Literacy in Srpska stands at 96.8 percent as of 2013. Free primary education is provided as a right to all. There are 187 primary schools in addition to 11 music schools and 4 centres of education for students with learning disabilities. Secondary education exists in three main channels: three-year [[vocational school]]s, four-year technical schools, and four-year [[grammar school]]s (''gimnazije''). Ten independent grammar schools exist, while an additional 30 are integrated into other schools. Music schools offer another option for students to continue their education following primary school.

The oldest and largest [[public university]] is the [[University of Banja Luka]], which was established in 1975 during [[Yugoslavia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unibl.org/en/university/about-the-university |title=About the University |publisher=University of Belgrade (UNIBL) |department=Computing Centre, School of Electrical Engineering |website=www.unibl.org |language=en |access-date=2018-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629155253/http://www.unibl.org/en/university/about-the-university |archive-date=29 June 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The second of two public universities in Republika Srpska is [[University of East Sarajevo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kultor.org/organization/university-of-east-sarajevo/ |publisher=University of East Sarajevo |title=Rethinking the Culture of Tolerance |year=2016 |website=kultor.org |language=en-US |access-date=2018-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508185825/http://kultor.org/organization/university-of-east-sarajevo/ |archive-date=8 May 2018 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy-all}}</ref> After the end of the [[Yugoslav wars]] several private institutions of higher education were established, including: [[American University in Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Slobomir University]], {{ill|Pan-European University “APEIRON”|sr|Паневропски универзитет Апеирон}} and [[University Sinergija]]. The [[Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republika Srpska|Academy of Sciences and Arts of Republika Srpska]], founded in 1996, is the highest representative institution of science and art in Republika Srpska.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anurs.org/en/foundation-establisment-and-status-of-the-academy/c429 |title=Foundation, establishment, and status of the academy |publisher=[[Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republika Srpska]] (ANURS) |website=www.anurs.org |access-date=2018-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629211232/http://www.anurs.org/en/foundation-establisment-and-status-of-the-academy/c429 |archive-date=29 June 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[National and University Library of the Republika Srpska|National and University Library of Republika Srpska]] is a [[national library]], located in [[Banja Luka]]. The Museum of Contemporary Art (MSURS) houses a collection of Yugoslav and international art and is located in Banja Luka.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://museu.ms/museum/277/Museum-of-Contemporary-Art-of-Republic-of-Srpska |title=Museum of Contemporary Art of Republika Srpska |website=museu.ms |language=en |access-date=2018-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629155458/http://museu.ms/museum/277/Museum-of-Contemporary-Art-of-Republic-of-Srpska |archive-date=29 June 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Ethnic groups===
{{main|Ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
{{multiple image
| footer = Ethnic structure of Republika Srpska: 1991 (left) and 2013 (right)
| width1 = 190
| image1 = Republika-Srpska-1991-Ethnic.png
| width2 = 190
| image2 = Republika-Srpska-2013-Ethnic.png
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+
Population of  Republika Srpska according to ethnic group 1991–2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistika.ba/?show=12&id=29800|title=Popis 2013 u BiH – Republika Srpska}}</ref>
! rowspan="2"| Ethnic<br />group
! colspan="2"| Census 1991
! colspan="2"| Census 2013
|-
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
|-
| [[Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Serbs]]
| align="right" |869,854
| align="right" |55.4%
| align="right" |1,001,289
| align="right" |81.5%
|-
| [[Muslims (ethnic group)|Muslims]]/[[Bosniaks]]
| align="right" |440,746
| align="right" |28.1%
| align="right" |171,839
| align="right" |14.0%
|-
| [[Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Croats]]
| align="right" |144,238
| align="right" |9.2%
| align="right" |29,645
| align="right" |2.4%
|-
| Others
| align="right" |114,494
| align="right" |7.3%
| align="right" |24,499
| align="right" |2.1%
|- class="sortbottom"
! Total
! colspan="2" align="right" |1,569,332
! colspan="2" |1,228,423
|-
|}

===Healthcare===
The health care system of Republika Srpska is intended to provide organized and planned health care to the population on its territory, both in public and private health care institutions. Health care activities are performed by health care workers and associates under the conditions and in the manner primarily prescribed by law and regulations, adopted on the basis, and under, the Law on Health Care of the Republic of Srpska.<ref name=":10">''Zakon o zdravstvenoj zaštiti Republike Srpske, Službeni glasnik Repulbike Srpske'' no. 106/09 and 44/15.</ref>

The public sector of Srpska includes 54 health centers, along with family medicine clinics,<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Здравствене установе |url=http://www.investsrpska.net/index.aspx?PageID=323&langid=2 |publisher=Влада Републике Српске |access-date=27 January 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 11 hospitals,<ref name=":1" /> 4 specialised hospitals,<ref name=":1" /> 1 clinical centre<ref name=":1" /> and 7 institutes.<ref name=":1" />

Stationary treatment is provided in hospitals located in Derventa and Prnjavor.<ref name=":askva">{{cite web|url=https://www.askva.org/sr/askva/bolnicki-sektor.html|title=Болнички сектор – Агенција за сертификацију, акредитацију и унапређење квалитета здравствене заштите Републике Српске|website=www.askva.org|access-date=18 October 2020}}</ref> Hospitals specialised for physical medicine and rehabilitation are "Mlječanica" in Kozarska Dubica and Institute "Dr Miroslav Zotović" in Banja Luka.<ref name=":0" /> Patients with mental illnesses are treated in [[Institute for Forensic Psychiatry Sokolac]], which is the first and only institution of this type in BiH,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/bih-prison-reform-programme/news/-/asset_publisher/8Ky6XGvAglke/content/opening-ceremony-of-the-special-hospital-for-forensic-psychiatry-sokolac|title=Opening ceremony of the Institute for Forensic Psychiatry Sokolac|date=2014|website=Council of Europe}}</ref> and [[Hospital for Chronic Psychiatric Patients Modriča]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bolnicamodrica.net/|title=JZU Bolnica Bolnica za hroničnu psihijatriju Modriča|website=www.bolnicamodrica.net|language=sr|access-date=2021-01-27}}</ref>

University hospitals operate in [[Foča]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.bolnicafoca.com/|title=The University hospital Foca|access-date=2021-01-25}}</ref> and Banja Luka. The [[University Clinical Center of Republika Srpska]] (UCC RS) is the leading tertiary healthcare institution in the entity, comprising 21 clinics, 6 institutes, and 10 service units.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kc-bl.com/Cir/?page_id=9017|title=УКЦ Република Српска – Мисија, визија и вриједност|access-date=18 October 2020}}</ref>

===Religion===
Republika Srpska has no official religion. [[Freedom of religion]] is a right defined by the Constitution of Republika Srpska, which provides for legal equality of all people, irrespective of religious belief.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://advokat-prnjavorac.com/legislation/Constitution-of-Republika-Srpska.pdf|title=Constitution of Republika Srpska}}</ref>

According to the 2013 census, around 85% of the residents of Republika Srpska identify as Christian. Members of the [[Serbian Orthodox Church]] form the largest religious group, accounting for a little less than 83% of the population, followed by followers of [[Islam]] and [[Roman Catholicism]]. 0.59% of people describe themselves as atheist or [[Agnosticism|agnostic]].{{bar box
|title=Religion in Republika Srpska<ref name="census2013-religion">{{cite report |chapter-url=http://www2.rzs.rs.ba/static/uploads/bilteni/popis/rezultati_popisa/Results_of_the_Census_2013.pdf |chapter=Section 4. Population by ethnicity and religion |year=2013 |title=Census of Population, Households, and Dwellings |publisher=Republika Srpska |department=Institute of Statistics |access-date=5 May 2019}}</ref>
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=religion
|right1=percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]]|darkblue|82.8}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|Green|12.8}}
{{bar percent|[[Catholicism]]|yellow|2.2}}
{{bar percent|[[Atheism]] or Agnosticism|black|0.6}}
{{bar percent|Other|grey|1.6}}
}}Religion plays an important role in ethnic identification in Republika Srpska.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pewforum.org/2017/05/10/religious-belief-and-national-belonging-in-central-and-eastern-europe/|title=Religious Belief and National Belonging in Central and Eastern |date=10 May 2017 |publisher=Pew Research |access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref> [[Serbs]] generally identify as followers of Eastern Orthodoxy, [[Croats]] as followers of the Catholic Church, and [[Bosniaks]] as followers of Islam. Religious architecture takes on a similarly diverse character in the entity, with its mix of mosques and churches.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="160" style="font-size:88%;line-height:120%">
File:Igumanija manastira Tavna.jpg|[[Tavna Monastery]], near Bijeljina
File:Ferhat Pasha Mosque, Banja Luka 2016-2.jpg|[[Ferhat Pasha Mosque (Banja Luka)|Ferhat Pasha Mosque]], after it was reconstructed in 2016
File:Samostan Marija zvijezda trapisti (2).JPG|The [[Mariastern Abbey, Banja Luka|Mariastern abbey]], a Trappist abbey famous for its [[Trappista cheese|own variety of cheese]]
</gallery>

==Economy==
{{main|Economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
Republika Srpska uses the [[Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark|Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark (KM)]]. The currency is pegged to the [[euro]] at a unit rate of 1.95583 convertible marks. Along with the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska is classified as an upper-middle income economy by the [[United Nations]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519#Upper_middle_income |title=World Bank Country and Lending Groups |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111190936/https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519#Upper_middle_income |archive-date=11 January 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> According to the IRBRS, the entity's development bank, Republika Srpska's nominal GDP per capita is 8,739&nbsp;km (€4,457) as of 2017.

Republika Srpska's [[corporate tax]] rate is lower than that of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is among the lowest in the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thesrpskatimes.com/company-registration-in-rs-do-you-know-how/ |series=Company registration in RS |title=Do you know how? |date=31 July 2017 |website=Srpska Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104203314/http://thesrpskatimes.com/company-registration-in-rs-do-you-know-how/ |archive-date=4 November 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In November 2020 governments of Serbia and Srpska announced the construction of three hydropower plants on the [[Drina]] estimated at EUR 520 million.<ref>{{cite web|date=2020-11-18|title=Serbia, Republic of Srpska sign joint statement on Gornja Drina hydropower project|url=https://balkangreenenergynews.com/serbia-republic-of-srpska-sign-joint-statement-on-gornja-drina-hydropower-project/|access-date=2020-12-04|website=Balkan Green Energy News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Serbian, RS PMs sign document to build hydropower plants|url=http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a671763/Serbian-RS-PMs-sign-document-to-build-hydropower-plants.html|access-date=2020-12-04|website=N1 Srbija|language=sr-Latn|archive-date=25 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125192628/http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a671763/Serbian-RS-PMs-sign-document-to-build-hydropower-plants.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
|colspan=17| '''Nominal [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] of Republika Srpska 2013–2023 (mil. [[Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark|KM]])'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irbrs.net/statistika/UporedniPrikaz.aspx?tab=3&lang=lat |title=Baza podataka o ekonomskim indikatorima Republike Srpske – IRBRS<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=Irbrs.net |access-date=4 January 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426082627/http://www.irbrs.net/statistika.aspx?tab=2&god=2006&lang=lat |archive-date=26 April 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! 2013 !! 2014 !! 2015 !! 2016 !! 2017 !! 2018 !! 2019 !! 2020 !! 2021 !! 2022 !! 2023 
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! 8,761 !! 8,847 !! 9.250 !! 9,631 !! 10,076 !! 10,682 !! 11,233 !! 11,130 !! 12,502 !! 14,535 !! 16,086
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
|colspan=17| Participation in total BiH economy
|-
! 33.32% !! 32.46% !! 32.41% !! 32.84% !! 32.11% !! 31.97% !! 31.89% !! 32.49% !! 32.36% !! 33.04% !! 32.31%
|}

[[File:Real GDP growth rates RS & FBH.png|thumb|220px|Real GDP growth rates in Republika Srpska and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006–2014]]

===External trade===
{| class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
| colspan="24" | '''[[International trade|External trade]] of Republika Srpska  (mil. [[euro]]s)'''<br />(not including trade with the [[Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] and the [[Brčko District]])<ref>{{cite web |year=2024 |title=Statistical Yearbook of Republika Srpska 2024 |url=https://www.rzs.rs.ba/static/uploads/bilteni/godisnjak/2024/20str_2024.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=23 May 2025 |website=Rzs.rs.ba |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! 2001 !! 2002 !! 2003 !! 2004 !! 2005 !! 2006 !! 2007 !! 2008 !! 2009 !! 2010 !! 2011 !! 2012 !! 2013 !! 2014 !! 2015 !! 2016
!2017
!2018
!2019
!2020
!2021
!2022
!2023
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Exports !! 306 !! 289 !! 312 !! 431 !! 578 !! 788 !! 855 !! 983 !! 855 !! 1,114 !! 1,309 !! 1,214 !! 1,331 !! 1,376 !! 1,337 !! 1,467
!1,777
!1,913
!1,846
!1,735
!2,265
!2,779
!2,651
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Imports !! 868 !! 1,107 !! 1,165 !! 1,382 !! 1,510 !! 1,411 !! 1,712 !! 2,120!! 1,824 !! 2,072 !! 2,340 !! 2,294 !! 2,330 !! 2,529 !! 2,334 !! 2,263
!2,505
!2,670
!2,445
!2,287
!2,853
!3,670
!3,600
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Total trade !! 1,174 !! 1,396 !! 1,477 !! 1,813 !! 2,088 !! 2,199 !! 2,566 !! 3,103 !! 2,680 !! 3,186 !! 3,650 !! 3,509 !! 3,662 !! 3,905 !! 3,570 !! 3,730
!4,282
!4,583
!4,291
!4,022
!5,118
!6,449
!6,251
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Coverage (%) !! 35 !! 26 !! 27 !! 31 !! 38 !! 56 !! 50 !! 46 !! 47 !! 54 !! 56 !! 53 !! 57 !! 54 !! 60 !! 65
!71
!72
!75
!76
!79
!76
!74
|}

===Taxation and salaries===
[[File:Average net monthly wages in the Republika Srpska.png|thumb|220px|Average net wages (in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark|KM]]) in Republika Srpska 1996–2015]]
Since 2001, Republika Srpska has initiated significant reforms in the sector of the tax system, which lowered the tax burden to 28.6%, one of the lowest in the region. The 10% rate of [[capital gains tax]] and [[income tax]] are among the lowest in Europe.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} [[Value added tax|VAT]] has been introduced in 2006. These tax advantages have led to some companies moving their business to Republika Srpska from the other entity.<ref name="WSJ">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117918783695002652?mod=googlenews_wsj |title=Bosnian Territory Opens Doors for Business |last=Kampschror |first=Beth |date=15 May 2007 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=17 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105011544/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117918783695002652?mod=googlenews_wsj |archive-date=5 January 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

As of 2018, there are 266,309 employed people within legal entities in Republika Srpska.<ref name="stats2018">{{cite web |title=Cities and Municipalities of Republika Srpska |url=http://www2.rzs.rs.ba/static/uploads/bilteni/gradovi_i_opstine_republike_srpske/2019/Gradovi_I_Opstine_Republike_Srpske_2019_WEB.pdf |website=rzs.rs.ba |publisher=Institute of Statistics of Republika Srpska |access-date=1 January 2020 |language=sr, en |date=25 December 2019}}</ref> The average net wage, according to the Institute of Statistics of Republika Srpska (RZS), is 896&nbsp;km (€458) per month as of February 2019, a nominal growth of 1.0% compared to the previous month.<ref>{{cite web |title=February 2019 Labor Statistics |date=1 February 2019 |url=https://www.rzs.rs.ba/static/uploads/saopstenja/rad/mesecna_saopstenja/2019/Rad_Februar_2019.pdf |website=Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics}}</ref>

=== Transport ===
[[File:Mahovljanska.jpg|thumb|200px|Interchange on the Gradiška-Banja Luka highway]]

Transport and telecommunications infrastructure in Republika Srpska is regulated by the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Traffic infrastructure includes roads, railways, railway stations, airports, waterways, and ports in the whole territory of Republika Srpska, while telecommunication infrastructure includes telephony, telegraphy, optical cables, terrestrial communication stations, traffic telematics and others.<ref name="Саобраћајна инфраструктура у Републици Српској">[http://www.vladars.net/sr-SP-Cyrl/Vlada/Ministarstva/msv/Documents/саобраћајна%20инфраструктура%20у%20републици%20српској.ppt Министарство саобраћаја и веза Републике Српске: Саобраћајна инфраструктура у Републици Српској]</ref>

State-owned companies like [[Republika Srpska Railways]], [[Pošte Srpske]], and Republika Srpska Roads are in charge of maintaining traffic on the territory.

The basic road traffic network in Srpska includes 4,192 kilometers of public roads, of which 1,781&nbsp;km of trunk roads and 2,183&nbsp;km of regional roads.<ref name="Саобраћајна инфраструктура у Републици Српској" /> There are currently two [[highway]]s in Republika Srpska: Gradiška – Banja Luka highway and the "9th January highway" (Banja Luka – Doboj). Arterial highways in Srpska, which are a part of the [[International E-road network]] are:

* European road E761 (M5): (Federation of BiH) — [[Istočno Sarajevo]] — [[Podromanija]] — [[Rogatica]] — [[Ustiprača]] — [[Višegrad]] — [[Donje Vardište|Vardište]]/[[Kotroman (Užice)|Kotroman]] ([[Serbia]])
* [[File:Tabliczka E761.svg|25px]] [[European route E761]] (M5): (Federation BiH) — [[Velečevo]] — [[Čađavica, Bijeljina|Čađavica]] — [[Rogolji]] — [[Mrkonjić Grad]] — [[Jezero (Republika Srpska)|Jezero]] — (Federation of BiH)
* [[File:Tabliczka E73.svg|25px]] [[European route E73]] (M17): ([[Croatia]]) [[Slavonski Šamac]] — [[Modriča]] — [[Rudanka]] — [[Doboj]] — [[Karuše]] — ([[Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Federation of BiH]])
* [[File:Tabliczka E661.svg|25px]] [[European route E661]] (M16): ([[Croatia]]) [[Stara Gradiška]] — [[Laktaši]] — [[Banja Luka]] — Karanovac — [[Ugar (river)|Ugar]] — (Federation of BiH)
* [[File:Tabliczka E762.svg|25px]] [[European route E762]] (M18): (Federation of BiH) — [[Istočno Sarajevo]] — [[Trnovo, Republika Srpska|Trnovo]] — [[Foča]] — [[Hum (Foča)|Hum]]/[[Šćepan Polje]] ([[Montenegro]])

The total length of the regular gauge railway in Srpska is 425&nbsp;km.<ref name="Саобраћајна инфраструктура у Републици Српској" /> Republika Srpska Railways transports around 1 million passengers and 5<ref>{{cite web|url=https://businessrpska.com/zasto-srpska/infrastruktura/|title=Infrastruktura|website=Business Srpska|language=bs-BA|access-date=2021-01-27}}</ref> million tons of goods each year. The international code of the Republika Srpska Railways is 0044.<ref name="ЖРС">{{Cite web|url=http://www.zrs-rs.com/|title=Željeznice Republike Srpske|website=www.zrs-rs.com}}</ref>

=== Tourism ===
[[File:Jahorina mountain 2018.jpg|thumb|right|[[Jahorina ski resort]] is the biggest in Bosnia and one of the biggest in the [[Balkans]]]]
[[File:Вишеградска ћуприја са Андрићградом 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Andrićgrad]]]]
Some types of tourism in the Republic of Srpska are: mountain, spa, religious, ethno-tourism and [[ecotourism]].

Republika Srpska has rich but fragmented natural resources. Popular mountains include: [[Zelengora]], [[Treskavica]], [[Jahorina]], [[Romanija]], as well as [[Grmeč]], [[Kozara]], [[Ozren (Bosnia and Herzegovina)|Ozren]]  and many others, with rich flora and hunting grounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://turizamrs.org/kategorija/destinacije/planinski-turizam/ | title = Планински туризам | publisher = Туристичка организација Републике Српске | access-date=29 January 2015}}</ref>

[[Jahorina ski resort]] is a [[mountain resort]] and the largest and most popular winter tourism resort in the country. The ski resort is situated on the slopes of [[Jahorina]] mountain in [[Dinaric Alps]]. It is located {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}} from the municipality of [[Pale, Bosnia and Herzegovina|Pale]] and {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} from the [[Sarajevo International Airport]]. The Jahorina ski resort hosted alpine skiing competitions during the [[1984 Winter Olympics]].

Royal village Kontromanićevo near Doboj and [[Stanišići]] are popular destinations for ethno-tourism.<ref>{{cite web|title=Етно-село Котроманићево| url = http://turizamrs.org/etno-selo-kotromanicevo/?lng=lat| publisher = Туристичка организација Републике Српске| access-date=19 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://semberija.info/lat/news/novosti/ljudi-i-zivot/5388.etno---selo-stanisici-ponos-semberije-i-srpske.html|title=Etno – Selo Stanišići: Ponos Semberije I Srpske|website=semberija.info|language=en|access-date=2020-10-31}}</ref>
[[Andrićgrad]] is a tourist complex inspired by the works of Nobel Prize winner [[Ivo Andrić]], located on Drina near Višegrad.<ref name="Андрићград отворен за посјетиоце">{{cite web|url=http://rtrs.tv/vijesti/vijest.php?id=64755 | title = Андрићград отворен за посјетиоце |date=5 July 2012 | publisher = Братунац (репортажа) | language = sr-cyrl | access-date=6 July 2012}}</ref> It is made of stone with around fifty object, including a local theatre, cinema, art gallery, church, Andrić's institute, hotels and various shops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politika.rs/scc/clanak/262200/Andricev-institut-um-i-dusa-Andricgrada|title=Андрићев институт ум и душа Андрићграда|website=Politika Online}}</ref>

Several rivers with clear water and potential for fishing are located in Srpska, such as [[Una (Sava)|Una]], [[Sana (river)|Sana]], [[Tara (Drina)|Tara]], [[Drina]] and [[Ukrina]].

The best known [[spa]]s in Srpska are Banja Vrućica,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://banja-vrucica.com/en/home/|title=Banja Vrućica » Health Tourism Center, Teslić, Bosnia and Herzegovina|website=Banja Vrućica}}</ref> Dvorovi, Guber, Laktaši, Lješljani, Mlječanica and Višegrad spa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://banjesrpske.com/banje-srpske/|title=BANJE SRPSKE – Banje Srpske|language=sr-cyrl|access-date=2020-10-31}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://banjeusrbiji.com/banje-u-republici-srpskoj/|title=Banje u Republici Srpskoj :: Banje u Srbiji :: Spa, Wellness & Smeštaj, Lečenje, Odmor, Rehabilitacija :: Balkan|language=sr-cyrl|access-date=2020-10-31}}</ref>

An important annual event of Serbs from the region of [[Bosanska Krajina]] is the Corrida of [[Grmeč]]. So far 248 bullfighting events have been held at Grmeč.<ref name="Чија је Грмечка корида">{{cite web |url=http://rtrs.tv/av/pusti.php?id=14491 |title=Печат (47,46 мин) |date=25 August 2011 |publisher=Радио телевизија Републике Српске |language=sr-cyrl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110063315/http://rtrs.tv/av/pusti.php?id=14491 |archive-date=10 November 2017 |access-date=29 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sveosrpskoj.com/vijesti/pobjednik-grmecke-koride-na-popovica-brdu-proslogodisnji-bik-medonja/|title=Pobjednik Grmečke koride na Popovića brdu prošlogodišnji – bik Medonja|date=2020-08-08|website=Sve o Srpskoj|language=sr-cyrl|access-date=2020-10-31}}</ref>

===External relations===
In September 2006, Republika Srpska officials signed a '[[special ties agreement]]' with [[Serbia]] aimed at promoting economic and institutional cooperation between Serbia and Republika Srpska. The accord was signed by Serbia's President [[Boris Tadić]] and Prime Minister [[Vojislav Koštunica]], former Republika Srpska President [[Dragan Čavić]], and Republika Srpska Prime Minister [[Milorad Dodik]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Savić|first=Matej|date=2014|title=Sporazum o specijalnim paralelnim odnosima – Dejtonski temelj odnosa Republike Srpske i Republike Srbije|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324844991}}</ref>

===Representative offices===
[[File:Представништва Републике Српске у свијету.PNG|thumb|right|Representative offices of Republika Srpska worldwide]]
In February 2009, Republika Srpska opened a representative office in [[Brussels]]. While [[European Union]] representatives were not present at the ceremony, top Republika Srpska officials attended the event, saying it would advance their economic, political and cultural relations with the EU. This notion has been strongly condemned by Bosniak leaders, saying that this is further proof of Republika Srpska distancing itself from [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. The president of Republika Srpska, [[Rajko Kuzmanović]], told reporters that this move did not jeopardise Republika Srpska's place within [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. He added that Republika Srpska merely used its constitutional right 'to open up a representation office in the centre of developments of European relevance'. Republika Srpska maintains official offices in [[Belgrade]], [[Moscow]], [[Stuttgart]], [[Jerusalem]], [[Thessaloniki]], [[Washington D.C.]], [[Brussels]], and [[Vienna]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vladars.net/sr-SP-Cyrl/Vlada/Predstavnistva/Pages/default.aspx |script-title=sr:Представништва Републике Српске у иностранству |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424083407/http://www.vladars.net/sr-SP-Cyrl/Vlada/Predstavnistva/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date=24 April 2012 |website=vladars.net |access-date=31 October 2015 |language=sr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biznis.ba/politika/15405-u-becu-otvoreno-predstavnistvo-republike-srpske.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723101017/http://www.biznis.ba/politika/15405-u-becu-otvoreno-predstavnistvo-republike-srpske.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 July 2012 |title=U Beču otvoreno Predstavništvo Republike Srpske |website=biznis.ba |access-date=3 August 2015 |language=sr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smedia.rs/vesti/vest/89244/Milorad-Dodik-Otvoreno-predstavnistvo-Republike-Srpske-u-Becu-Dodik-otvorio-predstavnistvo-Republike-Srpske-u-Becu.html |title=Dodik otvorio predstavništvo Republike Srpske u Beču |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521171634/http://www.smedia.rs/vesti/vest/89244/Milorad-Dodik-Otvoreno-predstavnistvo-Republike-Srpske-u-Becu-Dodik-otvorio-predstavnistvo-Republike-Srpske-u-Becu.html |archive-date=21 May 2013 |website=smedia.rs |access-date=3 August 2015 |language=sr}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Tourist arrivals in Republika Srpska<ref>{{cite web |last=Statistički Godišnjak |first=Statistički Godišnjak |date=11 November 2024 |title=Statistički Godišnjak Republike Srpske 2024 |url=https://www.rzs.rs.ba/static/uploads/bilteni/godisnjak/2024/StatistickiGodisnjak_2024_WEB.pdf |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=www.rzs.rs.ba}}</ref>
!Year
!Total number
!Increase
!Participation in BiH tourism 
!Overnight stays
!Increase
!Participation in BiH tourism 
|-
|1997
|108.009
|
|44% 
|362.243
|
|50%
|-
|1998
|148.175
|37.1%
|49%
|437.736
|20.8%
|52%
|-
|1999
|168.375
|13.6%
|43%
|473.705
|8.2%
|51%
|-
|2000
|169.720
|0.8%
|41%
|440.760
| −7%
|47%
|-
|2001
|146.133
| −13.9%
|35%
|359.890
| −18.3%
|40%
|-
|2002
|151.838
|3.9%
|34%
|384.187
|6.8%
|33%
|-
|2003
|152.441
|0.4%
|33%
|391.995
|2%
|28%
|-
|2004
|151.280
| −0.8%
|31%
|407.749
|4%
|26%
|-
|2005
|150.526
|0.5%
|30%
|397.976
| −2.4%
|23%
|-
|2006
|191.934
|27.5%
|33%
|489.441
|23%
|24%
|-
|2007
|222.739
|16%
|34%
|561.995
|14.8%
|24%
|-
|2008
|241.145
|8.2%
|32%
|625.842
|11.4%
|23%
|-
|2009
|226.957
| −5.8%
|29%
|564.091
| −9.9%
|22%
|-
|2010
|236.286
|4.1%
|30%
|577.802
|2.4%
|21%
|-
|2011
|237.794
|0.6%
|29%
|614.637
|6.3%
|22%
|-
|2012
|241.214
|1.4%
|29%
|629.648
|2.4%
|21%
|-
|2013
|253.653
|5.1%
|26%
|629.663
|0%
|20%
|-
|2014
|260.160
|2.6%
|30%
|598.668
|5%
|20%
|-
|2015
|294.781
|13.3%
|28%
|686.944
|14.8%
|21%
|-
|2016
|323.908
|9.9%
|27%
|740.601
|7.8%
|20%
|-
|2017
|344.659
|6.4%
|24%
|794.543
|7.2%
|19%
|-
|2018
|381.802
|10.7%
|21%
|926.939
|16.7%
|18%
|-
|2019
|400.268
|4.8%
|25%
|972.855
|5.0%
|29%
|-
|2020
|190.271
| -52.5%
|38%
|531.447
| -45%
|43%
|-
|2021
|295.038
|55.1%
|30%
|748.275
|40.8%
|33%
|-
|2022
|439.781
|49.1%
|30%
|1.036.569
|38.5%
|32%
|-
|2023
|481.041
|9.4%
|28%
|1.112.306
|7.3%
|30%
|}

== Culture ==
The [[Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republika Srpska|Academy of Sciences and Arts of Republika Srpska]] is the most important scientific, cultural, working and representative institution of Republika Srpska. The task of this academic institution is to develop, promote and encourage [[Science|scientific]] and artistic activity. The academy is an institution of special national interest for the Republika Srpska.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.anurs.org/sajt/doc/File/statutanurs_sr.pdf|title=Статут Академије наука и умјетности Републике Српске (Statute of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Srpska)}}</ref>
[[File:Stara zeljeznicka stanica - muzej savremene umjetnosti.JPG|thumb|Museum of Contemporary Art, Republika Srpska]]
An important carrier of the development of dramatic art in [[Banja Luka]] and in the whole region is the National Theater of the Republic of Srpska, which has eighty full-time employees and, within the ensemble of actors themselves, twenty-six dramatic artists. One of the most important and the most visited cultural events in the city is the Theater Fest, which is held every year in this theater, with the participation of numerous ensembles of domestic and foreign actors.

The National and University Library of Republika Srpska is the central library of the [[University of Banja Luka]], the main library of all public universities in Republika Srpska and the umbrella and central national library of Republika Srpska.

The Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage is the official administrative institution of the Republika Srpska and an organization within the [[Ministry of Education]] and Culture of the Republika Srpska. The [[Institute]] registers, protects and maintains a central register of cultural, historical and natural monuments throughout the territory of the Republika Srpska.

In 1993, the Association of Serbian [[Writer]]s was founded in Jahorina, under the chairmanship of professor and politician Nikola Koljevic. Since 2003, the president of the association has been Zoran Kostic, who moved its headquarters from Serbian Sarajevo to Banja Luka. The president of the Sarajevo-Romanija-Drina branch is Nedeljko Zelenović.

The founding assembly of the Association of [[Historians]] of the Republic of Srpska "[[Milorad Ekmečić]]" was held in Banja Luka in December 2015. The objectives of the Association are the improvement of scientific research activities in the field of historical science in the Republic of Srpska and dissemination of these results, improvement of history teaching and professional development of teaching staff.<ref>{{cite web|title=Osnovano prvo društvo istoričara Srpske|url=https://banjaluka.net/osnovano-prvo-drustvo-istoricara-srpske/|access-date=2021-05-24|language=bs-BA}}</ref>

===Sport===
[[File:Triple block (Serbia vs China, Grand Prix 2017).jpg|thumb|[[Tijana Bošković]] playing for the [[Serbia women's national volleyball team]]]]

Sport in Republika Srpska is managed by the entity's Ministry of Youth, Family, and Sport. The most popular sports in the entity include [[basketball]], [[association football|football]], and [[volleyball]].
The most popular football club, and generally the largest sports organization, is [[FK Borac Banja Luka]]. FK Borac has, especially concerning the former Yugoslavia, experienced considerable success: it won the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2011, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup in 2010, the Yugoslav Cup in 1988, and the Central European Cup in 1992, its last year. Other popular football clubs include [[FK Rudar Prijedor]], [[FK Radnik Bijeljina]], and [[FK Leotar]], though these clubs face a considerable loss of talent to larger clubs of Serbia, Croatia, and the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo.

The oldest basketball club in Bosnia and Herzegovina, [[SKK Borac 1947|KK Borac]], was founded in Banja Luka in 1947. The most successful sportspeoples born on the territory of present-day Republika Srpska are football players [[Tomislav Knez]], [[Velimir Sombolac]] ([[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960 Olympics Champions]]) and [[Mehmed Baždarević]] ([[Football at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1976 Olympics Bronze medalist]]); handball players [[Đorđe Lavrnić]], [[Milorad Karalić]], [[Nebojša Popović (handballer)|Nebojša Popović]] ([[Handball at the 1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Olympics Champions]]) and [[Zlatan Arnautović]] ([[Handball at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympics Champion]]); basketball players [[Ratko Radovanović]] ([[Basketball at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Olympics Champion]]) and [[Slađana Golić]] ([[Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Olympics Silver medalist]]); boxers [[Anton Josipović]] ([[Boxing at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympics Champion]]), [[Slobodan Kačar]] ([[Boxing at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Olympics Champion]]) and [[Tadija Kačar]] ([[Boxing at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Olympics Silver medalist]]), table tennis player [[Jasna Fazlić]] ([[Table tennis at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's doubles|1988 Olympics Bronze medalist]]).

After the [[breakup of Yugoslavia]], an especially large amount of successful athletes from Republika Srpska have chosen to represent [[Serbia]] (or former [[Serbia and Montenegro]], FR Yugoslavia), such as basketball players [[Vladimir Radmanović]] ([[2002 FIBA World Championship|2002 World Champion]]), [[Saša Čađo]] ([[EuroBasket Women 2015|2015 European Champion]]  and [[Basketball at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2016 Olympic bronze medalist]]) and [[Ognjen Kuzmić]] ([[2015 NBA Finals|2015 NBA Champion]], [[2017–18 EuroLeague|2018 EuroLeague champion]] and [[EuroBasket 2017|2017 EuroBasket silver medalist]]); volleyball players [[Tijana Bošković]] ([[2018 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship|2018 World Champion]] and [[Volleyball at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2016 Olympic silver medalist]]) and [[Saša Starović]] ([[2011 Men's European Volleyball Championship|2011 European Champion]]); football players [[Savo Milošević]] ([[UEFA Euro 2000|2000 European Championship]] top scorer), [[Neven Subotić]] (two-time [[Bundesliga]] Champion), [[Mijat Gaćinović]], [[Miladin Stevanović]] and [[Srđan Babić]] ([[2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup|2015 U-20 World Champions]]), [[Ognjen Ožegović]] ([[2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship|2013 U-19 European Champions]]) and [[Luka Jović]]. Other notable athletes are swimmer [[Velimir Stjepanović]] ([[2014 European Aquatics Championships|2014 European Champions]]), taekwondo practitioner [[Zoran Prerad]] (1998 European Champion), judoka [[Nemanja Majdov]] ([[2017 World Judo Championships|2017 World Champion]]) and alpine skier [[Jelena Lolović]] ([[2005 Winter Universiade|2005 Universiade Champion]]).

===Holidays===
[[File:Саборна_црква_Христа_спаситеља_004.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (Banja Luka)|Cathedral of Christ the Saviour]] in [[Banja Luka]]]]According to the Law on Holidays of Republika Srpska, public holidays are divided into three categories: entity holidays, religious holidays, and holidays which are marked but do not include time off of work. The entity holidays include New Year's Day (1 January), Entity Day (9 January), [[International Workers' Day]] (1 May), [[Victory Day (May 9)|Victory over Fascism Day (9 May)]], and Day of the [[Dayton Agreement|General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (21 November)]].<ref name=Zakoni />

Religious holidays include Christmas and Easter according to both the [[Julian calendar|Julian]] and the [[Gregorian calendar]]s for, respectively, [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian Orthodox Christians]] and Roman Catholics, as well as [[Eid al-Adha|Kurban Bajram]] (Eid Al Adha) and [[Eid ul-Fitr|Bajram]] (Eid Al Fitr) for Muslims. Holidays that are marked but do not include time off work include School Day (the Feast of [[Saint Sava]], 27 January), Day of the [[Army of Republika Srpska]] (12 May), Interior Ministry Day (4 April), and Day of the [[First Serbian Uprising]] (14 February).<ref name=Zakoni>{{cite web |title=Zakon o praznicima Republike Srpske |series=Zakoni |publisher=[[People's Assembly of Republika Srpska]] |language=sr |date=27 July 2005 |url=http://www.narodnaskupstinars.net/lat/zakoni/zakon.php?id_zakona=110 |access-date=10 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611050556/http://www.narodnaskupstinars.net/lat/zakoni/zakon.php?id_zakona=110 |archive-date=11 June 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The most important of the entity holidays is the [[Day of Republika Srpska]], which commemorates the establishment of Republika Srpska on 9 January 1992. Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared the holiday unconstitutional on 26 November 2015, stating that the main issue for it being coinciding with a religious holiday. It coincides with [[Saint Stephen's Day]] according to the Julian calendar. The Orthodox Serbs also refer to the holiday as the ''[[slava (patron saint day)|slava]]'' of Republika Srpska, regarding [[Saint Stephen]] as the [[patron saint]] of the entity, although it is designated as a secular holiday.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=sr:Прослављена слава Републике Српске – Свети архиђакон Стефан |publisher=The [[Serbian Orthodox Church]] |language=sr |date=9 January 2008 |url=http://www.spc.rs/sr/proslavljena_slava_republike_srpske_sveti_arhidjakon_stefan |access-date=10 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721130313/http://www.spc.rs/sr/proslavljena_slava_republike_srpske_sveti_arhidjakon_stefan |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Republika Srpska does not recognise the Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1 March).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2015&mm=03&dd=01&nav_category=167&nav_id=963442 |title=RS ne priznaje Dan nezavisnosti BiH |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303112324/http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2015&mm=03&dd=01&nav_category=167&nav_id=963442 |archive-date=3 March 2015 |website=b92.net |date=3 January 2015 |access-date=3 August 2015 |language=sr}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of wars involving Republika Srpska]]
*[[Bosnian War]]
*[[Republika Srpska (1992–1995)]]

==References==
{{Reflist|25em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last=Bataković |first=Dušan T. |title=The Serbs of Bosnia & Herzegovina: History and Politics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k3xpAAAAMAAJ |date=1996 |publisher=Dialogue Association |isbn=9782911527104}}

{{Wikiquote}}
{{Portal|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.vladars.net/ |title=Government |publisher=Republika Srpska |language=sr}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.predsjednikrs.net/ |title=President |publisher=Republika Srpska |language=sr}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.narodnaskupstinars.net/ |title=National Assembly |publisher=Republika Srpska |language=sr}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.rzs.rs.ba/ |title=Institute of Statistics |publisher=Republika Srpska |language=sr}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.advokat-prnjavorac.com/legislation/Constitution-of-Republika-Srpska.pdf |title=Constitution |publisher=Republika Srpska |series=official document |language=sr}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.investsrpska.net/index.aspx |title=Official investment agency |publisher=Republika Srpska |access-date=15 April 2019 |archive-date=15 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415030337/http://www.investsrpska.net/index.aspx |url-status=dead }}

{{Coord|44|45|N|17|19|E|display=title}}
{{Political Divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
{{Republika Srpska}}
{{Bosnian War}}
{{Demographics of Europe}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Republika Srpska| ]]
[[Category:Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1992]]
[[Category:Enclaves and exclaves]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Separatism in Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Countries and territories where Serbian is an official language]]
[[Category:Regions of Europe with multiple official languages]]
[[Category:Countries and territories where Bosnian is an official language]]