Una-Sana Canton
Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Canton in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Una-Sana Canton
Unsko-sanski kanton (Bosnian)
Unsko-sanska županija (Croatian)
Унско-сански кантон (Serbian)
Canton
Flag of Una-Sana Canton
Flag
Coat of arms of Una-Sana Canton
Coat of arms
Una-Sana Canton within Bosnia and Herzegovina
Una-Sana Canton within Bosnia and Herzegovina
CountryBosnia and Herzegovina
EntityFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cantonal seatBihać
Municipalities8 municipalities
Government
 • PremierMustafa Ružnić (NES)
 • Legislative Assembly
30 members[1]
Area
[2]
 • Total
4,201 km2 (1,622 sq mi)
Population
 (2013)[3]
 • Total
273,261
 • Density65.05/km2 (168.5/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official languagesBosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Area code037
ISO 3166 codeBA-01
HDI (2022)0.773[4]
high · 4th
Websitewww.vladausk.ba
Cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Una-Sana Canton (Bosnian: Unsko-sanski kanton; Croatian: Unsko-sanska županija; Serbian: Унско-сански кантон, romanized: Unsko-sanski kanton[5]) is a federated state and one of the ten cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the northwest of the country, a region known as Bosanska Krajina, and has been named after the rivers Una and Sana. Its cantonal seat is the city of Bihać.

The canton is bordered by Republika Srpska from the east, the Canton 10 from the southeast, and Croatia from the south, west, and north. The majority of the population is Bosniak (90%).[6]

Municipalities

The Una-Sana Canton consists of eight municipalities:[5]

Municipality/City Population (2013) Area (km2)
Cazin 66,149 356
Bihać 56,261 900
Sanski Most 41,475 781
Velika Kladuša 40,419 331
Bosanska Krupa 25,545 561
Bužim 19,340 129
Ključ 16,744 358
Bosanski Petrovac 7,328 709
Total 273,261 4,201

History

The region has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as evidenced by numerous archaeological sites, ancient fortresses, and medieval towns.[7] Settlements like Bihać, first mentioned by Béla IV of Hungary in 1260, and Ključ, referenced in 1322 by Stephen II, Ban of Bosnia, highlight the area's medieval significance.

In 1463, the Ottoman Empire conquered Ključ, marking the fall of the medieval Bosnian state. During Ottoman rule, fortifications such as Ostrožac Castle, dating back to the 13th century, were expanded to strengthen the empire's hold on the region.

Following the Ottoman period, the area became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Independent State of Croatia, and finally the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

During the Bosnian War (1992–1995), the region experienced significant conflict, including the Siege of Bihać and the founding of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia proto-state, which led to the Intra-Bosnian Muslim War (1993–1995).

The canton was officially established on June 12, 1996, following the Washington Agreement.

Geography

The Una and Sana rivers are central to the canton's geography. The Una flows along the western border, while the Sana river flows along the eastern part.[8] Covering an area of 4,201 square kilometers, Una-Sana Canton accounts for about 8.1% of Bosnia and Herzegovina's total territory. The region's climate is classified as Cfb, characterized by moderate cold winters and warm summers.

Government

Like all cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the head of the Una-Sana Canton is called the Premier. The current Premier is Mustafa Ružnić, having served since 23 September 2025.[9] The legislative body of the Canton is the Assembly of the Una-Sana Canton, which has 30 members.

Demographics

The liberalisation of the labour market in Germany in 2017 led to a significant wave of emigration from Bosnia and Herzegovina.[10] The Una-Sana Canton has been the leading region in terms of emigration within the country.[10][11] In 2021, the Cantonal Ministry of Internal Affairs issued 15,900 certificates of impunity for the purpose of working abroad.[11][12] This marked an increase from around 13,500 certificates issued in 2017, 14,800 in 2018, and 12,200 in 2019.[13][14] In 2020, the number of certificates issued was around 9,200.[15] Furthermore, in 2021, approximately 1,500 children enrolled in the first year of primary school, which is 2,000 fewer than 20 years ago.[11]

2013 Census

Municipality/City Nationality Total
Bosniaks % Croats % Serbs %
Bihać 49,550 88.07 3265 5.80 910 1.61 56,261
Bosanska Krupa 23,578 92.29 66 0.25 1,260 4.93 25,545
Bosanski Petrovac 3,179 43.38 26 0.35 3,996 54.53 7,328
Bužim 19,207 99.31 8 0.04 1 0.005 19,340
Cazin 63,463 95.93 320 0.48 29 0.04 66,149
Ključ 16,130 96.33 30 0.17 273 1.63 16,744
Sanski Most 38,344 92.45 722 1.74 1837 4.42 41,475
Velika Kladuša 32,561 80.55 636 1.57 146 0.36 40,419
Canton 246,012 90.02 5,073 1.85 8,452 3.09 273,261

Infrastructure

Due to the proximity to Croatia and its narrow northern outline, various important traffic lines between Zagreb and the Adriatic traverse the Una-Sana canton, such as the railway line Novi Grad-Bihać-Knin. The airport of Željava is located near Bihać and is located right between the Bosnian and Croatian border.

Economy

Since the 1990s, the region's economy has shifted due to war, migration, and reconstruction. Though among the less industrialized cantons in the Federation,[16] it has strong potential in renewable energy, tourism, and border trade with Croatia. Agriculture remains key in rural areas like Cazin, Bosanska Krupa, and Sanski Most, while forestry and timber exports are also significant. Industry is centered in Bihać, Velika Kladuša, and Cazin. Tourism is growing, led by the Una National Park.[17]

Labor migration is high, with over 10,000 people leaving annually for work in the EU, making it one of the most migration-prone areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[18][19]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Central Election Commission Bosnia and Herzegovina
  2. ^ Census 2013 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. BHAS.
  3. ^ Census 2013 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. BHAS.
  4. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b "The Constitution of the Una-Sana Canton" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  6. ^ Census 2013 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. BHAS.
  7. ^ "Heritage – UNASANA". Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  8. ^ Korjenic, Aida (1 January 2012). "Climate as spatial planning factor of the Una Sana Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina". Geographica Pannonica.
  9. ^ "Skupština USK izglasala novu Vladu predvođenu Mustafom Ružnićem". FENA (in Bosnian). 23 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  10. ^ a b Dnevnik.ba.
  11. ^ a b c FTV (a).
  12. ^ Fejzović 2022.
  13. ^ Inmedia.
  14. ^ FTV (b).
  15. ^ RadioBK.
  16. ^ "Mostar, Š. Brijeg i Čitluk među najrazvijenijima". www.vecernji.ba (in Croatian). Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  17. ^ "Turizam kao ključna privredna grana Unsko-sanskog kantona". RTV USK (in Bosnian). Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  18. ^ 072INFO (13 October 2021). "Najbrže se iseljava Unsko-sanski kanton, BiH već sada nema više od 2,5 miliona ljudi". Portal 072info (in Croatian). Retrieved 8 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ "Alarmantno: USK napusti skoro 1.000 osoba mjesečno". nap.ba. Retrieved 8 April 2025.

References

  • Fejzović, Emrah (19 January 2022). "Žao mi je zbog porodice i prijatelja, nije lako odreći se državljanstva: Iseljavanje posebno je izraženo u ovom kantonu". Hayat TV. Sarajevo. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  • "Krajišnici odlaze". Federalna televizija. Sarajevo. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  • "Iseljavanje: Najveći broj ljudi odlazi iz Bihaća, Bužima, Velike Kladuše i Bosanske Krupe". Inmedia. Sanski Most. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  • "USK: Izdato oko 11.400 potvrda o nekažnjavanju u svrhu zapošljavanja van BiH". RadioBK. Bosanska Krupa. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  • "USK ostao bez trećine đaka u deset godina, 400 nastavnika prekobrojno, slijedi ukidanje škola?". Dnevnik.ba. Mostar. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  • "Zbog iseljavanja školama prijeti gašenje, nastavnicima upitan posao". Federalna televizija. Sarajevo. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  • Media related to Una-Sana Canton at Wikimedia Commons

44°44′N 16°12′E / 44.733°N 16.200°E / 44.733; 16.200

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