Demographic history of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Encyclopedia II - Demographic history of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Ottoman Empire

Demographic history of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Ottoman Empire

Demographic history of Bosnia and Herzegovina - 1463 - 1557

During and shortly after the Ottomans' conquest of Bosnia it is estimated that the Ottoman forces took around 30,000 young into the Janissaries as a result of the devshirmeh (a.k.a. blood tax).

Demographic history of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Population censi

Official population census by religion in Bosnia:

• 37,125 Christian houses
• 332 Moslem houses

Official population census by religion for Bosnian Sandžak:

• 25,068 Christian houses
• 4,485 Moslem houses

Turkish historian Omer Lutfi Barkan conducted a population census based on religion in the Bosnian Sandžak:

• 334,325 inhabitants of whome 38,7% were followers of Islam

Religious population census conducted in Bosnia by Ottoman officials¹:

• Muslims cca. 361,950 (57%)
• Catholics cca. 215,900 (34%)
• Orthodox cca. 57,150 (9%)

Religious population census conducted by Ottoman oficials in Bosnia in 1624¹:

• Muslims cca. 315,000 (67%)
• Catholics cca. 90,000 (22%)
• Orthodox cca. 45,000 (11%)

Demographic history of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Late 16th century - Early 17th century

During this period, according to various Austrian and Ottoman sources, Bosnia's entire nobility, the greater part of her citizenry and a part of the serfdom were Muslims, around 75% of the population of the Bosnian pashadom.

Demographic history of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Late 18th century - Early 19th century

The Islamic population of Bosnia and Herzegovina started to gradually drop due to frequent wars fought by the Ottoman Empire. Muslims were required by Ottoman law to serve in the military, whereas Christians were not part of the army.

Both Moslem and Christian populations were considerably thinned in the 18th century due to frequent plagues.

A huge plague epidemic reportedly halved the entire population of Bosnia and Herzegovina.^{[citation needed]}

Demographic history of Bosnia and Herzegovina - 1875/1876 population census

During this period an Ottoman population census by religion was conducted, but with vague, impresice and varying figures:

• Greek Orthodox Christians 32.63% - 46.6%
• Sunni Muslims 32.6% - 51.9%
• Roman Catholic Christians 14.97% - 20.17%

Territorial distribution:

• The majority of Bosnia and Herzegovina's territory was inhabited by the Orthodox Christians, who formed a majority on more than 53% of the teritory of Bosnia and Herzegovina: these were the vast regions of Western Bosnia, Eastern Herzegovina, Posavina, the middle and lower course of Drina as well as some parts of central Bosnia. The re-establishment of the Peć Patriarchate in 1557 contributed greatly to preservation of Orthodox presence in these areas.

• The Moslem population comprised majority on 27% of the teritory of Bosnia and Herzegovina: these were the towns of eastern and central Bosnia (Sarajevo and Tuzla) as well as some parts and towns of Western Bosnia (Bihać, Banja Luka and Cazin). In general, Moslems were the dominant group in most developed urban centers of the country.

• The Roman Catholic population is characteristic as its population comprised majority on around 20% of the teritory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while their numbers during the Ottoman domination were even lower. The preservation of a Catholic presence in these areas was greatly contributed by the establishment of the Franciscian Order, which acted against Catholic emigration.

Bosnia accepted a wave of immigrants of Jews that were expelled from Spain since the 15th century. They settled in Sarajevo, Travnik, Banja Luka and Bihać. The immigration of the Romanies, Cincars, Čerkez, in small numbers, coincided with the Ottoman conquest of Bosnia and Herzegovina. None of these groups considerably influenced the overall population structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Demographic history of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Serbian insurrections 1875-1878

During the liberational wars fought by the Serbs between 1875 and 1878, Bosnia and Herzegovina lost 13,64% of its population (150,000 out of total 1,100,000) of whom most were Serbs.

Modern

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Ottoman Empire", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki