Regional Differences and Regional Planning of Economic Activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions: Southeastern Europe - page 189

in period 1953-2008, with corresponding consequences on economic and social,
respectively socio-geographic development of the country. Thus, according to the
1991 census, Bosnia and Herzegovina had 16.7% of urban population, and in 2008,
share of urban population was around 38.2%. By means of the mentioned models
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 1991, and by using the census data, five urban set-
tlements in which about 45% of population live, were separated. Total of 34 urban
settlements with up to 4,999 inhabitants were prevalent in structure of the urban set-
tlements, according to size. There were 48 of medium-size urban settlements from
5,000 to 19,999 inhabitants, whereas two urban settlements had over 100,000 inhab-
itants. At the same time, 16.72% of urban population, respectively 38.2% of total
population lived in five of the largest urban settlements of Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Table 15.2 ).
In general, if we analyse the particular towns of Bosnia and Herzegovina as
a unique urban system, we will reach edifying results. In order of size of urban
settlements indicating hierarchical features of urban system, certain irregularity is
noticed, which was also present in urban development of Bosnia and Herzegovina
in previous periods. The first thing which is noticed in order of size of urban set-
tlements of Bosnia and Herzegovina is that Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla, Mostar
and Zenica, as the biggest urban settlements, are oversized against the others.
There are unequal dynamics of increase in total population and urban population,
as well as differences between single central settlements and the communities of
municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Vrišer, 1981 , p. 129).
The highest growth of total population in period from 1981 to 1991 had Sarajevo
+74,912 or 12.4%; Zenica + 32,458 or 65.5%; Banja Luka + 15,678 or 15.4%;
Tuzla +18,679 or 28.6% and Mostar +12.438 or 19.6%. In 1991, large industrial
centres of work were dominant in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Stronger centres of
work had a special importance for development of continuous urbanised zones.
According to our analysis these are the centres with 20,000 or more employed peo-
ple. There were five such centres in 1991. Sarajevo is the biggest centre of work,
with more than 184,674 or 46.9%; Banja Luka 65,026 or 16.2%; Zenica 54,991
or 13.7% and Tuzla 51,852 or 12.9% of total employed population in Bosnia and
Herzegovina.

Table 15.2 Structure of urban population of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1991 according to size of
urban settlements

Size of urban
settlements

Number of urban
settlements

%ofurban
population BiH

%oftotal
population BiH % of total Population

100,000 and more 2 2.1 279, 400 16.7 6.3

20,000-99,999 10 10.6 743, 985 44.4 16.9

5,000-19,999 48 51.0 541, 651 32.3 12.3

2,000-4,999 34 36.1 107, 819 6.4 2.4

Total 94 10,000 1,672,855 10,000 38.2

Source: Statistical yearbook of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo 1991