Canton 10 (Croatian: Hercegbosanska županija; Serbian: Кантон 10; Bosnian: Kanton 10) is a federated state and one of the ten cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the largest canton by area and the eighth by population. The local government seat is in Livno, while the assembly is in Tomislavgrad.
Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Status | Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Capital | Livno (executive), Tomislavgrad (legislative) |
| Largest city | Livno |
| Official languages | Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian |
| Area | 4,934.9 km² (1,905.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2013 census) | 83,844 |
| Ethnic groups (2013) | 77.05% Croats, 13.01% Serbs, 9.58% Bosniaks |
| Government | Parliamentary system |
| Prime Minister | Ivan Vukadin (HNP) |
| President of Assembly | Jozo Ćosić (HDZ 1990) |
| Establishment | 12 June 1996 |
| HDI (2023) | 0.827 (very high) |
| Currency | BAM (Bosnian Convertible Mark) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET), UTC+2 (CEST summer) |
Name and Symbols
The canton is officially referred to by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as Canton 10 (Kanton 10 or Županija 10). The local government refers to it as the Herzeg-Bosnia County, a name that was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of the Federation because it implies a characteristic shared by all cantons. Other names used include North Herzegovina Canton (Sjevernohercegovački kanton) and Livno Canton (Livanjski kanton), after its capital.
The coat of arms under the canton's constitution is a variant of the historical Croatian coat of arms, and the flag is a horizontal tricolour of red, white, and blue with the coat of arms in the middle. These symbols, inherited from the former Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia, were deemed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court because "they only represented one constituent nation." The local government continues to use them at official institutions.
Since 2005, the constitution lists the "languages spoken by Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks" as official languages, without naming them individually, with both Latin and Cyrillic scripts having equal status.
Geography
Canton 10 covers the southwestern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located between Dalmatia (Croatia) to the west, Una-Sana Canton to the north, Central Bosnia Canton to the east, and West Herzegovina Canton and Herzegovina-Neretva Canton to the south and southeast.
The terrain is part of the Dinaric Alps, characterized by vast karst fields — Livno, Duvno, and Glamoč — surrounded by high mountains such as Dinara, Šator, Vran (highest peak Veliki Vran at 2,074 m), Cincar (2,006 m), and Vitorog (1,907 m). The region is known for wild horses roaming freely across the plateaus and for the production of renowned Livno cheese.
Subdivision
Canton 10 comprises six municipalities:
| Municipality | Population (2013) | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Livno (city) | 34,133 | 994 km² |
| Tomislavgrad | 31,592 | 967.4 km² |
| Drvar | 7,036 | 589.3 km² |
| Kupres | 5,057 | 569.8 km² |
| Glamoč | 3,860 | 1,033.6 km² |
| Bosansko Grahovo | 2,449 | 780 km² |
History
The area was originally occupied by the Dalmatae and annexed by the Roman Empire in 15 AD, forming part of the province of Dalmatia. The first written mention of Livno dates to 892, when it was a seat of a county in the Kingdom of Croatia. The region was later part of the Kingdom of Bosnia and, after the death of King Tvrtko I in 1391, came under the Kingdom of Croatia-Hungary.
In the 16th century, the region was integrated into the Ottoman Empire for four centuries. Several uprisings against Ottoman rule occurred in the 19th century, notably the 1875 uprising led by Franciscan priests Stjepan Krešić and Bonaventura Šarić-Drženjak. Austria-Hungary occupied the region after the 1878 Berlin Congress, bringing industrialization and Westernization.
After World War I, the area became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia). During World War II, Marshal Tito operated in the Drvar area (May 1944). After the war, the area became part of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina within Yugoslavia.
During the Bosnian War (1992–1995), the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) controlled the southern parts, while Serb forces controlled the north. The Washington Agreement (1994) ended the Croat-Bosniak War and established the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The canton was formally established on 12 June 1996. From 1996 to 2005, only Croats and Bosniaks were recognized as constituent nations; Serbs were added as a constituent nation in 2005.
Demographics
According to the 1991 census, the canton had 115,682 inhabitants: 51.5% Croats, 35.7% Serbs, and 10.4% Bosniaks. The war caused significant population displacement. By the 2013 census, the population had declined to approximately 84,127, with Croats comprising 76.79%, Serbs 12.96%, and Bosniaks 9.55%. Canton 10 has the largest share of ethnic Serbs in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, though their numbers have steadily decreased since the war.
Economy
The economy is based on agriculture, livestock farming, timber industry, and small businesses. The main economic branches by employment are wholesale and retail trade, processing industry, and agriculture, forestry, and fishing. The canton suffered severe damage during the war and is one of the worst-affected areas in the Federation. The rebuilding process has been slow, but signs of recovery are visible in construction, wood processing, and small enterprises. The average net salary in 2024 was 1,168 KM (approximately €597), with the highest in Livno (1,269 KM) and the lowest in Drvar (928 KM).
Government
The Government of Canton 10 is led by a Prime Minister with one deputy and consists of seven ministries. The current government is a coalition led by the Croatian National Shift (HNP). The Cantonal Assembly (parliament) in Tomislavgrad consists of 25 representatives elected by proportional representation for four-year terms.
