According to data of the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are around two million persons of Bosnian and Herzegovinian descent, including also the second and third generation of emigrants, who are temporarily or permanently living outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In comparison to other European countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina has the largest share of nationals living abroad. Emigrants are still particularly attached to their home country, which is also confirmed by the fact that members of the diaspora send around two billion of US dollars per year to Bosnia and Herzegovina, mostly as private financial assistance for family and friends. According to World Bank data, remittances sent by the diaspora every year amount to 13% of the GDP.

In spite of this, the great potential of the diaspora for contributing to the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina is unfortunately still untapped, especially when it comes to knowledge, experience, professional abilities and networks that the diaspora acquired in other countries. Research findings of a study called The population of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Switzerland and conducted by the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland in the period 2012-2014 indicate that more than 60,000 emigrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina live, work and educate themselves in this country.

The same study has shown that there were three migration waves from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Switzerland. During the first two waves in 1960s and 1980s, persons from Bosnia and Herzegovina (former Yugoslavia) mostly emigrated to Switzerland for economic reasons, whereas in 1990s, a large number of persons were forced to leave Bosnia and Herzegovina due to the war.

Most emigrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina live in Switzerland in the following cantons: St. Gallen, Aargau, Zürich, Vaud, Lucerne, Bern and Ticino. The study has also shown that the B&H diaspora in Switzerland is very heterogeneous and that it is actually not one, but rather three diasporas of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Most diaspora associations and organisations are also divided along ethnic and religious lines.

Members of the B&H diaspora in Switzerland are actively involved in the social, economic and cultural life of Switzerland and they are very well integrated in the Swiss system and society. This is also confirmed by the fact that a growing number of persons from Bosnia and Herzegovina has been graduating from faculties and universities throughout Switzerland since 2002.

At the same time, the diaspora still plays a role in the social life of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The diaspora constitutes a high-quality and indispensable resource for the establishment and strengthening of social, economic, scientific and cultural cooperation between Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina.