Banja Luka

Banja Luka
Бања Лука
Grad Banja Luka
Град Бања Лука
City of Banja Luka
Location within Republika Srpska / Bosnia and Herzegovina
Interactive map of Banja Luka
Banja Luka
Location within Bosnia and Herzegovina
Banja Luka
Location within Europe
Coordinates: 44°46′21″N 17°11′33″E / 44.77250°N 17.19250°E / 44.77250; 17.19250
Country Bosnia and Herzegovina
Entity Republika Srpska
Geographical regionBosanska Krajina
Government
 • BodyCity Assembly of Banja Luka
 • MayorDraško Stanivuković (PDP)
Area
 • City
1,238.91 km2 (478.35 sq mi)
Elevation
163 m (535 ft)
Population
 • City
185,042
 • Urban
138,963
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
78000
Area code+387 51
Websitewww.banjaluka.rs.ba

Banja Luka (Serbian Cyrillic: Бања Лука, pronounced [bǎɲa lǔːka] ) or Banjaluka (Serbian Cyrillic: Бањалука, pronounced [baɲalǔːka]) is the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the most populous in Republika Srpska. It is Republika Srpska‘s main economic, political, and administrative center. Banja Luka is the traditional centre of the densely forested Bosanska Krajina region of northwestern Bosnia & Herzegovina. According to the 2013 census, the city proper has a population of 138,963, while its administrative area comprises a total of 185,042 inhabitants.

The city is home to the University of Banja Luka and the University Clinical Center of the Republika Srpska, as well as numerous entities and state institutions for the Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, respectively. The city is located on the Vrbas river. Banja Luka was designated a European city of Sport in 2018.