The World Factbook
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People and Society

Population

total: 4,150,116

male: 2,003,431

female: 2,146,685 (2024 est.)

comparison rankings : female 129; male 130; total 129

Nationality

noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)

adjective: Croatian

note: the French designation of "Croate" to Croatian mercenaries in the 17th century eventually became "Cravate" and later came to be applied to the soldiers' scarves - the cravat; Croatia celebrates Cravat Day every 18 October

Ethnic groups

Croat 91.6%, Serb 3.2%, other 3.9% (including Bosniak, Romani, Albanian, Italian, and Hungarian), unspecified 1.3% (2021 est.)

Languages

Croatian (official) 95.2%, Serbian 1.2%, other 3.1% (including Bosnian, Romani, Albanian, and Italian) unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)

major-language sample(s):

Knjiga svjetskih Äinjenica, nuÅ¾an izvor osnovnih informacija. (Croatian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Croatian audio sample :

Religions

Roman Catholic 79%, Orthodox 3.3%, Protestant 0.3%, other Christian 4.8%, Muslim 1.3%, other 1.1%, agnostic 1.7%, none or atheist 4.7%, unspecified 3.9% (2021 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.8% (male 296,527/female 278,236)

15-64 years: 63.1% (male 1,307,814/female 1,309,394)

65 years and over: 23.1% (2024 est.) (male 399,090/female 559,055)

2023 population pyramid :

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 56.5

youth dependency ratio: 22.1

elderly dependency ratio: 34.4

potential support ratio: 2.9 (2021 est.)

Median age

total: 45.1 years (2024 est.)

male: 43.2 years

female: 47 years

comparison ranking : total 20

Population growth rate

-0.46% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking : 220

Birth rate

8.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking : 205

Death rate

13.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking : 13

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking : 86

Population distribution

more of the population lives in the northern half of the country, with approximately a quarter of the populace residing in and around the capital of Zagreb; many of the islands are sparsely populated

Urbanization

urban population: 58.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Major urban areas - population

684,000 ZAGREB (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

29 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

comparison ranking : 169

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking : total 143

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.7 years (2024 est.)

male: 74.6 years

female: 81 years

comparison ranking : total population 86

Total fertility rate

1.46 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking : 206

Gross reproduction rate

0.71 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Drinking water source

improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Current health expenditure

7.8% of GDP (2020)

Physician density

3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Hospital bed density

5.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 99.5% of population

rural: 98.4% of population

total: 99% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population

rural: 1.6% of population

total: 1% of population (2020 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate (2023)

vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.4% (2016)

comparison ranking : 59

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 9.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 4.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 3.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking : total 25

Tobacco use

total: 36.9% (2020 est.)

male: 37.6% (2020 est.)

female: 36.1% (2020 est.)

comparison ranking : total 11

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

50.8% (2023 est.)

Education expenditures

5.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

comparison ranking : 60

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.4%

male: 99.7%

female: 99.2% (2021)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years

male: 14 years

female: 16 years (2020)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Croatia

conventional short form: Croatia

local long form: Republika Hrvatska

local short form: Hrvatska

former: People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia

etymology: name derives from the Croats, a Slavic tribe who migrated to the Balkans in the 7th century A.D.

Government type

parliamentary republic

Capital

name: Zagreb

geographic coordinates: 45 48 N, 16 00 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: the name seems to be related to "digging"; archeologists suggest that the original settlement was established beyond a water-filled hole or graba and that the name derives from this; za in Slavic means "beyond"; the overall meaning may be "beyond the trench (fault, channel, ditch)"

Administrative divisions

20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad - singular) with special county status; Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska (Bjelovar-Bilogora), Brodsko-Posavska (Brod-Posavina), Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria), Karlovacka (Karlovac), Koprivnicko-Krizevacka (Koprivnica-Krizevci), Krapinsko-Zagorska (Krapina-Zagorje), Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska (Medimurje), Osjecko-Baranjska (Osijek-Baranja), Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska (Primorje-Gorski Kotar), Sibensko-Kninska (Sibenik-Knin), Sisacko-Moslavacka (Sisak-Moslavina), Splitsko-Dalmatinska (Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska (Varazdin), Viroviticko-Podravska (Virovitica-Podravina), Vukovarsko-Srijemska (Vukovar-Syrmia), Zadarska (Zadar), Zagreb*, Zagrebacka (Zagreb county)

Independence

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia); note - 25 June 1991 was the day the Croatian parliament voted for independence; following a three-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the Yugoslav crisis peacefully, parliament adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia; notable earlier dates: ca. 925 (Kingdom of Croatia established); 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) established)

National holiday

Statehood Day (National Day), 30 May (1990); note - marks the day in 1990 that the first modern multi-party Croatian parliament convened

Legal system

civil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary; note - Croatian law was fully harmonized with the European Community acquis as of the June 2010 completion of EU accession negotiations

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1990

amendments: proposed by at least one fifth of the Assembly membership, by the president of the republic, by the Government of Croatia, or through petition by at least 10% of the total electorate; proceedings to amend require majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; passage by petition requires a majority vote in a referendum and promulgation by the Assembly; amended several times, last in 2014

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Croatia

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Zoran MILANOVIC (since 18 February 2020)

head of government: Prime Minister Andrej PLENKOVIC (since 19 October 2016)

cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the Assembly

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 December 2019 with a runoff on 5 January 2020 (next to be held in 2024); the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president and approved by the Assembly

election results:

2019: Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 52.7%, Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (HDZ) 47.3%

2015: Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (HDZ) 50.7%, Ivo JOSIPOVIC (Forward Croatia Progressive Alliance) 49.3%

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Assembly or Hrvatski Sabor (151 seats; 140 members in 10 multi-seat constituencies and 3 members in a single constituency for Croatian diaspora directly elected by proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method with a 5% threshold; an additional 8 members elected from a nationwide constituency by simple majority by voters belonging to minorities recognized by Croatia; the Serb minority elects 3 Assembly members, the Hungarian and Italian minorities elect 1 each, the Czech and Slovak minorities elect 1 jointly, and all other minorities elect 2; all members serve 4-year terms

elections: last election held on 17 April 2024 (next to be held by April 2028)

election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - HDZ-led coalition 40.4%, SDP 27.8%, DP 9.3%, MOST 7.3%, We Can! 6.6%, SDSS 2.0%, Independents 1.3%, NPS 1.3%, IDS 1.3%, Bosniaks Together 0.7%, DZMH 0.7%, Focus 0.7%, SRRH 0.7%; seats by party/coalition - HDZ-led coalition 61, SDP 42, DP 14, MOST 11, We Can! 10, SDSS 3, Independents 2, NPS 2, IDS 2, Bosniaks Together 1, DZMH 1, Focus 1, SRRH 1; composition - men 101, women 50, percent of women 33%

note: on 14 March 2024, the Assembly voted unanimously to dissolve, prompting the April 2024 snap election

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and vice president, 25 civil department justices, and 16 criminal department justices)

judge selection and term of office: president of Supreme Court nominated by the president of Croatia and elected by the Sabor for a 4-year term; other Supreme Court justices appointed by the National Judicial Council; all judges serve until age 70

subordinate courts: Administrative Court; county, municipal, and specialized courts; note - there is an 11-member Constitutional Court with jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues but is outside of the judicial system

Political parties

Bosniaks Together

The Bridge or MOST (formerly the Bridge of Independent Lists)

Croatia Romani Union Kali Sara (SRRH)

Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ

Democratic Union of Hungarians in Croatia (DZMH)

Focus or Fokus

Homeland Movement or DP (also known as Miroslav Å koro Homeland Movement or DPMS)

Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSSÂ

Independent Platform of the North (NPS)

Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS

Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP

We Can! or Mozemo!Â

International organization participation

AIIB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EMU, EU, FAO, G-11, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Pjer Å IMUNOVIÄ (since 8 September 2017)

chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899

FAX: [1] (202) 588-8937

email address and website:

washington@mvep.hr

https://mvep.gov.hr/embassy-114969/114969

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle (WA)

consulate(s): Anchorage (AL), Houston, Kansas City (MO),Minneapolis/St. Paul (MN), New Orleans, Pittsburgh (PA)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Nathalie RAYES (since 25 January 2024)

embassy: Ulica Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb

mailing address: 5080 Zagreb Place, Washington DCÂ 20521-5080

telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200

FAX: [385] (1) 665-8933

email address and website:

ZagrebACS@state.gov

https://hr.usembassy.gov/

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue - the Pan-Slav colors - superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms; the coat of arms consists of one main shield (a checkerboard of 13 red and 12 silver (white) fields) surmounted by five smaller shields that form a crown over the main shield; the five small shields represent five historic regions (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia

note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

National symbol(s)

red-white checkerboard; national colors: red, white, blue

National anthem

name: "Lijepa nasa domovino" (Our Beautiful Homeland)

lyrics/music: Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN

note: adopted in 1972 while still part of Yugoslavia; "Lijepa nasa domovino," whose lyrics were written in 1835, served as an unofficial anthem beginning in 1891

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 10 (8 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Plitvice Lakes National Park (n); Historic Split (c); Old City of Dubrovnik (c); Euphrasian Basilica; Historic Trogir (c); Å ibenik Cathedral (c); Stari Grad Plain (c); Zadar and Fort St. Nikola Venetian Defense Works (c); Primeval Beech Forests (n); SteÄci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c)

Economy

Economic overview

tourism-based economy that was one of the hardest hit by COVID-19 economic disruptions; newest euro user since 2023, helping recover from a 6-year recession; public debt increases due to COVID-19 and stimulus packages; weak exports; continuing emigration; new liquefied natural gas import terminal

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$159.305 billion (2023 est.)

$154.574 billion (2022 est.)

$144.425 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking : 81

Real GDP growth rate

3.06% (2023 est.)

7.03% (2022 est.)

13.04% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking : 107

Real GDP per capita

$41,300 (2023 est.)

$40,100 (2022 est.)

$37,200 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking : 59

GDP (official exchange rate)

$82.689 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.94% (2023 est.)

10.78% (2022 est.)

2.55% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking : 154

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: BBB- (2019)

Moody's rating: Ba1 (2020)

Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2019)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3.7% (2017 est.)

industry: 26.2% (2017 est.)

services: 70.1% (2017 est.)

comparison rankings : services 69; industry 107; agriculture 143

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 57.3% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 19.5% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 20% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 51.1% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -48.8% (2017 est.)

Agricultural products

maize, wheat, maize, sugar beets, milk, barley, soybeans, sunflower seeds, grapes, pork (2022)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages, tourism

Industrial production growth rate

-0.47% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking : 160

Labor force

1.744 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking : 132

Unemployment rate

6.06% (2023 est.)

6.96% (2022 est.)

7.61% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking : 123

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 19.2% (2023 est.)

male: 17.3% (2023 est.)

female: 22.3% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking : total 67

Population below poverty line

18% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

28.9 (2021 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

comparison ranking : 131

Average household expenditures

on food: 19.6% of household expenditures (2021 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 6.6% of household expenditures (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.1% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 22.3% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

6.89% of GDP (2023 est.)

7.51% of GDP (2022 est.)

7.23% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $212.81 billion (2019 est.)

expenditures: $211.069 billion (2019 est.)

Public debt

82.08% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking : 38

Taxes and other revenues

21.41% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking : 72

Current account balance

$956.968 million (2023 est.)

-$2.336 billion (2022 est.)

$651.685 million (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking : 57

Exports

$44.969 billion (2023 est.)

$41.903 billion (2022 est.)

$34.367 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking : 69

Exports - partners

Italy 13%, Slovenia 11%, Germany 11%, Hungary 10%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 9% (2022)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, electricity, natural gas, garments, wood (2022)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$46.571 billion (2023 est.)

$46.664 billion (2022 est.)

$36.256 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking : 70

Imports - partners

Italy 14%, Germany 12%, Slovenia 11%, Hungary 7%, US 7% (2022)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

natural gas, refined petroleum, electricity, garments, cars (2022)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.176 billion (2023 est.)

$29.726 billion (2022 est.)

$28.309 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking : 62

Debt - external

$48.263 billion (2019 est.)

$51.176 billion (2018 est.)

comparison ranking : 70

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:

0.925 (2023 est.)

0.95 (2022 est.)

0.845 (2021 est.)

0.876 (2020 est.)

0.893 (2019 est.)

note: Croatia used the kuna prior to conversion to the euro on 1 January 2023. During the transition period the exchange rate was fixed at 7.53450 kuna to 1 euro.

Military and Security

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike Hrvatske, OSRH): Ground Forces (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM; includes Coast Guard), Air Force (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo, HRZ) (2024)

note: the Ministry of the Interior is responsible for internal security, including law enforcement (Croatia Police) and border security

Military expenditures

1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

1.8% of GDP (2023)

1.8% of GDP (2022)

2% of GDP (2021)

1.7% of GDP (2020)

comparison ranking : 77

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 14,000 active-duty personnel (10,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 1,500 Air force; 1,000 joint/other) (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is a mix of Soviet-era equipment and a growing amount of more modern weapon systems from Western suppliers, including France, Germany, and the US (2024)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2008 (2024)

note: as of 2021, women comprised nearly 15% of the military's full-time personnel

Military deployments

150 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO); 175 Lithuania (NATO; Croatia also has a few hundred personnel participating in several other EU, NATO, and UN missions (2024)

Military - note

the Armed Forces of Croatia (OSRH) are responsible for the defense of Croatiaâs sovereignty and territory, contributing to international humanitarian, peacekeeping, and security missions, and providing assistance to civil authorities for such missions as responding to disasters, search and rescue, anti-terrorism, and internal security in times of crisis if called upon by the prime minister or the president; Croatia joined NATO in 2009, and the OSRH participates in NATO missions, including its peacekeeping force in Kosovo and the Enhanced Forward Presence mission in Eastern Europe; it also contributes to EU and UN missions; the OSRH trains regularly with NATO and regional partners Â

the OSRH was established in 1991 from the Croatian National Guard during the Croatian War of Independence (1991-95); during the war, the ground forces grew to as many as 60 brigades and dozens of independent battalions, and a single military offensive against Serbian forces in 1995 included some 100,000 Croatian troops; in 2000, Croatia initiated an effort to modernize and reform the OSRH into a small, professional military capable of meeting the challenges of NATO membership; the current 15,000-strong militaryâs principal combat forces are two mechanized infantry brigades, a small joint service special operations command, a flotilla of missile boats and coastal patrol vessels, and a squadron of Soviet-era fighter aircraft that are in the process of being replaced by more modern French aircraft (2023)