2009 Edition

Background

The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent Communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998. In January 2008, Croatia assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008-09 term, and in April 2008 it joined NATO. Croatia is a candidate for eventual EU accession.

Area

total: 56,594 sq km country comparison to the world: 126 land: 55,974 sq km water: 620 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Climate

Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast

Coastline

5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Dinara 1,830 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

45 10 N, 15 30 E

Geography - note

controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits; most Adriatic Sea islands lie off the coast of Croatia - some 1,200 islands, islets, ridges, and rocks

Irrigated land

110 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,982 km border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia 241 km, Montenegro 25 km, Slovenia 455 km

Land use

arable land: 25.82% permanent crops: 2.19% other: 71.99% (2005)

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Natural resources

oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower

Terrain

geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands

Total renewable water resources

105.5 cu km (1998)

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.6% (male 358,360/female 340,098) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 1,506,364/female 1,522,789) 65 years and over: 17% (male 295,960/female 465,838) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

9.64 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Death rate

11.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 89

Ethnic groups

Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, other 5.9% (including Bosniak, Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, and Roma) (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 10 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.37 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 178 male: 6.42 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Croatian 96.1%, Serbian 1%, other and undesignated 2.9% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) (2001 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.35 years country comparison to the world: 79 male: 71.72 years female: 79.18 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.1% male: 99.3% female: 97.1% (2001 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Median age

total: 41 years male: 39.1 years female: 42.8 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s) adjective: Croatian

Net migration rate

1.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Population

4,489,409 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Population growth rate

-0.052% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Religions

Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.42 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Urbanization

urban population: 57% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Administrative divisions

20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad - singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska, Brodsko-Posavska, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria), Karlovacka, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka, Krapinsko-Zagorska, Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska, Osjecko-Baranjska, Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska, Sibensko-Kninska, Sisacko-Moslavacka, Splitsko-Dalmatinska (Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska, Viroviticko-Podravska, Vukovarsko-Srijemska, Zadarska, Zagreb*, Zagrebacka

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

Constitution

adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert A. BRADTKE embassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb mailing address: use street address telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC chancery: Suite F13, 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899

Executive branch

chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Jadranka KOSOR (since 6 July 2009); Deputy Prime Ministers Bozidar PANKRETIC (since 6 July 2009), Damir POLANCEC (since 15 February 2005), Djurdja ADLESIC (since 12 January 2008), Slobodan UZELAC (since 12 January 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the parliamentary assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 16 January 2005 (next to be held in January 2010); the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president and then approved by the assembly election results: Stjepan MESIC reelected president; percent of vote in the second round - Stjepan MESIC 66%, Jadranka KOSOR 34%

FAX

[1] (202) 588-8936 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

[385] (1) 661-2373

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue, superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)

Government type

presidential/parliamentary democracy

Independence

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

International organization participation

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts are appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the Assembly

Legal system

based on Austro-Hungarian law system with Communist law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly or Sabor (153 seats; members elected from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 25 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; number of seats by party - HDZ 66, SDP 57, HNS 6, HSS 6, HDSSB 3, IDS 3, SDSS 3, other 9

National holiday

Independence Day, 8 October (1991); 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

Political parties and leaders

Croatian Democratic Congress of Slavonia and Baranja or HDSSB [Vladimir SISLJAGIC]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Ivo SANADER]; Croatian Party of the Right or HSP [Anto DJAPIC]; Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Josip FRISCIC]; Croatian Pensioner Party or HSU [Silvano HRELJA]; Croatian People's Party or HNS [Radimir CACIC]; Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Djurdja ADLESIC]; Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Vojislav STANIMIROVIC]; Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]; Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Zoran MILANOVIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: human rights groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Agriculture - products

wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Budget

revenues: $26.86 billion expenditures: $28.54 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 49 9% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.07% (31 December 2008)

Current account balance

-$6.397 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 -$4.447 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$54.79 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 50 $48.93 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

29 (2008) country comparison to the world: 119 29 (1998)

Economy - overview

Once one of the wealthiest of the Yugoslav republics, Croatia's economy suffered badly during the 1991-95 war as output collapsed and the country missed the early waves of investment in Central and Eastern Europe that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall. Between 2000 and 2007, however, Croatia's economic fortunes began to improve slowly, with moderate but steady GDP growth between 4% and 6% led by a rebound in tourism and credit-driven consumer spending. Inflation over the same period has remained tame and the currency, the kuna, stable. Nevertheless, difficult problems still remain, including a stubbornly high unemployment rate, a growing trade deficit and uneven regional development. The state retains a large role in the economy, as privatization efforts often meet stiff public and political resistance. While macroeconomic stabilization has largely been achieved, structural reforms lag because of deep resistance on the part of the public and lack of strong support from politicians. The EU accession process should accelerate fiscal and structural reform. While long term growth prospects for the economy remain strong, Croatia will face significant pressure as a result of the global financial crisis. Croatia's high foreign debt, anemic export sector, strained state budget, and over-reliance on tourism revenue will result in higher risk to economic stability over the medium term.

Electricity - consumption

15.42 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Electricity - exports

2.14 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

8.249 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

11.47 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Exchange rates

kuna (HRK) per US dollar - 4.98 (2008 est.), 5.3735 (2007), 5.8625 (2006), 5.9473 (2005), 6.0358 (2004)

Exports

$14.36 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $12.62 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

transport equipment, machinery, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels

Exports - partners

Italy 18.9%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 15.3%, Germany 10.7%, Slovenia 7.7%, Austria 5.7% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 6% industry: 27.7% services: 66.3% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$18,400 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 $17,900 (2007 est.) $17,000 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 5.5% (2007 est.) 4.7% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$69.36 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$82.58 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 $80.65 billion (2007 est.) $76.44 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 23.1% (2005 est.)

Imports

$30.42 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $25.56 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, transport and electrical equipment; chemicals, fuels and lubricants; foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Italy 17.1%, Germany 13.4%, Russia 10.5%, China 6.1%, Slovenia 5.6%, Austria 4.9% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

1.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 4.5% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

31.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Labor force

1.731 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 5% industry: 31.3% services: 63.6% (2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$26.79 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 55 $65.98 billion (31 December 2007) $29.01 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

2.84 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Natural gas - exports

310 million cu m (2007) country comparison to the world: 39

Natural gas - imports

1.26 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Natural gas - production

1.58 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Natural gas - proved reserves

30.58 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Oil - consumption

105,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Oil - exports

43,750 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Oil - imports

122,100 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Oil - production

22,200 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Oil - proved reserves

79.3 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Population below poverty line

11% (2003)

Public debt

42.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 41.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$12.96 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $13.67 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$3.343 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $3.124 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$27.17 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $23.17 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$49.79 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 48 $45.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$10.71 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 43 $11.61 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$33.17 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 35 $31.86 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

13.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 11.8% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.hr

Internet hosts

1.23 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 38

Internet users

1.88 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 71

Radio broadcast stations

AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)

Telephone system

general assessment: the telecommunications network has improved steadily since the mid-1990s; the number of fixed telephone lines holding steady at about 40 per 100 persons; the number of cellular telephone subscriptions exceeds the population domestic: more than 90 percent of local lines are digital international: country code - 385; digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists of 2 fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; the ADRIA-1 submarine cable provides connectivity to Albania and Greece (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.851 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 60

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.924 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 80

Television broadcast stations

36 (plus 321 repeaters) (1995)

Airports

68 (2009) country comparison to the world: 73

Airports - with paved runways

total: 23 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 9 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 37 (2009)

Heliports

1 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 80 country comparison to the world: 54 by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 11, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo 30, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2 registered in other countries: 30 (Bahamas 1, Belize 2, Liberia 2, Malta 9, Marshall Islands 6, Panama 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 1,327 km; oil 583 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibenik, Vukovar (on Danube River)

Railways

total: 2,722 km country comparison to the world: 62 standard gauge: 2,722 km 1.435-m gauge (980 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways

total: 28,788 km (includes 877 km of expressways) (2006) country comparison to the world: 99

Waterways

785 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 74

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,035,712 females age 16-49: 1,037,896 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 770,798 females age 16-49: 849,957 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 27,620 female: 26,154 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike Hrvatske, OSRH), consists of five major commands directly subordinate to a General Staff: Ground Forces (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM; includes coast guard), Air Force and Air Defense Command, Joint Education and Training Command, Logistics Command; Military Police Force supports each of the three Croatian military forces (2009)

Military expenditures

2.39% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary service; 6-month conscript service obligation; full conversion to voluntary military service by 2010 (2006)

Disputes - international

dispute remains with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several small sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinders ratification of the 1999 border agreement; the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of Pirin Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to Croatia, remains unratified and in dispute; Slovenia also protests Croatia's 2003 claim to an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic; as a European Union peripheral state, Slovenia imposed a hard border Schengen regime with non-member Croatia in December 2007

IDPs

2,900-7,000 (Croats and Serbs displaced in 1992-95 war) (2007)

Illicit drugs

transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe (2008) page last updated on November 11, 2009