2010 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 April 2009, Croatia joined NATO; it is a candidate for eventual EU accession.

Area

land

55,974 sq km

total

56,594 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

highest point

Dinara 1,831 m

lowest point

Adriatic Sea 0 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

border countries

Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia 241 km, Montenegro 25 km, Slovenia 455 km

total

1,982 km

Land use

arable land

25.82%

other

71.99% (2005)

permanent crops

2.19%

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea

12 nm

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) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

9.63 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

11.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2004)

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.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 10 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

200 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

6.33 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.26 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.4 years (2010 est.)

male

71.95 years

total population

75.58 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

97.1% (2001 census)

male

99.3%

total population

98.1%

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

female

43 years (2010 est.)

male

39.3 years

total

41.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Croatian

noun

Croat(s), Croatian(s)

Net migration rate

1.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

4,486,881 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.061% (2010 est.)

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)

female

14 years (2007)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.055 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.43 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

57% of total population (2008)

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

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

45 48 N, 16 00 E

name

Zagreb

time difference

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

Constitution

adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Croatia

conventional short form

Croatia

former

People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia

local long form

Republika Hrvatska

local short form

Hrvatska

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador James B. FOLEY

embassy

2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb

FAX

[385] (1) 661-2373

mailing address

use street address

telephone

[385] (1) 661-2200

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 588-8936

telephone

[1] (202) 588-5899

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the parliamentary assembly (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Ivo JOSIPOVIC (since 18 February 2010)

election results

Ivo JOSIPOVIC elected president; percent of vote in the second round - Ivo JOSIPOVIC 60%, Milan BANDIC 40%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 January 2010 (next to be held in December 2015); the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president and then approved by the assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Jadranka KOSOR (since 6 July 2009); Deputy Prime Ministers Bozidar PANKRETIC (since 6 July 2009), Darko MILINOVIC (since 13 November 2009), Domagoj Ivan MILOSEVIC (since 29 December 2010), Petar COBANKOVIC (since 29 December 2010), Slobodan UZELAC (since 12 January 2008), Gordan JANDROKOVIC (since 29 December 2010)

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, they are (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

Government type

presidential/parliamentary democracy

Independence

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (applicant), FAO, G-11, 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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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)

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

elections

last held on 25 November 2007 (next to be held by November 2011)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN note: adopted 1972; "Lijepa nasa domovino," whose lyrics were written in 1835, served as an unofficial anthem beginning in 1891

name

"Lijepa nasa domovino" (Our Beautiful Homeland)

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 [Jadranka KOSOR]; 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 [Darinko KOSOR]; 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, 16 if employed; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2009) 9% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.55% (31 December 2009 est.) 10.07% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.312 billion (2010 est.) -$3.247 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$59.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $62.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

29 (2008) 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

18 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

5.668 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

12.24 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

11.49 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

kuna (HRK) per US dollar - 5.6356 (2010), 5.271 (2009), 4.98 (2008), 5.3735 (2007), 5.8625 (2006)

Exports

$11.51 billion (2010 est.) $10.72 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 19.1%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 12.98%, Germany 11.06%, Slovenia 7.47%, Austria 5.44%, Serbia 5.41% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

6.8%

industry

27.2%

services

66% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$17,500 (2010 est.) $17,700 (2009 est.) $18,800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-1.4% (2010 est.) -5.8% (2009 est.) 2.4% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$59.92 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$78.52 billion (2010 est.) $79.64 billion (2009 est.) $84.54 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$20.93 billion (2010 est.) $21 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Italy 15.46%, Germany 13.57%, Russia 9.29%, China 6.83%, Slovenia 5.75%, Austria 5.04% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.9% (2010 est.)

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)

1.3% (2010 est.) 2.4% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.4% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.762 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

5%

industry

31.3%

services

63.6% (2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$25.64 billion (31 December 2009) $26.79 billion (31 December 2008) $65.98 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

3.205 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

695.5 million cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.22 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

2.847 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

30.58 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

106,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

43,750 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

122,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

23,960 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

73.35 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

17% (2008)

Public debt

55% of GDP (2010 est.) 46.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$13.79 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $14.89 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$40.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $42.59 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$6.334 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $5.934 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$34.63 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $32.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$48.62 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $48.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$8.72 billion (31 December 2010 est) $8.964 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

17.6% (2010 est.) 16.1% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

the national state-owned public broadcaster, Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT), operates 2 terrestrial TV networks, a satellite channel that rebroadcasts programs for Croatians living abroad, and 6 regional TV centers; 2 private broadcasters operate national terrestrial networks; about 15 privately-owned regional TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; state-owned public broadcaster operates 3 national radio networks and a number of regional radio stations; 2 privately-owned national radio networks and a large number of regional, county, city, and community radio stations (2007)

Internet country code

.hr

Internet hosts

1.287 million (2010)

Internet users

2.234 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line teledensity holding steady at about 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions exceed the population

general assessment

the telecommunications network has improved steadily since the mid-1990s; 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 (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.859 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

6.035 million (2009)

Airports

69 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

23 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 9 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

46 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 38 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 24, cargo 7, chemical tanker 6, passenger/cargo 27, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1

foreign-owned

2 (Norway 2)

registered in other countries

33 (Bahamas 1, Belize 1, Liberia 2, Malta 7, Marshall Islands 12, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8) (2010)

total

75

Pipelines

gas 1,327 km; oil 583 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibernik, Split, Vukovar (on Danube River)

Railways

standard gauge

2,722 km 1.435-m gauge (985 km electrified) (2009)

total

2,722 km

Roadways

total

29,248 km (includes 1,043 km of expressways) (2008)

Waterways

785 km (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,021,904 females age 16-49: 1,023,465 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 770,574 females age 16-49: 844,594 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

26,503 (2010 est.)

male

27,670

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 (2010)

Military expenditures

2.39% of GDP (2005 est.)

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

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 January 20, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

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