2012 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, along with a majority of Croatia's ethnic Serb population. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998. In April 2009, Croatia joined NATO; Croatia signed the EU Accession Treaty in December 2011 and ratified the Treaty in January, 2012. Croatia will become a member after all 27 EU members ratify the treaty, with a target date of July 2013.

Area

56,594 sq km 55,974 sq km 620 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

Adriatic Sea 0 m Dinara 1,831 m

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

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 none of the selected 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

310 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

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

25.82% 2.19% 71.99% (2005)

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

12 nm 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

14.8% (male 339,354/ female 321,981) 68.1% (male 1,515,405/ female 1,535,739) 17.1% (male 303,879/ female 463,685) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

14.8% (male 339,354/ female 321,981)

15-64 years

68.1% (male 1,515,405/ female 1,535,739)

65 years and over

17.1% (male 303,879/ female 463,685) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

9.57 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

11.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

7.8% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

5.49 beds/1,000 population (2007)

Infant mortality rate

6.06 deaths/1,000 live births 6.16 deaths/1,000 live births 5.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

5.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

6.06 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

75.99 years 72.38 years 79.8 years (2012 est.)

female

79.8 years (2012 est.)

total population

75.99 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 98.8% 99.5% 98.2% (2010 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.2% (2010 est.)

male

99.5%

total population

98.8%

Major cities - population

ZAGREB (capital) 685,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

intermediate bacterial diarrhea tickborne encephalitis 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)

degree of risk

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases

tickborne encephalitis

Maternal mortality rate

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

41.7 years 39.7 years 43.5 years (2012 est.)

female

43.5 years (2012 est.)

male

39.7 years

total

41.7 years

Nationality

Croat(s), Croatian(s) Croatian

adjective

Croatian

noun

Croat(s), Croatian(s)

Net migration rate

1.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.3% (2003)

Physicians density

2.59 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

4,480,043 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.092% (2012 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)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99% of population rural: 98% of population total: 99% of population urban: 1% of population rural: 2% of population total: 1% of population

rural

2% of population

total

1% of population

urban

1% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

14 years 13 years 14 years (2008)

female

14 years (2008)

male

13 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.66 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.66 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.44 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

21.9% 18.5% 27.2% (2008)

female

27.2% (2008)

total

21.9%

Urbanization

58% of total population (2010) 0.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

58% of total population (2010)

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 (Zagreb county)

Capital

Zagreb 45 48 N, 16 00 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001

Country name

Republic of Croatia Croatia Republika Hrvatska Hrvatska People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia

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

Ambassador Kenneth MERTEN 2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb use street address [385] (1) 661-2200 [385] (1) 661-2373

chief of mission

Ambassador Kenneth MERTEN

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

Ambassador Josko PARO 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 588-5899 [1] (202) 588-8936 Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

chancery

2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Josko PARO

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 588-8936

telephone

[1] (202) 588-5899

Executive branch

President Ivo JOSIPOVIC (since 18 February 2010) Prime Minister Zoran MILANOVIC (since 23 December 2011); First Deputy Prime Minister Vesna PUSIC (since 16 November 2012) Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the parliamentary assembly 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 2014); 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 Ivo JOSIPOVIC elected president; percent of vote in the second round - Ivo JOSIPOVIC 60%, Milan BANDIC 40%

cabinet

Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the parliamentary assembly

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 2014); 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 Zoran MILANOVIC (since 23 December 2011); First Deputy Prime Minister Vesna PUSIC (since 16 November 2012)

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

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 s

Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia

Government type

presidential/parliamentary democracy

Independence

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (acceding country), FAO, G-11, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, 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

civil law system based on Yugoslav civil codes; note - Croatia has enacted many reforms to its legal system

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly or Sabor (151 seats; members elected from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held on 4 December 2011 (next to be held in late 2015) percent of vote by party - Kukuriku 40%, HDZ 23.5%, Laborists-Labor 5.1%, HSS 3%, HDSSB 2.9%, Independent list of Ivan Grubisic 2.8%, HCSP-HSP 2.8%, other 19.9%; number of seats by party - Kukuriku 80, HDZ 47, Laborists-Labor 6, HDSSB 6, Independent list of Ivan Grubisic 2, HSS 1, HCSP-HSP 1, other 8

election results

percent of vote by party - Kukuriku 40%, HDZ 23.5%, Laborists-Labor 5.1%, HSS 3%, HDSSB 2.9%, Independent list of Ivan Grubisic 2.8%, HCSP-HSP 2.8%, other 19.9%; number of seats by party - Kukuriku 80, HDZ 47, Laborists-Labor 6, HDSSB 6, Independent list of Ivan Grubisic 2, HSS 1, HCSP-HSP 1, other 8

elections

last held on 4 December 2011 (next to be held in late 2015)

National anthem

"Lijepa nasa domovino" (Our Beautiful Homeland) Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN adopted 1972; "Lijepa nasa domovino," whose lyrics were written in 1835, served as an unofficial anthem beginning in 1891

lyrics/music

Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN

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

National symbol(s)

red-white checkerboard

Political parties and leaders

Croatian Civic Party or HGS [Ante OBAD]; Croatian Democratic Congress of Slavonia and Baranja or HDSSB [Vladimir SISLJAGIC]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Tomislav KARAMARKO]; Croatian Laborists-Labor Party [Dragutin LESAR]; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Daniel SRB]; Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Branko HRG]; Croatian Pensioner Party or HSU [Silvano HRELJA]; Croatian People's Party - Liberal Democrats or HNS [Radimir CACIC]; Croatian Pure Party of Rights-Ante Starcevic or HSP-AS [Ruza TOMASIC]; Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Darinko KOSOR]; Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Vojislav STANIMIROVIC]; Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]; Kukuriku Coalition (consists of SDP, HNS, IDS, and HSU) [Zoran MILANOVIC]; Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Zoran MILANOVIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders

human rights groups

other

human rights groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

arable crops (wheat, corn, barley, sugar beet, sunflower, rapeseed, alfalfa, clover); vegetables (potatoes, cabbage, onion, tomato, pepper); fruits (apples, plum, mandarins, olives), grapes for wine; livestock (cattle, cows, pigs); dairy products

Budget

$19.9 billion $22.51 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$22.51 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$19.9 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

7% (31 December 2011 est.) 9% (31 December 2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.6% (31 December 2012 est.) 9.68% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$232.7 million (2012 est.) -$449 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$64.25 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $64.47 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32 (2010) 29 (1998)

Economy - overview

Though still one of the wealthiest of the former Yugoslav republics, Croatia's economy suffered badly during the 1991-95 war. The country's output during that time collapsed and Croatia 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 remained tame and the currency, the kuna, stable. Croatia experienced an abrupt slowdown in the economy in 2008 and has yet to recover. Difficult problems still remain, including a stubbornly high unemployment rate, a growing trade deficit, uneven regional development, and a challenging investment climate. The new government has announced a more flexible approach to privatization, including the sale in the coming years of state-owned businesses that are not of strategic importance. While macroeconomic stabilization has largely been achieved, structural reforms lag. Croatia will face significant pressure as a result of the global financial crisis, due to reduced exports and capital inflows. Croatia reentered a recession in 2012 and Zagreb cut spending, particularly on social programs. Croatia's high foreign debt, anemic export sector, strained state budget, and over-reliance on tourism revenue will hinder economic progress over the medium term.

Exchange rates

kuna (HRK) per US dollar - 5.891 (2012 est.) 5.3439 (2011 est.) 5.498 (2010 est.) 5.2692 (2009) 4.98 (2008)

Exports

$13.04 billion (2012 est.) $13.64 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 15.8%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 12.2%, Germany 10.1%, Slovenia 8.3%, Austria 5.7% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

5.1% 24.9% 70% (2012 est.)

agriculture

5.1%

industry

24.9%

services

70% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$18,100 (2012 est.) $18,300 (2011 est.) $18,200 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-1.1% (2012 est.) 0% (2011 est.) -1.4% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$57.49 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$79.67 billion (2012 est.) $80.59 billion (2011 est.) $80.6 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

3.3% 27.5% (2008 est.)

highest 10%

27.5% (2008 est.)

lowest 10%

3.3%

Imports

$21.13 billion (2012 est.) $22.52 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Italy 16.3%, Germany 12.6%, Russia 7.2%, China 7.1%, Slovenia 6.2%, Austria 4.5% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

0.3% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.9% (2012 est.) 2.3% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

1.745 million (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

5% 31.3% 63.6% (2008)

agriculture

5%

industry

31.3%

services

63.6% (2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$21.8 billion (31 December 2011) $24.91 billion (31 December 2010) $25.64 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

20.6% (2010)

Public debt

66.1% of GDP (2012 est.) 64% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$14.98 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $14.48 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$42.47 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $41.38 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$6.074 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $5.674 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$35.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $34.36 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$51.86 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $51.78 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$9.178 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $9.073 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

34.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

19% (2012 est.) 17.8% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

23.43 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

80,470 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

17,650 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

71 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

18.87 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - exports

1.916 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

47.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

44.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

6.6 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

4.021 million kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

14.67 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

2.974 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

439 million cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.125 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

2.507 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

24.92 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

92,970 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

38,140 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

67,660 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

94,620 bbl/day (2008 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; roughly 25 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 more than 150 regional, county, city, and community radio stations (2007)

Internet country code

.hr

Internet hosts

729,420 (2012)

Internet users

2.234 million (2009)

Telephone system

the telecommunications network has improved steadily since the mid-1990s; local lines are digital fixed-line teledensity holding steady at about 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions exceed the population 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 (2011)

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 (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.761 million (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.115 million (2011)

Airports

69 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

10 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

6

914 to 1,523 m

3

over 3,047 m

2

total

24

under 914 m

10 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

38 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

6

total

45

under 914 m

38 (2012)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 24, cargo 7, chemical tanker 8, passenger/cargo 27, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1 2 (Norway 2) 31 (Bahamas 1, Belize 1, Liberia 1, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 12, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8) (2010)

foreign-owned

2 (Norway 2)

registered in other countries

31 (Bahamas 1, Belize 1, Liberia 1, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 12, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8) (2010)

total

77

Pipelines

gas 1,686 km; oil 532 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

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

Railways

2,722 km 2,722 km 1.435-m gauge (984 km electrified) (2009)

total

2,722 km

Roadways

29,343 km (includes 1,047 km of expressways) (2008)

total

29,343 km (includes 1,047 km of expressways) (2008)

Waterways

785 km (2009)

Manpower available for military service

1,016,234 1,017,355 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,017,355 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,016,234

Manpower fit for military service

770,710 839,732 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

839,732 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

770,710

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

28,334 27,015 (2010 est.)

female

27,015 (2010 est.)

male

28,334

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 (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo I Protuzracna Obrana), Joint Education and Training Command, Logistics Command; Military Police Force supports each of the three Croatian military forces (2010)

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 (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo I Protuzracna Obrana), 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 voluntary military service; 16 years of age with parental consent; 6-month service obligation; conscription abolished 1 January 2008 (2010)

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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

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

IDPs

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