2025 Edition Primary

Background

The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end 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 consisting of six socialist republics, including Croatia, under the strong hand of Josip Broz, aka TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before Yugoslav forces were 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. The country joined NATO in 2009 and the EU in 2013. In January 2023, Croatia further integrated into the EU by joining the Eurozone and the Schengen Area.

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)

Continent

Europe

Elevation

Highest point

Dinara 1,831 m

Lowest point

Adriatic Sea 0 m

Mean elevation

331 m

Geographic coordinates

45 10 N, 15 30 E

Geography - note

controls most land routes from Western Europe to the 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

170 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

Border countries

Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km; Hungary 348 km; Montenegro 19 km; Serbia 314 km; Slovenia 600 km

number of neighbors

5

Total

2,237 km

Land use

Agricultural land

26.6% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 15.5% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 9.6% (2023 est.)

arable land

15.51%

Forest

34.7% (2023 est.)

Other

38.2% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

1.41%

Landlocked

No

Location

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

Major rivers (by length in km)

Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

<em>(Black Sea)</em> Danube (795,656 sq km)

Map links

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/qSG6xTKUmrYpwmGQ6

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/214885

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

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

Subregion

Southeast Europe

Terrain

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

Time zone

UTC+01:00

number of time zones

1

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

Beer

4.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

9.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

3.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

8.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

50.1% (2021 est.)

Death rate

12.87 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

49 per 1,000

adult male

113 per 1,000

Dependency ratios

Elderly dependency ratio

34.4 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

2.9 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

55.9 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

21.5 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved total

87.27%

Improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

8.5% national budget (2021 est.)

Education expenditures

4 % of GDP

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.69 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

7 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

8.1% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

13.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1%

Hospital bed density

5.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Female

8.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

8.2 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

3 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

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)

<br>Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, nužan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Croatian)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

number of languages

1

Life expectancy at birth

Female

81 years

Male

74.6 years

Total population

77.7 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

684,000 ZAGREB (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

Female

47 years

Male

43.2 years

Total

44.9 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

29 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Croatian

Note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

Noun

Croat(s), Croatian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.4% (2016)

Physician density

3.91 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

Female

2,102,874

Male

1,968,334

Total

4,071,208 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.53% (2025 est.)

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved total

74.73%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Female

17 years (2022 est.)

Male

15 years (2022 est.)

Total

16 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.71 male(s)/female

At birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

Female

32.1% (2025 est.)

Male

33.6% (2025 est.)

Total

32.8% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.43 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Rate of urbanization

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

Urban population

58.6% of total population (2023)

Vaccination rate

measles

90%

Administrative divisions

20 counties (<em>zupanije</em>, singular - <em>zupanija</em>) and 1 city* (<em>grad </em>- 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)

Capital

Daylight saving time

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

Etymology

the city's name means "beyond the bank (or ditch)"; <em>za </em>in Old Croat means "beyond," and <em>greb </em>means "bank" or "ditch," relating to the city's original site above the Sava River

Geographic coordinates

45 48 N, 16 00 E

Name

Zagreb

Time difference

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

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

Coat of arms

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/hr.svg

Constitution

Amendment process

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

History

several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1990

Country name

alternative spellings

HR, Hrvatska, Republic of Croatia, Republika Hrvatska

Conventional long form

Republic of Croatia

Conventional short form

Croatia

Etymology

name probably derives from the Croats, a Slavic tribe who migrated to the Balkans in the 7th century A.D., but that name may be related to the Russian word <em>khrebet</em>, meaning "mountain chain"

FIFA code

CRO

Former

People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia

Local long form

Republika Hrvatska

local long form (hrv)

Republika Hrvatska

Local short form

Hrvatska

Diplomatic representation from the US

Chief of mission

Ambassador Nicole McGRAW (since 21 October 2025)

Email address and website

<br>ZagrebACS@state.gov<br><br>https://hr.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Ulica Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb

FAX

[385] (1) 665-8933

Mailing address

5080 Zagreb Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-5080

Telephone

[385] (1) 661-2200

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chancery

2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Pjer &Scaron;IMUNOVIĆ (since 8 September 2017)

Consulate(s)

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

Consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle (WA)

Email address and website

<br>washington@mvep.hr<br><br>https://mvep.gov.hr/embassy-114969/114969

FAX

[1] (202) 588-8937

Telephone

[1] (202) 588-5899

Executive branch

Cabinet

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

Chief of state

President Zoran MILANOVIC (since 18 February 2020)

Election results

<br><em>2025: </em>Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 74.6%, Dragan PRIMORAC (independent) 25.3%<em><br><br>2019: </em>Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 52.7%, Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (HDZ) 47.3%

Election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president and approved by the Assembly

Expected date of next election

2029

Head of government

Prime Minister Andrej PLENKOVIC (since 19 October 2016)

Most recent election date

December 2024 (first round) and January 2025 (second round)

Flag

<strong>description:</strong> three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue -- the pan-Slav colors -- with the Croatian coat of arms in the center, which consists of a main shield (a checkerboard of 13 red and 12 silver fields) with five smaller shields that form a crown over the main shield<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the small shields represent the five historic regions (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia<br><br><strong>history:</strong> Russia's 19th-century flag inspired the pan-Slav colors

Flag description

The flag of Croatia is composed of three equal horizontal bands of red, white and blue, with the coat of arms of Croatia superimposed in the center.

Flag image

svg

https://flagcdn.com/hr.svg

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia); notable earlier dates: ca. 925 (Kingdom of Croatia established), 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes established, later became Yugoslavia)

note

<strong>note:</strong> 25 June 1991 was the day the Croatian parliament voted for independence; the legislature adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

Note

<strong>note:</strong> an 11-member Constitutional Court has jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues, but it is outside the judicial system

Subordinate courts

Administrative Court; county, municipal, and specialized courts

Legal system

civil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary

Legislative branch

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

April 2028

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Croatian Parliament (Hrvatski Sabor)

Most recent election date

4/17/2024

Note

<strong>note:</strong> of the 151 seats, 140 members come from 10 multi-seat constituencies, with 3 members in a constituency for Croatian diaspora; voters belonging to recognized minorities elect an additional 8 members from a nationwide constituency: the Serb minority elects 3 members, the Hungarian and Italian minorities elect 1 each, the Czech and Slovak minorities elect 1 jointly, and all other minorities elect 2

Number of seats

151 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) (55); Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) (37); Homeland Movement (DP) (11); We Can! – Political Platform (Možemo!) (10); Bridge (Most) (7); Other (20)

Percentage of women in chamber

33.1%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

National color(s)

red, white, blue

National heritage

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Plitvice Lakes National Park (n); Historic Split (c); Old City of Dubrovnik (c); Euphrasian Basilica; Historic Trogir (c); Šibenik Cathedral (c); Stari Grad Plain (c); Zadar and Fort St. Nikola Venetian Defense Works (c); Primeval Beech Forests (n); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c)

Total World Heritage Sites

10 (8 cultural, 2 natural)

National holiday

Statehood Day (National Day), 30 May (1990)

note

<strong>note:</strong> marks the day in 1990 that the first modern multi-party Croatian parliament convened

National symbol(s)

red-and-white checkerboard

Political parties

Bosniaks Together<br>The Bridge or MOST (formerly the Bridge of Independent Lists)<br>Croatia Romani Union Kali Sara (SRRH)<br>Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ<br>Democratic Union of Hungarians in Croatia (DZMH)<br>Focus or Fokus<br>Homeland Movement or DP (also known as Miroslav Škoro Homeland Movement or DPMS)<br>Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS <br>Independent Platform of the North (NPS)<br>Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS<br>Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP<br>We Can! or Mozemo! 

Start of week

Monday

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

UN Member

Yes

Agricultural products

maize, wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, soybeans, sunflower seeds, potatoes, pork, grapes (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

On alcohol and tobacco

7.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

18.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

Expenditures

$33.715 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$32.487 billion (2023 est.)

Currency

code

EUR

name

euro (EUR) [€]

Current account balance

$-1,049,215,175

Current account balance 2022

-$2.621 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$635.97 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$1.049 billion (2024 est.)

Note

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

Economic overview

<p>upper-middle-income Balkan economy; newest euro user (introduced in 2023); increased investments from EU structural funds and tourism sector contributing to strong but moderating economic growth; declining energy prices and restrictive monetary policy easing inflation; historically low unemployment rate with labor shortages within services and manufacturing sectors</p>

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> 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.

Exports

$46.62 billion

Exports 2022

$41.907 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$45.064 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$46.601 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

ships, garments, electricity, packaged medicine, wood (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Italy 14%, Germany 11%, Slovenia 11%, Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina 6%, Austria 6% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Foreign direct investment

net inflows

$4.54 billion

GDP - composition, by end use

Exports of goods and services

49.8% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

22.6% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

57% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-52.9% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

23.7% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

-0.2% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Agriculture

3.4% (2024 est.)

Industry

19.8% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

59.7% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$92.526 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP per capita (nominal)

$24,050

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

29.7 (2018)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

30 (2022 est.)

Note

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

GNI (gross national income)

$93.33 billion

GNI per capita

$22,250

Gross domestic investment

24 % of GDP

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Highest 10%

23% (2022 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.9% (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$50.93 billion

Imports 2022

$46.769 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$46.811 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$49.86 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, garments, natural gas, crude petroleum (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Italy 14%, Germany 14%, Slovenia 11%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

2.1% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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)

2.97%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

10.8% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

7.9% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

1.733 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

1.73 million persons

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

4.33%

industry

26.36%

services

69.31%

Population below poverty line

18% (2021 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2023

75.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$191.57 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$153.693 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$158.769 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$164.825 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

3.83%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

7.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

3.8% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

$49,551

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$39,900 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$41,100 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$42,600 (2024 est.)

Remittances

$6.7 billion

Note

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

Remittances 2022

7.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

7.3% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.34 billion

Note

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$29.726 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$3.176 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$3.336 billion (2024 est.)

Revenue (excl grants)

35 % of GDP

Tax revenue

21 % of GDP

Taxes and other revenues

21.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

5%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

7% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Female

18.2% (2024 est.)

Male

15.5% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

16.6% (2024 est.)

Coal

Consumption

596,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Imports

663,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption

16.408 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

4,484 kWh

Exports

8.461 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

10.038 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

5.518 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

2.053 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

Biomass and waste

3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

31.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Geothermal

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

47.02%

Hydroelectricity

48.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

69.88%

Solar

1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

14.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

2,237 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

79.907 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

Consumption

2.689 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports

1.119 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

2.995 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

722.231 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

Crude oil estimated reserves

71 million barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

70,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Total petroleum production

11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Renewable energy consumption

34.1%

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

per 100 inhabitants

28 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

28 (2023 est.)

Total

1.11 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

the national state-owned public broadcaster, Croatian Radiotelevision, operates 4 terrestrial TV networks, a satellite channel that rebroadcasts programs for Croatians overseas, and 6 regional TV centers; 2 private broadcasters with national terrestrial networks; 29 privately owned regional TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; state-owned public broadcaster operates 4 national radio networks and 23 regional radio stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks and 117 local radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.hr

Internet users

Percent of population

83% (2023 est.)

Postal code format

HR-#####

Telephone calling code

+385

Telephones - fixed lines

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

29 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

1.1 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100

117 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

122 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

4.72 million (2024 est.)

Air transport

passengers carried

1.67 million passengers

registered carrier departures

25,311 departures

Airports

45 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9A

Driving side

Right

Heliports

7 (2025)

Merchant marine

By type

bulk carrier 10, general cargo 32, oil tanker 14, other 328

Total

384 (2023)

Ports

Key ports

Bakar, Dubrovnik, Omisalj, Rijeka Luka, Rovinj, Sibenik, Split, Zadar

Large

2

Medium

0

Ports with oil terminals

8

Small

6

Total ports

16 (2024)

Very small

8

Railways

Total

2,617 km (2020) 980 km electrified

Vehicle registration code

HR

Land forces

armored vehicles

tanks

Military - note

the Armed Forces of Croatia (OSRH) are responsible for the defense of Croatia’s 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  <br><br>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 (2025)

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike Hrvatske, OSRH): Croatian Army (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Croatian Navy (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM; includes Coast Guard), Croatian Air Force (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo, HRZ) (2025)

active duty personnel

20,000

note

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

percent of total labor force

1.17 %

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 15,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)

Military deployments

150 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO); also has a few hundred personnel participating in several other EU, NATO, and UN missions (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is a mix of Soviet-era (largely from the former Yugoslavia) equipment and a growing amount of more modern, NATO-compatible weapon systems from suppliers such as France, Germany, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

2 % of GDP

current USD

$1,629,055,602

Military Expenditures 2021

2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.9% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2025

2% of GDP (2025 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

3.76 %

percent of GDP

1.79 % of GDP

Military service age and obligation

18-29 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished in 2008 but will be reinstated in 2026 when it will become mandatory for men aged 19-29 to undergo two months of basic military training (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> as of 2024, women comprised about 14% of the military's full-time personnel

Military strength ranking

PowerIndex score

1.5432

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Refugees

29,927 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

758 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

From coal and metallurgical coke

1.335 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

5.275 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

9.858 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

16.467 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

air pollution in urban areas, as well as emissions from neighboring countries; surface water pollution in the Danube River Basin

Geoparks

Global geoparks and regional networks

Biokovo-Imotski Lakes; Papuk; Vis Archipelago (2024)

Total global geoparks and regional networks

3 (2024)

International environmental agreements

Party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Particulate matter emissions

15.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Protected areas

24 % of total land area

Renewable electricity output

22 % of total

Total renewable water resources

105.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

2 % of internal resources

Agricultural

76 million cubic meters (2022)

Industrial

475 million cubic meters (2022)

Municipal

465 million cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually

1.81 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

20% (2022 est.)