Croatia
Introduction
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 consisting of six socialist republics under the strong hand of Marshal Josip Broz, aka TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Yugoslav forces, dominated by Serb officers, 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. The country joined NATO in April 2009 and the EU in July 2013.
Geography
Location
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates
45 10 N, 15 30 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total: 56,594 sq km
land: 55,974 sq km
water: 620 sq km
country comparison to the world: 128
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries
total: 2,237 km
border countries (5): Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km, Hungary 348 km, Montenegro 19 km, Serbia 314 km, Slovenia 600 km
Coastline
5,835 km(mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km)
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate
Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast
Terrain
geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands
Elevation
mean elevation: 331 m
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Dinara 1,831 m
Natural resources
oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower
Land use
agricultural land: 23.7% (2011 est.)
arable land: 16% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 1.5% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 6.2% (2011 est.)
forest: 34.4% (2011 est.)
other: 41.9% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land
240 sq km (2012)
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
Natural hazards
destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues
air pollution improving but still a concern in urban settings and in emissions arriving from neighboring countries; surface water pollution in the Danube River Basin
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
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
People and Society
Population
4,270,480 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Nationality
noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)
adjective: Croatian
note: the French designation of "Croate" to Croatian mercenaries in the 17th century eventually became "Cravate" and later came to be applied to the soldiers' scarves - the cravat; Croatia celebrates Cravat Day every 18 October
Ethnic groups
Croat 90.4%, Serb 4.4%, other 4.4% (including Bosniak, Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, and Romani), unspecified 0.8% (2011 est.)
Languages
Croatian (official) 95.6%, Serbian 1.2%, other 3% (including Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and Albanian), unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 86.3%, Orthodox 4.4%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.5%, not religious or atheist 3.8% (2011 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 14.21%(male 312,805 /female 293,931)
15-24 years: 11.09%(male 242,605 /female 230,853)
25-54 years: 40.15%(male 858,025 /female 856,455)
55-64 years: 14.65%(male 304,054 /female 321,543)
65 years and over: 19.91%(male 342,025 /female 508,184) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 50.9 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 22.4 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 28.5 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.5 (2015 est.)
Median age
total: 43.3 years (2018 est.)
male: 41.4 years
female: 45.3 years
country comparison to the world: 20
Population growth rate
-0.51% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Birth rate
8.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Death rate
12.4 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Net migration rate
-1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Population distribution
more of the population lives in the northern half of the country, with approximately a quarter of the populace residing in and around the capital of Zagreb; many of the islands are sparsely populated
Urbanization
urban population: 57.2% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: -0.08% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
685,000 ZAGREB (capital) (2019)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2018 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
28 years (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
8 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Infant mortality rate
total: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 144
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.3 years (2018 est.)
male: 73.2 years
female: 79.6 years
country comparison to the world: 87
Total fertility rate
1.41 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 99.6% of population
rural: 99.7% of population
total: 99.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population
rural: 0.3% of population
total: 0.4% of population (2015 est.)
Current Health Expenditure
7.2% (2016)
Physicians density
3.13 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Hospital bed density
5.6 beds/1,000 population (2015)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 97.8% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 95.8% of population (2015 est.)
total: 97% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 2.2% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 4.2% of population (2015 est.)
total: 3% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
<.1% (2018 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
1,600 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
HIV/AIDS - deaths
<100 (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: intermediate (2016)
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2016)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
24.4% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 59
Education expenditures
4.6% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 83
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.7%
female: 98.9% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 16 years (2016)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 27.4%
male: 27.1%
female: 27.7% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
conventional short form: Croatia
local long form: Republika Hrvatska
local short form: Hrvatska
former: People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia
etymology: name derives from the Croats, a Slavic tribe who migrated to the Balkans in the 7th century A.D.
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Zagreb
geographic coordinates: 45 48 N, 16 00 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: the name seems to be related to "digging"; archeologists suggest that the original settlement was established beyond a water-filled hole or "graba" and that the name derives from this; "za" in Slavic means "beyond"; the overall meaning may be "beyond the trench (fault, channel, ditch)"
Administrative divisions
20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad - singular) with special county status; Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska(Bjelovar-Bilogora), Brodsko-Posavska (Brod-Posavina), Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria), Karlovacka (Karlovac), Koprivnicko-Krizevacka (Koprivnica-Krizevci), Krapinsko-Zagorska (Krapina-Zagorje), Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska (Medimurje), Osjecko-Baranjska (Osijek-Baranja), Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska (Primorje-Gorski Kotar), Sibensko-Kninska (Sibenik-Knin), Sisacko-Moslavacka (Sisak-Moslavina), Splitsko-Dalmatinska (Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska (Varazdin), Viroviticko-Podravska (Virovitica-Podravina), Vukovarsko-Srijemska (Vukovar-Syrmia), Zadarska (Zadar), Zagreb*, Zagrebacka (Zagreb county)
Independence
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia); notable earlier dates: ca. 925 (Kingdom of Croatia established); 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) established)
National holiday
Independence Day, 8 October (1991) and Statehood Day, 25 June (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
Constitution
history: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1990
amendments: proposed by at least one fifth of the Assembly membership, by the president of the republic, by the Government of Croatia, or through petition by at least 10% of the total electorate; proceedings to amend require majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; passage by petition requires a majority vote in a referendum and promulgation by the Assembly; amended several times, last in 2014 (2016)
Legal system
civil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary; note - Croatian law was fully harmonized with the European Community acquis as of the June 2010 completion of EU accession negotiations
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Croatia
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (since 19 February 2015)
head of government: Prime Minister Andrej PLENKOVIC (since 19 October 2016); Deputy Prime Ministers Damir KRSTICEVIC (since 19 October 2016), Predrag STROMAR (since 9 June 2017), Marija Pejcinovic BURIC (since 19 June 2017), and Tomislav TOLUSIC (since 25 May 2018)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the Assembly
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 December 2014 and 11 January 2015 (next to be held in 2019); the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president and approved by the Assembly
election results: Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote - Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (HDZ) 50.7%, Ivo JOSIPOVIC (Forward Croatia Progressive Alliance) 49.3%
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Assembly or Hrvatski Sabor (151 seats; 140 members in 10 multi-seat constituencies and 3 members in a single constituency for Croatian diaspora directly elected by proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method with a 5% threshold; an additional 8 members elected from a nationwide constituency by simple majority by voters belonging to minorities recognized by Croatia; the Serb minority elects 3 Assembly members, the Hungarian and Italian minorities elect 1 each, the Czech and Slovak minorities elect 1 jointly, and all other minorities elect 2; all members serve 4-year terms
elections: last held on 11 September 2016 as a snap election following dissolution of the Assembly on 15 July 2016 (next to be held by 23 December 2020)
election results: percent of vote by coalition/party - NA; number of seats by coalition/party - HDZ coalition 61, People's Coalition 54, Most-HL 13, Only Option 8, minorities 8 (includes SDSS 3), other 7; composition - men 123, women 28, percent of women 18.5%
note: seats by party as of June 2019 - HDZ 55, SDP 29, MOST-NL 10, HNS 4, HSS 4, GLAS 4, IDS 3, SDSS 3, BM365-SRS 3, Human Shield 2, HDS 2, NHR 2, other 8, independent 21
Judicial branch
highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the court president and vice president, 25 civil department justices, and 16 criminal department justices)
judge selection and term of office: president of Supreme Court nominated by the president of Croatia and elected by the Sabor for a 4-year term; other Supreme Court justices appointed by the National Judicial Council; all judges serve until age 70
subordinate courts: Administrative Court; county, municipal, and specialized courts; note - there is an 11-member Constitutional Court with jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues but is outside of the judicial system
Political parties and leaders
Bloc of Pensioners Together or BUZ [Milivoj SPIKA]
Bridge of Independent Lists or Most-NL [Bozo PETROV]
Civic Liberal Alliance or GLAS [Ankar Mrak TARITAS]
Croatian Christian Democratic Party or HDS [Goran DODIG]
Croatian Democratic Congress of Slavonia and Baranja or HDSSB [Branimir GLAVAS]
Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Andrej PLENKOVIC]
Croatian Laborists - Labor Party or HL [David BREGOVAC]
Croatian Party of Rights - Dr. Ante Starcevic or HSP AS [Hrvoje NICE]
Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Kreso BELJAK]
Croatian Pensioner Party or HSU [Silvano HRELJA]
Croatian People's Party - Liberal Democrats or HNS [Ivan VRDOLJAK]
Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Darinko KOSOR]
Forward Croatia Progressive Alliance [Ivo JOSIPOVIC]
Human Shield (Zivi Zid) [Vilibor SINCIC]
Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Milorad PUPOVAC]
Independents for Croatia or NHR [Bruna ESIH]
Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Boris MILETIC]
Let's Change Croatia or PH [Ivan LOVRINOVIC]
Milan Bandic 365 - Party of Labor and Solidarity or BM365-SRS [Milan BANDIC]
Movement for Successful Croatia or HRAST [Ladislav ILCIC]
People's Party - Reformists Party [Radimir CACIC]
Power-People’s and Civic Engagement Party or SNAGA [Goran ALEKSIC]
Smart Party or PAMETNO [Marijana PULJAK]
Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Davor BERNARDIC]
International organization participation
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, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
Ambassador Pjer SIMUNOVIC (since 8 September 2017)
chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899
FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador W. Robert KOHORST (since 12 January 2018)
telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200
embassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address: use embassy street address
FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue - the Pan-Slav colors - superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms; the coat of arms consists of one main shield (a checkerboard of 13 red and 12 silver (white) fields) surmounted by five smaller shields that form a crown over the main shield; the five small shields represent five historic regions (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia
note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia
National symbol(s)
red-white checkerboard; national colors: red, white, blue
National anthem
name: "Lijepa nasa domovino" (Our Beautiful Homeland)
lyrics/music: Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN
note: adopted in 1972 while still part of Yugoslavia; "Lijepa nasa domovino," whose lyrics were written in 1835, served as an unofficial anthem beginning in 1891
Economy
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 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; economic growth was stagnant or negative in each year between 2009 and 2014, but has picked up since the third quarter of 2014, ending 2017 with an average of 2.8% growth. Challenges remain including uneven regional development, a difficult investment climate, an inefficient judiciary, and loss of educated young professionals seeking higher salaries elsewhere in the EU. In 2016, Croatia revised its tax code to stimulate growth from domestic consumption and foreign investment. Income tax reduction began in 2017, and in 2018 various business costs were removed from income tax calculations. At the start of 2018, the government announced its economic reform plan, slated for implementation in 2019.Tourism is one of the main pillars of the Croatian economy, comprising 19.6% of Croatia’s GDP. Croatia is working to become a regional energy hub, and is undertaking plans to open a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal by the end of 2019 or early in 2020 to import LNG for re-distribution in southeast Europe.Croatia joined the EU on July 1, 2013, following a decade-long accession process. Croatia has developed a plan for Eurozone accession, and the government projects Croatia will adopt the Euro by 2024. In 2017, the Croatian government decreased public debt to 78% of GDP, from an all-time high of 84% in 2014, and realized a 0.8% budget surplus - the first surplus since independence in 1991. The government has also sought to accelerate privatization of non-strategic assets with mixed success. Croatia’s economic recovery is still somewhat fragile; Croatia’s largest private company narrowly avoided collapse in 2017, thanks to a capital infusion from an American investor. Restructuring is ongoing, and projected to finish by mid-July 2018.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$102.1 billion (2017 est.)
$99.37 billion (2016 est.)
$95.97 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 85
GDP (official exchange rate)
$54.76 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
2.8% (2017 est.)
3.5% (2016 est.)
2.4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$24,700 (2017 est.)
$23,800 (2016 est.)
$22,800 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 81
Gross national saving
24.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
23.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
24.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 57.3% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 19.5% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 20% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 51.1% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -48.8% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 3.7% (2017 est.)
industry: 26.2% (2017 est.)
services: 70.1% (2017 est.)
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
Industries
chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages, tourism
Industrial production growth rate
1.2% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Labor force
1.559 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 1.9%
industry: 27.3%
services: 70.8% (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate
12.4% (2017 est.)
15% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Population below poverty line
19.5% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 23% (2015 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
30.8 (2015 est.)
32.1 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Budget
revenues: 25.24 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 24.83 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
46.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
0.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Public debt
77.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
82.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Fiscal year
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.1% (2017 est.)
-1.1% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Central bank discount rate
3% (31 December 2017)
3.5% (31 December 2016)
country comparison to the world: 109
Commercial bank prime lending rate
4.23% (31 December 2017 est.)
4.97% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Stock of narrow money
$14.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$11.64 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Stock of broad money
$14.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$11.64 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Stock of domestic credit
$39.97 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$41.38 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Market value of publicly traded shares
$18.33 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$19.98 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$22.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Current account balance
$2.15 billion (2017 est.)
$1.338 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Exports
$13.15 billion (2017 est.)
$13.88 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Exports - partners
Italy 13.4%, Germany 12.2%, Slovenia 10.6%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 9.8%, Austria 6.2%, Serbia 4.8% (2017)
Exports - commodities
transport equipment, machinery, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports
$22.34 billion (2017 est.)
$19.76 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Imports - commodities
machinery, transport and electrical equipment; chemicals, fuels and lubricants; foodstuffs
Imports - partners
Germany 15.7%, Italy 12.9%, Slovenia 10.7%, Hungary 7.5%, Austria 7.5% (2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$18.82 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$14.24 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Debt - external
$48.1 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$46.96 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$43.71 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$35.65 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$8.473 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.358 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Exchange rates
kuna (HRK) per US dollar -
6.62 (2017 est.)
6.8 (2016 est.)
6.806 (2015 est.)
6.8583 (2014 est.)
5.7482 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
Electricity - production
12.2 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Electricity - consumption
15.93 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Electricity - exports
3.2 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Electricity - imports
8.702 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Electricity - installed generating capacity
4.921 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Electricity - from fossil fuels
45% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
40% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Electricity - from other renewable sources
16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Crude oil - production
14,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Crude oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Crude oil - imports
55,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Crude oil - proved reserves
71 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Refined petroleum products - production
74,620 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Refined petroleum products - consumption
73,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Refined petroleum products - exports
40,530 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Refined petroleum products - imports
35,530 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - production
1.048 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - consumption
2.577 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - exports
172.7 million cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Natural gas - imports
1.841 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas - proved reserves
24.92 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
17.96 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 1,401,354
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 4,315,580
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Telephone system
general assessment: the telecommunications network has improved steadily since the mid-1990s, covering much of what were once inaccessible areas; local lines are digital; telecoms market in Croatia has been shaped by Croatia becoming part of the European Union in 2013, a process which opened up the market and the creation of a regulatory environment leading to competition; mobile market has one of the highest penetration rates in the Balkans region; trials for 5G technologies underway (2018)
domestic: fixed-line teledensity has dropped somewhat to about 33 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions 101 per 100 (2018)
international: country code - 385; the ADRIA-1 submarine cable provides connectivity to Albania and Greece; digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe 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 (2019)
Broadcast media
the national state-owned public broadcaster, Croatian Radiotelevision, operates 4 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; 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
total: 3,135,949
percent of population: 72.7% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 1,095,881
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Military and Security
Military expenditures
1.68% of GDP (2019 est.)
1.59% of GDP (2018)
1.67% of GDP (2017)
1.62% of GDP (2016)
1.78% of GDP (2015)
country comparison to the world: 69
Military and security forces
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 (2017)
Military service age and obligation
18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2008 (2017)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 3 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 46 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,782,666 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 775,320mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9A (2016)
Airports
69 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 72
Airports - with paved runways
total: 24 (2017)
over 3,047 m: 2 (2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2017)
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2017)
under 914 m: 10 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 45 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2013)
under 914 m: 38 (2013)
Heliports
1 (2013)
Pipelines
2410 km gas, 610 km oil (2011)
Railways
total: 2,722 km (2014)
standard gauge: 2,722 km1.435-m gauge (980 km electrified) (2014)
country comparison to the world: 64
Roadways
total: 26,958 km(includes 1,416 km of expressways) (2015)
country comparison to the world: 99
Waterways
785 km (2009)
country comparison to the world: 73
Merchant marine
total: 131
by type: bulk carrier 28, oil tanker 14, other 89 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 75
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Ploce, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split
oil terminal(s): Omisalj
river port(s): Vukovar (Danube)
Transnational Issues
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; since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Croatia and Slovenia have each claimed sovereignty over Piranski Bay and four villages, and Slovenia has objected to Croatia's claim of an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic Sea; in 2009, however Croatia and Slovenia signed a binding international arbitration agreement to define their disputed land and maritime borders, which led to Slovenia lifting its objections to Croatia joining the EU; Slovenia continues to impose a hard border Schengen regime with Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013 but has not yet fulfilled Schengen requirements
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 2,886 (2018)
note: 686,414 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-October 2019); flows slowed considerably in 2017; Croatia is predominantly a transit country and hosts about 340 asylum seekers as of the end of June 2018
Illicit drugs
primarily a transit country along the Balkan route for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe and other illicit drugs and chemical precursors to and from Western Europe; no significant domestic production of illicit drugs