Croatia

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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

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

comparison ranking: total 127

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Area comparison map:

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: 12 nm

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

highest point: Dinara 1,831 m

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 331 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land: 25.9% (2022 est.)

arable land: 15.2% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 1.4% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 9.2% (2022 est.)

forest: 34.7% (2022 est.)

other: 39.4% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

170 sq km (2022)

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

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

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

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

People and Society

Population

total: 4,150,116 (2024 est.)

male: 2,003,431

female: 2,146,685

comparison rankings: total 129; female 129; male 130

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

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):
Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, nužan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Croatian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Croatian audio sample:

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.)

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)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 55.2 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 21.6 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 33.6 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 3 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 45.1 years (2024 est.)

male: 43.2 years

female: 47 years

comparison ranking: total 20

Population growth rate

-0.46% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 220

Birth rate

8.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 205

Death rate

13.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 13

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 86

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: 58.6% of total population (2023)

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

Major urban areas – population

684,000 ZAGREB (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

29 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: 169

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 143

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.7 years (2024 est.)

male: 74.6 years

female: 81 years

comparison ranking: total population 86

Total fertility rate

1.46 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 206

Gross reproduction rate

0.71 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Health expenditure

8.1% of GDP (2021)

13.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

3.91 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 99.5% of population

rural: 98.4% of population

total: 99% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.5% of population

rural: 1.6% of population

total: 1% of population (2020 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

24.4% (2016)

comparison ranking: 59

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 9.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 4.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 3.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: total 25

Tobacco use

total: 32.8% (2025 est.)

male: 33.6% (2025 est.)

female: 32.1% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 15

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

50.8% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure

4.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

10.7% national budget (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 73

Literacy

total population: 99.4%

male: 99.7%

female: 99.2% (2021)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years

male: 14 years

female: 16 years (2020)

Environment

Environment – current issues

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

Environment – international 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

Climate

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

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 58.6% of total population (2023)

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

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 15.29 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 17.49 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 3.98 megatons (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.654 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 269,933 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.3% (2015 est.)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 460 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 700 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

105.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024)

global geoparks and regional networks: Biokovo-Imotski Lakes; Papuk; Vis Archipelago (2024)

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 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 khrebet, meaning “mountain chain”

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 city’s name means “beyond the bank (or ditch)”; za in Old Croat means “beyond,” and greb means “bank” or “ditch,” relating to the city’s original site above the Sava River

Administrative divisions

20 counties (zupanije, singular – zupanija) 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)

Legal system

civil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1990

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

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 Zoran MILANOVIC (since 18 February 2020)

head of government: Prime Minister Andrej PLENKOVIC (since 19 October 2016)

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

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

most recent election date: December 2024 (first round) and January 2025 (second round)

election results:
2025: Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round – Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 74.6%, Dragan PRIMORAC (independent) 25.3%

2019: Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round – Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 52.7%, Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (HDZ) 47.3%

expected date of next election: 2029

Legislative branch

legislature name: Croatian Parliament (Hrvatski Sabor)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 151 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 4/17/2024

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); Independent (NZ) (10); Other (28)

percentage of women in chamber: 33.1%

expected date of next election: April 2028

note: 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

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

subordinate courts: Administrative Court; county, municipal, and specialized courts

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

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Pjer ŠIMUNOVIĆ (since 8 September 2017)

chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899

FAX: [1] (202) 588-8937

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://mvep.gov.hr/embassy-114969/114969

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle (WA)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Trey LYONS (since January 2025)

embassy: Ulica Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb

mailing address: 5080 Zagreb Place, Washington DC 20521-5080

telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200

FAX: [385] (1) 665-8933

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://hr.usembassy.gov/

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

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: 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

National holiday

Statehood Day (National Day), 30 May (1990); note – marks the day in 1990 that the first modern multi-party Croatian parliament convened

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue — the pan-Slav colors — with the Croatian coat of arms in the center; the coat of arms 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; the small shields represent the five historic regions (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia

note: Russia’s 19th-century flag inspired the pan-Slav colors

National symbol(s)

red-and-white checkerboard

National color(s)

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

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 10 (8 cultural, 2 natural)

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)

Economy

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$158.698 billion (2023 est.)
$153.625 billion (2022 est.)
$143.189 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 81

Real GDP growth rate

3.3% (2023 est.)
7.29% (2022 est.)
13.04% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 100

Real GDP per capita

$41,100 (2023 est.)
$39,800 (2022 est.)
$36,900 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 57

GDP (official exchange rate)

$84.394 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.9% (2023 est.)
10.8% (2022 est.)
2.6% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 176

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3.4% (2023 est.)

industry: 21% (2023 est.)

services: 59.1% (2023 est.)

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

comparison rankings: services 96; industry 132; agriculture 133

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 57.3% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 21.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 22.5% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.8% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 52.9% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -54.8% (2023 est.)

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

Agricultural products

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

0.56% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 138

Labor force

1.718 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 131

Unemployment rate

5.2% (2024 est.)
6.1% (2023 est.)
7% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 99

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 16.6% (2024 est.)

male: 15.5% (2024 est.)

female: 18.2% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 77

Population below poverty line

18% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

28.9 (2021 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 133

Average household expenditures

on food: 18.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 7.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.1% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 22.3% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
7.52% of GDP (2022 est.)
7.22% of GDP (2021 est.)

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

Budget

revenues: $3.678 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $3.662 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

75.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 45

Taxes and other revenues

21.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 71

Current account balance

$635.97 million (2023 est.)
-$2.621 billion (2022 est.)
$557.487 million (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 62

Exports

$45.064 billion (2023 est.)
$41.907 billion (2022 est.)
$34.368 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 69

Exports – partners

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$46.811 billion (2023 est.)
$46.769 billion (2022 est.)
$36.259 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 70

Imports – partners

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.336 billion (2024 est.)
$3.176 billion (2023 est.)
$29.726 billion (2022 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 119

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
0.924 (2024 est.)
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)

note: 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.

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 5.518 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 16.408 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 8.461 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 10.038 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 2.053 billion kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 125; imports 26; exports 28; consumption 82; installed generating capacity 87

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 31.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 14.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 48.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption: 596,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports: 663,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 70,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 71 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production: 722.231 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 2.689 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 1.119 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 2.995 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

16.467 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.335 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 9.858 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 5.275 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 97

Energy consumption per capita

79.907 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 65

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1.203 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 64

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 4.56 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 130

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.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 1.11 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 76

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

45 (2025)

comparison ranking: 95

Heliports

7 (2025)

comparison ranking: 90

Railways

total: 2,617 km (2020) 980 km electrified

Merchant marine

total: 384 (2023)

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

comparison ranking: total 50

Ports

total ports: 16 (2024)

large: 2

medium: 0

small: 6

very small: 8

ports with oil terminals: 8

key ports: Bakar, Dubrovnik, Omisalj, Rijeka Luka, Rovinj, Sibenik, Split, Zadar

Military and Security

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)

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

Military expenditures

1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2023)
1.8% of GDP (2022)
2% of GDP (2021)
1.7% of GDP (2020)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 14,000 active-duty Armed Forces (10,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 1,500 Air force; 1,000 joint/other) (2024)

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, Turkey, and the US (2024)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2008 but slated to be reinstated in January 2025 (2024)

note: as of 2024, women comprised about 14% of the military’s full-time personnel

Military deployments

150 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO); 175 Lithuania (NATO; Croatia also has a few hundred personnel participating in several other EU, NATO, and UN missions (2024)

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

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)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 24,525 (Ukraine) (as of 29 February 2024)

stateless persons: 2,889 (2022)

note: 843,010 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-September 2023)