Croatia — Country profile

Europe

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.

Economy

Budget: revenues:
$32.487 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures:
$33.715 billion (2023 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Exports: Exports 2022:
$41.907 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023:
$45.064 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024:
$46.601 billion (2024 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports: Imports 2022:
$46.769 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023:
$46.811 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024:
$49.86 billion (2024 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
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
Labor force: 1.733 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Public debt: Public debt 2023:
75.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Remittances: Remittances 2022:
7.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023:
7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024:
7.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
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: 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.
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
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022:
7% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023:
6.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024:
5.3% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
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
Imports - partners: Italy 14%, Germany 14%, Slovenia 11%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Real GDP per capita: 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.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 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.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Agricultural products: maize, wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, soybeans, sunflower seeds, potatoes, pork, grapes (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Exports - commodities: ships, garments, electricity, packaged medicine, wood (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, garments, natural gas, crude petroleum (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Current account balance: 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: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Taxes and other revenues: 21.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
GDP (official exchange rate): $92.526 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption:
57% (2024 est.)
government consumption:
22.6% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories:
-0.2% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
23.7% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services:
49.8% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-52.9% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Population below poverty line: 18% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Average household expenditures: on food:
18.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco:
7.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 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: annual % change based on consumer prices
Industrial production growth rate: 2.1% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): 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.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male:
15.5% (2024 est.)
total:
16.6% (2024 est.)
female:
18.2% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: 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.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry:
19.8% (2024 est.)
services:
59.7% (2024 est.)
agriculture:
3.4% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%:
2.9% (2022 est.)
highest 10%:
23% (2022 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022:
30 (2022 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Energy

Coal: exports:
1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports:
663,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption:
596,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production:
11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves:
71 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption:
70,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity: exports:
8.461 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports:
10.038 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption:
16.408 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity:
5.518 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses:
2.053 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas: exports:
1.119 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports:
2.995 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production:
722.231 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption:
2.689 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves:
24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access: electrification - total population:
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023:
79.907 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: wind:
14.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar:
1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal:
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels:
31.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity:
48.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste:
3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

More about Croatia

People and Society

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):

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

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
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.)
Sex ratio: at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1 male(s)/female
total population:
0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over:
0.71 male(s)/female
Birth rate: 8.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 12.87 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age: male:
43.2 years
total:
44.9 years (2025 est.)
female:
47 years
Population: male:
1,968,334
total:
4,071,208 (2025 est.)
female:
2,102,874
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
Tobacco use: male:
33.6% (2025 est.)
total:
32.8% (2025 est.)
female:
32.1% (2025 est.)
Urbanization: urban population:
58.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization:
0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)
Ethnic groups: Croat 91.6%, Serb 3.2%, other 3.9% (including Bosniak, Romani, Albanian, Italian, and Hungarian), unspecified 1.3% (2021 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio:
55.9 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio:
21.5 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio:
2.9 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio:
34.4 (2025 est.)
Physician density: 3.91 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP):
8.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget):
13.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 5.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.43 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: 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.)
Infant mortality rate: male:
8.2 deaths/1,000 live births
total:
3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female:
8.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate: -0.53% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.69 (2025 est.)
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
Life expectancy at birth: male:
74.6 years
female:
81 years
total population:
77.7 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita: beer:
4.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine:
3.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total:
9.64 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.)
Major urban areas - population: 684,000 ZAGREB (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.4% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29 years (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 50.1% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male:
15 years (2022 est.)
total:
16 years (2022 est.)
female:
17 years (2022 est.)

Government

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, 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

meaning: the small shields represent the five historic regions (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia

history: Russia's 19th-century flag inspired the pan-Slav colors
Capital: name:
Zagreb
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
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
geographic coordinates:
45 48 N, 16 00 E
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
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
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
Country name: 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"
local long form:
Republika Hrvatska
local short form:
Hrvatska
conventional long form:
Republic of Croatia
conventional short form:
Croatia
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
Legal system: civil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary
Government type: parliamentary republic
Judicial branch: highest court(s):
Supreme Court (consists of the court president and vice president, 25 civil department justices, and 16 criminal department justices)
subordinate courts:
Administrative Court; county, municipal, and specialized courts
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: an 11-member Constitutional Court has jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues, but it is outside the judicial system
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:

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%
head of government:
Prime Minister Andrej PLENKOVIC (since 19 October 2016)
most recent election date:
December 2024 (first round) and January 2025 (second round)
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
National holiday: Statehood Day (National Day), 30 May (1990)
note: marks the day in 1990 that the first modern multi-party Croatian parliament convened
National color(s): red, white, blue
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)
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!
Legislative branch: term in office:
4 years
number of seats:
151 (all directly elected)
electoral system:
proportional representation
legislature name:
Croatian Parliament (Hrvatski Sabor)
scope of elections:
full renewal
legislative structure:
unicameral
most recent election date:
4/17/2024
expected date of next election:
April 2028
percentage of women in chamber:
33.1%
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)
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
National anthem(s): title:
"Lijepa nasa domovino" (Our Beautiful Homeland)
history:
adopted in 1972 while still part of Yugoslavia; the lyrics were written in 1835, and it served as an unofficial anthem beginning in 1891
lyrics/music:
Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN
National symbol(s): red-and-white checkerboard
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)
Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX:
[1] (202) 588-8937
chancery:
2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 588-5899
consulate(s):
Anchorage (AL), Houston, Kansas City (MO),Minneapolis/St. Paul (MN), New Orleans, Pittsburgh (PA)
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pjer ŠIMUNOVIĆ (since 8 September 2017)
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle (WA)
email address and website:

washington@mvep.hr

https://mvep.gov.hr/embassy-114969/114969
Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX:
[385] (1) 665-8933
embassy:
Ulica Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb
telephone:
[385] (1) 661-2200
mailing address:
5080 Zagreb Place, Washington DC 20521-5080
chief of mission:
Ambassador Nicole McGRAW (since 21 October 2025)
email address and website:

ZagrebACS@state.gov

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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Communications

Internet users: percent of population:
83% (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
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions:
1.1 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
29 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions:
4.72 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
122 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total:
1.11 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
28 (2023 est.)

Transportation

Ports: large:
2
small:
6
medium:
0
key ports:
Bakar, Dubrovnik, Omisalj, Rijeka Luka, Rovinj, Sibenik, Split, Zadar
very small:
8
total ports:
16 (2024)
ports with oil terminals:
8
Airports: 45 (2025)
Railways: total:
2,617 km (2020) 980 km electrified
Heliports: 7 (2025)
Merchant marine: total:
384 (2023)
by type:
bulk carrier 10, general cargo 32, oil tanker 14, other 328
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9A

Geography

Area: land:
55,974 sq km
water:
620 sq km
total :
56,594 sq km
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
Land use: other:
38.2% (2023 est.)
forest:
34.7% (2023 est.)
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.)
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia
Coastline: 5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km; islands 4,058 km)
Elevation: lowest point:
Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point:
Dinara 1,831 m
mean elevation:
331 m
Irrigated land: 170 sq km (2022)
Map references: Europe
Land boundaries: total:
2,237 km
border countries:
Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km; Hungary 348 km; Montenegro 19 km; Serbia 314 km; Slovenia 600 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea:
12 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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
Natural resources: oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Geographic coordinates: 45 10 N, 15 30 E
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
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage:
(Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
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

Environment

Climate: Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast
Geoparks: global geoparks and regional networks:
Biokovo-Imotski Lakes; Papuk; Vis Archipelago (2024)
total global geoparks and regional networks:
3 (2024)
Land use: other:
38.2% (2023 est.)
forest:
34.7% (2023 est.)
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.)
Urbanization: urban population:
58.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization:
0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually:
1.81 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
20% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues: air pollution in urban areas, as well as emissions from neighboring countries; surface water pollution in the Danube River Basin
Total water withdrawal: municipal:
465 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial:
475 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural:
76 million cubic meters (2022)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions:
16.467 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas:
5.275 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.)
Particulate matter emissions: 15.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 105.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
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

Military and Security

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)
Military deployments: 150 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO); also has a few hundred personnel participating in several other EU, NATO, and UN missions (2025)
Military expenditures: 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.)
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 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: as of 2024, women comprised about 14% of the military's full-time personnel
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, Türkiye, and the US (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 15,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees:
29,927 (2024 est.)
stateless persons:
758 (2024 est.)

Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain).

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