Background: The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent communist state consisting of six socialist republics, including Croatia, under the strong hand of Josip Broz, aka TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before Yugoslav forces were cleared from Croatian lands, along with a majority of Croatia's ethnic Serb population. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998. The country joined NATO in 2009 and the EU in 2013. In January 2023, Croatia further integrated into the EU by joining the Eurozone and the Schengen Area.

Area
Total: 56,594 km²
Land: 55,974 km²
Water: 620 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries
Total: 2,237 km
Border countries (5): (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

Land use
Agricultural land: 26.6% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 15.5% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 9.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 34.7% (2023 est.)
Other: 38.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 170 km² (2022)

Major rivers: 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

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

Population
Total: 4,150,116 (2024 est.)
Male: 2,003,431
Female: 2,146,685
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
Growth rate: -0.46% (2024 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.

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)

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

Population growth rate: -0.46% (2024 est.)

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

Death rate: 13.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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

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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 74.6 years
Female: 81 years

Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5.3% (2024 est.); 6.1% (2023 est.); 7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

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

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)
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: 2,029

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); Bridge (Most) (7); Other (20)
Percentage of women in chamber: 33.1%
Expected date of next election: April 2,028
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

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

National anthem
Title: 'Lijepa nasa domovino' (Our Beautiful Homeland)
Lyrics/music: Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN
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

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 10 (8 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 3.8% (2024 est.); 3.3% (2023 est.); 7.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 3.8% (2024 est.); 3.3% (2023 est.); 7.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 57% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 22.6% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 23.7% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.2% (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

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Industry: 19.8% (2024 est.)
Services: 59.7% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 1.733 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 5.3% (2024 est.); 6.1% (2023 est.); 7% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5.3% (2024 est.); 6.1% (2023 est.); 7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

Taxes and other revenues: 21.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $46.601 billion (2024 est.); $45.064 billion (2023 est.); $41.907 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: ships, garments, electricity, packaged medicine, wood (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $49.86 billion (2024 est.); $46.811 billion (2023 est.); $46.769 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, garments, natural gas, crude petroleum (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 31.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 14.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 48.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources 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 CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 1.335 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 9.858 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 5.275 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 79.907 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1.203 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 4.56 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1.11 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2025 est.); 1.9% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.); 2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Airports: 45 (2025)

Heliports: 7 (2025)

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