CapitalZagreb
Population4,071,208
Area56,594 km²
GDP per capita$42,600
LanguagesCroatian, Serbian, other unspecified
Currencyeuros
Life Expectancy77.7 yr
Governmentparliamentary republic
Introduction
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.
Geography
Area
land
55,974 sq km
water
620 sq km
total
56,594 sq km
Climate
The climate is primarily continental, characterized by hot summers and cold winters, while the coastal regions experience mild winters and dry summers.
Terrain
The geography is varied, featuring flat plains along the border with Hungary, as well as low mountains and highlands adjacent to the Adriatic coast and its 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
Located in Southeastern Europe, it borders the Adriatic Sea, positioned 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
It shares borders with Bosnia and Herzegovina at 956 km; Hungary at 348 km; Montenegro at 19 km; Serbia at 314 km; and Slovenia at 600 km.
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Natural hazards
The region is prone to severe earthquakes.
Geography - note
It serves as a crucial transit point for land routes connecting Western Europe to the Aegean Sea and the Turkish Straits; the majority of the islands in the Adriatic Sea are situated off the Croatian coast, numbering around 1,200 islands, islets, ridges, and rocks.
Natural resources
Natural resources include oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, and hydropower.
Area - comparative
Its land area is slightly less than that of West Virginia.
Geographic coordinates
45 10 N, 15 30 E
Population distribution
A larger proportion of the population resides in the northern region of the country, with around one-quarter living in and near the capital city, Zagreb; numerous islands have a low population density.
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
People & 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
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
a larger portion of the population is situated in the northern regions of the country, with around a quarter of the inhabitants living in and near the capital city of Zagreb; numerous islands have low population density.
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.)
Environment
Climate
The climate is characterized by Mediterranean and continental influences, with a dominant continental climate featuring hot summers and cold winters; coastal regions experience mild winters and dry summers.
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 is prevalent in urban regions, alongside emissions originating from adjacent nations; surface water contamination affects 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
Government
Flag
description: three horizontal stripes of red (top), white, and blue -- the pan-Slav colors -- featuring the Croatian coat of arms centrally positioned, which comprises a primary shield (a checkerboard pattern of 13 red and 12 silver squares) topped with five smaller shields that create a crown above the main shield
meaning: the smaller shields symbolize the five historical regions (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia
history: the pan-Slav colors were inspired by Russia's flag from the 19th century
Capital
name
Zagreb
etymology
the name of the city translates to "beyond the bank (or ditch)"; za in Old Croatian signifies "beyond," while greb translates to "bank" or "ditch," referring to the city's original location above the Sava River
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, in Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, starts on the last Sunday of March; concludes on the last Sunday of 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
can be proposed by at least one-fifth of the Assembly members, by the republic's president, by the Government of Croatia, or through a petition by at least 10% of the overall electorate; amending procedures require a majority vote in the Assembly; approval necessitates a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; passage via petition requires majority support in a referendum and confirmation by the Assembly
Country name
former
People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia
etymology
the name likely originates from the Croats, a Slavic tribe that migrated to the Balkans in the 7th century A.D., although it may be connected to the Russian term 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); significant earlier dates include approximately 925 (establishment of the Kingdom of Croatia), 1 December 1918 (formation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which later became Yugoslavia)
Legal system
a civil law system shaped by the legal traditions of Austria-Hungary
Government type
parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (comprising the court president and vice president, 25 justices from the civil department, and 16 justices from the criminal department)
subordinate courts
Administrative Court; includes county, municipal, and specialized courts
judge selection and term of office
the president of the Supreme Court is nominated by the president of Croatia and elected by the Sabor for a four-year term; other justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the National Judicial Council; all judges serve until the age of 70
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
the president is directly elected by an absolute-majority popular vote in two rounds if necessary, for a five-year term (eligible for re-election); typically, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed as prime minister by the president and confirmed by the Assembly
expected date of next election
2029
National holiday
Statehood Day (National Day), 30 May (1990)
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)
National anthem(s)
title
"Lijepa nasa domovino" (Our Beautiful Homeland)
history
adopted in 1972 while Croatia was still part of Yugoslavia; the lyrics were penned in 1835 and it was used as an unofficial anthem starting 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
[email protected]
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
[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
International law organization participation
has not filed a declaration of ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$32.487 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$33.715 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$41.907 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$45.064 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$46.601 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$46.769 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$46.811 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$49.86 billion (2024 est.)
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.)
Public debt
Public debt 2023
75.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
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.)
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.)
Economic overview
upper-middle-income economy in the Balkans; the newest user of the euro (adopted in 2023); growing investments from EU structural funds and the tourism sector have led to robust yet moderating economic growth; decreasing energy prices and the easing of restrictive monetary policies are helping to reduce inflation; historically low unemployment rates are accompanied by labor shortages in the 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.)
Exports - partners
Italy 14%, Germany 11%, Slovenia 11%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 6%, Austria 6% (2023)
Imports - partners
Italy 14%, Germany 14%, Slovenia 11%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5% (2023)
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.)
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.)
Agricultural products
maize, wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, soybeans, sunflower seeds, potatoes, pork, grapes (2023)
Exports - commodities
ships, garments, electricity, packaged medicine, wood (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, garments, natural gas, crude petroleum (2023)
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.)
Taxes and other revenues
21.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$92.526 billion (2024 est.)
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.)
Population below poverty line
18% (2021 est.)
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.)
Industrial production growth rate
2.1% (2024 est.)
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.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
15.5% (2024 est.)
total
16.6% (2024 est.)
female
18.2% (2024 est.)
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.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
19.8% (2024 est.)
services
59.7% (2024 est.)
agriculture
3.4% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.9% (2022 est.)
highest 10%
23% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
30 (2022 est.)
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.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
83% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
Croatian Radiotelevision, the national state-controlled public broadcaster, manages four terrestrial television networks, a satellite channel that retransmits programming for Croatians living abroad, and six regional television centers; in addition, there are two private broadcasters operating national terrestrial networks; 29 privately owned regional television stations exist; various multi-channel cable and satellite television subscription services are accessible; the state-owned public broadcaster also operates four national radio networks alongside 23 regional radio stations; there are two privately owned national radio networks and 117 local radio stations as of 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, Omišalj, Rijeka Luka, Rovinj, Šibenik, 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
Military & Security
Military - note
The Armed Forces of Croatia (OSRH) hold the responsibility for safeguarding the sovereignty and territory of Croatia, while also engaging in international humanitarian, peacekeeping, and security operations. They assist civil authorities in missions that involve disaster response, search and rescue, anti-terrorism efforts, and internal security during crises, should the prime minister or president request such support. Croatia became a member of NATO in 2009, with the OSRH actively participating in NATO operations, including the peacekeeping contingent in Kosovo and the Enhanced Forward Presence initiative in Eastern Europe. Additionally, the OSRH contributes to missions conducted by the EU and UN and regularly conducts training exercises alongside NATO and regional partners.
The OSRH was formed in 1991 from the Croatian National Guard amid the Croatian War of Independence (1991-95). During this conflict, the ground forces expanded to as many as 60 brigades and numerous independent battalions, with a single military operation against Serbian forces in 1995 involving around 100,000 Croatian soldiers. In 2000, Croatia launched an initiative to modernize and reform the OSRH into a compact, professional military capable of addressing the challenges associated with NATO membership (2025).
Military deployments
150 personnel in Kosovo (KFOR/NATO); additionally, several hundred individuals are involved in various 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).
Military service age and obligation
Voluntary military service is available to individuals aged 18-29 for both men and women; conscription was abolished in 2008 but will be reinstated in 2026, making it mandatory for men aged 19-29 to complete two months of basic military training (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The military's inventory comprises a combination of Soviet-era (mainly from the former Yugoslavia) equipment and an increasing quantity of modern, NATO-compatible weapon systems sourced from suppliers such as France, Germany, Türkiye, and the United States (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.)
