Knelstrom Intelligence · World Factbook

Croatia

Republika Hrvatska

HR / HRVeurope

CapitalZagreb

Population3,876,200

GDP$105.1bn

Area56,594 km²

RegionEurope & Central Asia

Data sources current · last checked September 20, 2026 2:10 am

Country facts

Official nameRepublika Hrvatska

CapitalZagreb

Area56,594 km²

Official language(s)Croatian

Calling code+385

RegionEurope & Central Asia

Income levelHigh income

Form of governmentrepublic

Time zoneUTC+01:00

Overview

Population3,876,2002025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate3,822,3452026 · Estimated

GDP (current US$)$105,060,182,1862025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$27,1042025 · Verified

GDP growth3.4%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices3.7%2025 · Verified

Unemployment5.0%2025 · Verified

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.

Reference: 2023, 2013, 2009, 1998

Geography

Latitude45.8069°current · Verified

Longitude15.9614°current · Verified

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 56,594 sq km
land: 55,974 sq km
water: 620 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

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

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: 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.)
forest: 34.7% (2023 est.)
other: 38.2% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Irrigated land

170 sq km (2022)

Reference: 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

Population & Society

Population3,876,2002025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate3,822,3452026 · Estimated

Fertility rate1.52024 · Verified

Urban population57.8%2025 · Verified

Nationality

noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)
adjective: Croatian
note: 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.)

Reference: 2021

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.

Reference: 2021

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.)

Reference: 2021

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)

Reference: 2024

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.)

Reference: 2024

Median age

total: 45.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 43.2 years
female: 47 years

Reference: 2024

Population growth rate

-0.46% (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Birth rate

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

Reference: 2024

Death rate

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

Reference: 2024

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 urban areas - population

684,000 ZAGREB (capital) (2023)

Reference: 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.)

Reference: 2024

Mother's mean age at first birth

29 years (2020 est.)

Reference: 2020

Maternal mortality ratio

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Gross reproduction rate

0.71 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Drinking water source

improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 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.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

3.91 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Reference: 2022

Hospital bed density

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

Reference: 2020

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.4% (2016)

Reference: 2016

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.)

Reference: 2019

Tobacco use

total: 32.8% (2025 est.)
male: 33.6% (2025 est.)
female: 32.1% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

50.8% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years (2022 est.)
male: 15 years (2022 est.)
female: 17 years (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Migration & Displacement

Immigrant/emigrant stock measures the number of international migrants resident in, or originating from, the country; it is not the same as annual immigration/emigration flows.

International migrant stock (immigrants)527,8312024 · Verified

International migrant stock13.6%2024 · Verified

International emigrant stock826,1662024 · Estimated

Net migration-3,4812025 · Verified

Refugees hosted8182011 · Verified

Asylum seekers hosted2192011 · Verified

Refugees from this country17,2072025 · Verified

Asylum seekers from this country432025 · Verified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 29,927 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 758 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Government & Politics

Form of governmentrepubliccurrent · Reported

Office	Holder	Affiliation	From	Status	Evidence
Head of state	Zoran Milanović	—	2020-02-19	Current	Reported
Head of government	Andrej Plenković	—	2016-10-19	Current	Reported

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"

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

Reference: 1990

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

Reference: 2029, 2025, 2024, 2020

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 2028
note: 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

Reference: 2028, 2024

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: 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: washington@mvep.hr
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)

Reference: 2017

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Nicole McGRAW (since 21 October 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: 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

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: 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

Reference: 1991, 1918

National holiday

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

Reference: 1990

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

National symbol(s)

red-and-white checkerboard

National color(s)

red, white, blue

National anthem(s)

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

Reference: 1972

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)

Government & Official Links

Institution	Official website	X / Twitter	Verification
Croatia official website	Official website	—	Reported · source Checked September 20, 2026

Institutional accounts only; personal accounts of political office-holders are excluded.

Legislature & Elections

Legislature

Name	Chamber	Seats	Electoral system
Parliament of Croatia	—	151	—

Economy

GDP (current US$)$105,060,182,1862025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$27,1042025 · Verified

GDP growth3.4%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices3.7%2025 · Verified

Unemployment5.0%2025 · Verified

Income levelHigh incomecurrent · Verified

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

Reference: 2023

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $164.825 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $158.769 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $153.693 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $42,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $41,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $39,900 (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3.4% (2024 est.)
industry: 19.8% (2024 est.)
services: 59.7% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Reference: 2024

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

Reference: 2024

Agricultural products

maize, wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, soybeans, sunflower seeds, potatoes, pork, grapes (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Reference: 2023

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

Reference: 2024

Labor force

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

Reference: 2024

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 16.6% (2024 est.)
male: 15.5% (2024 est.)
female: 18.2% (2024 est.)
note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Reference: 2024

Population below poverty line

18% (2021 est.)
note: note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Reference: 2021

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 30 (2022 est.)
note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Reference: 2022

Average household expenditures

on food: 18.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 7.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 23% (2022 est.)
note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Reference: 2022

Remittances

Remittances 2024: 7.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 7.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Budget

revenues: $32.487 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $33.715 billion (2023 est.)
note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Reference: 2023

Public debt

Public debt 2023: 75.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Reference: 2023

Taxes and other revenues

21.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Reference: 2023

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024: -$1.049 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $635.97 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$2.621 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Exports 2024: $46.601 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $45.064 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $41.907 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

Italy 14%, Germany 11%, Slovenia 11%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 6%, Austria 6% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

ships, garments, electricity, packaged medicine, wood (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Imports 2024: $49.86 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $46.811 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $46.769 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

Italy 14%, Germany 14%, Slovenia 11%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, garments, natural gas, crude petroleum (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $3.336 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $3.176 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $29.726 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exchange rates

Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)
note: 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.

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Trade

Exports of goods and services48.0%2025 · Verified

Imports of goods and services53.0%2025 · Verified

Trade101.0%2025 · Verified

Current account balance

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

Italy 14%, Germany 11%, Slovenia 11%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 6%, Austria 6% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

ships, garments, electricity, packaged medicine, wood (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

Italy 14%, Germany 14%, Slovenia 11%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, garments, natural gas, crude petroleum (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Energy & Resources

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Electric power consumption4,484 kWh/person2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption34.1%2021 · Verified

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.)

Reference: 2023

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.)

Reference: 2023

Coal

consumption: 596,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports: 663,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2022

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.)

Reference: 2023, 2021

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.)

Reference: 2023, 2021

Energy consumption per capita

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

Reference: 2023

Infrastructure

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions29.6 per 1002024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions121.7 per 1002024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1.203 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Health

Life expectancy at birth78.9 years2024 · Verified

Current health expenditure7.1%2023 · Verified

Infant mortality rate4.1 per 1,0002024 · Verified

Maternal mortality ratio

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

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.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

3.91 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Reference: 2022

Hospital bed density

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

Reference: 2020

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.4% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Tobacco use

total: 32.8% (2025 est.)
male: 33.6% (2025 est.)
female: 32.1% (2025 est.)

Education

Adult literacy rate98.2%2001 · Verified

Secondary school enrolment, gross105.0%2023 · Verified

Government education expenditure4.1%2021 · Verified

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years (2022 est.)
male: 15 years (2022 est.)
female: 17 years (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Rights, Freedoms & Society

Press & Media Freedom

V-Dem expert-coded/modelled source measures. Knelstrom does not create a press-freedom ranking or composite score.

Freedom of expression & alternative information index0.7432025 · Estimated

Government censorship effort — media0.7222025 · Estimated

Harassment of journalists0.9942025 · Estimated

Print/broadcast media critical of government1.4252025 · Estimated

Range of perspectives in major media0.7942025 · Estimated

Media bias0.9502025 · Estimated

Media self-censorship0.8162025 · Estimated

LGBTQ+ Rights & Law

Concrete legal-status fields only; Knelstrom does not generate an LGBTQ rights score or country ranking.

Same-sex sexual activityYes Legal since 1977 (As part of Yugoslavia); equal age of consent since 1998; + UN decl. sign.Reported

Recognition of same-sex relationshipsYes Unregistered cohabitation since 2003 Life partnerships since 2014Reported

Same-sex marriageNo Constitutional ban since 2013Reported

Same-sex adoptionYes Legal since 2022Reported

Open military serviceYesReported

Sexual-orientation anti-discrimination lawYes Bans all anti-gay discriminationReported

Gender identity / expression lawYes Act on the elimination of discrimination bans all discrimination based on both gender identity and gender expression. Gender change is regulated by special policy issued by Ministry of Health.Reported

Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country or territory (CC BY-SA 4.0). Community-edited legal-status summary; retrieved by Knelstrom and not legal advice.

Crime & Justice

Legal system

civil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary

Judicial branch

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

Military expenditures

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

Reference: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 15,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)

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)

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

Reference: 2025, 2024, 2008

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)

Reference: 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)

Reference: 2025, 2009, 2000, 1995

International Relations

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic representation in the US

Reference: 2017

Diplomatic representation from the US

International organization participation

Treaties & Organisations

Organisation	Status	Joined
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)	member	1992-03-24
European Union (EU)	member	2013-07-01
NATO (NATO)	member	2009-04-01
United Nations (UN)	member	1992-05-22
World Trade Organization (WTO)	member	—

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Conflict & Security

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 29,927 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 758 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Transportation & Logistics

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

45 (2025)

Heliports

7 (2025)

Railways

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

Reference: 2020

Merchant marine

total: 384 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 10, general cargo 32, oil tanker 14, other 328

Reference: 2023

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

Reference: 2024

Environment

Forest area34.8%2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption34.1%2021 · Verified

Environmental issues

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

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

Reference: 2006

Climate

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

Land use

Reference: 2023

Urbanization

urban population: 58.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2020

Carbon dioxide emissions

total 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.)

Reference: 2023

Particulate matter emissions

15.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.81 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2022 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 465 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 475 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 76 million cubic meters (2022)

Reference: 2022

Total renewable water resources

105.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024)
global geoparks and regional networks: Biokovo-Imotski Lakes; Papuk; Vis Archipelago (2024)

Reference: 2024

Communications & Media

Individuals using the Internet83.6%2024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions121.7 per 1002024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions29.6 per 1002024 · Verified

Secure Internet servers29,459 per million2024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1.203 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

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)

Reference: 2019