Croatia

Croatia

Introduction

Background

The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close 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 under the strong hand of Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998. In April 2009, Croatia joined NATO

it is a candidate for eventual EU accession.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

45 10 N, 15 30 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 56,594 sq km
country comparison to the world: 127 land:55,974 sq km
water:620 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries

total: 1,982 km
border countries:Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia 241 km, Montenegro 25 km, Slovenia 455 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 extremes

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point:Dinara 1,831 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 25.82%
permanent crops:2.19%
other:71.99% (2005)

Irrigated land

310 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

105.5 cu km (1998)

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Environment – current issues

air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests

coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste

landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife

Environment – international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits

most Adriatic Sea islands lie off the coast of Croatia – some 1,200 islands, islets, ridges, and rocks

People and Society

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, other 5.9% (including Bosniak, Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, and Roma) (2001 census)

Languages

Croatian (official) 96.1%, Serbian 1%, other and undesignated (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) 2.9% (2001 census)

Religions

Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

Population

4,483,804 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.1% (male 346,553/female 328,677)
15-64 years:68.1% (male 1,516,884/female 1,536,065)
65 years and over:16.9% (male 296,268/female 459,357) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 41.4 years
male:39.5 years
female:43.3 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.076% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202

Birth rate

9.6 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200

Death rate

11.91 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Net migration rate

1.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45

Urbanization

urban population: 58% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

ZAGREB (capital) 685,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.055 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.64 male(s)/female
total population:0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

14 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 134

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.16 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 174 male:6.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female:6.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.79 years
country comparison to the world: 80 male:72.17 years
female:79.6 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.43 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Health expenditures

7.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 60

Physicians density

2.59 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 52

Hospital bed density

5.49 beds/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 33

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 97% of population
total: 99% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 3% of population
total: 1% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 99% of population
rural: 98% of population
total: 99% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1% of population
rural: 2% of population
total: 1% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases:tickborne encephalitis
note:highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country

it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

22.3% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 18

Education expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 76

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:98.1%
male:99.3%
female:97.1% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years
male:13 years
female:14 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 21.9%
country comparison to the world: 46 male:18.5%
female:27.2% (2008)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
conventional short form:Croatia
local long form:Republika Hrvatska
local short form:Hrvatska
former:People’s Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia

Government type

presidential/parliamentary democracy

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

Administrative divisions

20 counties (zupanije, zupanija – singular) and 1 city* (grad – singular)

Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska, Brodsko-Posavska, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria), Karlovacka, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka, Krapinsko-Zagorska, Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska, Osjecko-Baranjska, Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska, Sibensko-Kninska, Sisacko-Moslavacka, Splitsko-Dalmatinska (Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska, Viroviticko-Podravska, Vukovarsko-Srijemska, Zadarska, Zagreb*, Zagrebacka

Independence

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday

Independence Day, 8 October (1991)

note – 25 June 1991 was the day the Croatian parliament voted for independence

following a three-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the Yugoslav crisis peacefully, Parliament adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia

Constitution

adopted 22 December 1990

revised 2000, 2001

Legal system

civil law system based on Yugoslav civil codes

note – Croatian legislation is changing the former Yugoslav legal model

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age, 16 if employed

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Ivo JOSIPOVIC (since 18 February 2010)
head of government:Prime Minister Jadranka KOSOR (since 6 July 2009)

Deputy Prime Ministers Bozidar PANKRETIC (since 6 July 2009), Darko MILINOVIC (since 13 November 2009), Domagoj Ivan MILOSEVIC (since 29 December 2010), Petar COBANKOVIC (since 29 December 2010), Slobodan UZELAC (since 12 January 2008), Gordan JANDROKOVIC (since 29 December 2010)
cabinet:Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the parliamentary assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 10 January 2010 (next to be held in December 2015)

the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president and then approved by the assembly
election results:Ivo JOSIPOVIC elected president

percent of vote in the second round – Ivo JOSIPOVIC 60%, Milan BANDIC 40%

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly or Sabor (153 seats

members elected from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 25 November 2007 (next to be held by November 2011)
election results:percent of vote by party – NA

number of seats by party – HDZ 66, SDP 57, HNS 6, HSS 6, HDSSB 3, IDS 3, SDSS 3, other 9

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Constitutional Court

judges for both courts are appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the Assembly

Political parties and leaders

Croatian Democratic Congress of Slavonia and Baranja or HDSSB [Vladimir SISLJAGIC]

Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Jadranka KOSOR]

Croatian Party of the Right or HSP [Anto DJAPIC]

Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Josip FRISCIC]

Croatian Pensioner Party or HSU [Silvano HRELJA]

Croatian People’s Party or HNS [Radimir CACIC]

Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Darinko KOSOR]

Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Vojislav STANIMIROVIC]

Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]

Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Zoran MILANOVIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: human rights groups

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, G-11, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC
chancery:2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 588-5899
FAX:[1] (202) 588-8936
consulate(s) general:Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador James B. FOLEY
embassy:2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address:use street address
telephone:[385] (1) 661-2200
FAX:[385] (1) 661-2373

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue – the Pan-Slav colors – superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms

the coat of arms consists of one main shield (a checkerboard of 13 red and 12 silver (white) fields) surmounted by five smaller shields that form a crown over the main shield

the five small shields represent five historic regions, they are (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia
note:the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

National symbol(s)

red-white checkerboard

National anthem

name: “Lijepa nasa domovino” (Our Beautiful Homeland)
lyrics/music:Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN
note:adopted 1972

“Lijepa nasa domovino,” whose lyrics were written in 1835, served as an unofficial anthem beginning in 1891

Economy

Economy – overview

Once one of the wealthiest of the Yugoslav republics, Croatia’s economy suffered badly during the 1991-95 war as output collapsed and the country missed the early waves of investment in Central and Eastern Europe that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall. Between 2000 and 2007, however, Croatia’s economic fortunes began to improve slowly, with moderate but steady GDP growth between 4% and 6% led by a rebound in tourism and credit-driven consumer spending. Inflation over the same period has remained tame and the currency, the kuna, stable. Nevertheless, difficult problems still remain, including a stubbornly high unemployment rate, a growing trade deficit and uneven regional development. The state retains a large role in the economy, as privatization efforts often meet stiff public and political resistance. While macroeconomic stabilization has largely been achieved, structural reforms lag because of deep resistance on the part of the public and lack of strong support from politicians. The EU accession process should accelerate fiscal and structural reform. While long term growth prospects for the economy remain strong, Croatia will face significant pressure as a result of the global financial crisis. Croatia’s high foreign debt, anemic export sector, strained state budget, and over-reliance on tourism revenue will result in higher risk to economic stability over the medium term.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$78.09 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79 $79.18 billion (2009 est.)
$84.06 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$60.59 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

-1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203 -5.8% (2009 est.)
2.4% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$17,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67 $17,600 (2009 est.)
$18,700 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 5.5%
industry:25.7%
services:68.8% (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.721 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 5%
industry:31.3%
services:63.6% (2008)

Unemployment rate

17.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158 14.9% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

17% (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%:27.5% (2008 est.)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

33.7 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 96 29 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed)

21.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Budget

revenues: $22.58 billion
expenditures:$25.31 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

37.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

Public debt

58.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36 49.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30 2.4% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36 9% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.38% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90 11.55% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$8.906 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75 $9.245 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$42.36 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69 $43.94 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$49.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64 $50.24 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$24.91 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 59 $25.64 billion (31 December 2009)
$26.79 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes

livestock, dairy products

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

-1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity – production

11.66 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Electricity – consumption

16.06 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Electricity – exports

2.578 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

5.073 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

23,230 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Oil – consumption

98,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78

Oil – exports

45,140 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Oil – imports

103,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Oil – proved reserves

71 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Natural gas – production

1.98 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Natural gas – consumption

2.853 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Natural gas – exports

212 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42

Natural gas – imports

1.085 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas – proved reserves

24.92 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Current account balance

-$1.118 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140 -$3.356 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$12.07 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79 $10.74 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

transport equipment, machinery, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels

Exports – partners

Italy 18.9%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 11.9%, Germany 10.6%, Slovenia 8%, Austria 5.4% (2010)

Imports

$19.94 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71 $21.03 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery, transport and electrical equipment

chemicals, fuels and lubricants

foodstuffs

Imports – partners

Italy 15.2%, Germany 12.5%, Russia 9%, China 7.2%, Slovenia 5.9%, Austria 4.8% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$14.13 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64 $14.89 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$68.69 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51 $61.62 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$32.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59 $32.17 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$5.642 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59 $5.789 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

kuna (HRK) per US dollar -
5.6356 (2010)
5.2692 (2009)
4.98 (2008)
5.3735 (2007)
5.8625 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

69 (2010)
country comparison to the world:73

Airports – with paved runways

total: 23
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:6
1,524 to 2,437 m:3
914 to 1,523 m:3
under 914 m:9 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 46
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:7
under 914 m:38 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 1,686 km

oil 532 km (2010)

Railways

total: 2,722 km
country comparison to the world: 60 standard gauge:2,722 km 1.435-m gauge (985 km electrified) (2009)

Roadways

total: 29,343 km (includes 1,047 km of expressways) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 99

Waterways

785 km (2009)
country comparison to the world: 74

Merchant marine

total: 75
country comparison to the world: 56 by type:bulk carrier 24, cargo 7, chemical tanker 6, passenger/cargo 27, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned:2 (Norway 2)
registered in other countries:33 (Bahamas 1, Belize 1, Liberia 2, Malta 7, Marshall Islands 12, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (2010)

Ports and terminals

Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibernik, Split, Vukovar (on Danube River)

Military

Military branches

Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike Hrvatske, OSRH), consists of five major commands directly subordinate to a General Staff: Ground Forces (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM

includes coast guard), Air Force and Air Defense Command, Joint Education and Training Command, Logistics Command

Military Police Force supports each of the three Croatian military forces (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for voluntary military service

16 years of age with parental consent

6-month service obligation

conscription abolished 1 January 2008 (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,016,234
females age 16-49:1,017,355 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 770,710
females age 16-49:839,732 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 28,334
female:27,015 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

2.39% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

dispute remains with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several small sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinders ratification of the 1999 border agreement

the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of Pirin Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to Croatia, remains unratified and in dispute

Slovenia also protests Croatia’s 2003 claim to an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic

as a European Union peripheral state, Slovenia imposed a hard border Schengen regime with non-member Croatia in December 2007

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 2,900-7,000 (Croats and Serbs displaced in 1992-95 war) (2007)

Illicit drugs

transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe

has been used as a transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe (2008)