Croatia

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.

45 10 N, 15 30 E

destructive earthquakes

slightly smaller than West Virginia

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

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

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

5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km; islands 4,058 km)

Total: 2,237 km

Border countries (5): Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km; Hungary 348 km; Montenegro 19 km; Serbia 314 km; Slovenia 600 km

Agricultural land: 25.9% (2022 est.)

Arable land: 15.2% (2022 est.)

Permanent crops: 1.4% (2022 est.)

Permanent pasture: 9.2% (2022 est.)

Forest: 34.7% (2022 est.)

Other: 39.4% (2022 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

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

geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands

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

Europe

170 sq km (2022)

105.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Highest point: Dinara 1,831 m

Lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m

Mean elevation: 331 m

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq 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

Total : 56,594 sq km

Land: 55,974 sq km

Water: 620 sq km

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)

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.)

Noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)

Adjective: Croatian

Note: The French designation of "Croate" to Croatian mercenaries in the 17th century eventually became "Cravate" and later came to be applied to the soldiers' scarves - the cravat; Croatia celebrates Cravat Day every 18 October

Total: 16 years (2022 est.)

Male: 15 years (2022 est.)

Female: 17 years (2022 est.)

Urban population: 58.6% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

684,000 ZAGREB (capital) (2023)

3.91 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

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

29 years (2020 est.)

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.)

Croat 91.6%, Serb 3.2%, other 3.9% (including Bosniak, Romani, Albanian, Italian, and Hungarian), unspecified 1.3% (2021 est.)

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.)

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.

8.1% of GDP (2021)

13.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.71 (2024 est.)

50.8% (2023 est.)

Total: 16.6% (2024 est.)

Male: 15.5% (2024 est.)

Female: 18.2% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 45.1 years (2024 est.)

Male: 43.2 years

Female: 47 years

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

1.46 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 4,150,116 (2024 est.)

Male: 2,003,431

Female: 2,146,685

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

Total: 32.8% (2025 est.)

Male: 33.6% (2025 est.)

Female: 32.1% (2025 est.)

24.4% (2016)

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

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

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.)

Total population: 77.7 years (2024 est.)

Male: 74.6 years

Female: 81 years

4.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

10.7% national budget (2022 est.)

-0.46% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 465 million cubic meters (2022)

Industrial: 475 million cubic meters (2022)

Agricultural: 76 million cubic meters (2022)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.81 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2022 est.)

15.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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.)

79.907 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Trey LYONS (since January 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/

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)

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

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

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

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

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia); notable earlier dates: ca. 925 (Kingdom of Croatia established), 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes established, later became Yugoslavia)

Note: 25 June 1991 was the day the Croatian parliament voted for independence; the legislature adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia

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: An 11-member Constitutional Court has jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues, but it is outside the judicial system

civil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary

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); Independent (NZ) (10); Other (28)

Percentage of women in chamber: 33.1%

Expected date of next election: April 2028

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

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

Statehood Day (National Day), 30 May (1990)

Note: marks the day in 1990 that the first modern multi-party Croatian parliament convened

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! 

18 years of age; universal

parliamentary republic

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"

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)

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

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

red-and-white checkerboard

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

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)

red, white, blue

18% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Lowest 10%: 2.9% (2022 est.)

Highest 10%: 23% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

ships, garments, electricity, packaged medicine, wood (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Italy 14%, Germany 11%, Slovenia 11%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 6%, Austria 6% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

maize, wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, soybeans, sunflower seeds, potatoes, pork, grapes (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

refined petroleum, cars, garments, natural gas, crude petroleum (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
0.924 (2024 est.)
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)

Note: Croatia used the kuna prior to conversion to the euro on 1 January 2023. During the transition period the exchange rate was fixed at 7.53450 kuna to 1 euro.

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

$92.526 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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

Italy 14%, Germany 14%, Slovenia 11%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

On food: 18.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On alcohol and tobacco: 7.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

7.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
7.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

1.733 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$3.336 billion (2024 est.)
$3.176 billion (2023 est.)
$29.726 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

75.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

5.3% (2024 est.)
6.1% (2023 est.)
7% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

21.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$164.825 billion (2024 est.)
$158.769 billion (2023 est.)
$153.693 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

3% (2024 est.)
7.9% (2023 est.)
10.8% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$1.049 billion (2024 est.)
$635.97 million (2023 est.)
-$2.621 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$42,600 (2024 est.)
$41,100 (2023 est.)
$39,900 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$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

$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

3.8% (2024 est.)
3.3% (2023 est.)
7.3% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

2.1% (2024 est.)

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

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

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Consumption: 596,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports: 1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Imports: 663,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

Percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)

.hr

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)

Total subscriptions: 4.56 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2022 est.)

Total: 1.11 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions: 1.203 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)

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

9A

45 (2025)

Total: 384 (2023)

By type: Bulk carrier 10, general cargo 32, oil tanker 14, other 328

7 (2025)

18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2008 but slated to be reinstated in January 2025 (2024)

Note: As of 2024, women comprised about 14% of the military's full-time personnel

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.)

Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike Hrvatske, OSRH): Croatian Army (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Croatian Navy (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM; includes Coast Guard), Croatian Air Force (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo, HRZ) (2025)

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

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)

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

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)

150 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO); 175 Lithuania (NATO; Croatia also has a few hundred personnel participating in several other EU, NATO, and UN missions (2024)

Refugees: 29,927 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons: 758 (2024 est.)

Total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024)

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

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

30 (2022 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality