Croatia Population: 4,483,804
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| 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. |
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| Geography | |
| 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 | |
| Location: | Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia |
| Geographic coordinates: | 45 10 N, 15 30 E |
| Area: | total: 56,594 sq km land: 55,974 sq km water: 620 sq km Size comparison: 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) |
| Natural hazards: | destructive earthquakes |
| Current Environment 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 |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 4,483,804 (July 2011 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Birth rate: | 9.6 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 11.91 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 1.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 6.16 deaths/1,000 live births 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 male: 72.17 years female: 79.6 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.43 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 100 (2009 est.) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| Languages: | Croatian (official) 96.1%, Serbian 1%, other and undesignated (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) 2.9% (2001 census) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.1% male: 99.3% female: 97.1% (2001 census) |
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| 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 |
| 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, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, 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 |
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| Economy | |
| 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): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $78.09 billion (2010 est.) $79.18 billion (2009 est.) $84.06 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $60.59 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | -1.4% (2010 est.) -5.8% (2009 est.) 2.4% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $17,400 (2010 est.) $17,600 (2009 est.) $18,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 5.4% industry: 26.5% services: 68.2% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 1.721 million (2010 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 5% industry: 31.3% services: 63.6% (2008) |
| Unemployment rate: | 17.6% (2010 est.) 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) 29 (1998) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (2010 est.) 2.4% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 22.2% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $22.93 billion expenditures: $25.68 billion (2010 est.) |
| Public debt: | 58% of GDP (2010 est.) 46.2% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| 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: | -1.9% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 11.66 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 16.06 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 2.578 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 5.073 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 23,230 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 98,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 45,140 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 103,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 71 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 1.98 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 2.853 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 212 million cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 1.085 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 24.92 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$1.118 billion (2010 est.) -$3.315 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $12.15 billion (2010 est.) $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: | $20.23 billion (2010 est.) $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.) $14.89 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $60.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $63.02 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $32.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $32.19 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $5.711 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $5.909 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $24.91 billion (31 December 2010) $25.64 billion (31 December 2009) $26.79 billion (31 December 2008) |
| Exchange rates: | kuna (HRK) per US dollar - 5.6356 (2010) 5.2692 (2009) 4.98 (2008) 5.3735 (2007) 5.8625 (2006) |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 1.859 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 60 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 6.035 million (2009) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: the telecommunications network has improved steadily since the mid-1990s; local lines are digital domestic: fixed-line teledensity holding steady at about 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions exceed the population international: country code - 385; digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists of 2 fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; the ADRIA-1 submarine cable provides connectivity to Albania and Greece (2009) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .hr |
| Internet hosts: | 1.287 million (2010) |
| Internet users: | 2.234 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 69 (2010) country comparison to the world: 73 |
| Airports (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 (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 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) |
| Waterways: | 785 km (2009) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 75 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 8) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibernik, Split, Vukovar (on Danube River) |
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| 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.) |
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