{{Short description|Country in Central and Southeast Europe}}
{{about|the country}}
{{Redirect|Hrvatska}}
{{pp-move|small=yes}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025|cs1-dates=ly}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Republic of Croatia
| native_name = {{lang|hr|Republika Hrvatska}}
| image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
| image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
| coa_size = 70
| anthem = {{lang|hr|[[Lijepa naša domovino]]}}
{{lang|en|"Our Beautiful Homeland"}}
[[File:Lijepa nasa domovino instrumental.ogg|center]]
| image_map = {{Switcher|[[File:EU-Croatia (orthographic projection).png|frameless]] | upright=1.15|Show globe|[[File:EU-Croatia.svg|upright=1.15|frameless]] | Show map of Europe|default=1}}
| map_caption = {{map caption |location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the European Union | subregion_color=green}}
| capital = [[Zagreb]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|45|48|47|N|15|58|39|E|type:city}}
| largest_city = capital
| official_languages = [[Croatian language|Croatian]]{{efn|[[Czech language|Czech]], [[German language|German]], [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], [[Boyash|Boyash Romanian]], [[Istro-Romanian language|Istro-Romanian]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Pannonian Rusyn]], [[Romani language|Romani]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]], [[Slovak language|Slovak]], [[Slovene language|Slovene]], and [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] are recognised by the [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]]}}
| ethnic_groups = {{Unbulleted list |91.6% [[Croats]] | 3.2% [[Serbs of Croatia|Serbs]]
| 5.2% [[Demographics of Croatia|others]]}}
| ethnic_groups_year = 2021
| religion = {{ublist |item_style=white-space;
| {{Tree list}}
* 87.4% [[Christianity]]
** 79.0% [[Catholic Church in Croatia|Catholicism]]
** 3.3% [[Eastern Orthodoxy in Croatia|Orthodoxy]]
** 5.1% other Christian
{{Tree list/end}}
| 6.4% [[Irreligion in Croatia|no religion]]
| 1.3% [[Islam in Croatia|Islam]]
| 1.9% [[Religion in Croatia|other]]
| 3.9% undeclared[{{cite web |url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/share-of-croats-in-croatia-increases-as-census-results-published/ |title=Share of Croats in Croatia increases as census results published |date=22 September 2022}}]}}
| religion_year = 2021
| demonym = {{hlist|[[Croat]]ian}}
| government_type = [[Unitary parliamentary republic]]
| leader_title1 = [[President of Croatia|President]]
| leader_name1 = [[Zoran Milanović]]
| leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Croatia|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name2 = [[Andrej Plenković]]
| leader_title3 = [[Speaker of the Croatian Parliament|Speaker of the Parliament]]
| leader_name3 = [[Gordan Jandroković]]
| legislature = [[Sabor]]
| sovereignty_type = [[History of Croatia|Establishment history]]
| established_event1 = [[Duchy of Croatia|Duchy]]
| established_date1 = 7th century
| established_event2 = [[Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102)|Kingdom]]
| established_date2 = 925
| established_event3 = [[Croatia in personal union with Hungary]]
| established_date3 = 1102
| established_event4 = Joined [[Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)|Habsburg Monarchy]]
| established_date4 = 1 January 1527
| established_event5 = Secession from
[[Austria-Hungary]]
| established_date5 = 29 October 1918
| established_event6 = [[Creation of Yugoslavia]]
| established_date6 = 4 December 1918
| established_event7 = [[Socialist Republic of Croatia]] in [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]
| established_date7 = 9 May 1944
| established_event8 = [[Independence of Croatia|Declaration of independence]]
| established_date8 = 25 June 1991
| area_km2 = 56,561[{{Cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.enciklopedija.hr/clanak/26390 |title=Hrvatska |trans-title=Croatia |encyclopedia=[[Croatian Encyclopedia]] |publisher=[[Lexicographic Institute Miroslav Krleža]] |access-date=2025-02-12}}]
| area_rank = 124th
| area_sq_mi = 21,851
| percent_water = 1.09
| population_estimate = {{increaseNeutral}} 3,874,993[{{cite web |url=https://podaci.dzs.hr/2026/en/121478 |title=POPULATION ESTIMATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, 2025 |website=podaci.dzs.hr |access-date=4 September 2026}}]
| population_estimate_year = 2025
| population_estimate_rank = 128th
| population_census = {{decreaseNeutral}} 3,871,833[{{Croatian Census 2021|M}}]
| population_census_year = 2021
| population_census_rank = 128th
| population_density_km2 = 68.4
| population_density_rank = 152nd
| GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $207.40 billion[{{Cite web |date=15 April 2026 |title=Croatia Datasets |url=https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/profile/HRV |access-date=15 April 2026 |website=International Monetary Fund (IMF)}}]
| GDP_PPP_year = 2026
| GDP_PPP_rank = 81st
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $54,359[{{cite web |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/gini-coefficient-by-country |title=Gini Coefficient by Country 2026 |publisher=World Population Review |access-date=2026-01-12}}]
| Gini_rank =
| HDI = 0.889
| HDI_rank = 41st
| HDI_year = 2023
| HDI_change = increase
| HDI_ref = [{{Cite web |date=6 May 2025 |title=Human Development Report 2025 |url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506051232/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf |archive-date=2025-05-06 |access-date=2025-05-06 |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]}}]
| currency = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]])
| currency_code = EUR
| time_zone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| time_zone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Croatia|+385]]
| patron_saint = [[St. Joseph]][{{cite web |url=http://www.sabor.hr/sv-josip-zastitnik-hrvatske-domovine |access-date=2018-03-10 |title=Hrvatski sabor – Povijest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306022924/http://www.sabor.hr/sv-josip-zastitnik-hrvatske-domovine |archive-date=2018-03-06 |url-status=dead}}]
| cctld = {{vunblist| [[.hr]] and [[.eu]]}}
}}
'''Croatia''',{{efn|{{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Croatia.ogg|k|r|oʊ|ˈ|eɪ|ʃ|ə}}, {{respell|kroh|AY|shə}}; {{langx|hr|Hrvatska}}, {{IPA|hr|xř̩ʋaːtskaː|pron}}}} officially the '''Republic of Croatia''',{{efn|{{langx|hr|Republika Hrvatska|links=no}} {{pronunciation|Hr-Republika Hrvatska.oga|listen|help=no}}, {{IPA|hr|repǔblika xř̩ʋaːtskaː|pron}}.}} is a country in [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Southeastern Europe]], on the coast of the [[Adriatic Sea]]. It borders [[Slovenia]] to the northwest, [[Hungary]] to the northeast, [[Serbia]] to the east, [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] and [[Montenegro]] to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with [[Italy]] to the west. The [[List of inhabited islands of Croatia|Croatian archipelago]] contains over 1,000 islands and islets, the [[Adriatic Sea#Geography|largest overseas territory]] on the Adriatic Sea. Its capital, largest city and main cultural and economic centre is [[Zagreb]]. Major urban centers include [[Split, Croatia|Split]], [[Rijeka]], and [[Osijek]]. The country is composed of [[Counties of Croatia|twenty counties]]{{efn|The city of [[Zagreb]] is classified as a [[Administrative divisions of Croatia|special administrative unit]] within Croatia, operating as a "city-county". It is distinct and separate from [[Zagreb County]] which surrounds – but does not include – the capital city.}} spanning {{convert|56594|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=off}} within [[Regions of Croatia|four administrative regions]]. Croatia has [[Demographics of Croatia|a population]] of nearly 3.9 million {{As of|2026|lc=y}}.
[[history of Croatia|Croatian history]] began with the 6th century arrival of the [[Croats]] to [[Illyria|Roman Illyria]]. Settled as [[Duchy of Croatia|two duchies]] a century later, Croatia was granted independence in 878 under Duke [[Branimir, Duke of Croatia|Branimir]] and elevated into [[Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102)|a kingdom]] under King [[Tomislav, King of Croatia|Tomislav]] in 925. The [[Trpimirović dynasty|Trpimirović dynastic]] succession crisis [[Croatia in personal union with Hungary|placed Croatia]] into a [[personal union]] with [[Kingdom of Hungary (1000–1301)|Hungary]] in 1102. In 1527, amid [[Hundred Years' Croatian–Ottoman War|Ottoman conflict]], Croatia aligned with the [[Habsburg monarchy]]. It reorganized into the [[State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs|State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs]] before [[Creation of Yugoslavia|merging into]] the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]] in 1918. During [[World War II]], most of Croatia was invaded by the [[Axis powers]] who installed a [[List of World War II puppet states|puppet state]] known as the [[Independent State of Croatia]]. A [[Croatian Partisans|resistance movement]] restored sovereignty, emerging as the [[Socialist Republic of Croatia]] within the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] in 1943. Croatia declared [[Independence of Croatia|independence from Yugoslavia]] in 1991, successfully fighting the [[Croatian War of Independence|War of Independence]] until 1995.
Modern Croatia is a [[representative democracy]] with a [[Prime Minister of Croatia|prime minister]], [[President of Croatia|president]], and [[Croatian Parliament|unicameral parliament]]. Its [[Constitution of Croatia|constitution]] ensures separation of powers between the [[Government of Croatia|executive]], [[Law of Croatia|legislative]], and [[Supreme Court of Croatia|judicial branches]]. [[Politics of Croatia|Croatian politics]] reflect [[List of political parties in Croatia|a multi-party system]]. Croatia is part of many international organizations and forums including the [[European Union]], [[United Nations]], [[World Trade Organization|WTO]], and [[NATO]], among others. It [[Foreign relations of Croatia|exerts regional influence]] as a [[small power]] in Europe, particularly within neighboring Southeast Europe. Since 1999, the [[Armed Forces of Croatia|Croatian Armed Forces]] have deployed internationally for a variety of peacekeeping missions and military interventions. Croatia [[2007 United Nations Security Council election|was elected]] to serve on the non-permanent seat of the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] from 2008 to 2009.
A [[developed country]], Croatia has [[Economy of Croatia|an advanced economy]] considered [[high-income]] and dominated by its service, industrial, and agricultural sectors. Its [[Tourism in Croatia|tourism sector]] is prominent, generating significant economic activity across the country. Croatia has heavily invested in infrastructure, especially in [[Transport in Croatia|transport routes and facilities]] along [[Pan-European corridors|European corridors]]. An [[Energy in Croatia|emerging energy power]] in Europe, it has strategic investments in [[liquefied natural gas]], [[Geothermal energy|geothermal networks]], and electric transport. It has extensive biodiversity, wildlife, and [[Geology of Croatia|natural resources]] across [[Geography of Croatia|its geography]]. Croatia provides [[Welfare spending|social security]], [[Healthcare in Croatia|universal health care]], and subsidized [[Education in Croatia|primary and secondary education]] while supporting [[Culture of Croatia|culture]] through [[Mass media in Croatia|media]] and [[Croatian literature|publishing]].
== Etymology ==
{{Main|Names of the Croats and Croatia}}
Croatia's [[Endonym and exonym|non-native]] [[Names of the Croats and Croatia|name]] derives from [[Medieval Latin]] {{lang|la-x-medieval|Croātia}}, itself a derivation of [[West Slavic languages|North-West Slavic]] {{lang|zlw|*Xərwate}}, by [[Slavic liquid metathesis and pleophony|liquid metathesis]] from Common Slavic period ''*Xorvat'', from proposed [[Proto-Slavic language|Proto-Slavic]] ''[[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/xъrvatъ|*Xъrvátъ]]'' which possibly comes from the 3rd-century [[Scythian languages|Scytho-Sarmatian]] form attested in the [[Tanais Tablets]] as {{lang|grc|Χοροάθος|italic=no}} (''{{lang|grc-latn|Khoroáthos}}''. Alternate forms are {{lang|grc-latn|Khoróatos}} and ''{{lang|grc-latn|Khoroúathos}}'').[{{cite book |first=Alemko |last=Gluhak |title=Hrvatski etimološki rječnik |trans-title=Croatian Etymological Dictionary |language=hr |publisher=August Cesarec |year=1993 |isbn=953-162-000-8}}] The origin of the ethnonym is uncertain, but most probably is from [[Ossetian language|Proto-Ossetian]] / [[Scythian languages#Alanian|Alanian]] *''xurvæt-'' or *''xurvāt-'', in the meaning of "one who guards" ("guardian, protector").[{{citation |first=Ranko |last=Matasović |author-link=Ranko Matasović |title=Ime Hrvata |trans-title=The Name of Croats |journal=Jezik (Croatian Philological Society) |location=Zagreb |year=2019 |volume=66 |issue=3 |pages=81–97 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/228825?lang=en |language=hr}}]
The oldest preserved record of the Croatian ethnonym's native variation ''*xъrvatъ'' is of the variable stem, attested in the [[Baška tablet]] in [[Style (form of address)|style]] zvъnъmirъ kralъ xrъvatъskъ ("[[Demetrius Zvonimir of Croatia|Zvonimir]], [[List of rulers of Croatia|Croatian king]]"),[{{cite journal |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/21348 |first=Branko |last=Fučić |author-link=Branko Fučić |title=Najstariji hrvatski glagoljski natpisi |trans-title=The Oldest Croatian Glagolitic Inscriptions |journal=[[Slovo (Zagreb)|Slovo]] |publisher=[[Old Church Slavonic Institute]] |volume=21 |date=September 1971 |language=hr |pages=227–254 |access-date=2011-10-14}}] while the Latin variation ''Croatorum'' is archaeologically confirmed on a church inscription found in [[Bijaći]] near [[Trogir]] dated to the end of the 8th or early 9th century.[{{cite journal |title=Kulturna kronika: Dvanaest hrvatskih stoljeća |url=http://www.matica.hr/vijenac/291/hrvatski-nacionalni-dan-na-expou-u-japanu-9037/ |journal=[[Vijenac]] |publisher=[[Matica hrvatska]] |location=Zagreb |issue=291 |date=28 April 2005 |access-date=2019-06-10 |language=hr}}] The presumably oldest stone [[Epigraphy|inscription]] with fully preserved ethnonym is the 9th-century [[Branimir inscription]] found near [[Benkovac]], where Duke [[Branimir of Croatia|Branimir]] is styled ''Dux Cruatorvm'', likely dated between 879 and 892, during his rule.{{sfn|Mužić|2007|p=|pp=195–198}} The Latin term ''{{lang|la|Chroatorum}}'' is attributed to a charter of Duke [[Trpimir I of Croatia]], dated to 852 in a 1568 copy of a lost original, but it is not certain if the original was found to be older than the Branimir inscription.{{sfn|Mužić|2007|p=27}}{{Sfn|Mužić|2007|p=171}}
== History ==
{{Main|History of Croatia}}
=== Prehistory and antiquity ===
{{Main|History of Croatia before the Croats}}
{{multiple image
| align = right
| total_width = 250
| direction = horizontal
| image1 = ZGvucdove.jpg
| alt1 = Ceramic sculpture
| image2 = Croatian Apoxyomenos Louvre n04.jpg
| alt2 = Stone Sculpture
| footer = Left: The [[Vučedol dove]], a sculpture from 2800 to 2500 BC.
Right: ''[[Croatian Apoxyomenos]]'', [[Ancient Greece|Ancient Greek]] statue, 2nd or 1st century BC.
| caption1 =
| caption2 =
}}
The area known as modern Croatia was inhabited throughout the [[prehistoric period]]. [[Neanderthal]] fossils dating to the middle [[Palaeolithic]] period were unearthed in northern Croatia, best presented at the [[Krapina Neanderthal site|Krapina site]].[{{cite journal |journal=Acta medico-historica Adriatica |publisher=Hrvatsko znanstveno društvo za povijest zdravstvene kulture |issn=1334-4366 |date=December 2010 |volume=8 |issue=2 |first=Igor |last=Salopek |title=Krapina Neanderthal Museum as a Well of Medical Information |pages=197–202 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/95232 |access-date=2011-10-15 |pmid=21682056}}] Remnants of [[Neolithic]] and [[Chalcolithic]] cultures were found in all regions.[{{cite journal |journal=Opvscvla Archaeologica Radovi Arheološkog Zavoda |publisher=[[University of Zagreb]], Faculty of Philosophy, Archaeological Department |issn=0473-0992 |title=Study of the Neolithic and Eneolithic as reflected in articles published over the 50 years of the journal Opuscula archaeologica |pages=93–122 |volume=30 |issue=1 |date=April 2008 |first=Tihomila |last=Težak-Gregl |access-date=2011-10-15 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/34026}}] The largest proportion of sites is in the valleys of northern Croatia. The most significant are [[Baden culture|Baden]], [[Starčevo culture|Starčevo]], and [[Vučedol culture]]s.[{{cite journal |journal=Opvscvla Archaeologica Radovi Arheološkog Zavoda |publisher=University of Zagreb, Faculty of Philosophy, Archaeological Department |issn=0473-0992 |title=The Kostolac horizon at Vučedol |pages=25–40 |volume=29 |issue=1 |date=December 2005 |first=Jacqueline |last=Balen |access-date=2011-10-15 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/26644}}][{{cite journal |journal=Opvscvla Archaeologica Radovi Arheološkog Zavoda |publisher=University of Zagreb, Faculty of Philosophy, Archaeological Department |issn=0473-0992 |title=Prilog poznavanju neolitičkih obrednih predmeta u neolitiku sjeverne Hrvatske |trans-title=A Contribution to Understanding Neolithic Ritual Objects in the Northern Croatia Neolithic |language=hr |pages=43–48 |volume=27 |issue=1 |date=December 2003 |first=Tihomila |last=Težak-Gregl |access-date=2011-10-15 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/26644}}] [[Iron Age]] hosted the early Illyrian [[Hallstatt culture]] and the Celtic [[La Tène culture]].[{{cite journal |last1=Potrebica |first1=Hrvoje |last2=Dizdar |first2=Marko |title=Prilog poznavanju naseljenosti Vinkovaca i okolice u starijem željeznom dobu |trans-title=A Contribution to Understanding Continuous Habitation of Vinkovci and its Surroundings in the Early Iron Age |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/1560 |journal=Prilozi Instituta Za Arheologiju U Zagrebu |publisher=Institut za arheologiju |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=79–100 |date=July 2002 |access-date=2011-10-15 |issn=1330-0644 |language=hr}}]
The region of modern-day Croatia was settled by [[Illyrians]] and [[Liburnians]], while the first Greek colonies were established on the islands of [[Hvar]],[{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Nv6SPRKqs8C |first=John |last=Wilkes |title=The Illyrians |year=1995 |publisher=[[Wiley-Blackwell]] |location=Oxford, UK |isbn=978-0-631-19807-9 |page=114 |quote=... in the early history of the colony settled in 385 BC on the island Pharos (Hvar) from the Aegean island Paros, famed for its marble. In traditional fashion they accepted the guidance of an oracle, ... |access-date=2011-10-15}}] [[Korčula]], and [[Vis (island)|Vis]].[{{cite book |first=John |last=Wilkes |title=The Illyrians |year=1995 |publisher=[[Wiley-Blackwell]] |location=Oxford, UK |isbn=978-0-631-19807-9 |page=115 |quote=The third Greek colony known in this central sector of the Dalmatian coast was Issa, on the north side of the island Vis.}}] In 9 AD, the territory of today's Croatia became part of the [[Roman Empire]]. Emperor [[Diocletian]] was native to the region. He [[Diocletian's Palace|had a large palace built]] in [[Split, Croatia|Split]], to which he retired after abdicating in AD 305.[{{cite book |first1=Edward |last1=Gibbon |author2-link=John Bagnell Bury |author2=John Bagnell Bury |author3-link=Daniel J. Boorstin |first3=Daniel J. |last3=Boorstin |title=The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire |publisher=[[Modern Library]] |year=1995 |location=New York |page=335 |isbn=978-0-679-60148-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bdKLyie1M50C |access-date=2011-10-27 |author1-link=Edward Gibbon}}] During the 5th century, the [[last de jure Western Roman Emperor]] [[Julius Nepos]] ruled a small realm from the palace after fleeing Italy in 475.[{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/historyoflaterro01buryuoft |author=J. B. Bury |title=History of the later Roman empire from the death of Theodosius I. to the death of Justinian |page=[https://archive.org/details/historyoflaterro01buryuoft/page/408 408] |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]] |year=1923 |access-date=2011-10-15 |author-link=J. B. Bury}}]
=== Middle Ages ===
{{Main|Duchy of Croatia|Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102)|Kingdom of Croatia (1102–1526)|Republic of Ragusa}}
[[File:Balkans925.png|thumb|left|upright=1.2|[[Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102)|Kingdom of Croatia]] c. 925, during the reign of [[King Tomislav]]]]
The Roman period ends with [[Avars (Carpathians)|Avar]] and [[Croat]] invasions in the late 6th and first half of the 7th century and the destruction of almost all Roman towns. Roman survivors retreated to more favourable sites on the coast, islands, and mountains. The city of [[Dubrovnik]] was founded by such survivors from [[Epidaurum]].[{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_E_NBAAAAYAAJ |title=Researches on the Danube and the Adriatic |author=Andrew Archibald Paton |year=1861 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_E_NBAAAAYAAJ/page/n227 218]–219 |publisher=Trübner |access-date=2011-10-15}}]
The [[Origin hypotheses of the Croats|ethnogenesis of the Croats]] is a subject of scholarly discussion, reflecting the complexity of early medieval migrations and the integration of diverse populations. The predominant scholarly consensus, based on historical chronicles, proposes that the [[White Croats]] originated as a Slavic group that migrated from [[White Croatia]] during the [[Migration Period]]. Conversely, the Iranian theory proposes [[Sarmatian]]-[[Alans|Alanic]] origin of Proto-Croats, based on [[Tanais Tablets]] containing [[Ancient Greek]] inscriptions of given names ''Χορούαθος'', ''Χοροάθος'', and ''Χορόαθος'' (Khoroúathos, Khoroáthos, and Khoróathos) and their interpretation as [[anthroponym]]s related to the [[Names of the Croats and Croatia|Croatian ethnonym]].[{{cite journal |journal=Migracijske i Etničke Teme |issn=1333-2546 |publisher=Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies |date=September 2007 |volume=23 |issue=3 |pages=251–268 |first1=Emil |last1=Heršak |first2=Boris |last2=Nikšić |language=hr |title=Hrvatska etnogeneza: pregled komponentnih etapa i interpretacija (s naglaskom na euroazijske/nomadske sadržaje) |trans-title=Croatian Ethnogenesis: A Review of Component Stages and Interpretations (with Emphasis on Eurasian/Nomadic Elements) |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/28729&lang=en}}]
According to the work ''[[De Administrando Imperio]]'' written by 10th-century Byzantine Emperor [[Constantine VII]], [[Croats]] settled in the [[Roman province of Dalmatia]] in the first half of the 7th century after they defeated the [[Pannonian Avars|Avars]].[{{cite journal |last=Katičić |first=Radoslav |year=1989 |title=Ivan Mužić o podrijetlu Hrvata |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/95425 |journal=Starohrvatska Prosvjeta |language=hr |volume=III |issue=19 |pages=243–270 |issn=0351-4536}}]{{sfn|Goldstein|1999|p=13}}[{{cite journal |last=Birin |first=Ante |title=Pregled političke povijesti Hrvata u ranome srednjem vijeku |url=https://www.academia.edu/30936317 |journal=Nova Zraka U Europskom Svjetlu – Hrvatske Zemlje U Ranome Srednjem Vijeku (Oko 550 – Oko 1150) |date=January 2015 |language=hr |page=40 |via=Academia.edu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308065728/https://www.academia.edu/30936317 |archive-date=2021-03-08 |access-date=2020-04-26 |url-status=dead }}] Although there exist some scholarly disputes about the account's reliability and interpretation,[{{cite book |last=Bilogrivić |first=Goran |date=2018 |chapter=Carolingian Weapons and the Problem of Croat Migration and Ethnogenesis |title=Migration, Integration and Connectivity on the Southeastern Frontier of the Carolingian Empire |editor=Danijel Dzino |editor2=Ante Milošević |editor3=Trpimir Vedriš |publisher=Brill |pages=86–99 |doi=10.1163/9789004380134_007 |isbn=978-90-04-38013-4 |s2cid=165889390}}][{{cite book |first=Danijel |last=Dzino |year=2010 |title=Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat: Identity Transformations in Post-Roman and Early Medieval Dalmatia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6UbOtJcF8rQC |publisher=BRILL |pages=175, 179–182 |isbn=9789004186460}}] recent archaeological data has established that the migration and settlement of the Slavs/Croats was in the late 6th and early 7th century.[{{cite journal |last=Belošević |first=Janko |title=Razvoj i osnovne značajke starohrvatskih grobalja horizonta 7.-9. stoljeća na povijesnim prostorima Hrvata |url=https://morepress.unizd.hr/journals/index.php/pov/article/view/2231 |journal=Radovi |volume=39 |issue=26 |pages=71–97 |year=2000 |language=hr |doi=10.15291/radovipov.2231 |doi-access=free |issn=0352-6712}}][{{cite book |last=Fabijanić |first=Tomislav |date=2013 |chapter=14C date from early Christian basilica gemina in Podvršje (Croatia) in the context of Slavic settlement on the eastern Adriatic coast |title=The early Slavic settlement of Central Europe in the light of new dating evidence |location=Wroclaw |publisher=Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences |pages=251–260 |isbn=978-83-63760-10-6}}][{{cite book |last1=Bekić |first1=Luka |date=2016 |title=Rani srednji vijek između Panonije i Jadrana: ranoslavenski keramički i ostali arheološki nalazi od 6. do 8. stoljeća |trans-title=Early medieval between Pannonia and the Adriatic: early Slavic ceramic and other archaeological finds from the sixth to eighth century |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348500715 |location=Pula |publisher=Arheološki muzej Istre |language=hr, en |pages=101, 119, 123, 138–140, 157–162, 173–174, 177–179 |isbn=978-953-8082-01-6}}] Eventually, a [[dukedom (administrative division)|dukedom]] was formed, [[Duchy of Croatia]], ruled by [[Borna (duke)|Borna]], as attested by chronicles of [[Einhard]] starting in 818. The record represents the first document of Croatian realms, [[vassal states]] of [[Francia]] at the time.{{sfn|Mužić|2007|pp=157–160}} Its neighbor to the North was [[Principality of Lower Pannonia]], at the time ruled by duke [[Ljudevit (Lower Pannonia)|Ljudevit]] who ruled the territories between the [[Drava]] and [[Sava]] rivers, centred from his fort at [[Sisak]]. This population and territory throughout history was tightly related and connected to Croats and Croatia.{{sfn|Budak|2018|pp=178–185}}
[[Christianisation]] of Croats began in the 7th century at the time of archon [[Porga of Croatia]], initially probably encompassed only the elite and related people,{{sfn|Budak|2018|pp=144–145}} but mostly finished by the 9th century.[{{cite journal |last=Ivandija |first=Antun |title=Pokrštenje Hrvata prema najnovijim znanstvenim rezultatima |trans-title=Christianization of Croats according to the most recent scientific results |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/64623&lang=en |journal=Bogoslovska smotra |publisher=University of Zagreb, Catholic Faculty of Theology |volume=37 |issue=3–4 |pages=440–444 |date=April 1968 |issn=0352-3101 |language=hr}}][{{Cite journal |last=Živković |first=Tibor |author-link=Tibor Živković |title=On the Baptism of the Serbs and Croats in the Time of Basil I (867–886) |journal=Studia Slavica et Balcanica Petropolitana |year=2013a |issue=1 |pages=33–53 |url=http://slavica-petropolitana.spbu.ru/files/2013_1/Zivkovic.pdf}}] The Frankish overlordship ended during the reign of [[Mislav of Croatia|Mislav]],{{sfn|Mužić|2007|pp=169–170}} or his successor [[Trpimir I of Croatia|Trpimir I]].{{sfn|Budak|2018|pp=106}} The native Croatian royal dynasty was founded by duke Trpimir I in the mid 9th century, who defeated the Byzantine and Bulgarian forces.[{{cite journal |journal=Radovi |publisher=HAZU |place=Zadar |year=2001 |issue=43 |first=Milko |last=Brković |title=Diplomatička analiza papinskih pisama druge polovice IX. stoljeća destinatarima u Hrvatskoj |trans-title=The Papal Letters of the second half of the IXth Century to addressees in Croatia |language=hr |pages=29–44 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/en/clanak/18748}}] The first native Croatian ruler recognised by the Pope was duke [[Branimir of Croatia|Branimir]], who received papal recognition from [[Pope John VIII]] on 7 June 879.{{sfn|Mužić|2007|p=|pp=195–198}} [[Tomislav of Croatia|Tomislav]] was the first [[king of Croatia]], noted as such in a letter of [[Pope John X]] in 925. Tomislav defeated Hungarian and Bulgarian invasions.[{{cite journal |journal=Radovi Zavoda Za Hrvatsku Povijest |volume=30 |issue=1 |issn=0353-295X |pages=281–290 |title=Povijesni zemljovidi i granice Hrvatske u Tomislavovo doba |trans-title=Historical maps and borders of Croatia in age of Tomislav |language=hr |first=Vladimir |last=Posavec |date=March 1998 |access-date=2011-10-16 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/62779}}] The medieval Croatian kingdom reached its peak in the 11th century during the reigns of [[Petar Krešimir IV]] (1058–1074) and [[Dmitar Zvonimir]] (1075–1089).[{{cite journal |journal=Radovi Zavoda Za Hrvatsku Povijest |volume=29 |issue=1 |issn=0353-295X |pages=11–20 |title=Regnum Croatiae et Dalmatiae u doba Stjepana II. |trans-title=Regnum Croatiae et Dalmatiae in age of Stjepan II |language=hr |first=Lujo |last=Margetić |date=January 1997 |access-date=2011-10-16 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/76963 |author-link=Lujo Margetić}}] When [[Stephen II of Croatia|Stjepan II]] died in 1091, ending the Trpimirović dynasty, Dmitar Zvonimir's brother-in-law [[Ladislaus I of Hungary]] claimed the Croatian crown. This led to a [[Battle of Gvozd Mountain|war]] and [[personal union of Croatia and Hungary|personal union with Hungary]] in 1102 under [[Coloman, King of Hungary|Coloman]].[{{cite journal |journal=Scrinia Slavonica |issn=1332-4853 |publisher=Hrvatski institut za povijest – Podružnica za povijest Slavonije, Srijema i Baranje |title=Hrvatsko-ugarski odnosi od sredinjega vijeka do nagodbe iz 1868. s posebnim osvrtom na pitanja Slavonije |trans-title=Croatian-Hungarian relations from the Middle Ages to the Compromise of 1868, with a special survey of the Slavonian issue |language=hr |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/68144 |first=Ladislav |last=Heka |date=October 2008 |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=152–173 |access-date=2011-10-16}}]
=== Union with Hungary and Austria ===
{{Main|Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)|Austria-Hungary}}
{{further|Croatian–Ottoman wars}}
[[File:Dragutin Weingärtner, Hrvatski sabor 1848. god.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Ban [[Josip Jelačić]] at the opening of the first modern [[Croatian Parliament]] (''Sabor''), 5 June 1848. The Croatian tricolour flag can be seen in the background.]]
For the next four centuries, the Kingdom of Croatia was ruled by the [[Sabor]] (parliament) and a [[Ban of Croatia|Ban]] (viceroy) appointed by the king.[{{cite web |url=http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=404 |title=Povijest saborovanja |trans-title=History of parliamentarism |language=hr |publisher=[[Sabor]] |access-date=2010-10-18 |archive-date=2010-12-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202061135/http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=404}}] This period saw the rise of influential nobility such as the [[Frankopan]] and [[Šubić]] families to prominence, and ultimately numerous Bans from the two families.{{sfn|Font|2005|p=17}} An increasing threat of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] conquest and a struggle against the [[Republic of Venice]] for control of coastal areas ensued. The Venetians controlled most of Dalmatia by 1428, except the [[city-state of Dubrovnik]], which became independent. [[Hundred Years' Croatian–Ottoman War|Ottoman conquests]] led to the 1493 [[Battle of Krbava field]] and the 1526 [[Battle of Mohács]], both ending in decisive Ottoman victories. King [[Louis II of Hungary|Louis II]] died at Mohács, and in 1527, the [[Croatian Parliament met in Cetin]] and chose Ferdinand I of the [[House of Habsburg]] as the new ruler of Croatia, under the condition that he protects Croatia against the Ottoman Empire while respecting its political rights.[{{cite web |publisher=Croatian Cultural Association in Burgenland |url=http://www.hkd.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=102&lang=hr |language=hr |title=Povijest Gradišćanskih Hrvatov |trans-title=History of Burgenland Croats |access-date=2011-10-17 |archive-date=2012-11-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114132821/http://www.hkd.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=102&lang=hr}}][{{cite journal |last=Valentić |first=Mirko |date=30 October 1990 |title=TURSKI RATOVI i HRVATSKA DIJASPORA u XVI. STOLJEĆU |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/74388 |journal=Senjski Zbornik: Prilozi Za Geografiju, Etnologiju, Gospodarstvo, Povijest I Kulturu |language=hr |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=45–60 |issn=0582-673X}}] To replace the fleeing population, the Habsburgs encouraged Bosnians to provide military service in the [[Military Frontier]]. The [[Croatian Parliament]] supported [[Emperor Charles VI|King Charles III]]'s [[Pragmatic Sanction of 1713|Pragmatic Sanction]] and signed their own [[Pragmatic Sanction in 1712]].[{{cite web |title=Povijest saborovanja |url=http://www.sabor.hr/hr/o-saboru/povijest-saborovanja |website=Hrvatski sabor |language=hr |access-date=2020-05-30}}] Subsequently, the emperor pledged to respect all privileges and political rights of the [[Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)|Kingdom of Croatia]], and [[Queen Maria Theresa]] made significant contributions to Croatian affairs, such as introducing compulsory education.
[[File:Map of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia (1885).png|thumb|upright=1.3|right|The [[Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia]] was an autonomous kingdom within [[Austria-Hungary]] created in 1868 following the [[Croatian–Hungarian Settlement]].]]
Between 1797 and 1809, the [[First French Empire]] increasingly occupied the eastern [[Adriatic]] coastline and its hinterland, ending the Venetian and the [[Republic of Ragusa|Ragusan republics]], establishing the [[Illyrian Provinces]].{{sfn|Frucht|2005|p=|pp=422–423}} In response, the [[Royal Navy]] [[blockade of the Adriatic Sea|blockaded the Adriatic Sea]], leading to the [[Battle of Lissa (1811)|Battle of Vis]] in 1811.{{sfn|Adkins|Adkins|2008|p=|pp=359–362}} The Illyrian provinces were captured by the Austrians in 1813 and absorbed by the [[Austrian Empire]] following the [[Congress of Vienna]] in 1815. This led to the formation of the [[Kingdom of Dalmatia]] and the restoration of the [[Croatian Littoral]] to the Kingdom of Croatia under one crown.[{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZTC3IWC_py8C |first=Harold |last=Nicolson |title=The Congress of Vienna: A Study in Allied Unity: 1812–1822 |publisher=[[Grove Press]] |isbn=978-0-8021-3744-9 |page=180 |year=2000 |access-date=2011-10-17 |author-link=Harold Nicolson}}] The 1830s and 1840s featured [[romantic nationalism]] that inspired the [[Croatian National Revival]], a political and cultural campaign advocating the unity of [[South Slavs]] within the empire. Its primary focus was establishing a standard language as a counterweight to [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] while promoting [[Croatian literature]] and culture.[{{cite journal |journal=Cris: Časopis Povijesnog društva Križevci |issn=1332-2567 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/80164 |first=Nikša |last=Stančić |title=Hrvatski narodni preporod – ciljevi i ostvarenja |trans-title=Croatian National Revival – goals and achievements |pages=6–17 |volume=10 |issue=1 |date=February 2009 |access-date=2011-10-07 |language=hr}}] During the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1848]], Croatia sided with Austria. Ban [[Josip Jelačić]] helped defeat the Hungarians in 1849 and ushered in a [[Germanisation]] policy.[{{cite journal |journal=Review of Croatian History |publisher=Croatian Institute of History |issn=1845-4380 |volume=4 |issue=1 |date=December 2008 |first=Ante |last=Čuvalo |title=Josip Jelačić – Ban of Croatia |pages=13–27 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/77559 |access-date=2011-10-17}}] This is around the time that [[Nikola Tesla]] was born in [[Smiljan, Croatia|Smiljan]].
By the 1860s, the failure of the policy became apparent, leading to the [[Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867]]. The creation of a [[personal union]] between the Austrian Empire and the [[Kingdom of Hungary]] followed. The treaty left Croatia's status to Hungary, which was resolved by the [[Croatian–Hungarian Settlement]] of 1868 when the kingdoms of Croatia and Slavonia were united.[{{cite web |url=http://www.h-net.org/~habsweb/sourcetexts/nagodba1.htm |title=Constitution of Union between Croatia-Slavonia and Hungary |publisher=H-net.org |access-date=2010-05-16}}] The Kingdom of Dalmatia remained under de facto Austrian control, while [[Rijeka]] retained the status of [[Corpus separatum (Fiume)|''corpus separatum'']] previously introduced in 1779.[{{cite journal |journal=Zbornik Pravnog Fakulteta Sveučilišta u Rijeci |issn=1330-349X |publisher=[[University of Rijeka]] |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/39787 |first=Ladislav |last=Heka |title=Hrvatsko-ugarska nagodba u zrcalu tiska |language=hr |trans-title=Croatian-Hungarian compromise in light of press clips |volume=28 |issue=2 |date=December 2007 |access-date=2012-04-10 |pages=931–971}}][{{cite journal |journal=Politička Misao |issn=0032-3241 |publisher=[[University of Zagreb]], Faculty of Political Sciences |title=Političko-teritorijalna podjela i opseg civilne Hrvatske u godinama sjedinjenja s vojnom Hrvatskom 1871–1886 |trans-title=Political and territorial division and scope of civilian Croatia in the period of unification with the Croatian military frontier 1871–1886 |language=hr |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/38709&lang=en |first=Branko |last=Dubravica |pages=159–172 |volume=38 |issue=3 |date=January 2002 |access-date=2012-06-20}}] Renewed efforts to [[reform Austria-Hungary]], entailing [[federalisation]] with Croatia as a federal unit, were stopped by [[World War I]].[{{cite book |first=Max |last=Polatschek |title=Franz Ferdinand: Europas verlorene Hoffnung |language=de |isbn=978-3-85002-284-2 |publisher=Amalthea |year=1989 |page=231 |access-date=2011-10-17 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SZu0AAAAIAAJ}}]
{{clear}}
=== The World Wars and Yugoslavia ===
{{Main|Creation of Yugoslavia|Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Banovina of Croatia|World War II in Yugoslavia|Socialist Republic of Croatia}}
[[File:Demonstracije u Zagrebu 1918.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|left|Mass protests in Zagreb against the unification of the [[State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs]] with the [[Kingdom of Serbia]] in 1918]]
On 29 October 1918, the Croatian Parliament (''Sabor'') declared independence and decided to join the newly formed [[State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs]],[{{cite book |title=World War I: encyclopedia, Volume 1 |first1=Spencer |last1=Tucker |author2=Priscilla Mary Roberts |isbn=978-1-85109-420-2 |page=1286 |year=2005 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2YqjfHLyyj8C}}] The Croatian Parliament never ratified the union with Serbia and Montenegro.[{{cite journal |journal=Scrinia Slavonica |publisher=Croatian Institute of History – Slavonia, Syrmium and Baranya history branch |issn=1332-4853 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/31497 |volume=3 |issue=1 |date=November 2003 |title=Parlamentarni izbori u Brodskom kotaru 1923. godine |language=hr |trans-title=Parliamentary Elections in the Brod District in 1932 |access-date=2011-10-17 |pages=452–470}}] The political situation deteriorated further as Radić was assassinated in the [[Yugoslav Parliament|National Assembly]] by [[People's Radical Party|NRS]] member, [[Serbs|Serbian]] nationalist politician [[Puniša Račić]] in 1928, culminating in King [[Alexander I of Yugoslavia|Alexander I]]'s establishment of the [[6 January Dictatorship]] in 1929.[{{cite journal |journal=Radovi Zavoda za povijesne znanosti HAZU u Zadru |publisher=[[Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts]] |issn=1330-0474 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/74560 |pages=203–218 |issue=51 |date=November 2009 |first=Zlatko |last=Begonja |title=Ivan Pernar o hrvatsko-srpskim odnosima nakon atentata u Beogradu 1928. godine |language=hr |trans-title=Ivan Pernar on Croatian-Serbian relations after 1928 Belgrade assassination |access-date=2011-10-17}}] The dictatorship formally ended in 1931 when the king imposed a more unitary constitution.[{{cite book |title=Yugoslavia's ruin: the bloody lessons of nationalism, a patriot's warning |first=Cvijeto |last=Job |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |isbn=978-0-7425-1784-4 |page=9 |year=2002 |access-date=2011-10-27 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yH3Hz2AXonwC}}] The HSS, now led by [[Vladko Maček]], continued to advocate federalisation, resulting in the [[Cvetković–Maček Agreement]] of August 1939 and the autonomous [[Banovina of Croatia]]. The Yugoslav government retained control of defence, internal security, foreign affairs, trade, and transport while other matters were left to the Croatian Sabor and a crown-appointed Ban.{{sfn|Klemenčič|Žagar|2004|p=|pp=121–123}}
[[File:Oslobođenje Zagreba 05.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|People of Zagreb celebrating [[Zagreb in World War II|liberation]] on 12 May 1945 by [[Croatian Partisans]]]]
In April 1941, [[Invasion of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia was invaded]] by [[Nazi Germany]] and [[Fascist Italy (1922–1943)|Fascist Italy]]. Following the invasion, a German-Italian installed puppet state named the [[Independent State of Croatia]] (NDH) was established. Most of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the region of [[Syrmia]] were incorporated into this state. Parts of Dalmatia were [[Treaties of Rome (1941)|annexed by Italy]], Hungary annexed the northern Croatian regions of [[Baranya (region)|Baranja]] and [[Međimurje (region)|Međimurje]].{{sfn|Klemenčič|Žagar|2004|p=|pp=153–156}} The NDH regime was led by [[Ante Pavelić]] and the ultranationalist [[Ustaše]], a fringe movement in pre-war Croatia.{{sfn|Tomasevich|2001|p=337}} With German and Italian military and political support,{{sfn|Tomasevich|2001|p=272}} the regime introduced [[Nazi racial theories|racial laws]] and launched a [[Genocide of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia|genocide campaign against Serbs]], [[History of the Jews in Croatia|Jews]], and [[Romani people in Croatia|Roma]].{{sfn|Klemenčič|Žagar|2004|p=184}} Many were imprisoned in [[Concentration camps in the Independent State of Croatia|concentration camps]]; the largest was the [[Jasenovac concentration camp|Jasenovac complex]].[{{cite web |title=koncentracijski logori |url=https://www.enciklopedija.hr/clanak/koncentracijski-logori |access-date=2021-02-16}}] [[Croatian Partisans|Anti-fascist Croats]] were targeted by the regime as well.{{sfn|Goldstein|1999|p=138}} Several [[Italian concentration camps|concentration camps]] (most notably the [[Rab concentration camp|Rab]], [[Gonars concentration camp|Gonars]] and [[Molat concentration camp|Molat]] camps) were established in Italian-occupied territories, mostly for [[Slovenes]] and Croats.[{{cite journal |last=Hoare |first=Marko Attila |title=Genocide in the former Yugoslavia: a critique of left revisionism's denial (full version) |journal=[[Journal of Genocide Research]] |date=1 December 2003 |volume=5 |issue=4 |pages=543–563 |doi=10.1080/1462352032000149495 |s2cid=145169670 |issn=1462-3528}}] aided by Italy.{{sfn|Tomasevich|2001|p=744}} Nazi German forces committed crimes and reprisals against civilians in retaliation for Partisan actions, such as in the villages of [[Massacre of villages under Kamešnica|Kamešnica]] and [[Memorial Centre Lipa Remembers|Lipa]] in 1944.[{{Cite book |last=Kozlica |first=Ivan |title=Krvava Cetina |trans-title=Bloody Cetina |language=hr |year=2012 |publisher=Hrvatski centar za ratne žrtve |location=Zagreb |isbn=978-953-57409-0-2 |page=155}}][{{Cite book |title="Operacija Braunschweig", Klepsidra |last=Predoević |first=Petra |publisher=Udruga studenata povijesti "Malleus" |year=2007 |location=Rijeka |pages=105–129}}]
A [[National Liberation Movement in Croatia|resistance movement]] emerged. On 22 June 1941,[Dragutin Pavličević, Povijest Hrvatske, Naklada Pavičić, Zagreb, 2007. {{ISBN|978-953-6308-71-2}}, str. 441–442.] the [[1st Sisak Partisan Detachment]] was formed near [[Sisak]], the first military unit formed by a resistance movement in [[German-occupied Europe|occupied Europe]].[{{cite book |first=Dragutin |last=Pavličević |title=Povijest Hrvatske |year=2007 |publisher=Naklada Pavičić |isbn=978-953-6308-71-2 |pages=441–442}}] That sparked the beginning of the [[Yugoslav Partisan]] movement, a communist, multi-ethnic anti-fascist resistance group led by [[Josip Broz Tito]].[{{cite news |newspaper=[[Večernji list]] |language=hr |url=http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/josipovic-antifasizam-je-duhovni-otac-domovinskog-rata-clanak-303250 |title=Josipović: Antifašizam je duhovni otac Domovinskog rata |trans-title=Josipović: Anti-Fascism is a Spiritual Forerunner of the Croatian War of Independence |date=22 June 2011 |first=Matea |last=Vipotnik |access-date=2011-10-14 |archive-date=2013-05-17 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517085659/http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/josipovic-antifasizam-je-duhovni-otac-domovinskog-rata-clanak-303250}}] In ethnic terms, Croats were the second-largest contributors to the Partisan movement after Serbs.[{{cite journal |last=Hoare |first=Marko Attila |year=2002 |title=Whose is the partisan movement? Serbs, Croats and the legacy of a shared resistance |journal=The Journal of Slavic Military Studies |publisher=Informa UK Limited |volume=15 |issue=4 |pages=30 |doi=10.1080/13518040208430537 |issn=1351-8046 |s2cid=145127681}}] By May 1944 (according to Tito), Croats made up 30% of the Partisan's ethnic composition, despite making up 22% of the population.[{{cite book |last1=Hoare |first1=Marko Attila |author-link=Marko Attila Hoare |editor1-last=Ramet |editor1-first=Sabrina P. |editor2-last=Listhaug |editor2-first=Ola |year=2011 |title=Serbia and the Serbs in World War Two |chapter=The Partisans and the Serbs |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=London, England |isbn=978-0-230-34781-6 |pages=207}}] The movement grew fast, and at the [[Tehran Conference]] in December 1943, the Partisans gained recognition from the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]].[{{cite journal |journal=Historijski Zbornik |issn=0351-2193 |publisher=Društvo za hrvatsku povjesnicu |date=December 2008 |volume=61 |issue=2 |author=Karakaš Obradov Marica |title=Saveznički zračni napadi na Split i okolicu i djelovanje Narodne zaštite u Splitu tijekom Drugog svjetskog rata |trans-title=Allied aerial attacks on Split and its surrounding and Civil Guard activity in Split during the World War II |language=hr |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/74494 |pages=323–349 |access-date=2011-10-17}}][[File:Event in Zagreb in honour of Tito.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Cardinal [[Aloysius Stepinac]] with the Croatian communist leader [[Vladimir Bakarić]] at the celebration of [[International Workers' Day|May Day]] in 1945.]]
With Allied support in logistics, equipment, training and airpower, and with the assistance of [[Red Army|Soviet troops]] taking part in the 1944 [[Belgrade Offensive]], the Partisans gained control of Yugoslavia and the border regions of [[Trieste#World War II and aftermath|Italy]] and [[Carinthia (state)#From 1920 to the Present|Austria]] by May 1945. Members of the [[Croatian Armed Forces (Independent State of Croatia)|NDH armed forces]] and other Axis troops, as well as civilians, were in retreat towards Austria. Following their surrender, many were killed in the [[Yugoslav death march of Nazi collaborators]].[{{Cite web |last1=Bracewell |first1=C.W. |last2=Lampe |first2=John R. |title=Croatia – World War II {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Croatia/World-War-II |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |language=en}}] In the following years, [[Germans of Croatia|ethnic Germans]] faced [[Flight and expulsion of Germans (1944–50)#Yugoslavia|persecution in Yugoslavia]], and many were interned.{{sfn|Goldstein|1999|p=158}} The political aspirations of the Partisan movement were reflected in the [[State Anti-fascist Council for the National Liberation of Croatia]], which developed in 1943 as the bearer of Croatian statehood and later transformed into the Parliament in 1945, and [[AVNOJ]]—its counterpart at the Yugoslav level.[{{cite journal |journal=Pro Tempore – Časopis Studenata Povijesti |publisher=Klub studenata povijesti ISHA |issn=1334-8302 |first=Marko |last=Maurović |title=Josip protiv Josifa |trans-title=Josip vs. Iosif |language=hr |pages=73–83 |issue=1 |date=May 2004 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/81342 |access-date=2011-10-17}}][{{cite web |publisher=Sabor |url=http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?art=27859&sec=2867 |language=hr |title=Predsjednik Sabora Luka Bebić na obilježavanju 64. obljetnice pobjede nad fašizmom i 65. obljetnice trećeg zasjedanja ZAVNOH-a u Topuskom |trans-title=Speaker of the Parliament, Luka Bebić, at celebration of the 64th anniversary of the victory over fascism and the 65th anniversary of the 3rd session of the ZAVNOH session in Topusko |date=9 May 2009 |access-date=2011-10-17 |archive-date=2012-01-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119084444/http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?art=27859&sec=2867}}]
Based on the studies on [[World War II in Yugoslavia casualties|wartime and post-war casualties]] by demographer [[Vladimir Žerjavić]] and statistician [[Bogoljub Kočović]], a total of 295,000 people from the territory (not including territories [[Treaty of Peace with Italy, 1947|ceded from Italy]] after the war) died, which amounted to 7.3% of the population,[{{cite journal |last=Žerjavić |first=Vladimir |author-link=Vladimir Žerjavić |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/213638?lang=en |language=hr |title=Demografski i ratni gubici Hrvatske u Drugom svjetskom ratu i poraću |trans-title=Demographic and War Losses of Croatia in the World War Two and in the Postwar Period |pages=551 |journal=Journal of Contemporary History |volume=27 |number=3 |year=1995 |location=Zagreb}}] among whom were 125–137,000 Serbs, 118–124,000 Croats, 16–17,000 Jews, and 15,000 Roma.{{sfn|Žerjavić|1992|p=159}}{{sfn|Kočović|1985|p=173}} In addition, from areas joined to Croatia after the war, a total of 32,000 people died, among whom 16,000 were Italians and 15,000 were Croats.{{sfn|Žerjavić|1993b|pp=640–641}} Approximately 200,000 Croats from the entirety of Yugoslavia (including Croatia) and abroad were killed in total throughout the war and its immediate aftermath, approximately 5.4% of the population.{{sfn|Kočović|1985|p=126}}{{sfn|Geiger|2012|pp=117–118}}
[[File:Nixontito19712.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|left|[[Josip Broz Tito]] led [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] from 1944 to 1980; Pictured: Tito with the US president [[Richard Nixon]] in the [[White House]], 1971]]
After [[World War II]], Croatia became a [[single-party]] socialist [[Socialist Republic of Croatia|federal unit]] of the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia]], ruled by the [[League of Communists of Croatia|Communists]], but having a degree of autonomy within the federation. In 1967, Croatian authors and linguists published a [[Declaration on the Status and Name of the Croatian Standard Language]] demanding equal treatment for their language.[{{cite journal |last=Šute |first=Ivica |title=Deklaracija o nazivu i položaju hrvatskog književnog jezika – Građa za povijest Deklaracije |trans-title=Declaration on the Status and Name of the Croatian Standard Language – Declaration History Articles |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/76413&lang=en |journal=Radovi Zavoda Za Hrvatsku Povijest |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=317–318 |date=April 1999 |issn=0353-295X |language=hr}}] The declaration contributed to a national movement seeking greater civil rights and redistribution of the Yugoslav economy, culminating in the [[Croatian Spring]] of 1971, which was suppressed by Yugoslav leadership.[{{cite news |newspaper=[[Jutarnji list]] |language=hr |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/heroina-hrvatskog-proljeca/305499/ |title=Heroina Hrvatskog proljeća |trans-title=Heroine of the Croatian Spring |date=6 August 2009 |first=Vlado |last=Vurušić |access-date=2011-10-14 |archive-date=2012-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806045846/http://www.jutarnji.hr/heroina-hrvatskog-proljeca/305499/}}] Still, the [[1974 Yugoslav Constitution]] gave increased autonomy to federal units, basically fulfilling a goal of the Croatian Spring and providing a legal basis for independence of the federative constituents.[{{cite journal |first=Roland |last=Rich |title=Recognition of States: The Collapse of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union |journal=European Journal of International Law |year=1993 |issue=1 |volume=4 |pages=36–65 |url=http://www.ejil.org/article.php?article=1207&issue=67 |access-date=2011-10-18 |doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.ejil.a035834 |url-access=subscription}}] At the same time, there was a substantial Croatian diaspora during the Cold War, which included efforts aimed at forming a government in exile.[{{cite journal |last1=Mišur |first1=Ivo |year=2018 |title=Uloga političke emigracije iz NDH u događanjima na Bliskom istoku 1947–1964 |url=https://gracanickiglasnik.ba/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Pages-from-gg46-6.pdf |journal=Gračanički glasnik – časopis za kulturnu historiju |volume=XXIII |issue=46 |pages=49–60}}]
Following Tito's death in 1980, the political situation in Yugoslavia deteriorated. National tension was fanned by the 1986 [[SANU Memorandum]] and the [[1989 coups in Vojvodina, Kosovo and Montenegro|1989 coups in Vojvodina, Kosovo, and Montenegro]].{{sfn|Frucht|2005|p=433}}[{{cite news |agency=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/12/world/leaders-of-a-republic-in-yugoslavia-resign.html |title=Leaders of a Republic in Yugoslavia Resign |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=12 January 1989 |access-date=2010-02-07 |archive-date=2012-11-06 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106113747/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/12/world/leaders-of-a-republic-in-yugoslavia-resign.html}}] In January 1990, the Communist Party fragmented along national lines, with the Croatian [[Political faction|faction]] demanding a looser federation.[{{cite journal |first=Davor |last=Pauković |publisher=Centar za politološka istraživanja |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/55640 |language=hr |title=Posljednji kongres Saveza komunista Jugoslavije: uzroci, tijek i posljedice raspada |trans-title=Last Congress of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia: Causes, Consequences and Course of Dissolution |date=1 June 2008 |journal=Časopis za Suvremenu Povijest |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=21–33 |issn=1847-2397 |access-date=2010-12-11}}] In the same year, the [[1990 Croatian parliamentary election|first multi-party elections]] were held in Croatia, while [[Franjo Tuđman]]'s win exacerbated nationalist tensions.[{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-franjo-tudjman-1132142.html |title=Obituary: Franjo Tudjman |first=Branka |last=Magas |date=13 December 1999 |access-date=2011-10-17 |archive-date=2012-11-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110024351/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-franjo-tudjman-1132142.html}}] Some of the [[Serbs in Croatia]] left Sabor and declared autonomy of the unrecognised [[Republic of Serbian Krajina]], intent on achieving independence from Croatia.[{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/02/world/croatia-s-serbs-declare-their-autonomy.html |first=Chuck |last=Sudetic |title=Croatia's Serbs Declare Their Autonomy |date=2 October 1990 |access-date=2010-12-11 |archive-date=2012-11-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112065457/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/02/world/croatia-s-serbs-declare-their-autonomy.html |author-link=Chuck Sudetic}}][{{cite book |title=Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qmN95fFocsMC |pages=272–278 |isbn=978-1-85743-058-5 |year=1998 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |access-date=2010-12-16}}]
=== Independence ===
{{Main|Independence of Croatia|Croatian War of Independence|History of Croatia since 1995}}
[[File:Vukovar Memorial Cemetery – Eternal Flame, 20150429160745.jpg|thumb|The Memorial Cemetery — the central site of the [[Remembrance Day (Croatia)|National Remembrance Day]], commemorating all war victims and the [[Vukovar massacre]] in 1991]]As tensions rose, Croatia [[Independence of Croatia|declared independence]] on 25 June 1991. The full implementation of the declaration only came into effect after a [[Brioni Agreement|three-month moratorium on the decision]] on 8 October 1991.[{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/26/world/2-yugoslav-states-vote-independence-to-press-demands.html |title=2 Yugoslav States Vote Independence To Press Demands |first=Chuck |last=Sudetic |date=26 June 1991 |access-date=2010-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110162855/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/26/world/2-yugoslav-states-vote-independence-to-press-demands.html |archive-date=2012-11-10 |url-status=live}}][{{cite web |work=Official web site of the Croatian Parliament |publisher=Sabor |url=http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?art=20091&sec=2462 |title=Ceremonial session of the Croatian Parliament on the occasion of the Day of Independence of the Republic of Croatia |date=7 October 2004 |access-date=2012-07-29 |archive-date=2012-03-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314021206/http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?art=20091&sec=2462}}] In the meantime, tensions escalated into [[Croatian War of Independence|overt war]] when the Serbian-controlled [[Yugoslav People's Army]] (JNA) and various Serb paramilitary groups attacked Croatia.[{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/04/world/army-rushes-to-take-a-croatian-town.html |title=Army Rushes to Take a Croatian Town |first=Chuck |last=Sudetic |date=4 November 1991 |access-date=2012-07-29 |archive-date=2012-07-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729183641/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/04/world/army-rushes-to-take-a-croatian-town.html}}] By the end of 1991, a high-intensity conflict fought along a wide front reduced Croatia's control to about two-thirds of its territory.[{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/20/world/croatia-clashes-rise-mediators-pessimistic.html |title=Croatia Clashes Rise; Mediators Pessimistic |date=19 December 1991 |access-date=2012-07-29 |archive-date=2012-11-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115174401/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/20/world/croatia-clashes-rise-mediators-pessimistic.html}}][{{cite news |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-08-01-mn-177-story.html |title=Serbian Forces Press Fight for Major Chunk of Croatia |first=Charles T. |last=Powers |date=1 August 1991 |access-date=2012-07-29 |archive-date=2012-05-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516054837/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-08-01/news/mn-177_1_defense-force |author-link=Charles T. Powers}}] Serb paramilitary groups then began a campaign of killing, terror, and expulsion of the Croats in the occupied territories, killing thousands[{{cite web |url=https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/utjecaj-srbijanske-agresije-na-stanovnistvo-hrvatske/175515.aspx |title=Utjecaj srbijanske agresije na stanovništvo Hrvatske |website=[[Index.hr]] |date=11 December 2003 |access-date=2015-09-12}}] of Croat civilians and expelling or displacing as many as 400,000–500,000 Croats and other non-Serbs from their homes.[{{cite web |title=SUMMARY OF JUDGEMENT FOR MILAN MARTIĆ |url=http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2007/pr1162e-summary.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215084458/http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2007/pr1162e-summary.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-12-15 |access-date=2019-08-28}}][{{cite web |title=Croatia marks 25 years since war with tolerance message |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/8/5/croatia-marks-25-years-since-war-with-tolerance-message |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=5 August 2020}}] Serbs living in Croatian towns, especially those near the front lines, were subjected to various forms of discrimination.{{sfn|Goldstein|1999|p=233}} Croatian Serbs in Eastern and Western Slavonia and parts of the Krajina were forced to flee or were expelled by Croatian forces, though on a restricted scale and in lesser numbers.[{{cite book |last1=Bassiouni |first1=Mahmoud Cherif |last2=Manikas |first2=Peter |title=The Law of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia |date=1996 |publisher=Transnational Publishers |isbn=978-1-57105-004-5 |page=86}}] The [[Government of Croatia|Croatian Government]] publicly deplored these practices and sought to stop them, indicating that they were not a part of the Government's policy.{{sfn|Allen|1996|p=46}}
On 15 January 1992, Croatia gained [[diplomatic recognition]] by the [[European Economic Community]], followed by the United Nations.[{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/24/world/slovenia-and-croatia-get-bonn-s-nod.html |title=Slovenia and Croatia Get Bonn's Nod |first=Stephen |last=Kinzer |date=24 December 1991 |access-date=2012-07-29 |archive-date=2012-06-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620034701/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/24/world/slovenia-and-croatia-get-bonn-s-nod.html |author-link=Stephen Kinzer}}][{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/23/world/3-ex-yugoslav-republics-are-accepted-into-un.html |title=3 Ex-Yugoslav Republics Are Accepted into U.N. |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Paul L. |last=Montgomery |date=23 May 1992 |access-date=2012-07-29 |archive-date=2012-11-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111013548/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/23/world/3-ex-yugoslav-republics-are-accepted-into-un.html |author-link=Paul L. Montgomery}}] The war effectively ended in August 1995 with a [[Operation Storm|decisive victory]] by Croatia;[{{cite news |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-08-08-mn-32662-story.html |title=Croats Declare Victory, End Blitz |first=Dean E. |last=Murphy |date=8 August 1995 |access-date=2010-12-18 |archive-date=2012-10-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012140454/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-08-08/news/mn-32662_1_serb-refugees}}] the event is commemorated each year on 5 August as [[Victory Day (Croatia)|Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders]].[{{cite web |url=https://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/37611-thanksgiving-day |title=Officials Issue Messages for Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day |website=total-croatia-news.com |date=4 August 2019 |language=en-gb |access-date=2019-08-04 |archive-date=2023-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405210541/https://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/37611-thanksgiving-day |url-status=dead}}] Following the Croatian victory, about 200,000 Serbs from the self-proclaimed [[Republic of Serbian Krajina]] fled the region[{{cite book |author=Janine Natalya Clark |year=2014 |title=International Trials and Reconciliation: Assessing the Impact of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia |publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=978-1-317-97475-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=373cAwAAQBAJ |page=28}}] Approximately half have returned since then.[{{cite book |editor1-last=Krasniqi |editor1-first=Gëzim |editor2-last=Stjepanovic |editor2-first=Dejan |title=Uneven Citizenship: Minorities and Migrants in the Post-Yugoslav Space |date=2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-38933-0 |page=1976 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sRA4DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1976}}] The [[Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia (1995–1998)|remaining occupied areas]] were restored to Croatia following the [[Erdut Agreement]] of November 1995, concluding with the [[United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium|UNTAES]] mission in January 1998.[{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/16/world/an-ethnic-morass-is-returned-to-croatia.html |title=An Ethnic Morass Is Returned to Croatia |first=Chris |last=Hedges |date=16 January 1998 |access-date=2010-12-18 |archive-date=2013-05-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518201803/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/16/world/an-ethnic-morass-is-returned-to-croatia.html |author-link=Chris Hedges}}] Most sources number the war deaths at around 20,000.[{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3095774.stm |title=Presidents apologise over Croatian war |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=10 September 2003 |access-date=2010-02-07}}][{{cite web |url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2008/11/20/feature-01 |title=Serbia to respond to Croatian genocide charges with countersuit at ICJ |work=Southeast European Times |date=20 November 2008 |access-date=2010-02-07}}][{{cite news |url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=182811 |title=UN to hear Croatia genocide claim against Serbia |newspaper=Tehran Times |date=19 November 2008 |access-date=2010-02-07}}]
[[File:Croatia_EU_flags.jpg|left|thumb|253x253px|Croatia joined the [[European Union|EU]] in 2013 and the [[Eurozone]] a decade later in 2023.]]
At the turn of the 21st century, Croatia experienced sustained economic growth as the nation democratized but struggled with public corruption and bouts of unemployment.[{{Cite book |last1=Puljiz |first1=Vlado |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=26RVYkUkBXAC&q=hrvatska+nakon+2000&pg=PA43 |title=Socijalna politika Hrvatske |last2=Bežovan |first2=Gojko |last3=Matković |first3=Teo |last4=Šućur |first4=dr Zoran |last5=Zrinščak |first5=Siniša |publisher=Pravni fakultet u Zagrebu |year=2008 |isbn=978-953-97320-9-5 |location=Zagreb |pages=43–52 |language=hr}}] The Croatian Parliament passed a set of constitutional amendments in November 2000 and March 2001 to convert from a bicameral to a unicameral body, later limiting presidential powers.[{{cite web |title=22 December – Christmas Constitution – the first Constitution of the independent Republic of Croatia |url=https://www.sabor.hr/en/about-parliament/history/important-dates/22-december-christmas-constitution-first-constitution |website=sabor.hr |access-date=2023-06-27}}][{{cite web |title=History and Development of Croatian Constitutional Judicature – Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia |url=https://www.usud.hr/en/history-and-development-croatian-constitutional-judicature#9 |website=usud.hr}}] Croatia joined the [[Partnership for Peace]] in May 2000 and the [[World Trade Organization]] in November 2000.[{{cite web |url=https://www.enciklopedija.hr/clanak/partnerstvo-za-mir |title=Partnerstvo za mir – Hrvatska enciklopedija |website=enciklopedija.hr}}][{{cite web|url=http://www.mvep.hr/hr/vanjska-politika/multilateralni-odnosi-staro-ijvhj/svjetska-trgovinska-organizacija-(wto)/|title=MVEP • Svjetska trgovinska organizacija (WTO)|website=mvep.hr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304045652/http://www.mvep.hr/hr/vanjska-politika/multilateralni-odnosi-staro-ijvhj/svjetska-trgovinska-organizacija-(wto)/|archive-date=2019-03-04 |access-date=2018-06-01 |url-status=live}}] It joined the military alliance [[NATO]] in April 2009.[{{cite web |title=Hrvatska postala članica NATO saveza |url=https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/hrvatska-postala-punopravna-clanica-nato-saveza.html |website=Dnevnik.hr |language=hr |access-date=2020-05-30}}] Croatia [[2007 United Nations Security Council election|was elected]] to serve on the non-permanent seat of the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] from 2008 to 2009.[{{cite web |title=Membership of the Republic of Croatia in the UN Security Council 2008–2009 |url=http://www.mvpei.hr/mvp.asp?pcpid=2531 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404180608/http://www.mvpei.hr/mvp.asp?pcpid=2531 |archive-date=2012-04-04 |access-date=2011-09-24 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (Croatia) }}] Adversely impacted by the [[2008 financial crisis]],[{{cite book |first=Ivo |last=Goldstein |author-link=Ivo Goldstein |title=Povijest Hrvatske 1945–2011 |version=3. svezak |publisher=EPH Media d.o.o.}}] austerity measures led to widespread anti-government protests in 2009 and 2011.[{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/eastern-approaches/2011/03/06/et-tu-zagreb |title=Et tu, Zagreb? |newspaper=The Economist |date=6 March 2011}}] In the latter year, parliament was dissolved in May, with Croatian president [[Ivo Josipović]] calling for new elections to quell the protests by December.[{{cite web |url=http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/ovo-su-bili-najzanimljiviji-trenuci-u-saboru.html |title=Pogledajte sve snimke sa suđenja Sanaderu |publisher=Dnevnik.hr |date=28 October 2011 |access-date=2011-12-10}}][{{cite web |url=http://odluka2011.dnevnik.hr/clanak/vijesti/predsjednik-josipovic-raspisao-izbore.html |title=Predsjednik Josipović raspisao izbore! |publisher=Odluka2011.dnevnik.hr |date=31 October 2011 |access-date=2011-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203150728/http://odluka2011.dnevnik.hr/clanak/vijesti/predsjednik-josipovic-raspisao-izbore.html |archive-date=2011-12-03 |url-status=dead}}] After successfully completing [[2013 enlargement of the European Union|negotiations from 2004 to 2013]],[{{cite web |date=30 June 2011 |title=EU closes accession negotiations with Croatia |url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/824&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en |access-date=2011-09-24 |publisher=[[European Commission]]}}][{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-16670298 |title=Croatia voters back EU membership |work=BBC News |date=1 June 2018}}] Croatia joined the [[European Union]] (EU) as its 28th member in July 2013.[{{cite web |date=9 December 2011 |title=Croatia signs EU accession treaty |url=http://europa.eu/news/external-relations/2011/03/20110302_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123185048/http://europa.eu/news/external-relations/2011/03/20110302_en.htm |archive-date=2012-01-23 |access-date=2011-12-12 |publisher=European Union}}]
Croatia was affected by the [[2015 European migrant crisis]] when Hungary's closure of borders with Serbia pushed over 700,000 refugees and migrants through Croatia.[{{cite web |url=https://bib.irb.hr/datoteka/914376.HuB-SpecialEditiononRefugeeCrisis-100_January2017.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://bib.irb.hr/datoteka/914376.HuB-SpecialEditiononRefugeeCrisis-100_January2017.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Šenada Šelo Šabić, Croatia's response to the refugee crisis, European Expression, Issue 100, 2016}}] On 19 October 2016, [[Andrej Plenković]] began serving as the current Croatian Prime Minister.[{{cite web |title=Andrej Plenković – O meni |url=https://www.andrejplenkovic.hr/page.php?id=1 |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=andrejplenkovic.hr}}] The most recent presidential elections, held on 12 January 2025, elected [[Zoran Milanović]] as president.[{{cite web |title= Croatia's President Milanović wins another term after defeating ruling party candidate in runoff|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/12/europe/croatia-milanovic-wins-election-runoff-intl-latam|date=2025-01-12|access-date=2026-03-02|website=[[CNN]]}}] In 2022, Croatia began the process to join the [[OECD]], due to complete membership proceedings by 2026.[{{cite web |title=The OECD and South East Europe |url=https://www.oecd.org/south-east-europe/economies/see-croatia.htm |website=OECD.org |access-date=2023-06-27}}][{{cite web |title=OECD membership means benefits for citizens, higher living standard |url=https://mvep.gov.hr/press-22794/oecd-membership-means-benefits-for-citizens-higher-living-standard/253882 |website=Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs |access-date=2023-06-27}}] The nation joined the [[Eurozone]] and [[Schengen Area]] in 2023, adopting the [[euro]] as its official currency.[{{cite web |title=Euro and Schengen: Croatia joins the Euro and Schengen areas |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_7907 |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=European Commission}}]
== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Croatia}}
[[File:Satellite image of Croatia in September 2003.jpg|upright=1.2|left|thumb|[[Geography of Croatia|Satellite image of Croatia]]]]
Croatia is situated in [[Central Europe|Central]] and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the [[Adriatic Sea]]. Hungary is to the northeast, [[Serbia]] to the east, [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] and [[Montenegro]] to the southeast and [[Slovenia]] to the northwest. It lies mostly between latitudes [[42nd parallel north|42°]] and [[47° N]] and longitudes [[13th meridian east|13°]] and [[20° E]].{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=44}} Part of the territory in the extreme south surrounding [[Dubrovnik]] is a [[practical exclave]] connected to the rest of the mainland by [[territorial waters]], but separated on land by a short coastline strip belonging to Bosnia and Herzegovina around [[Neum]]. The [[Pelješac Bridge]] connects the exclave with mainland Croatia.[{{Cite web |title=Croatia opens long-awaited bridge bypassing Bosnia |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/26/croatia-opens-long-awaited-bridge-bypassing-bosnia |access-date=2022-07-26 |publisher=Al Jazeera |language=en}}]
The territory covers {{convert|56594|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=off}}, consisting of {{convert|56414|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=off}} of land and {{convert|128|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=off}} of water. It is the world's 127th largest country.[{{Cite CIA World Factbook |country=Croatia |access-date=2025-06-04}}] Elevation ranges from the mountains of the [[Dinaric Alps]] with the highest point of the [[Dinara]] peak at {{convert|1831|m|ft|abbr=off}} near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina in the south to the shore of the Adriatic Sea which makes up its entire southwest border.[{{cite journal |first=I. |last=Rudan |title=The Land of 1000 Islands |journal=Croat Med J |volume=47 |issue=4 |pages=523–5 |date=August 2006 |pmc=2121596}}] The largest islands are [[Cres]] and [[Krk]], each of them having an area of around {{convert|405|km2||abbr=off}}.[{{cite web |url=http://www.geografija.hr/clanci/1011/rasirenost-krsa-u-hrvatskoj |title=Raširenost krša u Hrvatskoj |trans-title=Presence of Karst in Croatia |language=hr |work=geografija.hr |publisher=Croatian Geographic Society |date=18 December 2006 |first=Mate |last=Matas |access-date=2011-10-18 |archive-date=2012-06-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609163634/http://www.geografija.hr/clanci/1011/rasirenost-krsa-u-hrvatskoj}}] Croatia hosts [[List of caves in Croatia|deep caves]], 49 of which are deeper than {{convert|250|m|2|abbr=on}}, 14 deeper than {{convert|500|m|2|abbr=on}} and three deeper than {{convert|1000|m|2|abbr=on}}. The [[Plitvice Lakes National Park|Plitvice lakes]] are a system of 16 lakes with waterfalls connecting them over [[Dolomite (mineral)|dolomite]] and [[limestone]] cascades. The lakes are known for their distinctive colours, ranging from turquoise to mint green, grey or blue.[{{cite web |publisher=BBC |url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20110617-the-best-national-parks-of-europe |title=The best national parks of Europe |date=28 June 2011 |access-date=2011-10-11 |archive-date=2012-07-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701184734/http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20110617-the-best-national-parks-of-europe}}]
=== Climate ===
[[File:Croatia Köppen.svg|thumb|left|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen-Geiger climate classification]] map of Croatia|261x261px]]
Most of Croatia has a moderately warm and rainy [[continental climate]] as defined by the [[Köppen climate classification]].[{{Cite web |title=Croatia - Country Overview {{!}} Climate Change Knowledge Portal |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/croatia |access-date=2026-04-12 |website=climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org |language=en}}] Mean monthly temperature ranges between {{convert|-3|°C|°F|lk=on}} in January and {{convert|18|°C|°F|lk=off}} in July. The coldest parts of the country are [[Lika]] and [[Gorski Kotar]] featuring a snowy, forested climate at elevations above {{convert|1200|m|ft|abbr=off}}.[{{cite web |title=Najviša izmjerena temperatura zraka u Hrvatskoj za razdoblje od kada postoje meteorološka motrenja |url=http://klima.hr/razno.php?id=priopcenja¶m=pr21072017 |website=Klima.hr |publisher=[[Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service]] |access-date=2017-08-01 |language=hr |date=21 July 2017 |archive-date=2017-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802003217/http://klima.hr/razno.php?id=priopcenja¶m=pr21072017 |url-status=dead}}] Mean annual precipitation ranges between {{convert|600|mm|in|abbr=off}} and {{convert|3500|mm|in|abbr=off}} depending on geographic region and climate type. The least precipitation is recorded in the outer islands ([[Biševo]], [[Lastovo]], [[Svetac]], [[Vis (island)|Vis]]) and the eastern parts of Slavonia. However, in the latter case, rain occurs mostly during the [[growing season]]. The maximum precipitation levels are observed in the Dinaric Alps, in the Gorski Kotar peaks of [[Risnjak]] and [[Snježnik]].{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=40}}
Prevailing winds in the interior are light to moderate northeast or southwest, and in the coastal area, prevailing winds are determined by local features. Higher wind velocities are more often recorded in cooler months along the coast, generally as the cool northeasterly [[Bora (wind)|bura]] or less frequently as the warm southerly [[jugo]]. The sunniest parts are the outer islands, Hvar and Korčula, where more than 2700 hours of sunshine are recorded per year, followed by the middle and southern Adriatic Sea area in general, and northern Adriatic coast, all with more than 2,000 hours of sunshine per year.{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=41}}
=== Biodiversity ===
{{Main|Protected areas of Croatia}}
{{Further|Register of Protected Natural Values of Croatia|Natural and Cultural Heritage of Croatia}}
[[File:Waterfalls at Plitvica stream in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia (48607294088).jpg|thumb|right|[[Plitvice Lakes National Park]]]]
[[File:RRI-0036-1962 view to Motovun.jpg|thumb|right|Landscapes of [[Motovun]] in [[Istria County|Istrian peninsula]]]]
[[File:Galešnjak Island in Croatia (17114069092).jpg|thumb|right|[[Galešnjak]] island in a shape of a heart]]
Croatia can be subdivided into [[ecoregion]]s based on climate and geomorphology. The country is one of the richest in Europe in terms of biodiversity.[{{cite news |title=Biodiversity-rich Croatia becomes 33rd full EEA member country — European Environment Agency |url=https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/biodiversity-rich-croatia-becomes-33rd |access-date=2021-01-23 |publisher=European Environment Agency |language=en}}][{{cite web |title=EU 2020 HR |url=https://eu2020.hr/Home/Custom?code=CroatiaEU |access-date=2021-01-23 |website=eu2020.hr |archive-date=2023-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404233816/https://eu2020.hr/Home/Custom?code=CroatiaEU |url-status=dead}}] Croatia has four types of biogeographical regions—the [[Mediterranean Biogeographic Region|Mediterranean]] along the coast and in its immediate hinterland, [[Alpine Biogeographic Region|Alpine]] in most of Lika and Gorski Kotar, [[Pannonian Biogeographic Region|Pannonian]] along Drava and Danube, and [[Continental Biogeographic Region|Continental]] in the remaining areas. The most significant are [[karst]] habitats which include submerged karst, such as [[Zrmanja]] and [[Krka (Croatia)|Krka]] canyons and tufa barriers, as well as underground habitats. The country contains three ecoregions: [[Dinaric Mountains mixed forests]], [[Pannonian mixed forests]], and [[Illyrian deciduous forests]].[{{cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=Eric |last2=Olson |first2=David |last3=Joshi |first3=Anup |last4=Vynne |first4=Carly |last5=Burgess |first5=Neil D. |last6=Wikramanayake |first6=Eric |last7=Hahn |first7=Nathan |last8=Palminteri |first8=Suzanne |last9=Hedao |first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed |last11=Hansen |first11=Matt |last12=Locke |first12=Harvey |last13=Ellis |first13=Erle C |last14=Jones |first14=Benjamin |last15=Barber |first15=Charles Victor |last16=Hayes |first16=Randy |last17=Kormos |first17=Cyril |last18=Martin |first18=Vance |last19=Crist |first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes |last21=Price |first21=Lori |last22=Baillie |first22=Jonathan E. M. |last23=Weeden |first23=Don |last24=Suckling |first24=Kierán |last25=Davis |first25=Crystal |last26=Sizer |first26=Nigel |last27=Moore |first27=Rebecca |last28=Thau |first28=David |last29=Birch |first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter |last31=Turubanova |first31=Svetlana |last32=Tyukavina |first32=Alexandra |last33=de Souza |first33=Nadia |last34=Pintea |first34=Lilian |last35=Brito |first35=José C. |last36=Llewellyn |first36=Othman A. |last37=Miller |first37=Anthony G. |last38=Patzelt |first38=Annette |last39=Ghazanfar |first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan |last41=Klöser |first41=Heinz |last42=Shennan-Farpón |first42=Yara |last43=Kindt |first43=Roeland |last44=Lillesø |first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow |last45=van Breugel |first45=Paulo |last46=Graudal |first46=Lars |last47=Voge |first47=Maianna |last48=Al-Shammari |first48=Khalaf F. |last49=Saleem |first49=Muhammad |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |journal=BioScience |volume=67 |issue=6 |year=2017 |pages=534–545 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |pmid=28608869 |pmc=5451287}}]
The karst geology harbours approximately [[List of caves in Croatia|7,000 caves and pits]], some of which are the habitat of the only known aquatic cave [[vertebrate]]—the [[olm]]. Forests are abundant, covering {{convert|2490000|ha||abbr=off}} or 44% of Croatian land area. Other habitat types include wetlands, grasslands, bogs, fens, scrub habitats, coastal and marine habitats.[{{cite book |publisher=State Institute for Nature Protection, [[Ministry of Culture (Croatia)]] |url=http://www.dzzp.hr/dokumenti_upload/20120515/dzzp201205151608230.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.dzzp.hr/dokumenti_upload/20120515/dzzp201205151608230.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Biodiversity of Croatia |year=2006 |editor-first=Jasminka |editor-last=Radović |editor-first2=Kristijan |editor-last2=Čivić |editor-first3=Ramona |editor-last3=Topić |isbn=953-7169-20-0 |access-date=2011-10-13}}]
In terms of [[phytogeography]], Croatia is a part of the [[Boreal Kingdom]] and is a part of Illyrian and Central European provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region]] and the Adriatic province of the [[Mediterranean Region]]. The [[World Wide Fund for Nature]] divides Croatia between three ecoregions—Pannonian mixed forests, [[Dinaric Mountains mixed forests]] and [[Illyrian deciduous forests]].[{{cite web |publisher=6th Dubrovnik Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems |url=http://www.dubrovnik2011.sdewes.org/venue.php |title=Venue |access-date=2011-10-13}}]
Croatia hosts 37,000 known plant and animal species, but their actual number is estimated to be between 50,000 and 100,000.
[[President of Croatia|President]]
| image2 = Andrej Plenković.jpg
| width2 = 125
| alt2 = Andrej Plenković
| caption2 = [[Andrej Plenković]]
[[Prime Minister of Croatia|Prime Minister]]
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The Republic of Croatia is a unitary constitutional republic using a [[parliamentary system]]. Government powers in Croatia are legislative, executive, and judiciary powers.[{{cite web |publisher=[[Government of Croatia]] |url=http://www.vlada.hr/en/about_croatia/information/political_structure |title=Political Structure |date=6 May 2007 |access-date=2011-10-14 |archive-date=2013-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905201133/http://www.vlada.hr/en/about_croatia/information/political_structure |url-status=dead}}] The [[President of Croatia|president]] is the [[head of state]], directly elected to a five-year term and is limited by the constitution to two terms. In addition to serving as [[commander-in-chief]] of the armed forces, the president has the procedural duty of appointing the prime minister with the parliament and has some influence on foreign policy.[{{cite web |publisher=Government of Croatia |url=http://www.vlada.hr/en/naslovnica/o_vladi_rh/clanovi_vlade |title=Members of the Government |access-date=2011-10-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604052735/http://www.vlada.hr/en/naslovnica/o_vladi_rh/clanovi_vlade |archive-date=2013-06-04}}] As the [[Executive (government)|executive branch]], it is responsible for proposing legislation and a budget, enforcing the laws, and guiding foreign and internal policies. The government is seated at [[Banski dvori]] in Zagreb.[{{cite web |publisher=Sabor |url=http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=713 |title=About the Parliament |access-date=2011-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706061905/http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=713 |archive-date=2016-07-06 |url-status=dead}}] The two largest [[List of political parties in Croatia|political parties in Croatia]] are the [[Croatian Democratic Union]] (HDZ) and the [[Social Democratic Party of Croatia]] (SDP).[{{cite web |publisher=Sabor |title=Members of the 6th Parliament |url=http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=776 |access-date=2011-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706062229/http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=776 |archive-date=2016-07-06 |url-status=dead}}]
Croatia has a [[civil law (legal system)|civil law]] legal system in which law arises primarily from written statutes, with judges serving as implementers and not creators of law. Its development was largely influenced by German and Austrian legal systems. Croatian law is divided into two principal areas—[[Private law|private]] and [[public law]]. Before [[2013 enlargement of the European Union|EU accession negotiations]] were completed, Croatian legislation had been fully harmonised with the [[community acquis]].[{{cite web |publisher=Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Croatia |url=http://www.delhrv.ec.europa.eu/?lang=en&content=62 |title=Overview of EU–Croatia relations |access-date=2011-10-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326105744/http://www.delhrv.ec.europa.eu/?lang=en&content=62 |archive-date=2012-03-26}}]
The main national courts are the [[Constitutional Court of Croatia|Constitutional Court]], which oversees violations of the Constitution, and the [[Supreme Court of Croatia|Supreme Court]], which is the highest court of appeal. A variety of administrative, commercial, [[County Court|county]], misdemeanor, and municipal courts handle cases in their respective domains.[{{cite web |publisher=[[Croatian Supreme Court]] |url=http://www.vsrh.hr/EasyWeb.asp?pcpid=31 |language=hr |title=Ustavne odredbe |trans-title=Provisions of the Constitution |date=21 May 2010 |access-date=2011-10-14}}] Cases falling within judicial jurisdiction are in the first instance decided by a single professional judge, while appeals are deliberated in mixed tribunals of professional judges. Lay magistrates also participate in trials.[{{cite web |url=https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2013_03_28_473.html |title=Zakon o sudovima |website=narodne-novine.nn.hr}}] The [[State's Attorney Office of the Republic of Croatia|State's Attorney Office]] is the judicial body constituted of public prosecutors empowered to instigate prosecution of perpetrators of offences.[{{cite web |url=http://www.dorh.hr/Default.aspx?sec=627 |title=Državno odvjetništvo Republike Hrvatske |website=dorh.hr}}] Law enforcement agencies are organised under the authority of the [[Ministry of the Interior (Croatia)|Ministry of the Interior]] which consist primarily of the national police force. Croatia's security service is the [[Security and Intelligence Agency (Croatia)|Security and Intelligence Agency]] (SOA).[{{cite web |title=SOA – Security-intelligence system of the Republic of Croatia |url=https://www.soa.hr/en/about-us/security-intelligence-system-of-the-republic-of-croatia/ |access-date=2021-01-23 |website=soa.hr}}][{{Cite book |last1=Graaff |first1=Bob de |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_00UDQAAQBAJ&q=Handbook+of+European+Intelligence+Cultures |title=Handbook of European Intelligence Cultures |last2=Nyce |first2=James M. |date=2 August 2016 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4422-4942-4 |location= |page=73 |language=en}}]
{{clear}}
=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Croatia}}
[[File:Official Photo NATO - OTAN Summit 2025 on June 25, 2025 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|President [[Zoran Milanović]] with other Western leaders at the [[2025 The Hague NATO summit|2025 NATO Summit]]]]
Croatia has established diplomatic relations with most world nations – [[List of diplomatic relations of Croatia|189 states in total]] – starting [[Croatia–Germany relations|with Germany]] (1991) and most recently [[Foreign relations of Liberia|with Liberia]] (2024).[{{cite web |title=MVEP • Date of Recognition and Establishment of Diplomatic Relations |url=http://www.mvep.hr/en/foreign-politics/bilateral-relations/date-of-recognition-and-establishment-of-diplomatic-relations/ |access-date=2021-01-23 |website=mvep.hr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422080331/http://www.mvep.hr/en/foreign-politics/bilateral-relations/date-of-recognition-and-establishment-of-diplomatic-relations/ |archive-date=2014-04-22 |url-status=live }}] It exerts influence as a [[small power]] in this region and within European international institutions.[{{Cite news |last=Abt |first=Clark |date=22 November 1993 |title=Why Small Powers Also Deserve Respect |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/22/opinion/l-why-small-powers-also-deserve-respect-913593.html |access-date=31 March 2026 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}][{{Cite web |last=Knezović |first=Sandro |last2=Lopes |first2=Marco Esteves |date=2018 |title=Croatia as a Small State in Contemporary International Relations |url=https://irmo.hr/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Croatia-as-a-small-state-in-contemporary-international-relations.pdf |access-date=31 March 2026 |website=Hanns Seidel Foundation |isbn=978-953-95835-2-9}}] Since the 1990s, Croatia has had unresolved border disputes throughout Southeast Europe, namely [[Croatia–Serbia border dispute|with Serbia]], Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Slovenia.[{{cite news |publisher=total-croatia-news.com |url=https://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/16084-overview-of-croatia-s-border-disputes-with-bij-montenegro-serbia-slovenia-liberland |title=Overview of Croatia's Border Disputes with BiH, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Liberland |date=22 January 2017 |access-date=2019-01-01}}] It is a member of the [[United Nations]] (UN),[{{Cite web |title=Member States of the United Nations |url=https://www.un.org/en/about-us/member-states |access-date=2026-04-12 |website=United Nations |language=en}}] the [[European Union]],[{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/world/europe/05cnd-prexy.html |title=Bush Champions Expansive Mission for NATO |date=5 April 2008 |author=Steven Lee Myers |access-date=2011-09-24}}] the [[Council of Europe]],[{{Cite web |title=CoR - Croatia EU |url=https://portal.cor.europa.eu/divisionpowers/Pages/Croatia-EU.aspx |access-date=2026-04-12 |website=portal.cor.europa.eu}}] the [[Union for the Mediterranean]],[{{Cite web |title=Member States |url=https://ufmsecretariat.org/who-we-are/member-states/ |access-date=2026-04-12 |website=Union for the Mediterranean - UfM |language=en-US}}] and the [[Schengen Area]] as well as the [[Eurozone]].[{{cite news |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64144309 |title=Croatia begins new euro and Schengen zone era |date=1 January 2023 |access-date=2023-01-01}}][{{cite news |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7977332.stm |title=Nato welcomes Albania and Croatia |date=1 April 2009 |access-date=2011-09-24}}] Modern Croatian foreign policy objectives include enhancing relations with neighbouring countries, developing international cooperation and promotion of the Croatian economy.[{{cite web |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (Croatia) |url=http://un.mfa.hr/?mh=151&mv=840 |title=Foreign Policy Aims |access-date=2011-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127073846/http://un.mfa.hr/?mh=151&mv=840 |archive-date=2012-01-27 |url-status=dead}}]
It supports 57 embassies, 30 consulates and eight permanent diplomatic missions. Many international organisations have regional offices in Croatia, such as the [[European Bank for Reconstruction and Development]] (EBRD), [[International Organization for Migration]] (IOM), [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] (OSCE), [[World Bank]], [[World Health Organization]] (WHO), [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]] (ICTY), [[United Nations Development Programme]] (UNDP), [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] (UNHCR), and [[UNICEF]].[{{cite web |title=MVEP • Diplomatski protokol |url=http://www.mvep.hr/hr/ministarstvo/diplomatski-protokol/ |access-date=2021-01-23 |website=mvep.hr |language=hr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201232454/http://www.mvep.hr/hr/ministarstvo/diplomatski-protokol/ |archive-date=2016-02-01 |url-status=live }}]
=== Croatian diaspora ===
{{Main|Croatian diaspora}}
The diaspora consists of communities of ethnic [[Croats]] and [[Croatian nationality law|Croatian citizens]] living outside Croatia. The [[Croatian Americans|largest diaspora is in the United States]], with a large population across neighboring Southeast Europe.[{{Cite web |title=U inozemstvu živi preko 3.2 milijuna Hrvata. Objavljen popis, u ovim državama ih je najviše|trans-title=Over 3.2 million Croatians live abroad. List published, these are the countries with the most of them|url=https://www.poslovni.hr/hrvatska/u-inozemstvu-zivi-preko-3-2-milijuna-hrvata-objavljen-popis-u-ovim-drzavama-ih-je-najvise-4434426|access-date=2024-04-14|language=hr|website=poslovni.hr}}] The country maintains extensive contact with Croatian communities abroad through administrative and financial support of cultural, sports activities, and economic initiatives.[{{Cite web |url=https://hrvatiizvanrh.gov.hr/hrvati-izvan-rh/hrvatska-manjina-u-inozemstvu/1616 |website=hrvatiizvanrh.gov.hr |title=Hrvatska manjina u inozemstvu}}] Croatia actively maintains foreign relations to strengthen and guarantee the rights of the Croatian minority abroad.[{{Cite web |url=https://hrvatiizvanrh.gov.hr/hrvati-izvan-rh/hrvatska-manjina-u-inozemstvu/hrvatska-manjina-u-republici-srbiji/748 |title=Hrvatska manjina u Republici Srbiji |website=hrvatiizvanrh.gov.hr |publisher=Središnji državni ured za Hrvate izvan Republike Hrvatske (Central State Office for Croats Outside the Republic of Croatia)}}][{{Cite web |url=https://www.info.hazu.hr/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Glasnik-Broj-2.pdf |quote=The Presidency of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, in a session held on 12 September 2014, made the following statement explaining that the Bunjevci Croats form an integral part of the Croatian national corpus. The Presidency of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, one of the fundamental institutions of the Croatian nation and of all the citizens of the Republic of Croatia, among the roles of which belongs the preservation of national identity, made the following statement in a session held on 12 September 2014: The Bunjevci, a Croatian ethnic group, are made up of three branches: the Dalmatian-Herzegovinian branch; the Primorje-Lika branch; and the Danube Region branch. Not encroaching on the right of any individual to express their national affiliation based on their origin, history, traditional culture, customs and language – the western new-Štokavian and Ikavian – the Bunjevci Croats form an integral part of the Croatian national corpus. |title=Statement by the Presidency of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts regarding the Bunjevci Croats |year=2014 |page=53 |website=info.hazu.hr |publisher=Glasnik HAZU |volume=2}}]
=== Military ===
{{Main|Armed Forces of Croatia}}
{{Further|Defence industry of Croatia}}{{Multiple image
| caption_align = center
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| image1 = M116 howitzer of the Croatian Army.jpg
| image2 = Najveći vojni mimohod u povijesti Hrvatske završio preletom devet Rafalea XXV.jpg
| caption1 = [[Croatian Army]]
| caption2 = [[Croatian Navy]]
| caption3 = [[Croatian Air Force]]
| image3 = Dassault Rafale arrives for the first time in Croatia to enter service.jpg
}}
The Armed Forces of Croatia (OSRH) consists of three service branches: the [[Croatian Army]], the [[Croatian Navy]] and the [[Croatian Air Force]]. They are headed by the President of Croatia as commander-in-chief while defence policy is overseen by the Government of Croatia.[{{cite web |url=http://www.osrh.hr/prikaz_en.asp?idi=100&kati=2 |title=Chain of Command in the CAF |publisher=Croatian Ministry of Defence |access-date=2012-07-02}}] The military supports the foreign policy of Croatia and international security initiatives. It is the sole military wing of the [[Military Security and Intelligence Agency (Croatia)|Military Security and Intelligence Agency]] (VSOA). The Armed Forces are spread across [[continental Croatia]] and capital city Zagreb, with the Navy largely based in [[Split, Croatia|Split]]. According to the 2025 [[Global Peace Index]], Croatia is the 18th most peaceful country in the world.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.visionofhumanity.org/maps/#/|title=2025 Global Peace Index|accessdate=10 April 2026}}]
Since the [[Croatian War of Independence]] (1991–1995), the Armed Forces have played a key role in protecting territorial integrity. The military's first foreign deployment was in 2003 – the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]] and [[Iraq War]] – later joining the military alliance [[NATO]] in 2009.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.sabor.hr/sites/default/files/uploads/sabor/2023-11-03/095806/GOD_IZVJ_OBRANA_2022.pdf|title=International deployment for the year 2022.}}] Croatia maintains a close security and foreign intelligence relationship [[Croatia–NATO relations|with NATO]] and [[Croatia–United States relations#Military cooperation|the United States]].[{{Cite web |last=Drazen|date=2025-01-17|title=Anušić at handover of the Bradley vehicle: Owing to excellent cooperation with the USA, the Croatian Armed Forces are a modern, capable and strong armed force|url=https://www.morh.hr/en/anusic-at-handover-of-the-bradley-vehicle-owing-to-excellent-cooperation-with-the-usa-the-croatian-armed-forces-are-a-modern-capable-and-strong-armed-force/|access-date=2025-06-16|website=MORH|language=en-US}}] The military has been deployed to various [[United Nations]] (UN), NATO and American-led missions around the world.[{{cite web |date=3 September 2020 |title=Godišnje izvješće o obrani za 2019. |url=https://vlada.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/2016/Sjednice/2020/Rujan/7%20sjednicaVRH/7%20-%2010%20novo.docx |access-date= |website= |publisher=[[Government of Croatia|Vlada Republike Hrvatske]] |page=95 |language=hr}}][{{cite web |title=GODIŠNJE IZVJEŠĆE O OBRANI za 2019. – podnositeljica: Vlada Republike Hrvatske |url=http://sabor.hr/hr/godisnje-izvjesce-o-obrani-za-2019-podnositeljica-vlada-republike-hrvatske |access-date=2021-01-23 |website=Hrvatski sabor |date=3 September 2020 |language=hr |archive-date=2023-02-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218171225/https://sabor.hr/hr/godisnje-izvjesce-o-obrani-za-2019-podnositeljica-vlada-republike-hrvatske |url-status=dead}}][{{cite web |title=Hrvatska u najviše misija UN-a |url=https://www.nacional.hr/hrvatska-u-najvise-misija-un-a/ |access-date=2021-01-23 |website=NACIONAL.HR |date=28 June 2019 |language=hr}}] Since joining the European Union (EU) in 2013, it became a part of the [[Defence forces of the European Union|EU defence forces]].
The Armed Forces have seen significant militarization and modernization since the early 2020s due to regional geopolitical risk.[{{Cite web |last=Thomas|first=Mark|title=Tanks, Drones and Big Guns: Croatia's €2 Billion Military Makeover|url=https://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/news/croatia/item/18879-tanks-drones-and-big-guns-croatia-s-2-billion-military-makeover|access-date=2026-04-04|website=The Dubrovnik Times|language=en-gb}}] Its deep integration within Europe and the U.S. has led to modern defence pacts and a robust [[defense industrial base|defence industrial base]].[{{Cite web |last=Brey|first=Thomas|date=April 11, 2025|title=Western Balkans peace threatened by new military alliances?|url=https://www.dw.com/en/western-balkans-peace-threatened-by-new-military-alliances/a-72179306|access-date=June 16, 2025|website=dw.com|language=en}}] The Croatian military is among the most [[List of countries by level of military equipment|technologically advanced in Southeast Europe]].[{{Cite web |last=Thomas|first=Mark|date=January 21, 2025|title=Croatia's Military Modernization: Navigating Regional Challenges and Global Realities|url=https://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/news/croatia/item/17427-croatia-s-military-modernization-navigating-regional-challenges-and-global-realities|access-date=June 16, 2025|website=The Dubrovnik Times|language=en-gb}}][{{Cite web |last=Tesija|first=Vuk|date=2024-12-02|title=Croatia's Defence Sector Spending Spree Raises Questions About Military Strategy|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2024/12/02/croatias-defence-sector-spending-spree-raises-questions-about-military-strategy/|access-date=2025-06-16|website=Balkan Insight|language=en-US}}] Croatia has had [[Conscription in Croatia|military conscription]] since 2025, previously enacted from 1991 to 2008.[{{cite news |url=http://www.monitor.hr/clanci/vojni-rok-u-hrvatskoj-kraci-nego-drugdje-u-europi-i-nato-u/11191/ |title=Vojni rok u Hrvatskoj kraći, nego drugdje u Europi i NATO-u |first=Milan |last=Jelovac |date=23 January 2001 |newspaper=Vjesnik |language=hr |access-date=2011-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127065234/http://www.monitor.hr/clanci/vojni-rok-u-hrvatskoj-kraci-nego-drugdje-u-europi-i-nato-u/11191/ |archive-date=2012-01-27 |url-status=dead}}][{{cite journal |journal=Historijski Zbornik |publisher=[[Školska knjiga]] |volume=5 |issue=1–2 |year=1952 |url=http://www.historiografija.hr/hz/1952/HZ_5_11_MANDIC.pdf |first=Oleg |last=Mandić |language=hr |title=O nekim pitanjima društvenog uređenja Hrvatske u srednjem vijeku |trans-title=On some issues of social system of Croatia in the Middle Ages |pages=131–138 |access-date=2011-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808023945/http://www.historiografija.hr/hz/1952/HZ_5_11_MANDIC.pdf |archive-date=2019-08-08 |url-status=dead}}] The divisions changed over time to reflect losses of territory to Ottoman conquest and subsequent liberation of the same territory, changes of the political status of Dalmatia, Dubrovnik, and [[Istria]]. The traditional division of the country into counties was abolished in the 1920s when the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and the subsequent Kingdom of Yugoslavia introduced [[oblast]]s and [[Subdivisions of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia|banovinas]] respectively.{{sfn|Frucht|2005|p=429}}
Communist-ruled Croatia, as a constituent part of post-World War II Yugoslavia, abolished earlier divisions and introduced municipalities, subdividing Croatia into approximately one hundred municipalities. Counties were reintroduced in 1992 legislation, significantly altered in terms of territory relative to the pre-1920s subdivisions. In 1918, the [[Transleithania]]n part was divided into eight counties with their seats in [[Bjelovar]], [[Gospić]], [[Ogulin]], [[Osijek]], [[Požega, Croatia|Požega]], [[Varaždin]], Vukovar, and Zagreb.{{sfn|Biondich|2000|p=11}}[{{cite news |newspaper=[[Narodne novine]] |date=30 December 1992 |access-date=2011-09-09 |language=hr |title=Zakon o područjima županija, gradova i općina u Republici Hrvatskoj |trans-title=Territories of Counties, Cities and Municipalities of the Republic of Croatia Act |url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1992_12_90_2333.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828162010/http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1992_12_90_2333.html |archive-date=2013-08-28}}]
Since 1992, Croatia has been divided into [[Counties of Croatia|20 counties]] and the [[capital city of Zagreb]], the latter having the dual authority and legal status of a county and a city. County borders changed in some instances, last revised in 2006. The counties subdivide into [[List of cities in Croatia|127 cities]] and [[Municipalities of Croatia|429 municipalities]].[{{cite news |newspaper=Narodne novine |date=28 July 2006 |access-date=2011-09-09 |language=hr |title=Zakon o područjima županija, gradova i općina u Republici Hrvatskoj |trans-title=Territories of Counties, Cities and Municipalities of the Republic of Croatia Act |url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2006_07_86_2045.html}}] [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics]] (NUTS) [[division of Croatia|division]] is performed in several tiers. NUTS 1 level considers the entire country in a single unit; three NUTS 2 regions come below that. Those are Northwest Croatia, Central and Eastern (Pannonian) Croatia, and Adriatic Croatia. The latter encompasses the counties along the Adriatic coast. Northwest Croatia includes Koprivnica-Križevci, Krapina-Zagorje, Međimurje, Varaždin, the city of Zagreb, and Zagreb counties and the Central and Eastern (Pannonian) Croatia includes the remaining areas—Bjelovar-Bilogora, Brod-Posavina, Karlovac, Osijek-Baranja, Požega-Slavonia, Sisak-Moslavina, Virovitica-Podravina, and Vukovar-Syrmia counties. Individual counties and the city of Zagreb also represent NUTS 3 level subdivision units in Croatia. The NUTS [[Administrative division|local administrative unit]] (LAU) divisions are two-tiered. LAU 1 divisions match the counties and the city of Zagreb in effect making those the same as NUTS 3 units, while LAU 2 subdivisions correspond to cities and municipalities.[{{cite web |publisher=[[Council of Europe]] |language=hr |url=http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/heritage/cemat/confminist1-15/15eCEMAT_National_Report_Croatia_2010_HR.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/heritage/cemat/confminist1-15/15eCEMAT_National_Report_Croatia_2010_HR.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Nacionalno izviješće Hrvatska |trans-title=Croatia National Report |date=January 2010 |access-date=2012-02-25}}]
== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Croatia}}
[[File:Trg bana Jelacica Zagreb 30102012 2 roberta f.jpg|thumb|284x284px|The capital city of [[Zagreb]] is the nation's primary economic and financial centre. ]]
Croatia has a [[Developed country|highly developed]] [[mixed economy]].[{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/WESP2019_BOOK-web.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224232544/https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/WESP2019_BOOK-web.pdf|archive-date=2019-02-24|url-status=live|title=World Economic Situation and Prospects report 2019|publisher=UN|access-date=21 January 2019}}][{{Cite web |date=3 May 2024|title=Croatia and the OECD|url=https://www.oecd.org/en/countries/croatia.html|access-date=2 July 2025|website=OECD|language=en|quote=Since its independence in 1991 and its transformation into a market economy, Croatia has led the way for regional peers with a reform agenda that paved the way for its EU accession in 2013. Croatia also plays a central role in the OECD’s South East Europe Regional Programme, engaging in project collaboration and sharing policies and good practices in the regional policy dialogue and peer learning activities. Croatia co-organises the OECD Dubrovnik Talks as part of its annual Dubrovnik Forum, playing a leading role advancing social, economic and environmental reforms in South East Europe.}}][{{cite web |url=https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519#High_income |title=Country and Lending Groups |publisher=World Bank |access-date=2020-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111190936/https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519#High_income |archive-date=2018-01-11 |url-status=dead}}] It is one of the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)#Table|largest economies in Southeast Europe]] by nominal [[gross domestic product]] (GDP).[{{cite web |date=10 October 2023|title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/October/weo-report?c=512,914,612,171,614,311,213,911,314,193,122,912,313,419,513,316,913,124,339,638,514,218,963,616,223,516,918,748,618,624,522,622,156,626,628,228,924,233,632,636,634,238,662,960,423,935,128,611,321,243,248,469,253,642,643,939,734,644,819,172,132,646,648,915,134,652,174,328,258,656,654,336,263,268,532,944,176,534,536,429,433,178,436,136,343,158,439,916,664,826,542,967,443,917,544,941,446,666,668,672,946,137,546,674,676,548,556,678,181,867,682,684,273,868,921,948,943,686,688,518,728,836,558,138,196,278,692,694,962,142,449,564,565,283,853,288,293,566,964,182,359,453,968,922,714,862,135,716,456,722,942,718,724,576,936,961,813,726,199,733,184,524,361,362,364,732,366,144,146,463,528,923,738,578,537,742,866,369,744,186,925,869,746,926,466,112,111,298,927,846,299,582,487,474,754,698,&s=NGDPD,&sy=2021&ey=2028&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1|access-date=10 October 2023|website=IMF.org|publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]]}}][{{cite web |date=16 April 2024|title=WEO Database, April 2024. Report for Selected Countries and Subjects: World, European Union|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/April/weo-report?c=960,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2022&ey=2029&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1|access-date=16 April 2024|website=IMF.org|publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]]}}][{{Cite web |title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/April/weo-report |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=IMF |language=en}}] It maintains a similarly [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|high regional GDP-per-capita]].[{{Cite web |date=April 15, 2023|title=Economic Complexity Index: Croatia|url=https://atlas.hks.harvard.edu/countries/191/None|access-date=June 28, 2025|website=The Atlas of Economic Complexity by Harvard University|language=en|quote=Croatia is a high-income country, ranking as the 42nd richest economy per capita out of 145 studied. Its 3.84 million inhabitants have a GDP per capita of $21,520 ($46,005 PPP; 2023). GDP per capita growth has averaged 4.8% over the past five years, above regional averages.}}][{{Cite news |last=Romei|first=Valentina|date=November 1, 2024|title=How demographics can distort economic narratives|url=https://www.ft.com/content/0bde0990-4959-4412-9266-82c37baeea14|archive-date=|access-date=June 30, 2025|work=Financial Times|quote=But keeping it simple, there’s little difference in performance between the performance in terms of GDP and GDP per capita for the US (or Croatia, which tops the table on both measures).}}] It is an [[open economy]] with accommodative foreign policy, highly dependent on international trade in Europe. Within Croatia, economic development [[List of Croatian counties by GDP|varies among its counties]], with strongest growth in [[Central Croatia]] and its financial centre, Zagreb. It has a [[List of Croatian counties by Human Development Index|very high level]] of human development,[{{Cite web |title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|access-date=19 July 2021|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en}}] low levels of [[Gini coefficient|income inequality]], and a high [[quality of life]].[{{Cite web |date=4 December 2023|title=Croatia - Market Overview|url=https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/croatia-market-overview|access-date=20 December 2023|website=[[International Trade Administration]]|language=en}}] Croatia's [[Labour economics|labor market]] has been perennially inefficient, with an underdeveloped investment climate and an ineffective [[Taxation in Croatia|corporate and income tax system]].[{{Cite web |date=1 January 2020|title=Doing Business 2020: Croatia Country Profile|url=https://www.doingbusiness.org/content/dam/doingBusiness/country/c/croatia/HRV.pdf|access-date=20 December 2023|website=World Bank Group}}][{{Cite web |title=Croatian Economy: Be Dynamic, Not Only in Tourism|url=https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2017/09/18/na091917-croatian-economy-be-dynamic-not-only-in-tourism|access-date=2023-12-20|website=IMF|language=en}}]
[[File:Rimac C Two 2018 Geneva Motor Show.jpg|left|thumb|[[Rimac Automobili]], one of Croatia's major [[Automotive industry in Croatia|automotive manufacturers]].]]
Croatia's economic history is closely linked to its historic [[nation-building]] efforts. Its pre-industrial economy leveraged the [[Geography of Croatia|country's geography]] and natural resources to guide agricultural growth. The 1800s saw a shipbuilding boom, railroading, and widespread industrialization. During the 1900s, Croatia entered into a [[planned economy]] (with [[socialism]]) in 1941 and a [[Planned economy#Command economy|command economy]] (with [[communism]]) during [[World War II]].[{{cite web |url=http://m.state.gov/md3166.htm |title=Background Note: Croatia |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |access-date=2008-12-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527221958/http://m.state.gov/md3166.htm |archive-date=2010-05-27}}]
The modern Croatian economy is considered [[high-income]], dominated by its [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary service]] and industry sectors which account for 70% of GDP.[{{Cite web |last=Crnjak|first=Marija|date=26 June 2025|title=Konačno razbijen mit da turizam čini 20 posto BDP-a Hrvatske, stigle brojke DZS-a, evo točnog izračuna!|url=https://novac.jutarnji.hr/novac/aktualno/konacno-razbijen-mit-da-turizam-cini-20-posto-bdp-a-hrvatske-stigle-brojke-dzs-a-evo-tocnog-izracuna-15567080|access-date=1 July 2025|website=novac.jutarnji.hr|language=hr-hr}}][{{Cite web |title=Croatia's Tourism May Be Hurt by Price Hikes, ECB's Vujcic Says |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-05/croatian-central-banker-says-rising-prices-are-turning-tourists-off |date=1 January 2025 |access-date=2 July 2025 |last=Kuzmanovic|first=Jasmina|website=Bloomberg News}}] Croatia is an [[Energy in Croatia|emerging energy power]] in Europe, with strategic investments in liquefied natural gas ([[Liquefied natural gas|LNG]]), [[Geothermal energy|geothermal]] networks, and electric transport.[{{Cite news |date=18 June 2021|title=Croatian island eyes green energy self-sufficiency in this decade|language=en|work=Reuters|agency=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/croatian-island-eyes-green-energy-self-sufficiency-this-decade-2021-06-18/|access-date=26 November 2021}}][{{cite web |title=Croatia - Renewable Energy|url=https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/croatia-renewable-energy|access-date=26 November 2021|website=trade.gov|language=en}}] It supports regional economic activity via transportation networks along the [[Adriatic Sea]] and throughout [[Pan-European corridors]]. Croatia has free-trade agreements with many world nations and is a part of the [[World Trade Organization]] (2000) and the [[European Economic Area|EEA]] (2013).[{{Cite web |title=Overview|url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/croatia/overview|access-date=2022-10-17|website=World Bank|language=en}}][{{Cite web |title=Nova EU direktiva: Minimalac bi mogao porasti na 4000 kuna, sindikati traže 5000|url=https://www.tportal.hr/biznis/clanak/nova-eu-direktiva-minimalac-bi-mogao-porasti-na-4000-kuna-sindikati-traze-5000-foto-20220916|access-date=2022-10-17|website=tportal.hr}}] Croatia's largest [[international trade|trading partner]] was the rest of the European Union, led by Germany, Italy, and Slovenia.[{{cite web |url=https://web.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/publication/2019/04-02-02_01_2019.htm |title=ROBNA RAZMJENA REPUBLIKE HRVATSKE S INOZEMSTVOM u 2018.KONAČNI PODACI/FOREIGN TRADE IN GOODS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, 2018 FINAL DATA |publisher=[[Croatian Bureau of Statistics]] |language=hr}}] The nation has an [[Defence industry of Croatia|emerging defence sector]], with major manufacturers including [[HS Produkt]] and [[Đuro Đaković (company)|Đuro Đaković]], among others.[{{cite news |last=Franičević |first=Mile |date=6 March 2011 |title=Hrvatski izvoz oružja i opreme lani narastao na 650 milijuna kuna |language=hr |newspaper=Vjesnik |url=http://www.vjesnik.hr/Article.aspx?ID=12C86DFB-1818-459C-B8E6-687AFABF57A2 |url-status=dead |access-date=2011-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404120455/http://www.vjesnik.hr/Article.aspx?ID=12C86DFB-1818-459C-B8E6-687AFABF57A2 |archive-date=2012-04-04}}][{{Cite web |last=Tesija|first=Vuk|date=2024-01-02|title=Croatia's Defence Exports are Growing in a Dangerous World|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2024/01/02/croatias-defence-exports-are-growing-in-a-dangerous-world/bi/|access-date=2026-04-11|website=Balkan Insight|language=en-US}}]
=== Tourism ===
{{Main|Tourism in Croatia|Croatian National Tourist Board}}
[[File: Bokar Fortress and the Old Town of Dubrovnik, Croatia (48613181692).jpg |thumb|right|upright=1.0|[[Dubrovnik]] is Croatia's most visited and most popular destination.]]Tourism is a major industry and economic sector.[{{cite news |newspaper=Vjesnik |url=http://www.vjesnik.hr/Article.aspx?ID=D37B6CB1-C728-44FE-94C7-8C80B4EA582F |archive-date=2022-10-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005203957/http://www.vjesnik.hr/Article.aspx?ID=D37B6CB1-C728-44FE-94C7-8C80B4EA582F |language=hr |title=Iako čini gotovo petinu BDP-a, i dalje niskoprofitabilna grana domaće privrede |trans-title=Even though it make up nearly a fifth of the GDP, it is still a low-profit branch of the national economy |first1=Tomislav |last1=Pili |first2=Davor |last2=Verković |date=1 October 2011 |access-date=2011-10-20}}] It has historically represented a large component the country's economic output (GDP), routinely reaching 10% to 15% of total GDP.[{{Cite web |last=Kuzmanovic|first=Jasmina|date=1 January 2025|title=Croatia's Tourism May Be Hurt by Price Hikes, ECB's Vujcic Says|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-05/croatian-central-banker-says-rising-prices-are-turning-tourists-off|access-date=2 July 2025|website=Bloomberg News}}] Croatia is deeply integrated with the European Union (EU), contributing to overall international tourism in [[Southeast Europe]]. Tourism is concentrated along the [[Adriatic Croatia|Adriatic coast]] and is strongly seasonal, peaking in July and August.[{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Tourism_statistics_for_Croatia|title=Tourism statistics for Croatia|work=ec.europa.eu|publisher=[[European Commission]]|date=2014|access-date=10 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827211833/http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Tourism_statistics_for_Croatia|archive-date=2016-08-27|url-status=dead}}] The most frequented cities are [[Dubrovnik]], [[Rovinj]], [[Zagreb]], [[Split, Croatia|Split]], [[Poreč]], [[Umag]], and [[Zadar]], respectively.[{{Cite web |date=1 March 2023|title=Croatia registers 20.6m tourist arrivals and 108m overnight stays in 2023|url=https://mint.gov.hr/news-11455/croatia-registers-20-6m-tourist-arrivals-and-108m-overnight-stays-in-2023/23697|access-date=3 July 2025|website=mint.hr}}]
[[File: Aerial view of Zlatni rat (Golden Horn) Beach in Bol, Croatia (48608813081).jpg|thumb|right|[[Zlatni Rat]] beach on the Island of [[Brač]]]]The history of tourism in Croatia dates back to its time as part of [[Austria-Hungary]] when wealthy aristocrats would converge to the sea.[{{cite web |last1=BASKAR|first1=BOJAN|title=Southbound, to the Austrian Riviera: The Habsburg Patronage of Tourism in the Eastern Adriatic|url=http://www.drustvo-antropologov.si/AN/PDF/2010_1/Anthropological_Notebooks_XVI_1_Baskar.pdf|website=Društvo antropologov Slovenije|publisher=University of Ljubljana|access-date=18 September 2021}}] Tourism expanded throughout the 1960s to the 1980s before the [[independence of Croatia]] in 1990 curbed tourism until the late-1990s.[{{cite book |last1=Kapusta|first1=Armina|last2=Wiluś|first2=Robert|title=The Geography of Tourism of Central and Eastern European Countries|chapter=Geography of Tourism in Croatia|date=2017|pages=109–147|publisher=Springer International Publishing|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-42205-3_4|isbn=978-3-319-42203-9}}] The 2000s saw a significant resurgence of Croatian tourism as it underwent nation-building with a particular emphasis on tourism revenue. By the late-2000s, Croatia became one of the most visited tourist destinations in the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]].{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=425}} A total of 20.2 million tourists visited Croatia in 2024.[{{cite web |title=TOURIST ARRIVALS AND NIGHTS IN 2024|url=https://podaci.dzs.hr/2024/en/76896|access-date=1 June 2025|website=Croatian Bureau of Statistics|publisher=|language=}}]
Eight areas in the country have been designated national parks and eleven as [[List of protected areas of Croatia#Nature parks|nature parks]].[{{cite web |title=Parkovi Hrvatske|url=http://www.parkovihrvatske.hr/parkovi|website=Parkovihrvatske.hr|access-date=18 September 2021}}] There are [[List of World Heritage Sites in Croatia|ten]] [[World Heritage Site]]s and 116 [[Blue Flag beach]]es across the country.[{{cite web |title=Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List (10)|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/hr|website=UNESCO|access-date=18 September 2021}}][{{cite web |url=http://www.blueflag.org/Menu/Awarded+sites/2011/Northern+Hemisphere/Croatia |title=Croatia |access-date=2011-10-21 |publisher=[[Foundation for Environmental Education]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202124844/http://www.blueflag.org/Menu/Awarded+sites/2011/Northern+Hemisphere/Croatia |archive-date=2011-12-02}}] Factors of tourist interest are mainly [[Culture of Croatia|culture]], [[Croatian cuisine|cuisine]], [[History of Croatia|history]], fashion, [[Architecture of Croatia|architecture]], art, religious sites and routes, nature, maritime access, and nightlife. Tourism has been partially supported by the Croatian film and television industries due to on-location filming. Inflation and [[overtourism]] has led to increased travel regulations and tourist costs since 2024.[{{Cite web |last=Thomas|first=Mark|date=May 18, 2025|title=Croatia Currently More Expensive Than Spain and Greece, Despite Being Equally Attractive Mediterranean Destinations|url=https://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/news/croatia/item/17965-croatia-currently-more-expensive-than-spain-and-greece-despite-being-equally-attractive-mediterranean-destinations|access-date=July 2, 2025|website=www.thedubrovniktimes.com|language=en-gb}}] [[Eurostat]] estimated that nearly 55% of EU tourist accommodation is between Croatia (117,000) and neighboring [[Tourism in Italy|Italy]] (230,000).[{{Cite web |date=1 January 2023|title=Tourism statistics for the European Union|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Tourism_statistics|access-date=3 July 2025|website=Eurostat|language=en|issn=2443-8219|quote=More than one third (35.3%) of all the bed places in the EU were concentrated in just 2 of the EU countries, namely Italy (5.2 million) and France (5.1 million), while more than a half (54.5%) of all the establishments in the EU were concentrated in Italy (230 000), and Croatia (117 000).}}] In 2025, Croatia was the ninth-most-visited state in the EU and third-most-visited in [[Southern Europe]].[{{Cite web |last=Jelavić|first=Grego|date=10 March 2025|title=Iz Eurostata komentiraju da je 2024. bila rekordna odnosno "najbolja turistička godina za EU" po noćenjima u turističkim smještajnim objektima.|url=https://www.poslovni.hr/hrvatska/u-najboljoj-turistickoj-godini-eu-hrvatska-na-9-mjestu-4475261|access-date=3 July 2025|website=Poslovni Dnevnik|language=hr}}]
=== Infrastructure ===
{{See also|Transport in Croatia|List of tallest buildings in Croatia}}
==== Motorways ====
[[File:P067539-946135 Pelješac bridge.jpg|thumb|left|[[Pelješac Bridge]] connects the peninsula of [[Pelješac]] and through it the southernmost part, including [[Dubrovnik]], with the [[Croatia proper|Croatian mainland]].]]
The [[Motorways in Croatia|motorway network]] was largely built in the late 1990s and the 2000s. As of December 2020, Croatia had completed {{convert|1313.8|km|abbr=off}} of motorways, connecting Zagreb to other regions and following various [[International E-road network|European routes]] and four [[Pan-European corridors]].[{{cite journal |publisher=[[University of Rijeka]], Faculty of Maritime Studies |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/6570 |title=The integration of the Republic of Croatia into the Pan-European transport corridor network |author=Tanja Poletan Jugović |journal=Pomorstvo |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=49–65 |date=11 April 2006 |access-date=2010-10-14}}][{{cite news |newspaper=Narodne Novine |language=hr |url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2009_01_13_296.html |title=Odluka o izmjenama i dopunama odluke o razvrstavanju javnih cesta u autoceste |trans-title=Decision on amendments and additions to the Decision on classification of public roads as motorways |date=30 January 2009 |access-date=2010-10-18}}][{{cite web |title=Mreža autocesta – HUKA |url=http://www.huka.hr/mreza-autocesta |access-date=2020-12-16 |website=huka.hr}}] The busiest motorways are the [[A1 (Croatia)|A1]], connecting Zagreb to Split and the [[A3 (Croatia)|A3]], passing east to west through northwest Croatia and Slavonia.[{{cite web |publisher=[[Hrvatske ceste]] |url=http://www.hrvatske-ceste.hr/WEB%20-%20Legislativa/brojenje-prometa/CroDig2009.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195254/http://www.hrvatske-ceste.hr/WEB%20-%20Legislativa/brojenje-prometa/CroDig2009.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-02-21 |title=Traffic counting on the roadways of Croatia in 2009 – digest |access-date=2010-05-01}}]
A widespread network of [[state roads in Croatia]] acts as motorway [[Feeder line (network)|feeder roads]] while connecting major settlements. The high quality and safety levels of the Croatian motorway network were tested and confirmed by EuroTAP and EuroTest programmes.[{{cite web |url=http://www.eurotestmobility.com/news.php?item=25&PHPSESSID=a7d9b4decd981bb3cdc3494656b0104d |title=EuroTest |publisher=Eurotestmobility.com |access-date=2009-01-03 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430010646/http://www.eurotestmobility.com/news.php?item=25&PHPSESSID=a7d9b4decd981bb3cdc3494656b0104d |archive-date=2011-04-30}}][{{cite web |url=http://www.javno.com/en/croatia/clanak.php?id=38990 |title=Brinje Tunnel Best European Tunnel |publisher=Javno.com |access-date=2009-01-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115220041/http://www.javno.com/en/croatia/clanak.php?id=38990 |archive-date=2009-01-15}}]
The construction of the 2.4-kilometre-long [[Pelješac Bridge]] connected the two-halves of Dubrovnik-Neretva County and shortened the route to the [[Pelješac]] peninsula and the islands of [[Korčula]] and [[Lastovo]] by more than 32 km. The construction of the bridge started in July 2018 after Croatian road operator [[Hrvatske ceste]] (HC) signed a 2.08 billion [[Croatian kuna|kuna]] deal for the works with a Chinese consortium led by [[China Road and Bridge Corporation]] (CRBC). The project was co-financed by the European Union with €357 million. The bridge was finished in July 2022, opening that same month.[{{Cite web |title=Croatia opens long-awaited bridge bypassing Bosnia |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/26/croatia-opens-long-awaited-bridge-bypassing-bosnia |access-date=2022-11-05 |publisher=Al Jazeera |language=en}}]
==== Railways ====
{{Main|Rail transport in Croatia}}
{{Further|List of railways in Croatia}}
{{Multiple image
| caption_align = center
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| width = 230
| image1 = HŽ 2044 between Turcin and Sveti Ilija.jpg
| image2 = Zagreb Glavni kolodvor 1n - pruga prema zapadu.jpg
| image3 = Novi putnički terminal .jpg
| image4 = Brajdicaportofrijeka.jpg
| caption1 = Local train to between [[Zagreb]] and [[Varaždin]]
| caption2 = [[HŽ series 6112]] manufactured by the Croatian company [[Končar Group]]
| caption3 = [[Zagreb Airport]], busiest in the country
| caption4 = [[Port of Rijeka|Rijeka Port]]
}}
Croatia has an [[List of railways in Croatia|extensive rail network]] spanning {{convert|2604|km|abbr=off}}, including {{convert|984|km|abbr=off}} of electrified railways and {{convert|254|km|abbr=off}} of double track railways.{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=350}} The most significant railways in Croatia are within the Pan-European transport corridors Vb and X connecting [[Rijeka]] to [[Budapest]] and Ljubljana to Belgrade, both via [[Zagreb]].[{{Cite web |title=Croatia: EIB commits €400 million in green funding to modernise railways |url=https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2024-044-eib-commits-eur400-million-in-green-funding-to-modernise-croatia-s-railways |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=European Investment Bank |language=en}}][{{Cite web |title=Modernizing mobility: A new era in rail travel {{!}} Končar |url=https://www.koncar.hr/en/news/modernizing-mobility-new-era-rail-travel |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.koncar.hr}}] In July 2024, a significant agreement was signed for the acquisition of six [[electro-diesel multiple unit]]s (EDMUs) to improve connectivity between [[Split, Croatia|Split]] and Zagreb. Valued at €57.3 million and financed through an EIB loan, this project is part of the broader initiative to modernize Croatia's railway infrastructure.[{{cite web |publisher=[[Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure (Croatia)]] |url=http://www.mppi.hr/default.aspx?id=675 |title=Air transport |access-date=2011-10-10 |archive-date=2016-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703104330/http://www.mppi.hr/default.aspx?id=675 |url-status=dead}}] The largest and busiest is [[Zagreb Airport|Franjo Tuđman Airport]] in Zagreb, followed by [[Split Airport|Saint Jerome Airport]] in Split, [[Dubrovnik Airport|Ruđer Bošković Airport]] in Dubrovnik and [[Zadar Airport]] in Zadar, with annual passenger numbers exceeding one million respectively.[{{Cite thesis |last=Meštrović |first=Damjan |year=2018 |title=Utjecaj izgradnje novog terminala na poslovanje Zračne luke Franjo Tuđman |url=https://www.bib.irb.hr/972752 |language=hr}}] [[List of the busiest airports in Croatia|Croatian airports in terms of passenger arrivals]] recorded more than 10 million tourists in 2018, 11 million in 2019 and 2023, 13 million in 2024. Airports in Croatia welcomed more than 14 million passengers in 2025.[{{cite web |title=PROMET U ZRAČNIM LUKAMA U PROSINCU 2025. |url=https://podaci.dzs.hr/2025/hr/97491 |website=dzs.hr |access-date=12 February 2026}}] In July 2024, the airline took delivery of its first [[Airbus A220]]-300 aircraft, marking the beginning of a transition to a more modern and efficient fleet.[{{Cite web |date=29 July 2024 |title=Croatia Airlines takes delivery of its first A220 in new livery {{!}} Airbus |url=https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-07-croatia-airlines-takes-delivery-of-its-first-a220-in-new-livery |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.airbus.com |language=en}}][{{Cite web |date=30 July 2024 |title=Croatia Airlines takes delivery of its first A220 in new livery {{!}} Airbus |url=https://aircraft.airbus.com/en/newsroom/news/2024-07-croatia-airlines-takes-delivery-of-its-first-a220-in-new-livery |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=aircraft.airbus.com |language=en}}] This initiative includes the acquisition of 13 A220-300 and two [[Airbus A220|A220-100]] aircraft, aiming to enhance operational efficiency with 25% lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions.[{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Luke |date=7 March 2024 |title=Croatia Airlines reveals 2024 expansion plans and new routes |url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/croatia-airlines-summer-2024-routes |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=aerotime.aero |language=en-US}}] Additionally, the airline launched services connecting [[Hamburg]] to Zagreb starting 1 July 2024.[{{Cite web |title=Sommerflugplan : Neue Ziele ab Hamburg liegen vor allem im Osten – WELT |url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/hamburg/article255803710/Sommerflugplan-Neue-Ziele-ab-Hamburg-liegen-vor-allem-im-Osten.html |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=DIE WELT |language=de}}]
==== Ports ====
The busiest cargo seaport is the [[Port of Rijeka]]. The busiest passenger ports are [[Port of Split|Split]] and Zadar.[{{cite web |publisher=World Bank |language=hr |title=Riječka luka –jadranski "prolaz" prema Europi |trans-title=The Port of Rijeka – Adriatic "gateway" to Europe |date=3 March 2006 |access-date=2011-10-13 |url=http://go.worldbank.org/V9N60RX7L0 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120805200119/http://go.worldbank.org/V9N60RX7L0 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-08-05}}][{{cite web |publisher=Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure (Croatia) |url=http://www.mppi.hr/default.aspx?id=480 |title=Luke |trans-title=Ports |language=hr |access-date=2011-08-24 |archive-date=2012-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216063733/http://www.mppi.hr/default.aspx?id=480 |url-status=dead}}] Many minor ports serve ferries connecting numerous islands and coastal cities with ferry lines to several cities in Italy.[{{cite web |publisher=Agencija za obalni linijski pomorski promet |url=http://www.agencija-zolpp.hr/Brodskelinije/tabid/1267/Default.aspx |language=hr |title=Plovidbeni red za 2011. godinu |trans-title=Sailing Schedule for Year 2011 |access-date=2011-08-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715203314/http://www.agencija-zolpp.hr/Brodskelinije/tabid/1267/Default.aspx |archive-date=2011-07-15}}] The largest [[inland port|river port]] is [[port of Vukovar]], located on the [[Danube]] in [[Vukovar]], representing the nation's outlet to the Pan-European transport corridor VII.[{{cite web |publisher=Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure (Croatia) |url=http://www.mppi.hr/default.aspx?id=890 |title=Plovni putovi |trans-title=Navigable routes |language=hr |access-date=2011-09-10 |archive-date=2012-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216060844/http://www.mppi.hr/default.aspx?id=890 |url-status=dead}}]
==== Energy ====
{{See also|Energy in Croatia}}
[[File:Gračac (HR), Poštak -- 2022 -- 0004.jpg|thumb|right|Poštak Wind Farm near [[Gračac]], [[Zadar County]]]]
{{convert|610|km|abbr=off}} of crude oil pipelines serve Croatia, connecting the [[Rijeka]] oil terminal with refineries in Rijeka and [[Sisak]], and several transhipment terminals. The system has a capacity of 20 million tonnes per year.[{{cite web |publisher=[[Jadranski naftovod]] |url=http://www.janaf.hr/index.php?option=sustav&lang=en |title=The JANAF system |access-date=2011-10-08}}] The natural gas transportation system comprises {{convert|2113|km|abbr=off}} of trunk and regional pipelines, and more than 300 associated structures, connecting production rigs, the Okoli natural gas storage facility, 27 end-users and 37 distribution systems.[{{cite web |publisher=[[Plinacro]] |url=http://www.plinacro.hr/default.aspx?id=264 |title=Transportni sustav |trans-title=Transport system |language=hr |access-date=2011-10-08}}] Croatia also plays an important role in regional energy security. The floating [[liquefied natural gas]] import terminal off [[Krk]] island [[LNG Hrvatska]] commenced operations on 1 January 2021, positioning Croatia as a regional energy leader and contributing to diversification of Europe's energy supply.[{{Cite web |title=Water statistics|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Water_statistics|access-date=2026-04-05|website=ec.europa.eu|language=en|quote=Among the EU countries, Croatia recorded the highest renewable freshwater resources (with a long-term average of 30 700 m³ per inhabitant), followed by Finland (19 700 m³), Estonia (18 700 m³) Latvia (17 900 m³) and Sweden (17 500 m³).}}][{{Cite web |last=Thomas|first=Mark|title=Gas Supply in Croatia Remains Stable Despite Disruption in Russian Gas Transit - The Dubrovnik Times|url=https://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/news/croatia/item/17353-gas-supply-in-croatia-remains-stable-despite-disruption-in-russian-gas-transit|access-date=2026-04-05|website=www.thedubrovniktimes.com|language=en-gb}}]
In 2010, Croatian energy production covered 85% of nationwide natural gas and 19% of oil demand.{{sfn|2010 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|pages=298–302}} In 2016, Croatia's primary energy production involved natural gas (24.8%), hydropower (28.3%), crude oil (13.6%), fuelwood (27.6%), and heat pumps and other renewable energy sources (5.7%).{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=307}} In 2017, net total electrical power production reached 11,543 GWh, while it imported 12,157 GWh or about 40% of its electric power energy needs.{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=304}} Croatia co-owns 50% of the [[Krško Nuclear Power Plant]] with neighboring [[Slovenia]].[{{cite web |publisher=EU Business |url=http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/japan-disaster.9bc |title=Croatia, Slovenia's nuclear plant safe: Croatian president |date=28 March 2011 |access-date=2011-10-08}}] According to Eurostat in 2026, Croatia has the highest quantity of water resources per capita in the EU (30,000 m3).[{{cite web |url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/croatia-water-resources-eurostat-ranking/ |title=Croatia ranks No.1 in EU for water resources per capita |work=Croatia Week |date=25 March 2024}}]
== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Croatia|Croats}}
{{See also|List of cities and towns in Croatia}}
{{bar box
| width =
| float = right
| title = Ethnic composition (2021)
| titlebar = #ddd
| bars =
{{bar percent|[[Croats]] | blue|91.6}}
{{bar percent|[[Serbs]] | cyan|3.2}}
{{bar percent|[[Ethnic groups in Croatia|Other]] | gray|5.2}}
| caption = 2021 Croatian Census[{{cite web |url = https://podaci.dzs.hr/2025/en/97254 |title = POPULATION ESTIMATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, 2024 |website = podaci.dzs.hr |date = 29 August 2025 |access-date = 5 September 2025}}] Its 2018 [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories by population density|population density]] was 72.9 inhabitants per square kilometre, making Croatia one of the more sparsely populated European countries.[{{cite web |url=https://web.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/CroInFig/croinfig_2018.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/CroInFig/croinfig_2018.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Croatia in Figures |access-date=2019-09-09 |publisher=[[Croatian Bureau of Statistics]] |year=2018}}] The overall [[List of countries by life expectancy|life expectancy in Croatia]] at birth was 77.7 years in 2024.[{{Cite CIA World Factbook |country=Croatia |date=22 September 2021}}]
The [[total fertility rate]] of 1.46 children per mother, is one of the [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories by fertility rate|lowest in the world]], far below the replacement rate of 2.1; it remains considerably below the high of 6.18 children rate in 1885.[{{citation |url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=AUT |title=Total Fertility Rate around the world over the last two centuries |first=Max |last=Roser |year=2014 |work=[[Our World in Data]], [[Gapminder Foundation]] |access-date=2019-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807185806/https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=AUT |archive-date=2018-08-07 |url-status=dead}}] Croatia's [[death rate]] has continuously exceeded its [[birth rate]] since 1998.{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=113}} Croatia subsequently has one of the world's oldest populations, with an average age of 45.1 years.[{{cite journal |first1=Snježana |last1=Mrđen |first2=Mladen |last2=Friganović |date=June 1998 |title=The demographic situation in Croatia |journal=Geoadria |publisher=Hrvatsko geografsko društvo – Zadar |issn=1331-2294 |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=29–56 |doi=10.15291/geoadria.45 |pmid=12294962 |doi-access=free}}] In recent years, the Croatian government has been pressured to increase permit quotas for foreign workers, reaching an all-time high of 68.100 in 2019.[{{cite web |url=https://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/vlada-povecala-kvotu-za-zaposljavanje-stranih-radnika-1326987 |title=Vlada uslišila molbe: Povećane kvote dozvola za strane radnike |website=vecernji.hr}}] In accordance with its immigration policy, Croatia is trying to entice emigrants to return.[{{cite journal |journal=Politička Misao: Croatian Political Science Review |issn=0032-3241 |volume=35 |issue=5 |year=2008 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/51084 |title=The Policy of Immigration in Croatia |first=Nick |last=Vidak |pages=57–75 |publisher=University of Zagreb, Faculty of Political Science |access-date=2010-10-15}}] From 2008 to 2018, Croatia's population dropped by 10%.[{{cite web |url=https://www.euronews.com/2022/01/14/croatia-s-population-has-dropped-10-in-a-decade-reveals-census |title=Croatia's population has dropped 10% in a decade, reveals census |work=[[Euronews]] |date=14 January 2022 |access-date=2022-01-23}}]
Historic demographic shifts are closely tied to Croatia's nation-building efforts and the related 1990s [[Croatian War of Independence|War of Independence]]. The war displaced large numbers of the population and emigration increased. In 1991, in predominantly occupied areas, more than 400,000 Croats were either removed from their homes by [[Serbs in Croatia|Serb]] forces or fled the violence.[{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2007/pr1162e-summary.htm |title=Summary of judgement for Milan Martić |date=12 June 2007 |publisher=United Nations |access-date=2008-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215084458/http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2007/pr1162e-summary.htm |archive-date=2007-12-15 |url-status=dead}}] During the war's final days, about 150,000–200,000 Serbs fled before the arrival of Croatian forces during [[Operation Storm]].[{{cite news |ref={{harvid|BBC News|5 August 2005}}|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4747379.stm|work=[[BBC News]] | title=Evicted Serbs remember Storm|date=5 August 2005|first=Matt|last=Prodger|author-link=Matt Prodger|archive-date=2012-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023091143/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4747379.stm|url-status=live}}][{{cite web |ref={{harvid|UNSC|23 August 1995}}|url=https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/1995/730|date=23 August 1995|publisher=[[United Nations Security Council]] | title=Report of the Secretary-General Submitted Pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1009 (1995)|page=3}}] After the war, the number of displaced persons fell to about 250,000.[{{cite web |title=Domovinski rat – Hrvatska enciklopedija |url=https://www.enciklopedija.hr/clanak/domovinski-rat |access-date=2018-12-24}}] Most of the territories abandoned during the war were settled by Croat refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina, mostly from north-western Bosnia, while some displaced people returned to their homes.[{{cite web |publisher=Index.hr |url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/savez-udruga-hrvataiz-bih-izabrao-novo-celnistvo/145769.aspx |language=hr |title=Savez udruga Hrvata iz BiH izabrao novo čelništvo |trans-title=Union of associations of Bosnia and Herzegovina Croats elects new leadership |date=28 June 2003 |access-date=2011-10-12}}][{{cite web |publisher=Office of the [[President of Croatia]] |url=http://www.predsjednik.hr/29062010 |language=hr |title=29 06 2010 – Benkovac |date=29 June 2010 |access-date=2011-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127220818/http://predsjednik.hr/29062010 |archive-date=2010-11-27}}]
{{multiple image
| align = center
| total_width = 500
| image1 = Religious belief in Croatia, 2011.svg
| caption1 = Religious believers according to the 2011 census
| image2 = CroatianDialectsByMunicipality.png
| caption2 = Map of the [[Shtokavian]], [[Chakavian]] and [[Kajkavian]] dialects in Croatia by municipality
| image3 = Croatia, population density.svg
| caption3 = 2011 Croatian population density by county in persons per km2
}}
According to the 2024 Croatian Bureau of Statistics report, 12.5% to 14.6% of Croatia's population were immigrants.[{{Cite web |title=STAN-2025-2-1 Migration of Population of the Republic of Croatia, 2024 |url=https://podaci.dzs.hr/2025/en/97256 |access-date=2026-04-12 |website=Državni zavod za statistiku |language=hr}}] According to the 2021 census, the majority of inhabitants are Croats (91.6%), followed by Serbs (3.2%), [[Bosniaks of Croatia|Bosniaks]] (0.62%), [[Romani people in Croatia|Roma]] (0.46%), [[Albanians of Croatia|Albanians]] (0.36%), [[Italians of Croatia|Italians]] (0.36%), [[Hungarians of Croatia|Hungarians]] (0.27%), [[Czechs of Croatia|Czechs]] (0.20%), [[Slovenes of Croatia|Slovenes]] (0.20%), [[Slovaks of Croatia|Slovaks]] (0.10%), [[Macedonians of Croatia|Macedonians]] (0.09%), [[Germans of Croatia|Germans]] (0.09%), [[Montenegrins of Croatia|Montenegrins]] (0.08%), and others (1.56%).[{{cite web |url=https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/hrvatska-fenomen-vise-hrvata-zivi-u-inozemstvu-nego-u-domovini---465670.html |title=U Hrvatskoj je loše i preporučam svakom mladom čovjeku da ode u Njemačku |website=Dnevnik.hr}}]
{{Largest cities of Croatia}}
=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Croatia|Catholic Church in Croatia}}
{{Further|List of cathedrals in Croatia|List of synagogues in Croatia}}
[[File:HR-Sibenik-Kathedrale-01.jpg|thumb|[[Šibenik Cathedral]], since 2000 on the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage List]]]]Croatia has no official religion.[{{Cite web |title=Croatia |url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/croatia/ |access-date=2026-04-12 |website=United States Department of State |language=en-US |quote=The constitution provides for equality of rights regardless of religion as well as for freedom of conscience and religious expression. According to the constitution, religious communities shall be equal under the law and separate from the state; they are free to conduct religious services publicly as well as open and manage schools and charitable organizations under the protection and with the assistance of the state.}}] [[Freedom of religion]] is a constitutional right that protects all [[religious denomination|religious communities]] as equal before the law and considers them [[Separation of church and state|separate from the state]].[{{Croatian Census 2021 | E |access-date=29 July 2026}}][{{Croatian Census 2021 | C |access-date=29 July 2026}}] The largest religion after Christianity is [[Islam]] (1.32%).[{{Croatian Census 2011|R}}] In the [[Eurostat]] Eurobarometer Poll of 2010, 69% of the population responded that "they believe there is a God".[{{cite web |title=Special Eurobarometer 341, "Biotechnology" |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |page=209}}] In a 2009 Gallup poll, 70% answered yes to the question "Is religion an important part of your daily life?"[{{cite web |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/128210/Gallup-Global-Reports.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014034457/http://www.gallup.com/poll/128210/Gallup-Global-Reports.aspx |archive-date=2013-10-14 |title=Gallup Global Reports |publisher=[[Gallup (company)|Gallup]] |access-date=2013-10-07}}] Approximately 24% of the population attend religious services regularly.[{{cite web |url=http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/05/09154356/Central-and-Eastern-Europe-Topline_FINAL-FOR-PUBLICATION.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/05/09154356/Central-and-Eastern-Europe-Topline_FINAL-FOR-PUBLICATION.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Final Topline |access-date=2017-06-19 |publisher=Pew}}]
=== Languages ===
{{Main|Croatian language|Gaj's Latin alphabet|Languages of Croatia|Minority languages of Croatia|Bunjevac dialect}}
{{See also|Chakavian dialect|Kajkavian dialect|Shtokavian dialect}}
Croatian is the official language of the Republic of Croatia and has been an [[Official languages of the European Union|official language of the European Union]] since Croatia's accession in 2013.[{{cite news |date=9 July 2010 |title=Ustav Republike Hrvatske |trans-title=Constitution of the Republic of Croatia |url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2010_07_85_2422.html |access-date=2011-10-11 |newspaper=Narodne Novine |language=hr}}][{{cite news |last1=Veljković |first1=Sandra |author2=Stojan de Prato |date=5 November 2011 |title=Hrvatski postaje 24. službeni jezik Europske unije |trans-title=Croatian Becomes the 24th Official Language of the European Union |url=http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/hrvatski-postaje-24-sluzbeni-jezik-europske-unije-clanak-211879 |access-date=2011-10-11 |newspaper=Večernji list |language=hr}}] Croatian replaced [[Latin]] as the official language of the Croatian government in the 19th century.[{{cite journal |last=Tafra |first=Branka |date=February 2007 |title=Značenje narodnoga preporoda za hrvatski jezik |trans-title=Significance of the National Revival for Croatian |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/26666 |journal=Croatica et Slavica Iadertina |language=hr |volume=2 |pages=43–55 |issn=1845-6839 |access-date=2011-10-10}}] Following the [[Vienna Literary Agreement]] in 1850, the language and its Latin alphabet underwent reforms to create an unified "Croatian or Serbian" or "[[Serbo-Croatian]]" standard, which under various names became the official language of [[Yugoslavia]].[{{cite book |last=Greenberg |first=Robert D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_lNjHgr3QioC |title=Language and Identity in the Balkans: Serbo-Croatian and its Disintegration |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-19-151455-5 |edition=1st |location=New York, NY}}] In [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia]], from 1972 to 1989, the language was constitutionally designated as the "Croatian literary language" and the "Croatian or Serbian language". It was the result of a resistance to and [[Language secessionism|secession]] from "Serbo-Croatian" in the form of the [[Declaration on the Status and Name of the Croatian Literary Language]] as part of the [[Croatian Spring]].[{{cite journal |last=Kapović |first=Mate |year=2009 |title=Položaj hrvatskoga jezika u svijetu danas |trans-title=The Position of Croatian in the World Today |url=http://www.matica.hr/kolo/kolo2009_1.nsf/AllWebDocs/Polozaj_hrvatskoga_jezika_u_svijetu_danas |journal=[[Kolo (magazine)|Kolo]] |language=hr |publisher=[[Matica hrvatska]] |issue=1–2 |issn=1331-0992 |access-date=2011-10-26}}] Since gaining independence in the early 1990s, the Republic of Croatia constitutionally designates the language as "Croatian language" and regulates it through [[linguistic prescription]]. The long-standing aspiration for development of its own expressions and thus enrichment of the language, as opposed to the adoption of foreign solutions in the form of [[loanwords]], has been described by linguists as [[Croatian linguistic purism]].[{{Cite journal |last=Turk |first=Marija |year=1996 |title=Jezični purizam |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/132668 |journal=Fluminensia: Časopis za filološka istraživanja |language=hr |volume=8 |issue=1–2 |pages=63–79 |issn=0353-4642}}]
[[Image:Croatian dialects in Cro and BiH 1.PNG|thumb|Location map of dialects in Croatia and areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Croat majority. Chakavian in blue.]]
[[Minority languages of Croatia|Minority languages are in official use]] in local government units where more than a third of the population consists of national minorities or where local enabling legislation applies. Those languages are [[Czech language|Czech]], [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], [[Italian language in Croatia|Italian]], [[Pannonian Rusyn]], [[Serbian language in Croatia|Serbian]], and [[Slovak language|Slovak]].[{{cite web |publisher=Sabor |url=http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?art=23872 |title=Izviješće o provođenju ustavnog zakona o pravima nacionalnih manjina i utrošku sredstava osiguranih u državnom proračunu Republike Hrvatske za 2007. godinu za potrebe nacionalnih manjina |language=hr |trans-title=Report on Implementation of Constitutional Act on National Minority Rights and Expenditure of Funds Appropriated by the 2007 State Budget for Use by the National Minorities |date=28 November 2008 |access-date=2011-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509061001/http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?art=23872 |archive-date=2013-05-09 |url-status=dead}}][{{cite book |last=Franceschini |first=Rita |chapter=Italy and the Italian-Speaking Regions |editor-last=Fäcke |editor-first=Christiane |title=Manual of Language Acquisition |year=2014 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH |isbn=978-3-11-039414-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zM_mBQAAQBAJ&q=Manual+of+Language+Acquisition&pg=PA1 |page=546}}]
According to the 2021 Census, 95.25% of citizens declared Croatian as their native language, 1.16% declared Serbian as their native language, while no other language reaches 0.26%.[{{Croatian Census 2011|T}}] Croatian is a member of the [[South Slavic languages]] and is written using the [[Latin alphabet]]. There are three major dialects spoken on the territory of Croatia, with standard Croatian based on the [[Shtokavian]] dialect. The [[Chakavian]] and [[Kajkavian]] dialects are distinguished from Shtokavian by their [[lexicon]], [[phonology]] and [[syntax]].[{{cite web |publisher=[[Institute of Croatian Language and Linguistics]] |language=hr |title=Organska podloga hrvatskog jezika |trans-title=The Organic Base of Croatian |url=http://www.ihjj.hr/oHrJeziku-povijest-1.html |access-date=2011-10-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807082335/http://www.ihjj.hr/oHrJeziku-povijest-1.html |archive-date=2011-08-07}}]
A 2011 survey revealed that 78% of Croats claim knowledge of at least one foreign language.[{{cite web |publisher=Index.hr |url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/istrazivanje-tri-posto-visokoobrazovanih-ne-zna-niti-jedan-strani-jezik-hrvati-uglavnom-znaju-engleski/545687.aspx |language=hr |title=Istraživanje: Tri posto visokoobrazovanih ne zna niti jedan strani jezik, Hrvati uglavnom znaju engleski |trans-title=Survey: Three per cent of higher educated people can not speak any foreign languages, Croats mostly speak English |date=5 April 2011 |access-date=2011-10-11}}] According to a 2005 EC survey, 49% of Croats speak English as the second language, 34% speak German, 14% speak Italian, 10% speak French, 4% speak Russian and 2% speak Spanish. However several large municipalities support [[Minority languages of Croatia|minority languages]]. A majority of Slovenes (59%) have some knowledge of Croatian.[{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |date=February 2006 |title=Europeans and their languages – European commission special barometer FEB2006 |publisher=[[European Commission]] |access-date=2010-01-15}}] The country is a part of various language-based international associations, most notably the [[Languages of the European Union|European Union Language Association.]][{{cite web |url=https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/countries/member-countries/croatia_en |title=Croatia |date=5 July 2016 |website=European Union |publisher=European Commission |language=en |access-date=2018-03-02}}]
=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in Croatia}}
{{multiple image
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| direction = vertical
| image1 = National and University Library in Zagreb.jpg
| caption1 = [[National and University Library in Zagreb|National and University Library]]
| image2 = University of Zagreb.jpg
| caption2 = [[University of Zagreb]] is the largest Croatian university and the oldest university in Southeastern Europe.
}}
As of 2024, the literacy rate in Croatia was 99.45%.[{{Cite web |date=2024-10-24 |title=Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Croatia |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SEADTLITRZSHRV |access-date=2026-04-12 |website=fred.stlouisfed.org |language=en}}] Primary education in Croatia starts at the age of six or seven and consists of eight grades. In 2007 a law was passed to increase free, noncompulsory education until 18 years of age.[{{Cite web |title=Organisation of the Education System and of its Structure |url=https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/eurypedia/croatia/organisation-education-system-and-its-structure |access-date=2026-04-12 |website=eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu}}] Compulsory education consists of eight grades of elementary school.[{{Cite web |title=OBR-2024-2-2 Upper Secondary Schools, End of 2022/2023 School Year and Beginning of 2023/2024 School Year |url=https://podaci.dzs.hr/2024/en/76964 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Državni zavod za statistiku |language=hr}}] Primary and secondary education are also available in languages of recognised minorities in Croatia, where classes are held in Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Serbian, German and Slovak languages.{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|pp=488–489}}
There are 133 elementary and secondary level [[music school|music]] and [[art schools]],{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=486}} as well as 83 elementary and 44 secondary schools for disabled children and youth{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=484-485}} and 11 elementary and 52 secondary schools for adults.{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=485}} Nationwide [[leaving exams]] ({{langx|hr|državna matura}}) were introduced for secondary education students in the school year 2009–2010. It comprises three compulsory subjects (Croatian language, mathematics, and a foreign language) and optional subjects and is a prerequisite for university education.[{{cite web |publisher=[[Ministry of Science, Education and Sports (Croatia)]] |language=hr |url=http://public.mzos.hr/Default.aspx?sec=2246 |title=Državna matura |access-date=2011-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326060402/http://public.mzos.hr/Default.aspx?sec=2246 |archive-date=2016-03-26}}] Croatia has eight public universities and two private universities.[{{cite web |url=http://www.iro.hr/hr/informiranje-i-savjetovanje-o-visokom-obrazovanju/studiranje-u-hrvatskoj/pregled-institucija/ |title=Institut za razvoj obrazovanja – Pregled institucija |publisher=Iro.hr |access-date=2017-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306211642/http://www.iro.hr/hr/informiranje-i-savjetovanje-o-visokom-obrazovanju/studiranje-u-hrvatskoj/pregled-institucija/ |archive-date=2017-03-06 |url-status=dead}}] The [[University of Zadar]], the first university in Croatia, was founded in 1396 and remained active until 1807, when other institutions of higher education took over until the foundation of the renewed University of Zadar in 2002.[{{cite web |publisher=University of Zadar |url=http://www.unizd.hr/Onama/tabid/55/Default.aspx |language=hr |title=O nama |trans-title=About us |access-date=2011-10-15}}] The [[University of Zagreb]], founded in 1669, is the oldest continuously operating university in Southeast Europe.[{{cite web |publisher=University of Zagreb |url=http://www.unizg.hr/homepage/about-university/history/ |title=University of Zagreb 1699–2005 |access-date=2011-10-15}}] There are also 15 [[institute of technology|polytechnics]], of which two are private, and 30 higher education institutions, of which 27 are private.[{{Cite web |title=Croatia Innovation index |url=https://co-investin.eu/project-items/croatia-innovation-index/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=CO-INVESTIN |language=en-GB}}] The [[Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts]] in Zagreb is a [[learned society]] promoting language, culture, arts and science from its inception in 1866.[{{cite web |publisher=[[Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts]] |url=http://info.hazu.hr/foundation_of_academy |title=The Founding of the Academy |access-date=2011-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606084626/http://info.hazu.hr/foundation_of_academy |archive-date=2010-06-06}}] Croatia was ranked 40th in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2025.[{{Cite web |title=GII Innovation Ecosystems & Data Explorer 2025 |url=https://www.wipo.int/gii-ranking/en/croatia |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=WIPO}}][{{Cite book |last1=Dutta |first1=Soumitra |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2025/en/index.html |title=Global Innovation Index 2025: Innovation at a Crossroads |last2=Lanvin |first2=Bruno |publisher=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]] |year=2025 |isbn=978-92-805-3797-0 |page=19 |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.58864 |access-date=2025-10-17}}]
The [[European Investment Bank]] provided digital infrastructure and equipment to around 150 primary and secondary schools in Croatia. Twenty of these schools got specialised assistance in the form of gear, software, and services to help them integrate the teaching and administrative operations.[{{cite web |title=Infrastructure for an era of crisis |url=https://www.eib.org/en/stories/coronavirus-infrastructure-investment |access-date=2021-06-07 |website=European Investment Bank |language=en}}][{{cite web |title=E-Schools in Croatia |url=https://jaspers.eib.org/stories/e-schools-in-croatia |website=JASPERS}}] In 2024, the EIB extended a €207 million loan to the [[Zagreb|City of Zagreb]] for infrastructure upgrades, including investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency projects, social and affordable housing, schools, and kindergartens.[{{Cite web |url=https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2024-042-croatia-eib-signs-eur49-million-loan-to-support-green-and-digital-transition-and-urban-development-in-split |title=Croatia: EIB signs €49 million loan to support green and digital transition and urban development in Split |website=European Investment Bank}}][{{Cite web |title=Croatian capital Zagreb to get vital infrastructure upgrades with €207 million EIB loan |url=https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2024-235-croatian-capital-zagreb-to-get-vital-infrastructure-upgrades-with-eur207-million-eib-loan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206170339/https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2024-235-croatian-capital-zagreb-to-get-vital-infrastructure-upgrades-with-eur207-million-eib-loan |archive-date=2025-02-06 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=European Investment Bank |url-status=live}}] Additionally, the EIB signed a €49 million loan with the [[Split, Croatia|City of Split]] to co-finance its 2023–2027 multi-sector investment programme, which includes refurbishing public buildings, increasing energy efficiency, and improving technical equipment for public information and communication.[{{cite journal |journal=Revija za socijalnu politiku |issn=1330-2965 |first=Siniša |last=Zrinščak |language=hr |title=Socijalna politika u kontekstu korjenite društvene transformacije postkomunističkih zemalja |trans-title=Social Policy in the Context of Thorough Social Transformation of Post-Communist Countries |pages=135–159 |date=February 2003 |volume=10 |issue=2 |doi=10.3935/rsp.v10i2.124 |doi-access=free}}] The population is covered by a basic health insurance plan provided by statute and optional insurance. In 2017, annual healthcare related expenditures reached 22.2 billion kuna (around €3.0 billion).{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=546}} Healthcare expenditures make up only 0.6% of private health insurance and public spending.[{{cite news |newspaper=Vjesnik |language=hr |url=http://www.vjesnik.hr/Article.aspx?ID=B02A10F4-BFE5-4EC0-B0E5-BFCAFE8F2062 |archive-date=2011-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217063855/http://www.vjesnik.hr/Article.aspx?ID=B02A10F4-BFE5-4EC0-B0E5-BFCAFE8F2062 |title=Ulaskom u EU Hrvatska će imati najveću potrošnju za zdravstvo |trans-title=After the EU accession Croatia will have the maximum healthcare spending |first=Marijana |last=Matković |date=27 September 2011 |access-date=2011-10-12 |url-status=dead}}] In 2022, Croatia spent around 7.2% of its GDP on healthcare.[{{Cite web |title=Healthcare expenditure statistics – overview |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?oldid=656177 |access-date=2025-06-06 |publisher=European Commission}}] In 2025, Croatia ranked 53rd in the world in life expectancy with 75.8 years for men and 81.9 years for women, and it had a low [[infant mortality rate]] of 3.3 per 1,000 [[Live birth (human)|live births]].[{{cite web |title=Croatia Demographics 2025 |url=https://www.worldometers.info/demographics/croatia-demographics/#life-exp |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=worldometers.info |language=en}}]
There are hundreds of healthcare institutions in Croatia, including 75 hospitals, and 13 clinics with 23,049 beds. The hospitals and clinics care for more than 700 thousand patients per year and employ 6,642 [[medical doctors]], including 4,773 specialists.{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=525}} There is a total of 69,841 health workers.{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=524}} There are 119 emergency units in health centres, responding to more than a million calls.{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=532}} The principal cause of death in 2022 was [[cardiovascular disease]] at 34.3% for men and 43.8% for women, followed by [[Hypertension|hypertensive]] disease.[{{Cite journal |title=Effective Strategies and a Ten-Point Plan for Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic Health in Croatia—An Expert Opinion |url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Ten-most-common-causes-of-death-in-Croatia-according-to-the-2022-report_tbl2_384158464 |website=researchgate.net |year=2022}}] In 2022 it was estimated that 37% of Croatians are smokers.[{{Cite journal |last1=Ritchie |first1=Hannah |author1-link=Hannah Ritchie |last2=Roser |first2=Max |author2-link=Max Roser |date=23 May 2013 |title=Smoking |url=https://ourworldindata.org/smoking |journal=Our World in Data}}] According to 2022 data, 35.65% of the Croatian adult population is obese.[{{Cite journal |last1=Ritchie |first1=Hannah |last2=Roser |first2=Max |date=January 2024 |title=Obesity |url=https://ourworldindata.org/obesity |journal=Our World in Data}}]
== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Croatia}}
{{Further|World Heritage Sites in Croatia|Register of Cultural Goods of Croatia|List of museums in Croatia}}
[[File:Trogir promenáda Bána Berislaviće.jpg|thumb|left|The historic centre of [[Trogir]] has been included in the [[UNESCO]] list of [[World Heritage Site]] since 1997.[{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/810/ |title=Historic City of Trogir |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |access-date=2015-08-01}}]]]
[[File:Pola, anfiteatro, 01.jpg|thumb|left|[[Pula Arena]], Roman amphitheatre located in [[Pula]], constructed between 27 BC and AD 68.]]
Because of its geographical position, Croatia represents a blend of four different cultural spheres. It has been a crossroads of influences from western culture and the east since the schism between the [[Western Roman Empire]] and the [[Byzantine Empire]], and also from Central Europe and [[Mediterranean culture]].[{{cite web |publisher=Croatian National Tourist Board |url=http://croatia.hr/en-GB/Discover-Croatia/Culture-and-History |title=Culture and History |access-date=2011-10-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016185426/http://croatia.hr/en-GB/Discover-Croatia/Culture-and-History |archive-date=2011-10-16}}] The [[Illyrian movement]] was the most significant period of national cultural history, as the 19th century proved crucial to the emancipation of Croatians and saw unprecedented developments in all fields of art and culture, giving rise to many [[List of people from Croatia|historical figures]].[{{cite web |publisher=[[Ministry of Culture (Croatia)]] |url=http://www.min-kulture.hr/default.aspx?id=348 |language=hr |title=Djelokrug |trans-title=Scope of authority |access-date=2011-10-07}}] The [[UNESCO]]'s [[World Heritage Sites by country|World Heritage List]] includes [[ten sites in Croatia]] and a list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Croatia.[{{cite web |url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/state/croatia-HR?info=elements-on-the-lists |title=Croatia – intangible heritage – Culture Sector |access-date=2024-04-26}}] The country is rich with [[intangible culture]] and holds 15 of [[UNESCO's World's intangible culture masterpieces]], ranking fourth in the world.[{{cite web |url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/lists?text=&multinational=3&display1=countryIDs#tabs |title=Browse the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Register of good safeguarding practices – intangible heritage |publisher=UNESCO}}] A global cultural contribution from Croatia is the necktie, derived from the [[Cravat (early)|cravat]] originally worn by the 17th-century Croatian mercenaries in France.[{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/30/magazine/style-dressed-to-kill.html |title=STYLE; Dressed to Kill |first=Eric P. |last=Nash |date=30 July 1995 |access-date=2011-10-12}}][{{cite journal |journal=Povijesni prilozi |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/43829 |issn=0351-9767 |publisher=Croatian Institute of History |date=July 2008 |volume=34 |issue=34 |pages=103–120 |first=Vladimir |last=Huzjan |title=Pokušaj otkrivanja nastanka i razvoja kravate kao riječi i odjevnoga predmeta |language=hr |trans-title=The origin and development of the tie (kravata) as a word and as a garment |access-date=2011-10-17}}]
In 2019, Croatia had 95 professional theatres, 30 professional children's theatres, and 51 amateur theatres visited by more than 2.27 million viewers per year. Professional theatres employ 1,195 artists. There are 42 professional orchestras, ensembles, and choirs, attracting an annual attendance of 297 thousand. There are 75 cinemas with 166 screens and attendance of 5.026 million.{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|pp=512–513}}
Croatia has 222 museums, visited by more than 2.71 million people in 2023.[{{Cite web |date=26 April 2024 |title=Croatian Museum Statistics overview, 2023 |url=https://mdc.hr/files/Statistike_engl%202003-2016/Museum-Statistics_2023_MDC.pdf |access-date=26 April 2024}}] Furthermore, there are 1,768 libraries, containing 26.8 million volumes, and 19 state archives.{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|pp=516–521}} The book publishing market is dominated by several major publishers and the industry's centrepiece event—[[Interliber]] exhibition held annually at [[Zagreb Fair]].[{{cite news |newspaper=Jutarnji list |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/interliber--nobelovci-za-20--bestseleri-za-50--remek-djela-za-100-kuna/902783/ |title=Interliber: Nobelovci se prodaju za 20, bestseleri za 50, remek-djela za 100 kuna |trans-title=Interliber: Nobel Laureates Sold for 20, Bestsellers for 50, Masterpieces for 100 Kuna |language=hr |first=Adriana |last=Piteša |date=10 November 2010 |access-date=2011-10-13 |archive-date=2012-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124020747/http://www.jutarnji.hr/interliber--nobelovci-za-20--bestseleri-za-50--remek-djela-za-100-kuna/902783/ |url-status=dead}}]
=== Arts, literature, and music ===
{{Main|Croatian art|Architecture of Croatia|Croatian literature|Croatian music}}
{{multiple image
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| image1 = Croatia-01239 - The Peristil (9551533404).jpg
| alt1 =
| caption1 = Historical nucleus of [[Split, Croatia|Split]] with the 4th-century [[Diocletian's Palace]] was inscribed on the [[UNESCO]] list of [[World Heritage Site]]s in 1979.
| image2 = EuphrasiusBasilika.jpg
| alt2 =
| caption2 = [[Euphrasian Basilica]] in [[Poreč]], example of early [[Byzantine architecture]], on the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage List]] since 1997
}}
Architecture in Croatia reflects influences of bordering nations. Austrian and Hungarian influence is visible in public spaces and buildings in the north and the central regions, architecture found along coasts of Dalmatia and Istria exhibits Venetian influence.[{{cite book |title=A short history of Yugoslavia from early times to 1966 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press|CUP Archive]] |isbn=978-0-521-09531-0 |first1=Stephen |last1=Clissold |author2=Henry Clifford Darby |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_G43AAAAIAAJ |year=1968 |pages=51–52 |access-date=2011-11-30}}] Squares named after culture heroes, parks, and pedestrian-only zones, are features of Croatian towns and cities, especially where large scale [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] urban planning took place, for instance in Osijek ([[Tvrđa]]), Varaždin, and Karlovac.[{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/croatia/10124483/Varazdin-Croatias-little-Vienna.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/croatia/10124483/Varazdin-Croatias-little-Vienna.html |archive-date=2022-01-10 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Varaždin: Croatia's 'little Vienna' |date=17 June 2013 |last=MacGregor |first=Sandra |newspaper=[[Telegraph Media Group]] |access-date=2013-09-04}}{{cbignore}}][{{cite news |newspaper=Jutarnji list |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/najljepsi-gradovi-sjeverne-hrvatske---karlovac--ozalj--ogulin/877654/ |title=Najljepši gradovi Sjeverne Hrvatske – Karlovac, Ozalj, Ogulin |trans-title=The Most Beautiful Cities of the Northern Croatia – Karlovac, Ozalj, Ogulin |language=hr |date=14 August 2010 |access-date=2011-10-10}}] The subsequent influence of the [[Art Nouveau]] was reflected in contemporary architecture.[{{cite journal |journal=Radovi Instituta Za Povijest Umjetnosti |issn=0350-3437 |publisher=Institute of Art History (Croatia) |language=hr |url=http://www.hart.hr/uploads/documents/354.pdf |author=Darja Radović Mahečić |title=Sekvenca secesije – arhitekt Lav Kalda |trans-title=Sequence of the Art Nouveau – Architect Lav Kalda |year=2006 |volume=30 |pages=241–264 |access-date=2011-10-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721100230/http://www.hart.hr/uploads/documents/354.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-21}}] The architecture is the Mediterranean with a Venetian and Renaissance influence in major coastal urban areas exemplified in works of [[Giorgio da Sebenico]] and Nicolas of Florence such as the [[Šibenik Cathedral|Cathedral of St. James]] in Šibenik. The oldest preserved examples of Croatian architecture are the 9th-century churches, with the largest and the most representative among them being [[Church of St. Donatus]] in [[Zadar]].[{{cite web |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (Croatia) |url=http://www.mfa.hr/MVP.asp?pcpid=1467 |title=Croatian Art History – Overview of Prehistory |access-date=2011-10-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007184122/http://www.mfa.hr/MVP.asp?pcpid=1467 |archive-date=2011-10-07}}][{{cite web |publisher=Zadar Tourist Board |url=http://www.tzzadar.hr/en/city-guide/historical-monuments/23-05-2007/church-of-saint-donat |title=Church of Saint Donat |access-date=2011-10-10 |archive-date=2014-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324042000/http://www.tzzadar.hr/en/city-guide/historical-monuments/23-05-2007/church-of-saint-donat |url-status=dead}}]
[[File:Marco Marulo 1903 Ljetopis društva hrvatskih književnika za 1900-1903.jpg|upright|left|thumb|[[Marko Marulić]] (18 August 1450 – 5 January 1524), Croatian poet, lawyer, judge, and Renaissance humanist who coined the term "psychology". He is the [[national poet]] of Croatia.]]
Besides the architecture encompassing the oldest artworks, there is a history of artists in Croatia reaching the Middle Ages. In that period the stone portal of the [[Trogir Cathedral]] was made by [[Radovan (master)|Radovan]], representing the most important monument of [[Romanesque art|Romanesque]] sculpture from [[Croatia in the union with Hungary|Medieval Croatia]]. The [[Renaissance in Croatia|Renaissance]] had the greatest impact on the Adriatic Sea coast since the remainder was embroiled in the Hundred Years' Croatian–Ottoman War. With the waning of the Ottoman Empire, art flourished during the [[Baroque]] and [[Rococo]]. The 19th and 20th centuries brought affirmation of numerous Croatian artisans, helped by several patrons of the arts such as bishop [[Josip Juraj Strossmayer]].[{{cite journal |journal=Essehist |publisher=[[University of Osijek]] – Faculty of Philosophy |issn=1847-6236 |date=September 2011 |volume=2 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/95675 |title=Josip Juraj Strossmayer – Rođeni Osječanin |trans-title=Josip Juraj Strossmayer – Native of Osijek |language=hr |pages=70–73 |first=Pavao |last=Nujić |access-date=2011-10-10}}] Croatian artists of the period achieving renown were [[Vlaho Bukovac]], [[Ivan Meštrović]], and [[Ivan Generalić]].[{{cite book |last=Hintz |first=Martin |title=Croatia: Enchantment of the World |publisher=[[Scholastic Corporation|Scholastic]] |year=2004 |isbn=0-516-24253-9 |pages=105–107}}]
The Baška tablet, a stone inscribed with the [[glagolitic alphabet]] found on the Krk island and dated to {{Circa|1100}}, is considered to be the oldest surviving prose in Croatian.[{{cite web |publisher=Island of Krk Tourist Board |url=http://www.krk.hr/en/offer/attractions/the_baska_tablet |title=The Baška tablet |access-date=2011-10-13 |archive-date=2019-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502052935/http://www.krk.hr/en/offer/attractions/the_baska_tablet |url-status=dead}}] The beginning of more vigorous development of Croatian literature is marked by the Renaissance and [[Marko Marulić]]. Besides Marulić, Renaissance playwright [[Marin Držić]], Baroque poet [[Ivan Gundulić]], [[Croatian national revival]] poet [[Ivan Mažuranić]], novelist, playwright, and poet [[August Šenoa]], children's writer [[Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić]], writer and journalist [[Marija Jurić Zagorka]], poet and writer [[Antun Gustav Matoš]], poet [[Antun Branko Šimić]], [[expressionist]] and [[Realism (arts)|realist]] writer [[Miroslav Krleža]], poet [[Tin Ujević]] and novelist, and short story writer [[Ivo Andrić]] are often cited as the greatest figures in Croatian literature.[{{cite web |publisher=[[Miroslav Krleža Institute of Lexicography]] |url=http://www.lzmk.hr/hr/vijesti-zavoda/iz-medija/524-hrvatska-knjizevnost-u-270000-redaka-vjesnik |date=11 February 2011 |language=hr |title=Hrvatska književnost u 270.000 redaka |trans-title=Croatian Literature in 270,000 Lines |access-date=2011-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217062534/http://www.lzmk.hr/hr/vijesti-zavoda/iz-medija/524-hrvatska-knjizevnost-u-270000-redaka-vjesnik |archive-date=2011-12-17}}][{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/18/books/a-reader-s-guide-to-the-balkans.html |title=A Reader's Guide to the Balkans |first=Robert D. |last=Kaplan |date=18 April 1993 |newspaper=The New York Times}}]
Croatian music varies from classical operas to modern-day rock. [[Vatroslav Lisinski]] created the country's first opera, ''Love and Malice'', in 1846. [[Ivan Zajc]] composed more than a thousand pieces of music, including masses and oratorios. Pianist [[Ivo Pogorelić]] has performed across the world.[{{cite encyclopedia |last=Benfield |first=Richard W. |editor=Quick, Amanda C. |encyclopedia=World Press Encyclopedia |title=Croatia |url=http://www.pressreference.com/Co-Fa/Croatia.html |access-date=2011-09-13 |edition=2 |publisher=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] |volume=1 |location=Detroit |isbn=0-7876-5583-X |year=2003}}] Croatia ranked 64th in the 2019 [[Press Freedom Index]] report compiled by [[Reporters Without Borders]] which noted that journalists who investigate corruption, organised crime or war crimes face challenges and that the Government was trying to influence the public broadcaster [[Croatian Radiotelevision|HRT]]'s editorial policies.[{{cite web |url=https://rsf.org/en/ranking/2019 |title=Press Freedom Index 2019 |publisher=Reporters Without Borders |access-date=2019-09-10}}] In its 2019 Freedom in the World report, the [[Freedom House]] classified freedoms of press and speech in Croatia as generally free from political interference and manipulation, noting that journalists still face threats and occasional attacks.[{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2019/croatia |title=Croatia |date=28 January 2019 |website=freedomhouse.org |access-date=2019-09-10 |archive-date=2019-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719030207/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2019/croatia |url-status=dead}}] The state-owned news agency [[HINA]] runs a [[wire service]] in Croatian and English on politics, economics, society, and culture.[{{cite web |publisher=[[HINA]] |url=http://websrv2.hina.hr/hina/web/view.action?view=hina |title=About Hina |access-date=2011-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011031419/http://websrv2.hina.hr/hina/web/view.action?view=hina |archive-date=2011-10-11}}]
[[File:Zgrada HRT Zagreb.jpg|thumb|left|[[Croatian Radio|Radio Zagreb]], now a part of [[Croatian language|Croatian]] national [[public broadcasting]] company, [[Croatian Radiotelevision]], was the first public radio station in Southeast Europe.[{{cite journal |journal=Politička Misao |publisher=University of Zagreb, Faculty of Political Sciences |issn=0032-3241 |volume=38 |issue=5 |date=July 2002 |title=Marina Mučalo: Radio in Croatia, book review |first=Darko |last=Tomorad |pages=150–152}}]]]
{{as of|2021|January}}, there are thirteen nationwide free-to-air [[DVB-T]] television channels, with [[Croatian Radiotelevision]] (HRT) operating four, [[RTL (Croatian TV channel)|RTL Televizija]] three, and [[Nova TV (Croatia)|Nova TV]] operating two channels, and the [[Croatian Olympic Committee]], Kapital Net d.o.o., and Author d.o.o. companies operate the remaining three.[{{cite web |title=Popis programa DTV {{!}} OIV digitalni signali i mreže|url=https://oiv.hr/hr/usluge-i-platforme/oiv-dtv-dvb-t2-digitalna-zemaljska-televizija/popis-programa-dtv/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=oiv.hr|language=hr}}] Also, there are 21 regional or local DVB-T television channels.[{{cite web |publisher=[[Odašiljači i veze]] |url=https://www.oiv.hr/broadcasting/tables/dtv_channel_hr.aspx |title=Popis programa digitalne televizije |trans-title=List of Digital Television Programmes |language=hr |access-date=2018-12-23 |archive-date=2018-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106185209/https://www.oiv.hr/broadcasting/tables/dtv_channel_hr.aspx |url-status=dead}}] The HRT is also broadcasting a satellite TV channel.[{{cite web |publisher=[[Croatian Radiotelevision]] |url=http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=186&tx_ttnews%5Bcat%5D=126&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1787&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=185&cHash=ac69c865cd |title=HRT broadcasting via satellite |date=20 May 2008 |access-date=2011-10-13 |archive-date=2013-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828125903/http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=186&tx_ttnews%5Bcat%5D=126&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1787&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=185&cHash=ac69c865cd |url-status=dead}}] In 2020, there were 147 radio stations and 27 TV stations in Croatia.{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=510}}[{{cite web |last=v.k. |date=11 October 2020 |title=Radio stanice u Zagrebu i Zagrebačkoj županiji |url=https://www.zgportal.com/zgservis/radio-stanice-u-zagrebu-i-zagrebackoj-zupaniji/ |access-date=2021-01-23 |website=ZGportal Zagreb |language=hr}}] Cable television and [[IPTV]] networks are gaining ground. Cable television already serves 450 thousand people, around 10% of the total population of the country.[{{cite web |publisher=Lider |url=http://www.liderpress.hr/Default.aspx?sid=11836 |title=Prva Internet televizija u Hrvatskoj |trans-title=The First Internet Television in Croatia |language=hr |first=Sandra |last=Babić |date=15 January 2007 |access-date=2011-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111153124/http://www.liderpress.hr/Default.aspx?sid=11836 |archive-date=2012-01-11}}][{{cite news |newspaper=Jutarnji list |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/kabelska-televizija--vec-je-450--tisuca-hrvata-preslo-na-kabelsku-i-gleda-200-tv-programa/901119/ |language=hr |title=Već je 450 tisuća Hrvata prešlo na kabelsku i gleda 200 TV programa |trans-title=450 thousand Croats already switched to cable, watching 200 TV channels |first=Merita |last=Arslani |date=6 November 2010 |access-date=2011-10-13 |archive-date=2012-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124011955/http://www.jutarnji.hr/kabelska-televizija--vec-je-450--tisuca-hrvata-preslo-na-kabelsku-i-gleda-200-tv-programa/901119/ |url-status=dead}}]
In 2010, 267 newspapers and 2,676 magazines were published in Croatia.{{sfn|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|p=510}} The print media market is dominated by the Croatian-owned [[Hanza Media]] and Austrian-owned [[Styria Media Group]] who publish their flagship dailies {{lang|hr|[[Jutarnji list]]}}, {{lang|hr|[[Večernji list]]}} and {{lang|hr|[[24sata (Croatia)|24sata]]}}. Other influential newspapers are ''[[Novi list]]'' and ''[[Slobodna Dalmacija]]''.[{{cite web |publisher=[[Europapress Holding]] |url=http://www.eph.hr/eng/products_and_services/index.html |title=Print Products |access-date=2011-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008011534/http://www.eph.hr/eng/products_and_services/index.html |archive-date=2011-10-08}}][{{cite web |publisher=[[Styria Media Group]] |url=http://www.styria.com/en/konzernunternehmen/kategorie.php?&cat=1 |title=Daily papers |access-date=2011-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921110603/http://www.styria.com/en/konzernunternehmen/kategorie.php?&cat=1 |archive-date=2011-09-21}}] In 2020, ''24sata'' was the most widely circulated daily newspaper, followed by ''Večernji list'' and ''Jutarnji list''.[{{cite journal |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/135683 |title=Tisak u krizi: analiza trendova u Hrvatskoj od 2008. do 2013. |journal=Medijske Studije |volume=5 |issue=10 |date=December 2014 |last=Vozab |first=Dina |language=hr |access-date=2015-12-26 |page=141}}][{{cite web |title=AZTN: Prodaja dnevnih i tjednih novina nastavlja padati |url=https://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/clanak/aztn-prodaja-dnevnih-i-tjednih-novina-nastavlja-padati-20200617 |access-date=2021-01-23 |website=tportal.hr}}]
[[Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest|Croatia]] competed in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] as part of [[Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song Contest|Yugoslavia]] since 1961. The first and only victory Yugoslavia achieved in the competition was accomplished by the Croatian pop band [[Riva (band)|Riva]] in 1989. Since its debut at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1993|1993 contest]], Croatia won two fourth places at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1996|1996]] and [[Eurovision Song Contest 1999|1999]] contests, and one second place at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2024|2024 contest]], marking the country's best result to date as an independent nation.[{{Cite web |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/croatia |title=Croatia |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2024-05-19}}]
=== Film industry ===
{{Main|Cinema of Croatia|Television in Croatia|}}
Croatia's film industry is small and heavily subsidised by the government, mainly through grants approved by the Ministry of Culture with films often being co-produced by HRT.[{{cite news |newspaper=Jutarnji list |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/ministarstvo-financira-rekordan-broj-filmova/154303/ |title=Ministarstvo financira rekordan broj filmova |trans-title=Ministry [of Culture] funding a record number of films |language=hr |date=12 September 2006 |first=Adriana |last=Piteša |access-date=2011-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126125752/http://www.jutarnji.hr/ministarstvo-financira-rekordan-broj-filmova/154303/ |archive-date=2012-01-26}}][{{cite web |publisher=Croatian Radiotelevision |url=http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=94&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=108897&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=23&cHash=348879aae9 |language=hr |title=Potpora hrvatskim filmovima i koprodukcijama |trans-title=Supporting Croatian Films and Co-Productions |date=18 March 2011 |access-date=2011-10-13 |archive-date=2013-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828143142/http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=94&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=108897&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=23&cHash=348879aae9 |url-status=dead}}] Croatian cinema produces between five and ten feature films per year.[{{cite book |title=International Film Guide 2012 |first=Ian Hayden |last=Smith |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-908215-01-7 |page=94 |publisher=International Film Guide}}] [[Pula Film Festival]], the national film awards event held annually in [[Pula]], is the most prestigious film event featuring national and international productions.[{{cite news |newspaper=Vjesnik |url=http://www.vjesnik.hr/Article.aspx?ID=4D920144-9B74-462C-82CF-ED90611927CA |archive-date=2011-12-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217063907/http://www.vjesnik.hr/Article.aspx?ID=4D920144-9B74-462C-82CF-ED90611927CA |title=Trierova trijumfalna apokalipsa |trans-title=Trier's Triumphant Apocalypse |first=Vedran |last=Jerbić |date=12 July 2011 |access-date=2011-10-13 |language=hr}}] [[Animafest Zagreb]], founded in 1972, is the prestigious annual film festival dedicated to the animated film. The first greatest accomplishment by Croatian filmmakers was achieved by [[Dušan Vukotić]] when he won the 1961 [[Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film]] for ''[[Surogat|Ersatz]]'' ({{langx|hr|Surogat}}).[{{cite news |newspaper=Vjesnik |url=http://www.vjesnik.hr/Article.aspx?ID=7C537DEE-B4AE-4879-9F79-7C68D6294510 |archive-date=2011-12-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217063842/http://www.vjesnik.hr/Article.aspx?ID=7C537DEE-B4AE-4879-9F79-7C68D6294510 |title="Surogat" napunio pola stoljeća |trans-title="Ersatz" celebrates half a century |language=hr |first=Božidar |last=Trkulja |date=29 May 2011 |access-date=2011-10-13}}] Croatian film producer [[Branko Lustig]] won the [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Academy Awards for Best Picture]] for ''[[Schindler's List]]'' and ''[[Gladiator (2000 film)|Gladiator]]''.[{{cite web |publisher=Total Croatia News |url=https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/36240-branko-lustig |title=Film Producer Branko Lustig Becomes Honorary Citizen of Zagreb |date=23 April 2019 |access-date=2019-09-10 |archive-date=2023-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405110503/https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/36240-branko-lustig |url-status=dead}}] In addition to that, Croatian filmmaker [[Nebojša Slijepčević]] got nominated for [[97th Academy Awards]] in category for [[Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film|Best Live Action Short Film]] for his 2024 movie ''[[The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent]]'' ([[Croatian language|Croatian]]: {{lang|hr|Čovjek koji nije mogao šutjeti}}), making it first Croatian nomination in that category, and first since its [[Croatian independence|independence]].[{{cite web |last1=Stošić |first1=Dino |title=Gdje pogledati film 'Čovjek koji nije mogao šutjeti', koji je sad i službeno nominiran za Oscara? |url=https://www.24sata.hr/show/gdje-pogledati-film-covjek-koji-nije-mogao-sutjeti-u-uzem-je-izboru-za-nominaciju-za-oscara-1022690?24sata_ref=frontpage-home |website=24sata.hr |date=23 January 2025 |access-date=2025-01-23}}]
Before and since its [[Independence of Croatia|independence]], Croatia has become a popular filming destination amongs international filming productions, and a lot of [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]] films and TV series have been filmed in Croatia including: ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', ''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi]]'', ''[[Robin Hood (2018 film)|Robin Hood]]'' in Dubrovnik, ''[[Speak No Evil (2024 film)|Speak No Evil]]'', ''[[Season of the Witch (2011 film)|Season of the Witch]]'' and ''[[Titus (film)|Titius]]'' in Istria, ''[[Infinity Pool (film)|Infinity Pool]]'' in Šibenik, ''[[Canary Black]]'', ''[[Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard]]'', ''[[Sophie's Choice (film)|Sophie's Choice]]'', ''[[Citizen Vigilante]]'', ''[[Armour of God (film)|Armour of God]]'' and ''[[Fiddler on the Roof (film)|Fiddler on the roof]]'' in Zagreb, ''[[Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again]]'' on island of Vis, ''[[Succession (TV series)|Succession]]'' on the island of Korčula, ''[[Hercules (2014 film)|Hercules]]'', ''[[The Weekend Away]]'', ''[[Bliss (2021 film)|Bliss]]'' in Split, ''[[The Peacemaker (1997 film)|The Peacemaker]]'', ''[[Lee (2023 film)|Lee]]'' and many others.[{{cite web |title=Filming Locations in Croatia |url=https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?locations=croatia |publisher=IMDb |access-date=2024-10-12}}][{{cite web |title=Movies and TV Shows filmed in Croatia |url=https://saltymiles.com/en/10-cool-films-and-series-shot-in-croatia |website=SaltyMiles |access-date=2024-10-12}}] Croatia became an international filming location thanks to its biodiversity, natural landscape and cheaper filming costs.[{{cite web |title=Why Croatia is a Filming and Production Paradise |url=https://lbbonline.com/news/why-croatia-is-a-filming-and-production-paradise#:~:text=Croatia%20has%20it%20all.,film%20possibilities%20within%20one%20region. |website=Lbbonline |access-date=2024-10-12}}][{{cite web |title=Filming in Croatia |url=https://filmingincroatia.hr/ |website=Hrvatski audiovizualni centar |access-date=2024-10-12}}] In last 11 years there has been 122 projects for international films in Croatia, and €263 million spent as part of the Filming in Croatia which increased in last years due to high demand for its location.[{{cite web |title=How Croatia has become a hub for filmmakers |url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/how-croatia-has-become-a-hub-for-filmmakers/ |website=Croatia Week |date=2 October 2023 |access-date=2024-10-12}}]
=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Croatian cuisine|Croatian wine|Beer in Croatia}}
{{see also|List of Croatian dishes}}
[[File:Kuhane strukle 0210 1.jpg|thumb|[[Zagorski štrukli]]]]
Croatian traditional cuisine varies from one region to another. Dalmatia and Istria have culinary influences of [[Italian cuisine|Italian]] and other [[Mediterranean cuisine]]s which prominently feature various seafood, cooked vegetables and pasta, and condiments such as olive oil and garlic. [[Austrian cuisine|Austrian]], [[Hungarian cuisine|Hungarian]], [[Turkish cuisine|Turkish]], and [[Balkan cuisine|Balkan]] culinary styles influenced continental cuisine. In that area, meats, freshwater fish, and vegetable dishes are predominant.[{{cite web |publisher=Croatian National Tourist Board |url=http://croatia.hr/en-GB/Discover-Croatia/Gastronomy-and-enology |access-date=2011-10-13 |title=Gastronomy and enology}}]
There are two distinct wine-producing regions in Croatia. The continental in the northeast of the country, especially Slavonia, produces premium wines, particularly whites. Along the north coast, Istrian and Krk wines are similar to those in neighbouring Italy, while further south in Dalmatia, Mediterranean-style red wines are the norm.[{{cite news |url=http://www.matica.hr/HRRevija/revija032.nsf/AllWebDocs/skenderovic |title=Kako je pivo došlo u Hrvatsku |last=Skenderović |first=Robert |year=2002 |work=[[Hrvatska revija]] |language=hr |access-date=2011-09-10}}]
As of 2026, 111 restaurants in Croatia are featured on the [[Michelin Guide]], with 14 of them having at least one Michelin star.[{{Cite web |url=https://guide.michelin.com/hr/en/selection/croatia/restaurants |title=Michelin guide: Croatia |access-date=2023-06-15}}]
=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in Croatia|Croatia at the Olympics}}
[[File:Croatia WC2018 final.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|right|[[Croatia national football team]] in [[World Cup 2018]] in Russia]]
Croatia has a long tradition of sports dating back to Roman times, followed by popular medieval [[Tournament (medieval)|knights' tournaments]].[{{cite web |title=Croatia.eu – land and people |website=Croatia.eu – land and people |url=https://croatia.eu/index.php/en/home-en/society-and-way-of-life/sport |access-date=2025-03-02}}] Modern organized sports began in the late 19th century with the founding of sports associations like Hrvatski Sokol in 1874.[Sanela Škorić, Zlatko Hodak • [https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/111666&ved=2ahUKEwjaysq7jOqLAxUZkIkEHRTHIl4QFnoECC8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2QS0nJVGCz7Ih_cPGS3D1m The system of sports financing and management]. Zb. rad. Ekon. fak. Rij. • 2011 • vol. 29 • sv. 2 • 443–464] Croatian sports' development has been closely related to the Olympic movement, with [[Franjo Bučar]] playing a key role in promoting sports for [[Independence of Croatia|Croatian independence]].[{{cite journal |last1=Pedišić |first1=Željko |last2=Strika |first2=Melanija |last3=Matolić |first3=Tena |title=Physical Activity of Children and Adolescents in Croatia: A Global Matrix 4.0 Systematic Review of Its Prevalence and Associated Personal, Social, Environmental, and Policy Factors |journal=Journal of Physical Activity and Health |publisher=Human Kinetics |volume=20 |issue=6 |date=1 June 2023 |issn=1543-3080 |doi=10.1123/jpah.2022-0500 |doi-access=free |pages=487–499 |pmid=37076241 |url=https://journals.humankinetics.com/downloadpdf/journals/jpah/20/6/article-p487.pdf |access-date=2025-03-02}}] To support sports development, Croatia enacted the National Sport Programme in 2019.[{{cite web |title=News |website=Croatian Parliament |date=1 January 1970 |url=https://www.sabor.hr/en/press/news?page=17#:~:text=12%20July%202019.%20Parliament%20adopts%202019-2026%20national,the%202019-2026%20National%20Sports%20Programme%2C%20as%20the |access-date=2025-03-02}}] Funding for sports comes from the state budget, sponsorship, and membership fees.[{{cite journal |last1=Škorić |first1=Sanela |last2=Hodak |first2=Zlatko |title=The System of Sports Financing and Management in the Republic of Croatia |journal=Zbornik Radova Ekonomskog Fakulteta u Rijeci / Proceedings of Rijeka School of Economics |publisher=University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics |volume=29 |issue=2 |date=16 December 2011 |issn=1846-7520 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256062354 |access-date=2025-03-02}}] The [[Croatian Olympic Committee]], established in 1991, oversees over 80 national sports associations.[{{cite web |title=National Sports Federations |website=Croatian Olympic Committee |url=https://stara.hoo.hr/en/croatian-olympic-committee/national-sports-federations |access-date=2025-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525121010/https://stara.hoo.hr/en/croatian-olympic-committee/national-sports-federations |archive-date=2024-05-25 |url-status=dead }}]
The most popular sports in Croatia are football, handball, basketball and water polo.[[https://hrvatski-sahovski-savez.hr/hr-rejting/nrl_204/Statistika_reg.pdf Hrvatski šahovski savez: registracija igrača i klubova na dan 5.1.2024.]] With about 12,500 sports associations, [[Football in Croatia|football is the most popular sport]], hosting nearly 1,500 clubs and 110,000 players, achieving significant milestones, including bronze at the [[1998 World Cup]], silver at the [[2018 World Cup]] and another bronze at [[2022 World Cup]].[{{cite web |title=Croatians at the Olympic Games |website=Expat in Croatia |date=22 July 2024 |url=https://www.expatincroatia.com/croatians-olympic-games/ |access-date=2025-03-02}}] The [[Croatia Davis Cup team|national tennis team]] has won two [[Davis Cup]] titles and won a gold medal at the [[Tennis at the 2020 Summer Olympics|2020 Summer Olympics]] in men's doubles.[{{cite web |title=Tennis in Croatia |website=tennis-academies.com |date=18 April 2021 |url=https://www.tennis-academies.com/europe/croatia |access-date=2025-03-02}}] The [[Croatia men's national handball team|national handball]] and [[Croatia men's national water polo team|water polo teams]] are also been successful, each achieving multiple championships and medals.[{{cite web |title=Croatia the only nation with medals in football, handball & waterpolo world cups |website=Croatia Week |date=3 February 2025 |url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/croatia-the-only-nation-with-medals-in-football-handball-waterpolo-world-cups/ |access-date=2025-03-02}}] [[Croatian Rowing Federation|Rowing]] has seen success as well, winning multiple Olympic and World Championship medals.[{{cite web |title=Sportska Hrvatska |website=Sportska Hrvatska |date=25 November 2019 |url=https://cro-sports.com/en/sports-country/croatian-sport-achievements/ |access-date=2025-03-02}}] In gymnastics, athletes have also made their mark, winning medals in European and World Championships.[{{cite web |title=History |website=DOBRO World Cup |date=20 February 2019 |url=https://osijekgym.com/en/history/ |language=la |access-date=2025-03-02}}]
Croatia hosted several major sports competitions, including the [[2009 World Men's Handball Championship]], the [[2007 World Table Tennis Championships]], the [[2010]] [[European Individual Chess Championship]], the [[2000 World Rowing Championships]], the [[1987 Summer Universiade]], the [[1979 Mediterranean Games]], and several [[European Championship]]s, including the [[2000 European Men's Handball Championship|2000]], [[2018 European Men's Handball Championship|2018]] and [[2025 World Men's Handball Championship]], [[2024 Men's European Water Polo Championship]].
== See also ==
{{Portal|Croatia|Countries|Europe|European Union
}}
* [[Outline of Croatia]]
{{Clear}}
== Notes ==
{{Notelist|group=efn}}
== Citations ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
== References ==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
{{refbegin}}
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* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7TiFZQHwAjQC |first=Sharon |last=Fisher |title=Political change in post-Communist Slovakia and Croatia: from nationalist to Europeanist |year=2006 |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |isbn=978-1-4039-7286-6 |access-date=2011-10-18 }}
* {{cite journal |journal=Povijesni prilozi |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/13778 |issn=0351-9767 |publisher=Croatian Institute of History |date=July 2005 |volume=28 |issue=28 |pages=7–22 |first=Márta |last=Font |title=Ugarsko Kraljevstvo i Hrvatska u srednjem vijeku |language=hr |trans-title=Hungarian Kingdom and Croatia in the Middle Ages |access-date=2011-10-17 }}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MWTrLQAACAAJ |first1=Joerg |last1=Forbrig |first2=Pavol |last2=Demeš |title=Reclaiming democracy: civil society and electoral change in central and eastern Europe |year=2007 |isbn=978-80-969639-0-4 |publisher=[[The German Marshall Fund of the United States]] |access-date=2011-10-18 }}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lVBB1a0rC70C |first=Richard C. |last=Frucht |title=Eastern Europe: An Introduction to the People, Lands, and Culture |year=2005 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-800-6 |access-date=2011-10-18 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Geiger |first=Vladimir |title=Human losses of Croats in World War II and the immediate post-war period caused by the Chetniks (Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland) and the Partizans (People's Liberation Army and the partizan detachment of Yugoslavia/Yugoslav Army) and the Yugoslav Communist authoritities. Numerical indicators |journal=Review of Croatian History |volume=VIII |issue=1 |year=2012 |pages=77–121 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/103223?lang=en }}
* {{cite book |last=Goldstein |first=Ivo |author-link=Ivo Goldstein |title=Croatia: A History |publisher=[[C. Hurst & Co.]] |year=1999 |isbn=978-1-85065-525-1}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z7sVAQAAIAAJ |editor-first=Mirjana |editor-last=Kasapović |language=hr |title=Hrvatska Politika 1990–2000 |trans-title=Croatian Politics 1990–2000 |publisher=[[University of Zagreb]], Faculty of Political Science |year=2001 |isbn=978-953-6457-08-3 |access-date=2011-10-18 }}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ORSMBFwjAKcC |first1=Matjaž |last1=Klemenčič |first2=Mitja |last2=Žagar |title=The former Yugoslavia's diverse peoples: a reference sourcebook |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-57607-294-3 |access-date=2011-10-17 }}
* {{cite book |last=Kočović |first=Bogoljub |author-link=Bogoljub Kočović |title=Žrtve Drugog svetskog rata u Jugoslaviji |trans-title=World War II Victims in Yugoslavia |date=1985 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sPxmAAAAMAAJ |publisher=Naše delo |language=sr }}
* {{cite book |first=Frederic Chapin |last=Lane |author-link=Frederic C. Lane |title=Venice, a Maritime Republic |publisher=JHU Press |year=1973 |isbn=978-0-8018-1460-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PQpU2JGJCMwC |access-date=2011-10-18 }}
* {{cite book |first=Manus I. |last=Midlarsky |title=The Killing Trap: Genocide in the Twentieth Century |url=https://archive.org/details/killingtrapgenoc0000midl |url-access=registration |access-date=2013-03-25 |edition=First |date=20 October 2005 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=[[Cambridge]] |isbn=978-1-139-44539-9 }}
* {{cite book |first=Branka |last=Magaš |title=Croatia Through History: The Making of a European State |publisher=Saqi Books |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-86356-775-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OY5pAAAAMAAJ |access-date=2011-10-18 }}
* {{cite book |first=Ivan |last=Mužić |title=Hrvatska povijest devetoga stoljeća |trans-title=Croatian Ninth Century History |language=hr |url=http://www.muzic-ivan.info/hrvatska_povijest.pdf |isbn=978-953-263-034-3 |year=2007 |publisher=Naklada Bošković |access-date=2011-10-14 |archive-date=2019-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808024028/http://www.muzic-ivan.info/hrvatska_povijest.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite book |last=Tomasevich |first=Jozo |year=2001 |title=War and Revolution in Yugoslavia, 1941–1945: Occupation and Collaboration |publisher=Stanford University Press |location=Stanford Univ |isbn=978-0-8047-3615-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fqUSGevFe5MC }}
* {{cite journal |last=Žerjavić |first=Vladimir |author-link=Vladimir Žerjavić |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/52846 |language=hr |title=Doseljavanja i iseljavanja s područja Istre, Rijeke i Zadra u razdoblju 1910–1971. |trans-title=Immigration and emigration from the Istria, Rijeka and Zadar areas in the period from 1910 to 1971 |pages=631–653 |journal=Journal for General Social Issues |volume=2 |number=4-5(6–7) |year=1993 |location=[[Zagreb]], Croatia |ref={{harvid|Žerjavić|1993b}} }}
* {{cite book |last=Žerjavić |first=Vladimir |author-link=Vladimir Žerjavić |year=1992 |title=Opsesije i megalomanije oko Jasenovca i Bleiburga |trans-title=Obsession and Megalomania over Jasenovac and Bleiburg |publisher=Globus |isbn=86-343-0661-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OCotAAAAMAAJ |language=hr }}
* {{cite web|ref={{harvid|DIP|1990 (a)}}|year=1990|publisher=Croatian State Electoral Committee|location=Zagreb, Croatia|language=hr|url=http://www.izbori.hr/arhiva/pdf/1990/1990_2_1_Sabor_Statistika_Stat_podaci.pdf|title=Statistički pokazatelji o provedenim izborima za zastupnike u Sabor Socijalističke Republike Hrvatske – Prilog|trans-title=Statistical Indicators on Performed Elections of Representatives in the Parliament of the Socialist Republic of Croatia – Annex|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514021334/http://www.izbori.hr/arhiva/pdf/1990/1990_2_1_Sabor_Statistika_Stat_podaci.pdf|archive-date=2015-05-14}}
* {{cite book |issn=1333-3305 |publisher=[[Croatian Bureau of Statistics]] |url=http://web.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/ljetopis/2010/SLJH2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/ljetopis/2010/SLJH2010.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=2010 – Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia |date=December 2010 |access-date=2011-10-07 |ref={{SfnRef|2010 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia}} }}
* {{Croatia Yearbook 2018|ref={{SfnRef|2018 Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia}}}}
{{Refend}}
{{sfn whitelist|CITEREF2018_Statistical_Yearbook_of_the_Republic_of_Croatia}}
{{refend}}
== External links ==
{{Sister project links|voy=Croatia}}
* {{Wikiatlas|Croatia}}
* {{OSM relation|214885|bullet=no}}
* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=HR Key Development Forecasts for Croatia] from [[International Futures]]
{{Croatia topics|state=collapsed}}
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