Croatia

Broadcast media

the national state-owned public broadcaster, Croatian Radiotelevision, operates 4 terrestrial TV networks, a satellite channel that rebroadcasts programs for Croatians living abroad, and 6 regional TV centers; 2 private broadcasters operate national terrestrial networks; roughly 25 privately owned regional TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; state-owned public broadcaster operates 3 national radio networks and 9 regional radio stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks and more than 170 regional, county, city, and community radio stations (2012)

Internet country code

.hr

Internet users

total: 2.9 million | percent of population: 65.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Radio broadcast stations

AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)

Telephone system

general assessment: the telecommunications network has improved steadily since the mid-1990s, covering much of what were once inaccessible areas; local lines are digital | domestic: fixed-line teledensity holding steady at about 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions exceed the population | international: country code - 385; digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists of 2 fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; the ADRIA-1 submarine cable provides connectivity to Albania and Greece (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1.57 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 4.5 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Television broadcast stations

36 (plus 321 repeaters) (1995)

Agriculture - products

arable crops (wheat, corn, barley, sugar beet, sunflower, rapeseed, alfalfa, clover); vegetables (potatoes, cabbage, onion, tomato, pepper); fruits (apples, plum, mandarins, olives), grapes for wine; livestock (cattle, cows, pigs); dairy products

Budget

revenues: $19.85 billion | expenditures: $22.3 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Central bank discount rate

7% (31 December 2013) | 7% (31 December 2012) | country comparison to the world: 44

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.56% (31 December 2014 est.) | 6.24% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110

Current account balance

$1.164 billion (2014 est.) | $475.9 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Debt - external

$62.09 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $61.04 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32 (2010) | 29 (1998) | country comparison to the world: 109

Economy - overview

Though still one of the wealthiest of the former Yugoslav republics, Croatia's economy suffered badly during the 1991-95 war. The country's output during that time collapsed, and Croatia missed the early waves of investment in Central and Eastern Europe that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall. Between 2000 and 2007, however, Croatia's economic fortunes began to improve with moderate but steady GDP growth between 4% and 6% led by a rebound in tourism and credit-driven consumer spending. Inflation over the same period remained tame and the currency, the kuna, stable. Croatia experienced an abrupt slowdown in the economy in 2008 and has yet to recover; economic growth was stagnant or negative in each year since 2009. Difficult problems still remain, including a stubbornly high unemployment rate, uneven regional development, and a challenging investment climate. Croatia continues to face reduced foreign investment. On 1 July 2013 Croatia joined the EU, following a decade-long application process. Croatia will be a member of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism until it meets the criteria for joining the Economic and Monetary Union and adopts the euro as its currency. EU accession has increased pressure on the government to reduce Croatia’s relatively high public debt, which triggered the EU’s excessive deficit procedure for fiscal consolidation. Zagreb has cut spending since 2012, and the government also raised additional revenues through more stringent tax collection and by raising the Value Added Tax. The government has also sought to accelerate privatization of non-strategic assets, with mixed success.

Exchange rates

kuna (HRK) per US dollar - | 5.7493 (2014 est.) | 5.7058 (2013 est.) | 5.85 (2012 est.) | 5.3439 (2011 est.) | 5.498 (2010 est.)

Exports

$13.75 billion (2014 est.) | $12.75 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 13.7%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 12%, Slovenia 11.2%, Germany 11.1%, Austria 6%, Serbia 5% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$57.16 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$88.49 billion (2014 est.) | $88.84 billion (2013 est.) | $89.68 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 86

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 60.2% | government consumption: 19.6% | investment in fixed capital: 18.2% | investment in inventories: 0% | exports of goods and services: 46.5% | imports of goods and services: -44.4% | (2014 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 4.5% | industry: 26.6% | services: 68.9% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$20,900 (2014 est.) | $21,000 (2013 est.) | $21,200 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 81

GDP - real growth rate

-0.4% (2014 est.) | -0.9% (2013 est.) | -2.2% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208

Gross national saving

18.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | 19.6% of GDP (2013 est.) | 19.1% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$22.72 billion (2014 est.) | $21.97 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76

Imports - commodities

machinery, transport and electrical equipment; chemicals, fuels and lubricants; foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Germany 15.1%, Italy 14.1%, Slovenia 10.7%, Austria 8.6%, Hungary 6.5%, Russia 5% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

1.2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Industries

chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.2% (2014 est.) | 2.2% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Labor force

1.725 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 1.9% | industry: 27.6% | services: 70.4% (2014)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$36.29 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $33.75 billion (31 December 2013 est) | $33.44 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Population below poverty line

19.5% (2014 est.)

Public debt

78% of GDP (2014 est.) | 67.1% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$16.87 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $16.09 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Stock of broad money

$49.38 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $49.24 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$6.131 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $5.531 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$3.506 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $32.45 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

Stock of domestic credit

$44.45 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $49.24 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61

Stock of narrow money

$10.75 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $10.88 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Taxes and other revenues

34.7% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Unemployment rate

19.7% (2014 est.) | 20.2% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

5.598 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

Crude oil - imports

37,300 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Crude oil - production

11,070 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Crude oil - proved reserves

71 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Electricity - consumption

16.97 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76

Electricity - exports

2.866 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Electricity - from fossil fuels

37.1% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

48.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

7.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Electricity - from other renewable sources

6.6% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61

Electricity - imports

6.592 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36

Electricity - installed generating capacity

4.206 million kW (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Electricity - production

13.38 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Natural gas - consumption

2.81 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73

Natural gas - exports

422 million cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Natural gas - imports

1.079 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Natural gas - production

1.805 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas - proved reserves

24.92 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72

Refined petroleum products - consumption

52,550 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Refined petroleum products - exports

29,060 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Refined petroleum products - imports

32,890 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Refined petroleum products - production

56,650 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Climate

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

Coastline

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

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife

Environment - international agreements

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

Geographic coordinates

45 10 N, 15 30 E

Geography - note

controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits; most Adriatic Sea islands lie off the coast of Croatia - some 1,200 islands, islets, ridges, and rocks

Irrigated land

36.27 sq km (2010)

Land boundaries

total: 2,237 km | border countries (5): Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km, Hungary 348 km, Montenegro 19 km, Serbia 314 km, Slovenia 600 km

Land use

agricultural land: 23.7% | arable land 16%; permanent crops 1.5%; permanent pasture 6.2% | forest: 34.4% | other: 41.9% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

105.5 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad - singular) with special county status; Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska(Bjelovar-Bilogora), Brodsko-Posavska (Brod-Posavina), Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria), Karlovacka (Karlovac), Koprivnicko-Krizevacka (Koprivinica-Krizevci), Krapinsko-Zagorska (Krapina-Zagorje), Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska (Medimurje), Osjecko-Baranjska (Osijek-Baranja), Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska (Primorje-Gorski Kotar), Sibensko-Kninska (Sibenik-Knin), Sisacko-Moslavacka (Sislak-Moslavina), Splitsko-Dalmatinska (Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska (Varazdin), Viroviticko-Podravska (Virovitica-Podravina), Vukovarsko-Srijemska (Vukovar-Syrmia), Zadarska (Zadar), Zagreb*, Zagrebacka (Zagreb county)

Capital

name: Zagreb | geographic coordinates: 45 48 N, 16 00 E | time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1990; amended several times, last in December 2013 by referendum

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth MERTEN (since 3 October 2012) | embassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb | mailing address: use embassy street address | telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200 | FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Josip "Josko" PARO (since 20 April 2012) | chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899 | FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936 | consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (since 19 February 2015) | head of government: Prime Minister Zoran MILANOVIC (since 23 December 2011); First Deputy Prime Minister Vesna PUSIC (since 16 November 2012) | cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the Assembly | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 January 2010 (next to be held in December 2014); the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president and approved by the Assembly | election results: Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC elected president; percent of vote in the second round - Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (HDZ) 50.7%, Ivo JOSIPOVIC 49.3%

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue - the Pan-Slav colors - superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms; the coat of arms consists of one main shield (a checkerboard of 13 red and 12 silver (white) fields) surmounted by five smaller shields that form a crown over the main shield; the five small shields represent five historic regions, they are (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia | note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and vice president, 25 civil department justices, and 16 criminal department justices) | judge selection and term of office: president of Supreme Court nominated by president of Croatia and elected by Croatian Sabor for a 4-year term; other Supreme Court justices appointed by National Judicial Council; all judges serve until age 70 | subordinate courts: Administrative Court; county, municipal, and specialized courts; note - there is an 11-member Constitutional Court with jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues but is outside Croatia's judicial system

Legal system

civil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary; note - Croatian law was fully harmonized with the European Community acquis as of the June 2010 completion of EU accession negotiations

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Assembly or Hrvatski Sabor (151 seats; members directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method with a 5% threshold: 14 seats in each of 10 districts; 8 seats in a single nationwide district for minorities; 3 seats in a single special district for the Croatian diaspora, members elected for 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 4 December 2011 (next to be held in late 2015) | election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - Kukuriku 40.0%, HDZ-led Coalition 23.8%, Croatian Laborists-Labor Party 5.1%, HSS 3.0%, HDSSB 2.9%, Independent list of Ivan Grubisic 2.8%, HCSP-HSP AS 2.8%, other 19.6%; number of seats by party/coalition - Kukuriku 80 (SDP 61, HNS 13, IDS 3, HSU 3), HDZ-led coalition 47 (HDZ 44, HGS 2, DC 1), Croatian Laborists-Labor Party 6, HDSSB 6, SDSS 3, Independent list of Ivan Grubisic 2, HSS 1, HCSP-HSP AS 1, other 5 | note: seats by party as of 3 April 2015 - SDP 56, HDZ 41, HNS 11, HDSSB 7, HSU 4, Croatian Laborists - Labor Party 3, Reformists 3, SDSS 3, HGS 2, IDS 2, BDSH 1, DC 1, HSS 1, HSP AS 1, ORaH 1, New Wave 1, independents 13

National anthem

name: "Lijepa nasa domovino" (Our Beautiful Homeland) | lyrics/music: Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN | note: adopted 1972; "Lijepa nasa domovino," whose lyrics were written in 1835, served as an unofficial anthem beginning in 1891

National holiday

Independence Day, 8 October (1991) and Statehood Day, 25 June (1991); note - 25 June 1991 was the day the Croatian parliament voted for independence; following a three-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the Yugoslav crisis peacefully, parliament adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia

National symbol(s)

red-white checkerboard; national colors: red, white, blue

Political parties and leaders

Bosniak Democratic Party of Croatia or BDSH [Medzad HODZIC] | Croatian Civic Party or HGS [Zeljko KERUM] | Croatian Democratic Congress of Slavonia and Baranja or HDSSB [Dragan VULIN] | Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Tomislav KARAMARKO] | Croatian Laborists - Labor Party [Nansi TIRELI] | Croatian Party of Rights - dr. Ante Starcevic or HSP AS [Ivan TEPES] | Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Branko HRG] | Croatian Pensioner Party or HSU [Silvano HRELJA] | Croatian People's Party - Liberal Democrats or HNS [Vesna PUSIC] | Croatian Pure Party of Rights or HCSP [Josip MILJIC] | Democratic Centre or DC [Vesna SKARE-OZBOLT] | HDZ-led Coalition [Tomislav KARAMARKO] (includes HDZ, HGS, and DC) | Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Vojislav STANIMIROVIC] | Independent List of Ivan Grubisic [Ivan GRUBISIC] | Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Boris MILETIC] | Kukuriku Coalition [Zoran MILANOVIC] (includes SDP, HNS, IDS, and HSU) | New Wave [Liubo JURCIC] | Reformists Party [Radimir CACIC] | Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Zoran MILANOVIC] | Sustainable Development for Croatia or ORaH [Mirela HOLY]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: human rights groups

Suffrage

18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

Background

The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands, along with a majority of Croatia's ethnic Serb population. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998. The country joined NATO in April 2009 and the EU in July 2013.

Manpower available for military service

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

Manpower fit for military service

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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

Military branches

Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike Hrvatske, OSRH) consists of five major commands directly subordinate to a General Staff: Ground Forces (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM; includes coast guard), Air Force and Air Defense Command (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo I Protuzracna Obrana), Joint Education and Training Command, Logistics Command; Military Police Force supports each of the three Croatian military forces (2012)

Military expenditures

1.7% of GDP (2012) | 1.77% of GDP (2011) | 1.7% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 51

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; 6-month service obligation (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.42% (male 330,355/female 313,312) | 15-24 years: 11.92% (male 272,249/female 259,935) | 25-54 years: 40.88% (male 903,896/female 921,337) | 55-64 years: 14.55% (male 314,697/female 335,007) | 65 years and over: 18.23% (male 331,889/female 482,167) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

9.45 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Death rate

12.18 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 51.1% | youth dependency ratio: 22.5% | elderly dependency ratio: 28.6% | potential support ratio: 3.5% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 99.6% of population | rural: 99.7% of population | total: 99.6% of population | urban: 0.4% of population | rural: 0.3% of population | total: 0.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 99

Ethnic groups

Croat 90.4%, Serb 4.4%, other 4.4% (including Bosniak, Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, and Roma), unspecified 0.8% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

7.3% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 84

Hospital bed density

5.9 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

total: 5.77 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 5.91 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168

Languages

Croatian (official) 95.6%, Serbian 1.2%, other 3% (including Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and Albanian), unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.61 years | male: 73.02 years | female: 80.4 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.3% | male: 99.7% | female: 98.9% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate | vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis | note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)

Major urban areas - population

ZAGREB (capital) 687,000 (2015)

Median age

total: 42.63 years | male: 40.5 years | female: 44.1 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.6% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 66

Physicians density

2.84 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

4,464,844 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Population growth rate

-0.13% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209

Religions

Roman Catholic 86.3%, Orthodox 4.4%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.5%, not religious or atheist 3.8% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 97.8% of population | rural: 95.8% of population | total: 97% of population | urban: 2.2% of population | rural: 4.2% of population | total: 3% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years | male: 14 years | female: 15 years (2012)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female | total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.46 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 43.1% | male: 42.3% | female: 44.3% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Urbanization

urban population: 59% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

dispute remains with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several small sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinders ratification of the 1999 border agreement; since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Croatia and Slovenia have each claimed sovereignty over Pirin Bay and four villages, and Slovenia has objected to Croatia's claim of an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic Sea; in 2009, however Croatia and Slovenia signed a binding international arbitration agreement to define their disputed land and maritime borders, which led to Slovenia lifting its objections to Croatia joining the EU; Slovenia continues to impose a hard border Schengen regime with Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013 but has not yet fulfilled Schengen requirements

Illicit drugs

transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe (2008)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 2,886 (2014)

Airports

69 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 72

Airports - with paved runways

total: 24 | over 3,047 m: 2 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 | 914 to 1,523 m: 3 | under 914 m: 10 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 45 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 6 | 38 (2013)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 77 | by type: bulk carrier 24, cargo 7, chemical tanker 8, passenger/cargo 27, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1 | foreign-owned: 2 (Norway 2) | registered in other countries: 31 (Bahamas 1, Belize 1, Liberia 1, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 12, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 57

Pipelines

gas 2,410 km; oil 610 km (2011)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Ploce, Rijeka, Sibernik, Split | river port(s): Vukovar (Danube) | oil terminal(s): Omisalj

Railways

total: 2,722 km | standard gauge: 2,722 km 1.435-m gauge (985 km electrified) (2014) | country comparison to the world: 62

Roadways

total: 26,958 km (includes 1,416 km of expressways) (2015) | country comparison to the world: 97

Waterways

785 km (2009) | country comparison to the world: 73