Croatia

Republic of CroatiaRepublika Hrvatska

parliamentary democracyIndependence 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

Croatia as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 83 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalZagreb
Area56,538 sq km
LocationSoutheastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
1995

Every edition of Croatia

Populationas each edition published it
4.67 million July 1995 est. · 4.78m in 1992
Population growth% a year
0.13% 1995 est. · 0.07% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 38.9 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
74.02 years 1995 est. · 73.19 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.62 children per woman 1995 est. · 1.66 in 1993
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
8.4 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 10 in 1992
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,640 1994 est. · $5,600 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3.4% 1994 est. · -25% in 1993

Geography

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

14 fields
Area
56,538sq km
land area: 56,410 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Coastline
5,790km
(mainland 1,778 km, islands 4,012 km)continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Land boundaries
2,028km
total · Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia and Montenegro 266 km (241 km with Serbia; 25 km with Montenego), Slovenia 501 km

Location

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

Map references

Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe

International disputes

Ethnic Serbs have occupied UN protected areas in eastern Croatia and along the western Bosnia and Herzegovinian border

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land:
32%
permanent crops:
20%
meadows and pastures:
18%
forest and woodland:
15%
other:
15%

Environment

current issues:
  • air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests;
  • coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste;
  • widespread casualties and destruction of infrastructure in border areas affected by civil strife
natural hazards:
frequent and destructive earthquakes
international agreements:
  • party to - Air Pollution, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
  • signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification

Note

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

People

15 fields
Population
4,665,821
(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 0.13% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth
11.02Death
10.55Net migration
0.77

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years74.02
70.59 · 77.65
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy97%
99% · 95%
MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1991)

Ethnic divisions(1991)

Croat 78%Serb 12%Muslim 0.9%Hungarian 0.5%Slovenian 0.5%others 8.1% (1991)

Religions

Catholic 76.5%Orthodox 11.1%Slavic Muslim 1.2%Protestant 0.4%others and unknown 10.8%
Labor force
1,509,489
by occupation: industry and mining 37%, agriculture 16% (1981 est.), government NA%, other

Age structure

0-14 years:
19% (female 418,272; male 442,064)
15-64 years:
68% (female 1,592,187; male 1,588,455)
65 years and over:
13% (female 394,650; male 230,193) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.62 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Croat(s)
adjective:
Croatian

Languages

Serbo-Croatian 96%, other 4%

Government

Parliamentary democracy; President Franjo TUDJMAN (since 30 May 1990); Prime Minister Nikica VALENTIC (since 3 April 1993)

23 fields

Legislature, 138 seatsone dot, one seat

HDZ 85HSLS 14SPH-SDP 11HNS 6Dalmatian Action/Istrian Democratic Assembly/ Rijeka Democratic Alliance coalition 6HSP 5HSS 3SNS 3independents 5

Names

conventional long form:
Republic of Croatia
conventional short form:
Croatia
local long form:
Republika Hrvatska
local short form:
Hrvatska

Type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

Zagreb

Administrative divisions

21 counties (zupanijas, zupanija -; singular): Bjelovar-Bilogora, City of Zagreb, Dubrovnik-Neretva, Istra, Karlovac, Koprivnica-Krizevci, Krapina-Zagorje, Lika-Senj, Medimurje, Osijek-Baranja, Pozega-Slavonija, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Sibenik, Sisak-Moslavina, Slavonski Brod-Posavina, Split-Dalmatia, Varazdin, Virovitica-Podravina, Vukovar-Srijem, Zadar-Knin, Zagreb

Independence

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday

Statehood Day, 30 May (1990)

Constitution

adopted on 22 December 1990

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Franjo TUDJMAN (since 30 May 1990);
  • election last held 4 August 1992 (next to be held NA 1997);
  • results - Franjo TUDJMAN reelected with about 56% of the vote;
  • his opponent Dobroslav PARAGA got 5% of the vote
head of government:
  • Prime Minister Nikica VALENTIC (since 3 April 1993);
  • Deputy Prime Ministers Mato GRANIC (since 8 September 1992);
  • Ivica KOSTOVIC (since 14 October 1993);
  • Jure RADIC (since NA);
  • Borislav SKEGRO (since 3 April 1993)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch

bicameral parliament Assembly (Sabor)

House of Districts (Zupanije Dom)

  • elections last held 7 and 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 1997);
  • results - percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats - (68 total; 63 elected, 5 presidentially appointed) HDZ 37, HSLS 16, HSS 5, Istrian Democratic Assembly 3, SPH-SDP 1, HNS 1

House of Representatives (Predstavnicke Dom)

  • elections last held 2 August 1992 (next to be held NA August 1996);
  • results - percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats - (138 total) HDZ 85, HSLS 14, SPH-SDP 11, HNS 6, Dalmatian Action/Istrian Democratic Assembly/ Rijeka Democratic Alliance coalition 6, HSP 5, HSS 3, SNS 3, independents 5

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders

  • Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Zlatko CANJUGA, secretary general;
  • Croatian Democratic Independents (HND), Stjepan MESIC, president;
  • Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Drazen BUDISA, president;
  • Croatian Democratic Peasant Party (HDSS), Ante BABIC;
  • Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), Ante DAPIC;
  • Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Josip PANKRETIC;
  • Croatian People's Party (HNS), Radimir CACIC, president;
  • Dalmatian Action (DA), Mira LJUBIC-LORGER;
  • Serb National Party (SNS), Milan DJUKIC;
  • Social Democratic Action (SDP), Miko TRIPALO;
  • other small parties include the Istrian Democratic Assembly and the Rijeka Democratic Alliance

Member of

CCC, CE (guest), CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Petar A. SARCEVIC
chancery:
2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 588-5899

FAX

[1] (202) 588-8936; consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:
Ambassador Peter W. GALBRAITH
embassy:
Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb
mailing address:
US Embassy, Zagreb, Unit 1345, APO AE 09213-1345
telephone:
[385] (41) 456-000

FAX

[385] (41) 440-235

Flag

red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)

Economy

Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the republic of | Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized | area, with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav | average.

18 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,640
(1994 est.)
Real growth rate
3.4%
(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate -4% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate
17%
(December 1994)

Overview

Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the republic of Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area, with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav average. At present, Croatian Serb Separatists control approximately one-third of the Croatian territory, and one of the overriding determinants of Croatia's long-term political and economic prospects will be the resolution of this territorial dispute. Croatia faces; serious economic problems stemming from: the legacy of longtime Communist mismanagement of the economy; large foreign debt; damage during the fighting to bridges, factories, power lines, buildings, and houses; the large refugee population, both Croatian and Bosnian; and the disruption of economic ties to Serbia and the other former Yugoslav republics, as well as within its own territory. At the minimum, extensive Western aid and investment, especially in the tourist and oil industries, would seem necessary to revive the moribund economy. However, peace and political stability must come first; only then will recent government moves toward a "market-friendly" economy restore old levels of output. As of February 1995, fighting continues among Croats, Serbs, and Muslims, and national boundaries and final political arrangements are still in doubt.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $12.4 billion (1994 est.)

Budget

revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exports

$3.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 30%, other manufacturers 37%, chemicals 11%, food and live animals 9%, raw materials 6.5%, fuels and lubricants 5% (1990)
partners:
EC countries, Slovenia

Imports

$4.7 billion (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 21%, fuels and lubricants 19%, food and live animals 16%, chemicals 14%, manufactured goods 13%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 9%, raw materials 6.5%, beverages and tobacco 1% (1990)
partners:
EC countries, Slovenia, FSU countries

External debt

$2.9 billion (September 1994)

Electricity

capacity:
3,570,000 kW
production:
NA kWh
consumption per capita:
NA kWh (1993)

Industries

chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum reduction, paper, wood products (including furniture), building materials (including cement), textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food processing and beverages

Agriculture

  • Croatia normally produces a food surplus;
  • most agricultural land in private hands and concentrated in Croat-majority districts in Slavonia and Istria;
  • much of Slavonia's land has been put out of production by fighting;
  • wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflowers, alfalfa, and clover are main crops in Slavonia;
  • central Croatian highlands are less fertile but support cereal production, orchards, vineyards, livestock breeding, and dairy farming;
  • coastal areas and offshore islands grow olives, citrus fruits, and vegetables

Economic aid

recipient: IMF, $192 million

Currency

1 Croatian kuna (HRK) = 100 paras

Exchange rates

Croatian kuna per US $1 - 5.6144 (November 1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 76 in all

2
over 3,047 m
6
2,438 to 3,047 m
2
1,524 to 2,437 m
1
914 to 1,523 m
8
55
under 914 m
1,524 to 2,438 m
2
PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways
27,368Railroads
2,699Inland waterways
785
Highways: paved: 22,176 km (302 km of expressways) · unpaved: 5,192 km (1991) · Railroads: standard gauge: 2,699 km 1.435-m gauge (963 km electrified) note: disrupted by territorial dispute (1994)

Railroads

total:
2,699 km
standard gauge:
2,699 km 1.435-m gauge (963 km electrified)

note: disrupted by territorial dispute (1994)

Highways

total:
27,368 km
paved:
22,176 km (302 km of expressways)
unpaved:
5,192 km (1991)

Pipelines

  • crude oil 670 km;
  • petroleum products 20 km;
  • natural gas 310 km (1992);
  • note - now disrupted because of territorial dispute

Ports

Dubrovnik, Omis, Ploce, Pula, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split, Zadar

Merchant marine

total:
35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 181,565 GRT/225,533 DWT
ships by type:
bulk 1, cargo 20, chemical tanker 1, container 2, oil tanker 2, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 4

note: also controlled by Croatian shipowners are 134 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,286,231 DWT that operate under Maltese and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines registry

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

350,000 telephones

local:
NA
intercity:
NA
international:
no satellite links

Radio

broadcast stations:
AM 14, FM 8, shortwave 0
radios:
1.1 million

Television

broadcast stations:
12 (repeaters 2)
televisions:
1.027 million

Defense Forces

Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, | Frontier Guard, Home Guard

3 fields
Defense expenditures
337billion to 393 billion dinars
NA% of GDP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results CUBA

Branches

Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Frontier Guard, Home Guard

Manpower availability

  • males age 15-49 1,183,184;
  • males fit for military service 943,749;
  • males reach military age (19) annually 32,831 (1995 est.)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Croatia.” The World Factbook 1995. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/croatia/1995.

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