Communications
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 14, FM 8, shortwave 0
Radios [time series]
1.1 million
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
domestic: NA international: no satellite earth stations
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]
1.216 million (1993 est.)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
18 (in addition, there are 145 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions [time series]
1.52 million (1992 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]
wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, vegetables; livestock, dairy products
Budget [time series]
revenues: $5.3 billion expenditures: $6.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $78.5 million (1997 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 Croatian kuna (HRK) = 100 lipas
Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]
$8 billion (October 1998)
Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]
$NA
Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]
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. Croatia faces considerable economic problems stemming from: the legacy of longtime communist mismanagement of the economy; damage during the internecine fighting to bridges, factories, power lines, buildings, and houses; the large refugee and displaced population, both Croatian and Bosnian; and the disruption of economic ties. Western aid and investment, especially in the tourist and oil industries, would help restore the economy. The government has been successful in some reform efforts--partially macroeconomic stabilization policies--and it has normalized relations with its creditors. Yet it still is struggling with privatization of large state enterprises and with bank reform. In 1998, Croatia made progress in reducing its current account deficit to about 8% of GDP from 12% the previous year. Economic growth continues to lag, however, and growing levels of inter-enterprise debt plague the domestic economy. Four commercial banks were put under government control and a major conglomerate is teetering on collapse.
Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]
14.632 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]
1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]
4.95 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]
10.682 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]
fossil fuel: 29.25% hydro: 70.75% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates [time series]
Croatian kuna per US$1--6.317 (January 1999), 6.362 (1998), 6.157 (1997), 5.434 (1996), 5.230 (1995), 5.996 (1994)
Exports [time series]
$4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]
machinery and transport equipment 13.6%, miscellaneous manufactures 27.6%, chemicals 14.2%, food and live animals 12.2%, raw materials 6.1%, fuels and lubricants 9.4%, beverages and tobacco 2.7% (1993)
Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]
Germany 22%, Italy 21%, Slovenia 18% (1994)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity--$23.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 12% industry: 24% services: 64% (1995 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity?$5,100 (1998 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]
3% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$8.4 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]
machinery and transport equipment 23.1%, fuels and lubricants 8.8%, food and live animals 9.0%, chemicals 14.2%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 16.0%, raw materials 3.5%, beverages and tobacco 1.4% (1993)
Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]
Germany 21%, Italy 19%, Slovenia 10% (1994)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
3.7% (1998 est.)
Industries [time series]
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) [time series]
5.4% (1998)
Labor force [time series]
1.63 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]
industry and mining 31.1%, agriculture 4.3%, government 19.1% (including education and health), other 45.5% (1993)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
18.6% (yearend 1998)
Geography
total: 56,538 sq km land: 56,410 sq km water: 128 sq km
Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Climate [time series]
Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast
Coastline [time series]
5,790 km (mainland 1,778 km, islands 4,012 km)
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Dinara 1,830 m
Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]
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
International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification
Geographic coordinates [time series]
45 10 N, 15 30 E
Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]
controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits
Irrigated land [time series]
30 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 2,197 km border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia and Montenegro 266 km (241 km with Serbia; 25 km with Montenegro), Slovenia 670 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 21% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 38% other: 19% (1993 est.)
Location [time series]
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia
Map references [time series]
Europe
Maritime claims [time series]
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
frequent and destructive earthquakes
Natural resources [time series]
oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt
Terrain [time series]
geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coast, coastline, and islands
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
21 counties (zupanije, zupanija--singular): Bjelovar-Bilogora, City of Zagreb, Dubrovnik-Neretva, Istra, Karlovac, Koprivnica-Krizevci, Krapina-Zagorje, Lika-Senj, Medimurje, Osijek-Baranja, Pozega-Slavonia, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Sibenik, Sisak-Moslavina, Slavonski Brod-Posavina, Split-Dalmatia, Varazdin, Virovitica-Podravina, Vukovar-Srijem, Zadar-Knin, Zagreb note: there are two special self-governing districts (kotari, kotar--singular) under local Serb control: Glina, Knin
Capital [time series]
Zagreb
Constitution [time series]
adopted on 22 December 1990
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Croatia conventional short form: Croatia local long form: Republika Hrvatska local short form: Hrvatska
Data code [time series]
HR
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador William D. MONTGOMERY embassy: Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb mailing address: use street address
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Miomir ZUZUL chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Franjo TUDJMAN (since 30 May 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Zlatko MATESA (since 7 November 1995); Deputy Prime Ministers Mate GRANIC (since 8 September 1992), Ivica KOSTOVIC (since 14 October 1993), Jure RADIC (since NA October 1994), Borislav SKEGRO (since 3 April 1993), and Ljerka MINTAS-HODAK (since November 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: President Franjo TUDJMAN reelected; percent of vote--Franjo TUDJMAN 61%, Zdravko TOMAC 21%, Vlado GOTOVAC 18%
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)
Government type [time series]
presidential/parliamentary democracy
Independence [time series]
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
International organization participation [time series]
BIS (pending member), CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives; Constitutional Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives
Legal system [time series]
based on civil law system
Legislative branch [time series]
bicameral Assembly or Sabor consists of the House of Counties or Zupanijski Dom (68 seats--63 directly elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives or the Zastupnicki Dom (127 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Counties--last held 13 April 1997 (next to be held NA 2001); House of Representatives--last held 29 October 1995 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: House of Counties--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--HDZ 42, HDZ/HSS 11, HSS 2, IDS 2, SDP/PGS/HNS 2, SDP/HNS 2, HSLS/HSS/HNS 1, HSLS 1; note--in some districts certain parties ran as coalitions, while in others they ran alone; House of Representatives--percent of vote by party--HDZ 45.23%, HSS/IDS/HNS/HKDU/SBHS 18.26%, HSLS 11.55%, SDP 8.93%, HSP 5.01%; seats by party--HDZ 75, HSLS 12, HSS 10, SDP 10, IDS 4, HSP 4, HNS 2, SNS 2, HND 1, ASH 1, HKDU 1, SBHS 1, independents 4
National holiday [time series]
Statehood Day, 30 May (1990)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
Military
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Frontier Guard, Home Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]
$950 million (1999)
Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]
5% (1999)
Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]
males age 15-49: 1,188,898 (1999 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]
males age 15-49: 943,719 (1999 est.)
Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]
19 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]
males: 33,722 (1999 est.)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 17% (male 404,761; female 383,088) 15-64 years: 68% (male 1,591,831; female 1,591,106) 65 years and over: 15% (male 272,219; female 433,860) (1999 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
10.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate [time series]
11.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Croat 78%, Serb 12%, Muslim 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%, Slovenian 0.5%, others 8.1% (1991)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
7.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages [time series]
Serbo-Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 74 years male: 70.69 years female: 77.52 years (1999 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 99% female: 95% (1991 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Croat(s) adjective: Croatian
Net migration rate [time series]
1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population [time series]
4,676,865 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0.1% (1999 est.)
Religions [time series]
Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Muslim 1.2%, Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8%
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.52 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]
Eastern Slavonia, which was held by ethnic Serbs during the ethnic conflict, was returned to Croatian control by the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia on 15 January 1998; Croatia and Italy made progress toward resolving a bilateral issue dating from World War II over property and ethnic minority rights; significant progress has been made with Slovenia toward resolving a maritime border dispute over direct access to the sea in the Adriatic; Serbia and Montenegro is disputing Croatia's claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern Croatia because it controls the entrance to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro; Prevlaka is currently under observation by the UN military observer mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP)
Illicit drugs [time series]
transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; a minor transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe
Transportation
Airports [time series]
72 (1998 est.)
Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]
total: 21 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]
total: 51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 42 (1998 est.)
Heliports [time series]
1 (1998 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 27,840 km paved: 22,690 km (including 330 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,150 km (1997 est.)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 810,226 GRT/1,227,468 DWT ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 26, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 5, container 5, liquefied gas 1, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 1, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)
Pipelines [time series]
crude oil 670 km; petroleum products 20 km; natural gas 310 km (1992); note--under repair following territorial dispute
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Omisalj, Ploce, Pula, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split, Vukovar (inland waterway port on Danube), Zadar
Railways [time series]
total: 2,296 km standard gauge: 2,296 km 1.435-m gauge (796 km electrified) note: some lines remain inoperative or not in use; disrupted by territorial dispute (1997)
Waterways [time series]
785 km perennially navigable; large sections of Sava blocked by downed bridges, silt, and debris