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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

9 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.hr

Internet users [time series]

480,000 (2001)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: NA domestic: reconstruction plan calls for replacement of all analog circuits with digital and enlarging the network; a backup will be included in the plan for the main trunk international: 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 two fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; Croatia is also investing in ADRIA 1, a joint fiber-optic project with Germany, Albania, and Greece (2000)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

1,721,139 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.3 million (2001)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $8.6 billion expenditures: $9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

kuna (HRK)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

HRK

Debt - external [time series]

$16.5 billion (yearend 2002 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

29 (1998)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

ODA $66 million (2000)

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. The economy emerged from its mild recession in 2000 with tourism the main factor, but massive structural unemployment remains a key negative element. The government's failure to press the economic reforms needed to spur growth is largely the result of coalition politics and public resistance, particularly from the trade unions. Opponents fear reforms would cut jobs, wages, and social benefits. The government has a heavy backload of civil cases, many involving tenure land. The country is likely to experience only moderate growth without disciplined fiscal and structural reform.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

14.27 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

386 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

3.386 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

12.12 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 33.6% hydro: 66% other: 0.4% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

kuna per US dollar - 7.87 (2002), 8.34 (2001), 8.28 (2000), 7.11 (1999), 6.36 (1998)

Exports [time series]

$4.9 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities [time series]

transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels

Exports - partners [time series]

Italy 22.4%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 14.4%, Germany 12.5%, Slovenia 8%, Austria 7.3% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $43.12 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 9% industry: 33% services: 58% (2002 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $9,800 (2002 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

5.2% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 23.3% (1998)

Imports [time series]

$10.7 billion c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Italy 16.8%, Germany 16.4%, Slovenia 7.8%, Russia 6.8%, Austria 6.7%, France 5.2% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.8% (2002 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]

2.2% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.7 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 13.2% NA, industry 25.4% NA, services 46.4% NA (2002)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

2.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

1.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

1.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

34.36 billion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption [time series]

89,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

93.6 million bbl (37257)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

21.7% (2002 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 56,542 sq km water: 128 sq km land: 56,414 sq km

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]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Dinara 1,830 m

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; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

45 10 N, 15 30 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,197 km border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia and Montenegro (north) 241 km, Serbia and Montenegro (south) 25 km, Slovenia 670 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 23.55% permanent crops: 2.24% other: 74.21% (1998 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]

destructive earthquakes

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad - singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska Zupanija, Brodsko-Posavska Zupanija, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija, Istarska Zupanija, Karlovacka Zupanija, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija, Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija, Licko-Senjska Zupanija, Medimurska Zupanija, Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija, Pozesko-Slavonska Zupanija, Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija, Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija, Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija, Varazdinska Zupanija, Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija, Vukovarsko-Srijemska Zupanija, Zadarska Zupanija, Zagreb*, Zagrebacka Zupanija

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 short form: Hrvatska local long form: Republika Hrvatska

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANK embassy: Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb mailing address: use street address telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200 FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan GRDESIC FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899 chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Ivica RACAN (since 27 January 2000); Deputy Prime Ministers Goran GRANIC (since 27 January 2000), Ante SIMONIC (since 30 July 2002), Zeljka ANTUNOVI (since 27 January 2000), Slavko LINIC (since 27 January 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the House of Representatives elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 7 February 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister nominated by the president in line with the balance of power in the Assembly note: government coalition - SDP, HSLS, HSS, LP, HNS; a sixth party, the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), withdrew in June 2001 election results: Stjepan MESIC elected president; percent of vote - Stjepan MESIC (HNS) 56%, Drazen BUDISA (HSLS) 44%

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, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts 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]

unicameral Assembly or Sabor (152 seats; note - one seat was added in the November Parliamentary elections; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - House of Counties was abolished in March 2001 election results: Assembly (then referred to as the House of Representatives) - percent of vote by party - HDZ 43.4%, SDP 23%, HNS 7.4%, HSS 6.57%, HSP 6%; seats by party - HDZ 66, SDP 34, HNS 10, HSS 9, HSP 7; note - these are preliminary results elections: Assembly - last held 23 November 2003 (next to be held in 2007)

National holiday [time series]

Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Croatian Bloc or HB [Ivic PASALIC]; Croatian Christian Democratic Union or HKDU [Anto KOVACEVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Ivo SANADER]; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Anto DJAPIC]; Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Zlatko TOMCIC]; Croatian People's Party or HNS [Vesna PUSIC]; Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Drazen BUDISA]; Croatian True Revival Party or HIP [Miroslav TUDJMAN]; Democratic Centre or DC [Mate GRANIC]; Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]; Liberal Party or LS [Ivo BANAC]; Party of Liberal Democrats or LIBRA [Goran GRANIC]; Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Ivica RACAN] note: the Social Democratic Party or SDP and the Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS formed a coalition as did the HSS, HNS, LP, and IDS, which together defeated the Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ in the 2000 lower house parliamentary election; the IDS subsequently left the governing coalition in June 2001 over its inability to win greater autonomy for Istria

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Suffrage [time series]

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

Introduction

Background [time series]

In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent Communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Ground Forces (Hrvatska Vojska, HV), Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$520 million (2002 est.)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

2.39% (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,081,135 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 856,946 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

19 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 30,096 (2003 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 18.3% (male 415,873; female 394,414) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,465,488; female 1,454,778) 65 years and over: 15.6% (male 258,943; female 432,752) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12.76 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

11.25 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, Bosniak 0.5%, Hungarian 0.4%, Slovene 0.3%, Czech 0.2%, Roma 0.2%, Albanian 0.1%, Montenegrin 0.1%, others 4.1% (2001)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 10 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

200 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 6.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 7.78 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.37 years male: 70.76 years female: 78.2 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.5% male: 99.4% female: 97.8% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 38.9 years male: 37.1 years female: 40.7 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

1.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

4,422,248 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.31% (2003 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, Muslim 1.3%, Protestant 0.3%, others and unknown 6.2% (2001)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.93 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

discussions continue with Bosnia and Herzegovina on sections of the Una River and villages at the base of Mount Pljesevica; parliamentarians are far from ratifying the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of Pirin Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to Croatia; in late 2002, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro adopted an interim agreement to settle the disputed Prevlaka Peninsula, allowing the withdrawal of the UN monitoring mission (UNMOP), but discussions could be complicated by the inability of Serbia and Montenegro to come to an agreement on the economic aspects of the new federal union; Croatia and Italy continue to debate bilateral property and ethnic minority rights issues stemming from border changes after the Second World War

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

59 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 16 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 9 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 4

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 34 (2002)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 28,123 km paved: 23,792 km (including 410 km of expressways) unpaved: 4,331 km (2000)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 765,830 GRT/1,188,948 DWT note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Hong Kong 1 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 16, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 5, multi-functional large-load carrier 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 6, short-sea passenger 3

Pipelines [time series]

gas 1,374 km; oil 583 km (2003)

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 (983 km electrified) (2002)

Waterways [time series]

785 km note: (perennially navigable; large sections of Sava blocked by downed bridges, silt, and debris)