Croatia

Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a beautiful country in Central and Southeast Europe, right along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It shares borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, and also has a maritime border with Italy. Croatia is famous for its stunning coastline, with over 1,000 islands and islets—the largest overseas territory on the Adriatic Sea. The capital city is Zagreb, but other important cities include Split, Rijeka, and Osijek.

Croatia's history is rich and spans many centuries. The Croats first arrived in the region in the 6th century, and by the 10th century, Croatia became a kingdom. Over time, it has been part of various empires and states, including the Habsburg monarchy and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Croatia declared independence in 1991.

Today, Croatia is a democratic country with a president, prime minister, and parliament. It is a member of many important international groups, such as the European Union, the United Nations, and NATO. The country has a strong economy, especially in tourism, which brings many visitors to its beautiful beaches, historic cities, and natural landscapes. Croatia also values education, health care, and cultural activities, making it a vibrant place to live and visit.

Etymology

Main article: Names of the Croats and Croatia

The name "Croatia" comes from old words used by Slavic people. It began with a Latin word, Croātia. This word came from an even older Slavic word. That word might have meant "guardian" or "protector."

One of the oldest records of the Croatian name is on a stone tablet called the Baška tablet. Another old writing was found near Benkovac. It shows how people named their leaders long ago.

History

Main article: History of Croatia

Prehistory and antiquity

Main article: History of Croatia before the Croats

The area now called Croatia has been home to people for thousands of years. Long ago, many groups lived there, including Neanderthals and humans during the prehistoric period. Important ancient cultures such as the Vučedol and Hallstatt cultures left behind artifacts and buildings. The Romans later ruled the land and built cities and large buildings like the palace in Split for Emperor Diocletian.

Middle Ages

Main articles: Duchy of Croatia, Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102), Kingdom of Croatia (1102–1526), and Republic of Ragusa

After the Romans left, new groups came, including the Avars and Croats. Over time, Croatia formed its own duchy and later a kingdom. Leaders like Tomislav became the first king of Croatia. The kingdom grew stronger under rulers like Petar Krešimir IV and Dmitar Zvonimir. Later, Croatia joined with Hungary, which brought both good and hard times for the country.

Union with Hungary and Austria

Main articles: Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg) and Austria-Hungary

For many years, Croatia was ruled by Hungarian and later Austrian leaders. This time included battles against Ottoman invaders and conflicts with the Republic of Venice. Even with these challenges, Croatia kept its own parliament and some independence. Leaders and families like the Frankopans helped preserve Croatian culture.

The World Wars and Yugoslavia

Main articles: Creation of Yugoslavia, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Banovina of Croatia, World War II in Yugoslavia, and Socialist Republic of Croatia

In the 20th century, Croatia became part of Yugoslavia after World War I. During World War II, it was occupied and faced hard times. After the war, Croatia was part of socialist Yugoslavia, with periods of tension and change, including the Croatian Spring in the 1970s.

Independence

Croatia declared independence in 1991, leading to a war with Serbian forces. After years of conflict, Croatia won and joined international groups like the European Union in 2013. The country has since focused on growing its economy and joining European structures.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Croatia

Croatia is in Central and Southeast Europe, right next to the Adriatic Sea. It touches Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast, and has a sea border with Italy to the west. The country is 56,594 square kilometres big. Its highest point is the Dinara peak in the Dinaric Alps, which is 1,831 metres tall. Croatia has over a thousand islands and islets in the Adriatic Sea. The biggest ones are Cres and Krk.

Croatia has many different landscapes. The north is hilly, and the east has flat lands called Slavonia. Big rivers like the Danube, Drava, Kupa, and the Sava flow through the country. Near the Adriatic coast, there are low mountains and forests. The land has natural resources like oil, coal, and bauxite. The Plitvice lakes are well-known for their lovely, colourful lakes linked by waterfalls.

Governance

Further information: Politics of Croatia and Human rights in Croatia

Croatia is a country with a parliamentary system. The president is the head of state, chosen for five years, and leads the armed forces as commander-in-chief. The prime minister runs the government and handles daily work.

The Croatian Parliament, called the Sabor, makes the laws. It has between 100 and 160 members who are elected for four years. The courts, like the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court, make sure laws are fair and handle important cases.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Croatia

Croatia has a highly developed mixed economy. It is one of the largest economies in Southeast Europe by gross domestic product (GDP). The economy is stronger in Central Croatia, especially in Zagreb. Croatia has a very high level of human development, low income inequality, and a high quality of life.

Croatia's economy has changed over time. It once relied on farming and natural resources. Later, it grew with shipbuilding, railroads, and industry. After becoming independent in 1990, Croatia faced challenges but has since become a high-income country. Today, its economy is driven by services and industry, and it is becoming an energy power in Europe with investments in natural gas and electric transport.

Tourism

Tourism is very important to Croatia's economy. Many people visit Croatia, especially in the summer. Popular places to visit include Dubrovnik, Rovinj, Zagreb, Split, Poreč, Umag, and Zadar. Tourism has grown a lot since the 1960s and 1980s. In 2024, over 20 million tourists visited Croatia.

Croatia has many beautiful natural areas, including eight national parks and eleven nature parks. There are also ten World Heritage Sites and many beaches marked as Blue Flag beaches. Visitors enjoy Croatia's culture, cuisine, history, architecture, art, and nature. Tourism has brought growth but also challenges like overcrowding, leading to new rules to manage visitor numbers.

Infrastructure

See also: Transport in Croatia and List of tallest buildings in Croatia

Motorways

The motorway network in Croatia was mostly built in the late 1990s and 2000s. As of December 2020, Croatia had over 1,300 kilometers of motorways, connecting Zagreb to other regions. The busiest motorways are the A1, linking Zagreb to Split, and the A3, running through northwest Croatia and Slavonia.

Railways

Main article: Rail transport in Croatia

Further information: List of railways in Croatia

Croatia has an extensive rail network covering over 2,600 kilometers. Important rail lines connect Rijeka to Budapest and Ljubljana to Belgrade, passing through Zagreb. In 2024, Europe invested in modernizing Croatia's railways, including new trains to improve travel between Split and Zagreb.

Aviation

Main article: List of airports in Croatia

Further information: List of the busiest airports in Croatia

Airports in Croatia serve cities like Dubrovnik, Osijek, Pula, Rijeka, Split, Zadar, and Zagreb. The busiest is Franjo Tuđman Airport in Zagreb. In 2025, airports in Croatia welcomed over 14 million passengers. In 2024, Croatia started using new Airbus A220 planes to improve flights and reduce fuel use.

Ports

The busiest cargo seaport is the Port of Rijeka. The busiest passenger ports are Split and Zadar. Many smaller ports help with ferries to islands and cities in Italy. The largest river port is the port of Vukovar on the Danube.

Energy

See also: Energy in Croatia

Croatia has a network of oil and natural gas pipelines. It also has an important liquefied natural gas terminal off Krk island, which started in 2021. Croatia gets some of its electricity from a nuclear power plant it shares with Slovenia. In 2026, Croatia had the most water resources per person in the European Union.

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Croatia and Croats

See also: List of cities and towns in Croatia

Croatia has about 3.87 million people. It is one of the less crowded countries in Europe. The average age is 45 years, and the number of people has been slowly going down in recent years. Some people have moved away, especially after conflicts in the 1990s.

Religion

Main articles: Religion in Croatia and Catholic Church in Croatia

Further information: List of cathedrals in Croatia and List of synagogues in Croatia

Most people in Croatia are Christian, and many are Catholic. There are also smaller groups of Eastern Orthodox Christians, Protestants, Muslims, and people who do not follow any religion.

Languages

See also: Shtokavian dialect, Chakavian dialect, and Kajkavian dialect

Croatian is the official language and is spoken by most people. There are also several minority languages in different areas. Many people learn foreign languages, especially English.

Education

Main article: Education in Croatia

Croatia has a high rate of people who can read and write. Children start school around age six or seven and go to school for eight years. After that, they can go to gymnasiums or vocational schools. There are many universities, with the University of Zagreb being the largest and oldest.

Healthcare

Main article: Healthcare in Croatia

Croatia has a system where everyone can get basic health care. There are many hospitals and clinics, and doctors help millions of patients each year. The most common causes of illness are related to heart health.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Croatia

Further information: World Heritage Sites in Croatia, Register of Cultural Goods of Croatia, and List of museums in Croatia

Croatia’s culture is a mix of ideas from Western Europe, the Byzantine Empire, Central Europe, and the Mediterranean. This mixing started long ago and continues today. The 19th century was an important time for Croatian culture, with growth in art, music, and writing.

The government helps protect Croatia’s culture and traditions. Croatia has ten sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage and many important traditions. One famous Croatian invention is the necktie, which came from a style of scarf worn by Croatian soldiers in France long ago.

In 2019, Croatia had many theatres, orchestras, cinemas, museums, libraries, and archives. The country loves its arts and has many places to enjoy them.

Arts, literature, and music

Croatia’s buildings show ideas from many places. You can see Austrian and Hungarian styles in the north, and Venetian styles along the coast. Old churches and buildings tell the story of Croatia’s past.

Croatian artists have been making beautiful works since the Middle Ages. Famous names include painters, sculptors, and writers who have made a big impact.

Croatian music includes classical pieces and modern styles. The country’s first opera was written in 1846, and many talented musicians have performed around the world.

Media

Main articles: Media of Croatia and List of radio stations in Croatia

Croatia’s media is free, and people can read, watch, and listen to many different news sources. There are many TV channels, radio stations, and newspapers. The government tries to support free speech and a free press.

Croatia has taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1961 and has had some great results over the years.

Film industry

Main articles: Cinema of Croatia and Television in Croatia

Croatia’s film industry makes about five to ten movies each year. The country has won important awards, including an Academy Award for an animated short film. Many famous movies and TV shows from around the world have been filmed in Croatia because of its beautiful landscapes.

Cuisine

See also: List of Croatian dishes

Croatian food changes a lot depending on where you are in the country. Along the coast, you’ll find lots of seafood, vegetables, and pasta, influenced by Italian and Mediterranean cooking. In the mainland areas, you’ll see more meat, fish, and vegetables, with ideas from Austrian, Hungarian, Turkish, and Balkan cuisines.

Croatia makes wonderful wine, especially in the north-east. The country also enjoys beer, which became more popular in the late 1700s.

Sports

Croatia has a long history of sports, dating back to Roman times. Today, the most popular sports are football, basketball, handball, and water polo. The country has won many Olympic medals and has hosted several big international sporting events. Football is especially loved, with the national team doing very well in World Cups.