Country Profile: Croatia
In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia.
Following World War II, Yugoslavia became an 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.
Economic 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.
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, to measures that would cut jobs, wages, or social benefits.
As a result, the country is likely to experience only moderate growth without disciplined fiscal and structural reform.
Basic Travel Information:
Croatia is a moderately developed nation in transition to a market economy. Facilities for tourism are available throughout the country, and the Adriatic coast is an increasingly popular tourist destination.
Travel Requirements:
A passport is required for travel to Croatia. A visa is not required for U.S. or some European passport holders for tourist or business trips of fewer than 90 days.
See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information.
Official Name:
Republic of Croatia local short form: Hrvatska
Capital City:
Zagreb
Population:
4,390,751
Language:
Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German)
Ethnic Groups:
Croat 78.1%, Serb 12.2%, Bosniak 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%, Slovene 0.5%, Czech 0.4%, Albanian 0.3%, Montenegrin 0.3%, Roma 0.2%, others 6.6%
Religion:
Roman Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Muslim 1.2%, Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8%
Currency:
Croatia kuna (HRK)
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 coastline and islands.
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, to measures that would cut jobs, wages, or social benefits.
As a result, the country is likely to experience only moderate growth without disciplined fiscal and structural reform.
Basic Travel Information:
Croatia is a moderately developed nation in transition to a market economy. Facilities for tourism are available throughout the country, and the Adriatic coast is an increasingly popular tourist destination.
Travel Requirements:
A passport is required for travel to Croatia. A visa is not required for U.S. or some European passport holders for tourist or business trips of fewer than 90 days.
See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information.
Official Name:
Republic of Croatia local short form: Hrvatska
Capital City:
Zagreb
Population:
4,390,751
Language:
Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German)
Ethnic Groups:
Croat 78.1%, Serb 12.2%, Bosniak 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%, Slovene 0.5%, Czech 0.4%, Albanian 0.3%, Montenegrin 0.3%, Roma 0.2%, others 6.6%
Religion:
Roman Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Muslim 1.2%, Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8%
Currency:
Croatia kuna (HRK)
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 coastline and islands.