Croatia

Republic of Croatia

Europe Zagreb

Population

4.07M

Area

56,594 km²

GDP

$92.53B

GDP Per Capita

$42,600

Pop. Density

72/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

€euro(EUR)

Calling Code

+385

Timezone

UTC+01:00

Languages

Croatian

Driving Side

right

Demonym

Croatian

Background

The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I. 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 consisting of six socialist republics, including Croatia, under the strong hand of Josip Broz, aka TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before Yugoslav forces were cleared from Croatian lands, along with a majority of Croatia's ethnic Serb population. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998. The country joined NATO in 2009 and the EU in 2013. In January 2023, Croatia further integrated into the EU by joining the Eurozone and the Schengen Area.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑87.5% since 2006

$50B (2006)$93B (2024)

Population

↓10.3% since 2006

4.3M (2006)3.9M (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 78.5 years

2006: 75.8 years2023: 78.5 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography19

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

45 10 N, 15 30 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total : 56,594 sq km
land: 55,974 sq km
water: 620 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries

total: 2,237 km
border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km; Hungary 348 km; Montenegro 19 km; Serbia 314 km; Slovenia 600 km

Coastline

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

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

Elevation

highest point: Dinara 1,831 m
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 331 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land

26.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 15.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 9.6% (2023 est.)

forest

34.7% (2023 est.)

other

38.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

170 sq km (2022)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Population distribution

more of the population lives in the northern half of the country, with approximately a quarter of the populace residing in and around the capital of Zagreb; many of the islands are sparsely populated

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Geography - note

controls most land routes from Western Europe to the Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits; most Adriatic Sea islands lie off the coast of Croatia -- some 1,200 islands, islets, ridges, and rocks

People & Society32

Population

total: 4,071,208 (2025 est.)
male: 1,968,334
female: 2,102,874

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

Croat 91.6%, Serb 3.2%, other 3.9% (including Bosniak, Romani, Albanian, Italian, and Hungarian), unspecified 1.3% (2021 est.)

Languages

Languages: Croatian (official) 95.2%, Serbian 1.2%, other 3.1% (including Bosnian, Romani, Albanian, and Italian) unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, nužan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Croatian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Roman Catholic 79%, Orthodox 3.3%, Protestant 0.3%, other Christian 4.8%, Muslim 1.3%, other 1.1%, agnostic 1.7%, none or atheist 4.7%, unspecified 3.9% (2021 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.8% (male 296,527/female 278,236)
15-64 years: 63.1% (male 1,307,814/female 1,309,394)
65 years and over: 23.1% (2024 est.) (male 399,090/female 559,055)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 55.9 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 21.5 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 34.4 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 2.9 (2025 est.)

Median age

total: 44.9 years (2025 est.)
male: 43.2 years
female: 47 years

Population growth rate

-0.53% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

8.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

12.87 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

more of the population lives in the northern half of the country, with approximately a quarter of the populace residing in and around the capital of Zagreb; many of the islands are sparsely populated

Urbanization

urban population: 58.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

684,000 ZAGREB (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

29 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 74.6 years
female: 81 years

Total fertility rate

1.43 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.69 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 13.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

3.91 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

5.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.4% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 9.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 4.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 3.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 32.8% (2025 est.)
male: 33.6% (2025 est.)
female: 32.1% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

50.1% (2021 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.5% national budget (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years (2022 est.)
male: 15 years (2022 est.)
female: 17 years (2022 est.)

Government23

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Croatia

conventional short form

Croatia

local long form

Republika Hrvatska

local short form

Hrvatska

former

People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia

etymology

name probably derives from the Croats, a Slavic tribe who migrated to the Balkans in the 7th century A.D., but that name may be related to the Russian word khrebet, meaning "mountain chain"

Government type

parliamentary republic

Capital

name: Zagreb
geographic coordinates: 45 48 N, 16 00 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: the city's name means "beyond the bank (or ditch)"; za in Old Croat means "beyond," and greb means "bank" or "ditch," relating to the city's original site above the Sava River

Administrative divisions

20 counties (zupanije, singular - zupanija) and 1 city* (grad - singular) with special county status; Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska (Bjelovar-Bilogora), Brodsko-Posavska (Brod-Posavina), Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria), Karlovacka (Karlovac), Koprivnicko-Krizevacka (Koprivnica-Krizevci), Krapinsko-Zagorska (Krapina-Zagorje), Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska (Medimurje), Osjecko-Baranjska (Osijek-Baranja), Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska (Primorje-Gorski Kotar), Sibensko-Kninska (Sibenik-Knin), Sisacko-Moslavacka (Sisak-Moslavina), Splitsko-Dalmatinska (Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska (Varazdin), Viroviticko-Podravska (Virovitica-Podravina), Vukovarsko-Srijemska (Vukovar-Syrmia), Zadarska (Zadar), Zagreb*, Zagrebacka (Zagreb county)

Legal system

civil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1990
amendment process: proposed by at least one fifth of the Assembly membership, by the president of the republic, by the Government of Croatia, or through petition by at least 10% of the total electorate; proceedings to amend require majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; passage by petition requires a majority vote in a referendum and promulgation by the Assembly

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Croatia
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

President Zoran MILANOVIC (since 18 February 2020)

head of government

Prime Minister Andrej PLENKOVIC (since 19 October 2016)

cabinet

Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the Assembly

election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president and approved by the Assembly

most recent election date

December 2024 (first round) and January 2025 (second round)

election results

2025: Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 74.6%, Dragan PRIMORAC (independent) 25.3%

2019: Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 52.7%, Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (HDZ) 47.3%

expected date of next election

2029

Legislative branch

legislature name

Croatian Parliament (Hrvatski Sabor)

legislative structure

unicameral

number of seats

151 (all directly elected)

electoral system

proportional representation

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

most recent election date

4/17/2024

parties elected and seats per party

Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) (55); Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) (37); Homeland Movement (DP) (11); We Can! – Political Platform (Možemo!) (10); Bridge (Most) (7); Other (20)

percentage of women in chamber

33.1%

expected date of next election

April 2028

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and vice president, 25 civil department justices, and 16 criminal department justices)
judge selection and term of office: president of Supreme Court nominated by the president of Croatia and elected by the Sabor for a 4-year term; other Supreme Court justices appointed by the National Judicial Council; all judges serve until age 70
subordinate courts: Administrative Court; county, municipal, and specialized courts

Political parties

Bosniaks Together
The Bridge or MOST (formerly the Bridge of Independent Lists)
Croatia Romani Union Kali Sara (SRRH)
Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ
Democratic Union of Hungarians in Croatia (DZMH)
Focus or Fokus
Homeland Movement or DP (also known as Miroslav Škoro Homeland Movement or DPMS)
Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS
Independent Platform of the North (NPS)
Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS
Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP
We Can! or Mozemo!

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Pjer &Scaron;IMUNOVIĆ (since 8 September 2017)

chancery

2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 588-5899

FAX

[1] (202) 588-8937

email address and website

[email protected]

https://mvep.gov.hr/embassy-114969/114969

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle (WA)

consulate(s)

Anchorage (AL), Houston, Kansas City (MO),Minneapolis/St. Paul (MN), New Orleans, Pittsburgh (PA)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Nicole McGRAW (since 21 October 2025)

embassy

Ulica Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb

mailing address

5080 Zagreb Place, Washington DC  20521-5080

telephone

[385] (1) 661-2200

FAX

[385] (1) 665-8933

email address and website

[email protected]

https://hr.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

AIIB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EMU, EU, FAO, G-11, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Independence

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia); notable earlier dates: ca. 925 (Kingdom of Croatia established), 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes established, later became Yugoslavia)

National holiday

Statehood Day (National Day), 30 May (1990)

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue -- the pan-Slav colors -- with the Croatian coat of arms in the center, which consists of a main shield (a checkerboard of 13 red and 12 silver fields) with five smaller shields that form a crown over the main shield

meaning: the small shields represent the five historic regions (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia

history: Russia's 19th-century flag inspired the pan-Slav colors

National symbol(s)

red-and-white checkerboard

National color(s)

red, white, blue

National anthem(s)

title: "Lijepa nasa domovino" (Our Beautiful Homeland)
lyrics/music: Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN
history: adopted in 1972 while still part of Yugoslavia; the lyrics were written in 1835, and it served as an unofficial anthem beginning in 1891

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 10 (8 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Plitvice Lakes National Park (n); Historic Split (c); Old City of Dubrovnik (c); Euphrasian Basilica; Historic Trogir (c); Šibenik Cathedral (c); Stari Grad Plain (c); Zadar and Fort St. Nikola Venetian Defense Works (c); Primeval Beech Forests (n); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c)

Economy31

Economic overview

upper-middle-income Balkan economy; newest euro user (introduced in 2023); increased investments from EU structural funds and tourism sector contributing to strong but moderating economic growth; declining energy prices and restrictive monetary policy easing inflation; historically low unemployment rate with labor shortages within services and manufacturing sectors

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $164.825 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $158.769 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $153.693 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $42,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $41,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $39,900 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$92.526 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10.8% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3.4% (2024 est.)
industry: 19.8% (2024 est.)
services: 59.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

57% (2024 est.)

government consumption

22.6% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.7% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.2% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

49.8% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-52.9% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

maize, wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, soybeans, sunflower seeds, potatoes, pork, grapes (2023)

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

2.1% (2024 est.)

Labor force

1.733 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024: 5.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 6.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 7% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 16.6% (2024 est.)
male: 15.5% (2024 est.)
female: 18.2% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

18% (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 30 (2022 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 18.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 7.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 23% (2022 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2024: 7.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 7.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget

revenues: $32.487 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $33.715 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2023: 75.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024: -$1.049 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $635.97 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$2.621 billion (2022 est.)

Exports

Exports 2024: $46.601 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $45.064 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $41.907 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

Italy 14%, Germany 11%, Slovenia 11%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 6%, Austria 6% (2023)

Exports - commodities

ships, garments, electricity, packaged medicine, wood (2023)

Imports

Imports 2024: $49.86 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $46.811 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $46.769 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

Italy 14%, Germany 14%, Slovenia 11%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, garments, natural gas, crude petroleum (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $3.336 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $3.176 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $29.726 billion (2022 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Energy7

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 5.518 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 16.408 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 8.461 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 10.038 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 2.053 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

31.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

14.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

48.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste

3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption: 596,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports: 663,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 70,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 71 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production: 722.231 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 2.689 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 1.119 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 2.995 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 79.907 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1.1 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 4.72 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

the national state-owned public broadcaster, Croatian Radiotelevision, operates 4 terrestrial TV networks, a satellite channel that rebroadcasts programs for Croatians overseas, and 6 regional TV centers; 2 private broadcasters with national terrestrial networks; 29 privately owned regional TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; state-owned public broadcaster operates 4 national radio networks and 23 regional radio stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks and 117 local radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.hr

Internet users

percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 1.11 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.)

Transportation6

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

45 (2025)

Heliports

7 (2025)

Railways

total: 2,617 km (2020) 980 km electrified

Merchant marine

total: 384 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 10, general cargo 32, oil tanker 14, other 328

Ports

total ports

16 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

Bakar, Dubrovnik, Omisalj, Rijeka Luka, Rovinj, Sibenik, Split, Zadar

Military & Security7

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike Hrvatske, OSRH): Croatian Army (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Croatian Navy (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM; includes Coast Guard), Croatian Air Force (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo, HRZ) (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024: 1.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 15,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is a mix of Soviet-era (largely from the former Yugoslavia) equipment and a growing amount of more modern, NATO-compatible weapon systems from suppliers such as France, Germany, Türkiye, and the US (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18-29 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished in 2008 but will be reinstated in 2026 when it will become mandatory for men aged 19-29 to undergo two months of basic military training (2025)

Military deployments

150 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO); also has a few hundred personnel participating in several other EU, NATO, and UN missions (2025)

Military - note

the Armed Forces of Croatia (OSRH) are responsible for the defense of Croatia’s sovereignty and territory, contributing to international humanitarian, peacekeeping, and security missions, and providing assistance to civil authorities for such missions as responding to disasters, search and rescue, anti-terrorism, and internal security in times of crisis if called upon by the prime minister or the president; Croatia joined NATO in 2009, and the OSRH participates in NATO missions, including its peacekeeping force in Kosovo and the Enhanced Forward Presence mission in Eastern Europe; it also contributes to EU and UN missions; the OSRH trains regularly with NATO and regional partners

the OSRH was established in 1991 from the Croatian National Guard during the Croatian War of Independence (1991-95); during the war, the ground forces grew to as many as 60 brigades and dozens of independent battalions, and a single military offensive against Serbian forces in 1995 included some 100,000 Croatian troops; in 2000, Croatia initiated an effort to modernize and reform the OSRH into a small, professional military capable of meeting the challenges of NATO membership (2025)

Transnational Issues1

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 29,927 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 758 (2024 est.)

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