Discover Fascinating Croatia Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Croatia.
Croatia
Background
๐ The lands that make up Croatia were once part of the mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I in 1918. After this war, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes came together to form a kingdom, which was called Yugoslavia starting in 1929. ๐ญ๐ท But things changed in 1991, when Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia! ๐ This didn't come easy, though, as it took four years of tough battles to push out the Yugoslav forces. โ๏ธ
Year Croatia declared independence
1991
Duration of conflict for independence
4 years
Exports - commodities
Croatia's exports are vital to its economy! ๐ In 2022, the country exported several key commodities. Here's a fun look at what Croatia traded:
- Refined Petroleum: This is one of Croatia's main exports, powering not just local cars but also international markets! โฝ
- Electricity: Yes, Croatia is generating some electricity to sell! โก
- Natural Gas: Croatia is also involved in the vibrant natural gas trade! ๐จ
- Garments: The fashion industry is alive and well in Croatia, with garments making their way to other countries! ๐
- Wood: This precious resource is also on the list, highlighting Croatia's rich forests! ๐ฒ
These commodities showcase the diverse resources that Croatia brings to the global stage! ๐
Exports - partners
Croatia's exports are like a tasty pizza, with something for everyone! ๐ In 2022, here's how Croatia shared its goods with its best pals:
- Italy: 13%
- Slovenia: 11%
- Germany: 11%
- Hungary: 10%
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: 9%
Looks like Italy is at the top of the list, taking a bigger slice of the pie! ๐ Let's take a closer look at these percentages, which add up to a full 100%! A pie chart could really show how much each partner takes up in Croatia's export market! ๐ฅง
Total Export Partners
5
Croatia's Export Partners (2022)
Capital
๐๏ธ The capital city of Croatia is Zagreb! Itโs not just any city; itโs the heart of Croatia, where history meets modern life. Zagreb is known for its beautiful architecture, vibrant culture, and friendly people! ๐ญ๐ทโจ
Imports - commodities
Croatia imports a variety of important commodities each year! ๐ In 2022, the most significant imports included natural gas, refined petroleum, electricity, garments, and cars. These goods are essential for the country's economy and everyday life. ๐๐ก๐งฅ
Here's a quick breakdown of these commodities:
- Natural Gas: A crucial energy source for heating and electricity.
- Refined Petroleum: Fuel for vehicles and various industries.
- Electricity: Power for homes and businesses.
- Garments: Clothing items, contributing to the fashion industry.
- Cars: Not just for transport, but also a symbol of modern lifestyle. ๐๏ธ๐จ
Understanding these imports helps us see what drives the economy of Croatia!
Climate
๐ Croatia has a fascinating mix of climates! It mainly features Mediterranean and continental climates. The continental climate is prevalent, bringing us hot summers โ๏ธ and cold winters โ๏ธ. If you're near the coast, expect mild winters and dry summers, perfect for beach lovers! ๐๏ธ
Predominant climate type
Continental
Summer temperature trend
Hot summers are characteristic
Winter temperature trend
Cold winters are typical
Coastal climate feature
Mild winters and dry summers
Executive branch
In Croatia, the executive branch is led by some notable figures! ๐ The chief of state is President Zoran Milanovic, who has been in office since February 18, 2020. On the other hand, the head of government is Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who took his position on October 19, 2016. Together, they play important roles in leading the country's government. ๐ญ๐ทโจ
Current President
Zoran Milanovic
President since
February 18, 2020
Current Prime Minister
Andrej Plenkovic
Prime Minister since
October 19, 2016
Legislative branch
๐ญ๐ท Croatia has a unicameral Assembly which is made up of 151 seats. This means all the members work in one house to make laws and decisions for the country. A unicameral structure can help in quicker decision-making! ๐ผ
Total number of seats in the Assembly
151
Natural resources
๐ Croatia is rich in natural resources! Hereโs a fun list of what they have:
- Oil: A vital fuel source! ๐ข๏ธ
- Coal: Some coal reserves are available for energy production. โ๏ธ
- Bauxite: This is an important ore for aluminum production! ๐๏ธ
- Low-grade iron ore: Useful for making iron, even if it's low-grade! โ๏ธ
- Calcium: A key element found in nature! ๐งช
- Gypsum: Often used in construction and agriculture. ๐ก
- Natural asphalt: A natural substance with various industrial uses! ๐ง
- Silica: Great for manufacturing glass and ceramics! ๐ถ
- Mica: Useful in electronics and cosmetics! ๐จ
- Clays: These versatile materials are used in pottery and construction! ๐บ
- Salt: An essential mineral for life! ๐ง
- Hydropower: Renewable energy from water, a sustainable source! ๐งโก
Croatia's natural resources support both their economy and daily lives, making the country a gem of nature! ๐
Economic overview
Croatia's economy is quite fascinating! ๐โค๏ธ It's heavily focused on tourism, making it particularly sensitive to global events like the COVID-19 pandemic which hit their economy really hard. ๐ท Despite the challenges, Croatia became the newest user of the euro in 2023! ๐ถ This change is expected to help them bounce back from a long 6-year recession. ๐ However, the country is still facing some significant hurdles such as increasing public debt ๐ due to COVID-19 and various stimulus packages, weak exports ๐ฆ, continued emigration ๐ซ, and the introduction of a new liquefied natural gas import terminal. โ๏ธ The country's economic journey is definitely one to watch! ๐โจ
Duration of recession
6 years
New euro adoption
2023
Government type
In Croatia, the government operates as a parliamentary republic. ๐๏ธ This means that the government is led by elected officials, and the parliament plays a significant role in legislative decisions. This setup allows citizens to have a voice through their representatives! ๐ณ๏ธ
Ethnic groups
In Croatia, the diversity of ethnic groups is both interesting and vibrant! ๐ Here's a quick look at the percentages of the main ethnic groups:
- Croats: A whopping 91.6% of the population identifies as Croat! ๐ญ๐ท
- Serbs: Only 3.2% of the population identifies as Serb. ๐ท๐ธ
- Others: Thereโs a small portion, about 3.9%, who belong to other ethnic groups, which includes Bosniaks, Romani, Albanians, Italians, and Hungarians. ๐
- Unspecified: Finally, 1.3% of the population hasnโt specified their ethnicity.
This shows just how closely knitted the Croatian identity is! ๐
Percentage of Croats
91.6%
Percentage of Serbs
3.2%
Percentage of Others
3.9%
Percentage Unspecified
1.3%
Ethnic Composition in Croatia
Religions
In Croatia, religion plays an important role in people's lives. Here's a breakdown of the different beliefs that folks hold: ๐
- Roman Catholic: 79% - The majority of Croatians identify as Roman Catholic, making it the largest religious group in the country.
- Orthodox: 3.3% - A smaller group, but still significant.
- Protestant: 0.3% - This group is quite small.
- Other Christian: 4.8% - Some folks identify as other Christian denominations.
- Muslim: 1.3% - There is a small Muslim community in Croatia.
- Other: 1.1% - Includes various other beliefs.
- Agnostic: 1.7% - Some people question the existence of deities.
- None or Atheist: 4.7% - A small part of the population identifies as agnostic or atheist.
- Unspecified: 3.9% - Some folks haven't specified their religious beliefs.
This data is estimated as of 2021. ๐
Percentage of Roman Catholics
79%
Percentage of Orthodox
3.3%
Percentage of Protestants
0.3%
Percentage of Other Christians
4.8%
Percentage of Muslims
1.3%
Percentage of Others
1.1%
Percentage of Agnostics
1.7%
Percentage of None or Atheist
4.7%
Percentage Unspecific
3.9%
Distribution of Religions in Croatia
Languages
๐ In Croatia, language is a vibrant part of its culture! The official language is Croatian, which is spoken by 95.2% of the population. That's a huge majority! ๐ฃ๏ธ In addition to Croatian, 1.2% of people speak Serbian, while other languages make up 3.1% of the population. These include Bosnian, Romani, Albanian, and Italian. There is also 0.5% of the population that speaks unspecified languages. ๐ This rich tapestry of languages shows how diverse and interesting Croatia really is!
Percentage of Croatian Speakers
95.2%
Percentage of Serbian Speakers
1.2%
Percentage of Other Language Speakers
3.1%
Percentage of Unspecified Language Speakers
0.5%
Languages Spoken in Croatia
Imports - partners
Croatia has a diverse range of import partners, and it seems that its trade is quite focused! ๐ Here's a breakdown of the top countries Croatia imports from in 2022:
- ๐ฎ๐น Italy: 14%
- ๐ฉ๐ช Germany: 12%
- ๐ธ๐ฎ Slovenia: 11%
- ๐ญ๐บ Hungary: 7%
- ๐บ๐ธ United States: 7%
It's clear that Italy takes the lead as the biggest partner, but Germany and Slovenia aren't far behind! ๐ This pie chart can show you how these percentages break down visually!
Total Import Percentage from Top Partners
51%
Croatia's Import Partners in 2022
Population
Croatia has a total population of 4,150,116 people! ๐ That's a lot of faces and stories in this beautiful country.
Total Population
4,150,116
Area
๐ Croatia is a small but beautiful country with a total area of 56,594 sq km! This area is mostly land, measuring 55,974 sq km, while there's also a bit of sparkle in the form of water covering 620 sq km. Letโs take a closer look at these numbers! ๐
Total Area
56594 sq km
Land Area
55974 sq km
Water Area
620 sq km
Area Distribution in Croatia
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
๐ Let's take a look at Croatia's Real GDP from recent years! This is a snapshot of how much money Croatia makes when we measure power parity, which simply means how much consumers can buy in the local economy. ๐
- In 2021, Croatia's Real GDP was $144.425 billion.
- It grew to $154.574 billion in 2022.
- The latest estimate for 2023 shows it rising even higher to $159.305 billion! ๐
It's exciting to see how Croatia's economy is growing! ๐ฑ
Real GDP in 2021
144.425 billion USD
Real GDP in 2022
154.574 billion USD
Real GDP in 2023
159.305 billion USD
Croatia's Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) Over Three Years
Real GDP per capita
๐๐ฅณ Let's take a look at Croatia's Real GDP per capita! This number tells us how much money each person would have if the country's total economic output was shared equally. ๐ Here are the estimates over the last few years:
- 2021: $37,200
- 2022: $40,100
- 2023: $41,300
Isn't it great to see the growth? ๐ Each year, it looks like the GDP per capita has been on the rise, showing a healthy economy! ๐
Estimates for Real GDP per capita
2023: $41,300, 2022: $40,100, 2021: $37,200
Croatia's Real GDP per capita Over Time
Imports
๐ Let's take a look at Croatia's imports over the past few years! ๐ญ๐ท In 2023, Croatian imports reached a whopping $46.571 billion! ๐ If we look back to 2022, imports were slightly higher at $46.664 billion. And back in 2021, they were much lower, standing at $36.256 billion. It's clear that Croatia's import trends show some exciting growth! โก๏ธ
Highest Import Value
$46.664 billion
Lowest Import Value
$36.256 billion
Change from 2021 to 2022
$10.408 billion
Croatia's Imports Over Time
Exports
๐ Let's take a look at Croatia's exports over the last few years! In 2021, Croatia's exports were worth $34.367 billion. ๐ฆ Moving on to 2022, they increased to $41.903 billion, and in 2023, they saw an even bigger boost to $44.969 billion! ๐ It looks like Croatia's economy is on a positive track with its exports! ๐
Exports in 2021
34.367 billion
Exports in 2022
41.903 billion
Exports in 2023
44.969 billion
Croatia's Export Growth (2021-2023)
Population growth rate
Croatia's population growth rate is currently at a ๐ decrease of -0.46% for the year 2024. This means that the number of people living in this beautiful country is slightly shrinking. ๐๐ Let's take a look at how such changes can impact society and the economy.
Population growth rate for 2024
-0.46%