Croatia
Overview
Croatia (Hrvatska) is a republic stretching along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea in the northwestern part of the Balkans in south-central Europe. Its capital is Zagreb, and it is a newly independent state internationally recognized after declaring independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1991. It joined the European Union (EU) in 2013, and in 2023 completed both the adoption of the euro and accession to the Schengen Agreement, fully integrating politically and economically with the Western European bloc. Its population is around 3.8 million, and continuous population decline and emigration of young people abroad are cited as major social problems.
Main Content
Geography and Natural Environment
The country is broadly divided into three regions: the Slavonian plain inland, the central mountainous and hilly region centered on Zagreb, and the Dalmatia region along the Adriatic coast. Its coastline is over about 1,700 km long, with more than 1,000 islands scattered along it, giving it marine tourism resources that are among the best in Europe. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Krka National Park, and the old city of Dubrovnik are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The climate is clearly divided between a continental climate inland and a Mediterranean climate along the coast.
History
The roots of Croats trace back to Slavic tribes that migrated around the 7th century. In 925, Duke Tomislav was crowned king, establishing the early Croatian Kingdom; afterward, beginning with the 1102 personal union with Hungary, it passed through the rule of the Habsburg Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After World War I, it became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia), and during World War II it suffered the tragedy of the establishment of the fascist puppet regime, the Independent State of Croatia. After the war, under the Tito regime, it prospered as one of the six republics of the Yugoslav Federation, but with the declaration of independence in 1991, war with ethnic Serbs (the Croatian War of Independence) continued until 1995.
Politics and Economy
Politics is a republican system with parliamentary elements; the president is head of state, and the prime minister is head of the executive branch. Since joining the EU in 2013, it has improved its investment environment through legal and institutional reforms. The economy is based on tourism, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and information technology services, with about 20% of gross domestic product (GDP) coming from the tourism industry. Major trading partners are EU countries such as Germany, Italy, and Slovenia. Port cities such as Rijeka, Split, and Zadar are hubs for logistics and shipbuilding.
Culture and Tourism
Croatia belongs to the Catholic cultural sphere, uses the Latin alphabet, and has a unique history of written culture with the Glagolitic alphabet tradition. Dubrovnik, Diocletian's Palace in Split, and Zagreb Cathedral are representative cultural heritage sites. The story that the necktie (cravat) originated from Croatian mercenaries is also famous. Recently, it has drawn attention as a filming location for foreign productions such as Game of Thrones and Star Wars, and demand for 'film tourism' has increased. Football is the most popular sport, and the runner-up finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and third place at the 2022 Qatar World Cup became symbols of national pride.
Language and Ethnic Groups
The official language is Croatian, and it is mutually intelligible with the languages spoken in Serbia, Bosnia, and Montenegro. About 90% of the population are Croats, and ethnic minorities such as Serbs live alongside them. Religious affiliation is about 80% Catholic.
Recent Trends
On January 1, 2023, it adopted the euro as its official currency and simultaneously joined the Schengen area, greatly improving border crossings, trade, and tourism accessibility. In 2024–2025, infrastructure and energy transition investments using EU structural and recovery funds are continuing, and the expansion of renewable energy such as solar and wind power and the expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals have emerged as energy security agenda items. At the same time, as labor shortages deepen due to low birth rates and population outflow, the system for bringing in labor from outside countries such as Nepal and the Philippines is expanding. In tourism, policies to manage visitors to curb overtourism in popular cities such as Dubrovnik and discussions on sustainable tourism are active. Externally, while deepening integration with the Western bloc, it manages historical and territorial issues with neighboring countries such as Serbia and participates in regional stability.
Related Topics
- [[Yugoslavia]]
- [[Balkans]]
- [[European Union]]
- [[Adriatic Sea]]
- [[Dubrovnik]]