Croatia is a country in Eastern Europe, also called the Republic of Croatia. The country, with an area of 56,542 km2, is located on the Balkan Peninsula. It shares borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The country is bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the south and southeast, which separates it from Italy. Croatia is a parliamentary republic. The capital of the country is Zagreb, and the largest cities besides the capital are Split, Rijeka, Osijek, and Zadar.
The Croats currently number 4,076,246 inhabitants over an area of 56,594 km². This translates to a density of 72 inhabitants per square kilometer. The country’s telephone code is 385, that is 00385 or +385.
The best cities in Croatia
Main attractions in Croatia
Rovinj
This old town is nestled in the heart of the archipelago of the same name, consisting of 20 islands. The paved streets of the town will lead you through architecture that is half modern, half medieval. These attractions include the town clock, the Balbi Arch, and the Basilica of Saint Euphemia. Enjoy the beaches of Rovinj, which offer both scenery and splendor. This will surely delight swimming and scuba diving enthusiasts.
Split
Split is a fairly popular city among tourists. It stands out for its Romanesque layout and houses with orange roofs. The sun is often present, and you can visit the historic core which is represented by Diocletian’s Palace.
Plitvice
Very popular, the town of Plitvice is marked by its National Park of the same name. Indeed, this destination is classified as a wonder of Europe because of its waterfalls, virgin forest, and natural dams. You can also see lakes with rainbow colors that will amaze your eyes.
Hvar
The beaches of Hvar are magnificent, decorated with lavender fields and bordered by vineyards. The city also abounds with historical sites, notably Saint Stephen’s Cathedral and the old Arsenal. Rent boats and take a little tour to explore the nearby islets. Finally, visit the Grapceva Cave which tells the story of the city.
Dubrovnik
This city is located in the southern part of the country, and it gathers Croatian wonders including: the Onofrio Fountain located in the city center. Additionally, the beaches of Dubrovnik are not to be missed because there you can do water skiing, sunbathing, and many other activities.
Where the cities are located on the map
Rovinj
Rovinj is a city located in the Istria agglomeration in the county of the same name, that is in the upper half of the country. Geographic coordinates: 45° 05′ 00″ north, 13° 38′ 00″ east
Split
Split is a coastal city located in the mid-center of Croatia. Geographic coordinates: 43° 30′ 00″ north, 16° 26′ 00″ east.
Plitvice
Located between the cities of Zadar and Zagreb, the town of Plitvice is situated in the widest part of Croatia. Geographic coordinates: 44° 52′ 40″ N, 15° 36′ 52″ E.
Hvar
This island is located between Dubrovnik and the rest of Croatia. It is also close to other islands, notably Brac, Vis, Bisevo, and Korcula. Geographic coordinates: 43° 08′ 00″ N, 16° 44′ 00″ E
Dubrovnik
This capital of the Dubrovnik-Neretva county is located in the south of the country. It is the city closest to the border between Croatia and Bosnia. Geographic coordinates: 42° 38′ 27″ north, 18° 06′ 32″ east.
Climate Map of Croatia
Geographical configurations mean that Croatia has different climate characteristics from one part of the country to another. By subdividing Croatia into zones, we can distinguish 3 sections with different climates:
- The coastal zones and archipelagos, Istria and the Adriatic coast:
- The Dinaric Alps
- The inland plains
The first zone has a rainy climate associated with a mild summer and a moderately cold winter. The second zone has a snowy and freezing winter and a rainy and stormy summer. For the last one, the climate is temperate continental.
Adriatic Coast
The Adriatic coasts experience moderately distributed rainfall throughout the year. However, the amounts are low in summer and peak in winter and autumn. Winter could be less rainy but windier and with frequent snowfall, even frost.
These characteristics are specific to a Mediterranean climate. However, there is a divergence as there could be storms in autumn and winter in areas on the slopes of elevations. As a result, average rainfall amounts vary between 800 and 1500 millimeters per year.
In summer, this zone experiences frequent sunshine mainly in coastal areas. This climate is marked by sudden storms. On the other hand, in the north (Istria) the rains are even more frequent and continue even in July and August.
Istria
Istria and Rijeka have a mild winter characterized by a sudden drop in temperature. There may even be a freezing wind added to less significant snowfall. Summers in these areas are dry and the sunshine lasts longer during the day.
Pula
In winter, sunshine in Pula is almost nonexistent. In summer, on the other hand, exposure is at its maximum. The beaches are scorching and the months of July and August are the most favorable for swimming.
Dalmatia
The islands that make up Dalmatia are Cres, Krk, Rab which have a cold winter. The islands of Cres, Krk, and Rab as well as the cities have a milder winter due to their central location. Temperatures often hover around 7°C and 8°C.
Dinaric Alps
This is a mountainous region often facing a climate characterized by a rainy autumn and summer. However, the heights show higher precipitation that can reach up to 3000 mm per year. These characteristics suggest that the climate of the Dinaric Alps is continental.
Financial Map of Croatia
Based on the market sector and the tertiary sector, the Croatian economy has experienced an increase in its total GDP. Indeed, these sectors represent more than half of the country’s gross domestic product.
According to the data we received, Croatia has a strong economy compared to all Eastern European countries. The country’s economy was at its peak before Covid-19: this pandemic affected the GDP and the growth rate dropped by 9% in the first half of this year.
The industrial sector is mainly dominated by the agri-food industry and shipbuilding. These two sectors alone represent 27% of the country’s economic output. The rest is divided among agriculture, fishing, and tourism.
The commercial sector, on the other hand, is very important; more than 24.7 billion in revenue was generated by this sector two years ago. Here are some economic indicators:
- Current currency: Croatian Kuna (HRK)
- Nominal GDP parity: 56 billion USD
- PPP GDP: 112 billion USD
- GDP growth rate: −9.3% this year (COVID-19) and 2.9% in 2019
- GDP per capita: nominal parity 14,033 USD / PPP: 27,681 USD
- Population below the poverty line: 19.5% of the active population
Administrative and Demographic Map of Croatia
Administration in Croatia
The Croatian Republic is subdivided into 20 counties plus one city-county. As subdivisions, there are cities and municipalities (numbering 556), which are designations to distinguish sovereign units under the jurisdiction of counties or the city-county. Depending on the type of city (in terms of size), there may be districts or local counties.
Here are the 21 counties of Croatia
- Bjelovar-Bilogora
- Brod-Posavina
- Dubrovnik-Neretva
- Istria
- Karlovac
- Koprivnica-Križevci
- Krapina-Zagorje
- Lika-Senj
- Međimurje
- Osijek-Baranja
- Požega-Slavonia
- Primorje-Gorski Kotar
- Šibenik-Knin
- Sisak-Moslavina
- Split-Dalmatia
- Varaždin
- Virovitica-Podravina
- Vukovar-Syrmia
- Zadar
- Zagreb
- City of Zagreb
Demographics in Croatia
According to United Nations estimates, the Croatian population numbers 4,092,944 inhabitants. This figure represents 0.05% of the global population. According to the information received, the country ranks 130th in terms of countries and dependencies by population.
Given Croatia’s area of 55,960 km² or 21,606 square miles, the density is then 190 inhabitants per km². Slightly more than half of the population, 57.7%, live in large cities, and the Croatian population is quite old as the average age is 44 years.
Here are some important indicators
- Population growth rate: -0.5% per year last year
- Birth rate: -0.089%
- Mortality rate: 0.12%
Demolinguistic Data
Derived from the Slavic language, Croatian is the official language of the country according to current legislation. It is also a language used in the neighboring country, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The language is subdivided into standard language and dialects. The dialects spoken in the republic are: Shtokavian, Chakavian, and Kajkavian.
The last two dialects are spoken only by natives of the country, while the first is used by other ethnic groups such as Bosniaks, Montenegrins, and Serbs. However, the standard language derives from the first dialect because it is very old and is the result of a mixture between the Croatian Slavic language and the archaic Chakavian language.
