Croatia

Introduction ::Croatia

Background:

The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close 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 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, 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 April 2009 and the EU in July 2013.

Geography ::Croatia

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

45 10 N, 15 30 E

Area:

total: 56,594 sq km

country comparison to the world: 127

land: 55,974 sq km

water: 620 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,982 km

border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia 241 km, Montenegro 25 km, Slovenia 455 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 extremes:

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m

highest point: Dinara 1,831 m

Natural resources:

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

Land use:

arable land: 15.85%

permanent crops: 1.47%

other: 82.69% (2011)

Irrigated land:

36.27 sq km (2010)

Total renewable water resources:

105.5 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

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

People and Society ::Croatia

Nationality:

noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)

adjective: Croatian

Ethnic groups:

Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, other 5.9% (including Bosniak, Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, and Roma) (2001 census)

Languages:

Croatian (official) 96.1%, Serbian 1%, other and undesignated (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) 2.9% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

Population:

4,475,611 (July 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 124

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.6% (male 334,424/female 317,141)

15-24 years: 12.2% (male 279,375/female 267,184)

25-54 years: 41.4% (male 917,030/female 935,270)

55-64 years: 14.4% (male 314,761/female 330,961)

65 years and over: 17.4% (male 311,581/female 467,884) (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios:

total dependency ratio: 49.6 %

youth dependency ratio: 22.3 %

elderly dependency ratio: 27.4 %

potential support ratio: 3.7 (2013)

Median age:

total: 41.8 years

male: 40 years

female: 43.7 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.11% (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 207

Birth rate:

9.53 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 201

Death rate:

12.06 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 28

Net migration rate:

1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 50

Urbanization:

urban population: 58% of total population (2010)

rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas - population:

ZAGREB (capital) 686,000 (2011)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female

total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth:

27.7 (2010 est.)

Maternal mortality rate:

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

country comparison to the world: 143

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.96 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 173

male: 6.07 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.2 years

country comparison to the world: 81

male: 72.6 years

female: 80 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.45 children born/woman (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 197

Health expenditures:

7.8% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 65

Physicians density:

2.59 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Hospital bed density:

5.4 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Drinking water source:

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 97% of population

total: 99% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 3% of population

total: 1% of population (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access:

improved:

urban: 99% of population

rural: 98% of population

total: 99% of population

unimproved:

urban: 1% of population

rural: 2% of population

total: 1% of population (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 143

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 147

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate

vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis

note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate:

24.2% (2008)

country comparison to the world: 66

Education expenditures:

4.4% of GDP (2009)

country comparison to the world: 97

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.9%

male: 99.5%

female: 98.3% (2011 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 15 years (2010)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 36.1%

country comparison to the world: 15

male: 35.6%

female: 36.8% (2011)

Government ::Croatia

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

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

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

Administrative divisions:

20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad - singular) with special county status; Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska, Brodsko-Posavska, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria), Karlovacka, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka, Krapinsko-Zagorska, Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska, Osjecko-Baranjska, Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska, Sibensko-Kninska, Sisacko-Moslavacka, Splitsko-Dalmatinska (Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska, Viroviticko-Podravska, Vukovarsko-Srijemska, Zadarska, Zagreb*, Zagrebacka (Zagreb county)

Independence:

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 8 October (1991) and Statehood Day, 25 June (1991); note - 25 June 1991 was the day the Croatian parliament voted for independence; following a three-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the Yugoslav crisis peacefully, Parliament adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia

Constitution:

adopted 22 December 1990; revised 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2010

Legal system:

civil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary; note - Croatian law was fully harmonized with the the European Community acquis as of the June 2010 completion of EU accession negotiations

International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ivo JOSIPOVIC (since 18 February 2010)

head of government: Prime Minister Zoran MILANOVIC (since 23 December 2011); First Deputy Prime Minister Vesna PUSIC (since 16 November 2012)

cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the parliamentary assembly

(For more information visit the World Leaders website )

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 January 2010 (next to be held in December 2014); the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president and then approved by the assembly

election results: Ivo JOSIPOVIC elected president; percent of vote in the second round - Ivo JOSIPOVIC 60%, Milan BANDIC 40%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly or Sabor (151 seats; members elected from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held on 4 December 2011 (next to be held in late 2015)

election results: percent of vote by party - Kukuriku 40%, HDZ 23.5%, Laborists-Labor 5.1%, HSS 3%, HDSSB 2.9%, Independent list of Ivan Grubisic 2.8%, HCSP-HSP 2.8%, other 19.9%; number of seats by party - Kukuriku 80, HDZ 47, Laborists-Labor 6, HDSSB 6, Independent list of Ivan Grubisic 2, HSS 1, HCSP-HSP 1, other 8

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 president of Croatia and elected by Croatian Sabor for a 4-year term; other Supreme Court justices appointed by National Judicial Council; all judges serve until age 70

subordinate courts: Administrative Court; county, municipal, and specialized courts; note - there is an 11-member Constitutional Court with jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues but is outside Croatia's judicial system

Political parties and leaders:

Croatian Civic Party or HGS [Zeljko KERUM]

Croatian Democratic Congress of Slavonia and Baranja or HDSSB [Vladimir SISLJAGIC]

Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Tomislav KARAMARKO]

Croatian Laborists-Labor Party [Dragutin LESAR]

Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Daniel SRB]

Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Branko HRG]

Croatian Pensioner Party or HSU [Silvano HRELJA]

Croatian People's Party - Liberal Democrats or HNS [Vesna PUSIC]

Croatian Pure Party of Rights-Ante Starcevic or HCSP [Ruza TOMASIC]

Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Darinko KOSOR]

Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Vojislav STANIMIROVIC]

Independent List of Ivan Grubisic [Ivan GRUBISIC]

Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]

Kukuriku Coalition (consists of SDP, HNS, IDS, and HSU) [Zoran MILANOVIC]

Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Zoran MILANOVIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: human rights groups

International organization participation:

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Josko PARO

chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] [phone]

FAX: [1] [phone]

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth MERTEN

embassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb

mailing address: use street address

telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200

FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue - the Pan-Slav colors - superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms; the coat of arms consists of one main shield (a checkerboard of 13 red and 12 silver (white) fields) surmounted by five smaller shields that form a crown over the main shield; the five small shields represent five historic regions, they are (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia

note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

National symbol(s):

red-white checkerboard

National anthem:

name: ""Lijepa nasa domovino"" (Our Beautiful Homeland)

lyrics/music: Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN

note: adopted 1972; ""Lijepa nasa domovino,"" whose lyrics were written in 1835, served as an unofficial anthem beginning in 1891

Economy ::Croatia

Economy - overview:

Though still one of the wealthiest of the former Yugoslav republics, Croatia's economy suffered badly during the 1991-95 war. The country's output during that time collapsed and Croatia missed the early waves of investment in Central and Eastern Europe that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall. Between 2000 and 2007, however, Croatia's economic fortunes began to improve slowly with moderate but steady GDP growth between 4% and 6% led by a rebound in tourism and credit-driven consumer spending. Inflation over the same period remained tame and the currency, the kuna, stable. Croatia experienced an abrupt slowdown in the economy in 2008 and has yet to recover. Difficult problems still remain, including a stubbornly high unemployment rate, uneven regional development, and a challenging investment climate. The new government has announced a more flexible approach to privatization, including the sale in the coming years of state-owned businesses that are not of strategic importance. While macroeconomic stabilization has largely been achieved, structural reforms lag. Croatia will face significant pressure as a result of the global financial crisis, due to reduced exports and capital inflows. Croatia reentered a recession in 2012, and Zagreb cut spending. The government also raised additional revenues through more stringent tax collection and by raising the Value Added Tax in February 2012. On 1 July 2013 Croatia joined the EU, following a decade long application process. Croatia will be a member of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism until it meets the criteria for joining the Economic and Monetary Union and adopts the euro as its currency. Croatia's high foreign debt, strained state budget, and over-reliance on tourism revenue could hinder economic progress over the medium-term.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$79.69 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

$81.3 billion (2011 est.)

$81.33 billion (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$57.1 billion (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-2% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 209

0% (2011 est.)

-2.3% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$18,100 (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 76

$18,500 (2011 est.)

$18,400 (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

Gross national saving:

19.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 78

19.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

19.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use:

household consumption: 60.2%

government consumption: 19.8%

investment in fixed capital: 18.4%

investment in inventories: 1%

exports of goods and services: 43.4%

imports of goods and services: -42.7%

(2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

agriculture: 5%

industry: 25.8%

services: 69.2% (2012 est.)

Agriculture - products:

arable crops (wheat, corn, barley, sugar beet, sunflower, rapeseed, alfalfa, clover); vegetables (potatoes, cabbage, onion, tomato, pepper); fruits (apples, plum, mandarins, olives), grapes for wine; livestock (cattle, cows, pigs); dairy products

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:

-6.5% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 167

Labor force:

1.702 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 127

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2.1%

industry: 29%

services: 69% (2012)

Unemployment rate:

19.1% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 159

17.9% (2011 est.)

Population below poverty line:

21.1% (2011)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.3%

highest 10%: 27.5% (2008 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32 (2010)

country comparison to the world: 105

29 (1998)

Budget:

revenues: $21.56 billion

expenditures: $23.42 billion (2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:

37.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 52

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-3.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 125

Public debt:

68.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 40

64.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.4% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 106

2.3% (2011 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

7% (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 42

7% (31 December 2011 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.48% (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 92

9.68% (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$9.332 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 77

$9.081 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money:

$43.47 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 70

$41.42 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$51.43 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 64

$51.83 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$21.3 billion (31 December 2012)

country comparison to the world: 61

$22.44 billion (31 December 2011)

$25.28 billion (31 December 2010)

Current account balance:

-$560 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 98

-$449 million (2011 est.)

Exports:

$12.42 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 86

$13.64 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities:

transport equipment, machinery, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels

Exports - partners:

Italy 14.9%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 13.2%, Germany 10.6%, Slovenia 8.8%, Austria 6.8% (2012)

Imports:

$20.24 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 76

$22.52 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, transport and electrical equipment; chemicals, fuels and lubricants; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Italy 16.7%, Germany 12.9%, Russia 7.6%, China 7.1%, Slovenia 5.9%, Austria 4.5% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$14.81 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

$14.48 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Debt - external:

$65.23 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 56

$64.94 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$35.63 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

$34.36 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$5.575 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 64

$5.674 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Exchange rates:

kuna (HRK) per US dollar -

5.8503 (2012 est.)

5.3439 (2011 est.)

5.498 (2010 est.)

5.2692 (2009)

4.98 (2008)

Energy ::Croatia

Electricity - production:

9.281 billion kWh (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 96

Electricity - consumption:

16.7 billion kWh (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 72

Electricity - exports:

1.38 billion kWh (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 47

Electricity - imports:

8.799 billion kWh (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 24

Electricity - installed generating capacity:

4.021 million kW (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 78

Electricity - from fossil fuels:

47.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 106

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

44.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 48

Electricity - from other renewable sources:

0.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 71

Crude oil - production:

28,230 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 67

Crude oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 125

Crude oil - imports:

53,620 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 54

Crude oil - proved reserves:

2.96 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 96

Refined petroleum products - production:

77,020 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 80

Refined petroleum products - consumption:

74,410 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 89

Refined petroleum products - exports:

33,870 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

Refined petroleum products - imports:

31,250 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 86

Natural gas - production:

1.85 billion cu m (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas - consumption:

2.755 billion cu m (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 76

Natural gas - exports:

222 million cu m (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 43

Natural gas - imports:

1.127 billion cu m (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas - proved reserves:

24.92 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 74

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

21.46 million Mt (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 80

Communications ::Croatia

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.761 million (2011)

country comparison to the world: 63

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.115 million (2011)

country comparison to the world: 103

Telephone system:

general assessment: the telecommunications network has improved steadily since the mid-1990s, covering much of what were once inaccessible areas; local lines are digital

domestic: fixed-line teledensity holding steady at about 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions exceed the population

international: country code - 385; digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists of 2 fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; the ADRIA-1 submarine cable provides connectivity to Albania and Greece (2011)

Broadcast media:

the national state-owned public broadcaster, Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT), operates 4 terrestrial TV networks, a satellite channel that rebroadcasts programs for Croatians living abroad, and 6 regional TV centers; 2 private broadcasters operate national terrestrial networks; roughly 25 privately owned regional TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; state-owned public broadcaster operates 3 national radio networks and 9 regional radio stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks and more than 170 regional, county, city, and community radio stations (2012)

Internet country code:

.hr

Internet hosts:

729,420 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 50

Internet users:

2.234 million (2009)

country comparison to the world: 73

Transportation ::Croatia

Airports:

69 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 72

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 24

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 6

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 10 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 45

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m:

38 (2013)

Heliports:

1 (2013)

Pipelines:

gas 2,410 km; oil 610 km (2011)

Railways:

total: 2,722 km

country comparison to the world: 60

standard gauge: 2,722 km 1.435-m gauge (984 km electrified) (2011)

Roadways:

total: 29,410 km (includes 1,254 km of expressways) (2011)

country comparison to the world: 98

Waterways:

785 km (2009)

country comparison to the world: 74

Merchant marine:

total: 77

country comparison to the world: 59

by type: bulk carrier 24, cargo 7, chemical tanker 8, passenger/cargo 27, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1

foreign-owned: 2 (Norway 2)

registered in other countries: 31 (Bahamas 1, Belize 1, Liberia 1, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 12, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

major seaport(s): Ploce, Rijeka, Sibernik, Split

river port(s): Vukovar (Danube)

oil/gas terminal(s): Omisalj

Military ::Croatia

Military branches:

Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike Hrvatske, OSRH) consists of five major commands directly subordinate to a General Staff: Ground Forces (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM; includes coast guard), Air Force and Air Defense Command (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo I Protuzracna Obrana), Joint Education and Training Command, Logistics Command; Military Police Force supports each of the three Croatian military forces (2012)

Military service age and obligation:

18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; 6-month service obligation (2012)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,016,234

females age 16-49: 1,017,355 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 770,710

females age 16-49: 839,732 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 28,334

female: 27,015 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.5% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 95

Transnational Issues ::Croatia

Disputes - international:

dispute remains with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several small sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinders ratification of the 1999 border agreement; since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Croatia and Slovenia have each claimed sovereignty over Pirin Bay and four villages, and Slovenia has objected to Croatia's claim of an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic Sea; in 2009, however Croatia and Slovenia signed a binding international arbitration agreement to define their disputed land and maritime borders, which led to Slovenia lifting its objections to Croatia joining the EU; Slovenia continues to impose a hard border Schengen regime with Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013 but has not yet fulfilled Schengen requirements; as a European Union peripheral state, Slovenia imposed a hard border Schengen regime with non-member Croatia in December 2007

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

stateless persons: 2,886 (2012)

Illicit drugs:

transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe (2008)"