Information AboutCroatia |
|
native_name = ''Republika Hrvatska'' | conventional_long_name = Republic of Croatia | common_name = Croatia | image_flag = Flag_of_Croatia.svg | image_coat = Croatian_Coat_of_Arms.svg | image_map = LocationCroatia.png | national_motto = none | national_anthem = Lijepa Naša Domovino | official_languages = Croatian 1| capital = Zagreb | latd=45|latm=48|latNS=N|longd=16|longm=0|longEW=E| largest_city = Zagreb | government_type= Parliamentary Republic | leader_titles = President Prime Minister | leader_names = Stjepan Mesić Ivo Sanader | area_rank = 124th | area_magnitude = 1_E10 | area=56,542 | areami&2 = 21,831 | percent_water = 0.01 | population_estimate = 4,496,869 | population_estimate_year = July 2004 | population_estimate_rank = 117th | population_census = 4,437,460| population_census_year = 2001| population_density = 83 | population_densitymi&2 = 215 | population_density_rank = 116th | GDP_PPP_year=2005 | GDP_PPP = $55,638 million | GDP_PPP_rank = 72nd | GDP_PPP_per_capita = $12,364 | GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 56th | HDI_year = 2003 | HDI = 0.841 | HDI_rank = 45th | HDI_category = high | sovereignty_type = Independence | established_events = | established_dates = June 25 , 1991 | currency = Kuna (kn) | currency_code = HRK | time_zone= CET | utc_offset= +1 | time_zone_DST= CEST | utc_offset_DST= +2 | cctld= .hr | calling_code = 385 | footnotes= 1Locally also Italian in Istria County . | }} The Republic of Croatia is a crescent-shaped country in Europe bordering the Mediterranean , Central Europe and the Balkans . Its Capital is Zagreb . In recent History , it was a Republic in the SFR Yugoslavia , but it achieved independence in 1991 . It is a Candidate for Membership of the European Union . Name ''Croatia'' is the . However, instead of the Latinized version, many languages use a form more similar to the native one. Various forms are listed in Wiktionary . The country code for Croatia is HR (per ISO 3166 )and the Croatian Internet root domain ends with .hr . History See Also: History of Croatia The Croats came to the Roman provinces of Dalmatia and Pannonia in the 7th Century . Ruled by various Croatian Rulers , these dukedoms were intermittently controlled by the Eastern Roman Empire and the Franks . Eventually Croatia became a strong independent Kingdom in 925 , and retained its independence until 1102 when - after decades of inner struggles - the country entered a dynastic union with Hungary . Croatian statehood was preserved through a number of institutions, notably the Sabor which served as an assembly of Croatian nobles, and the Ban or viceroy. Furthermore, the Croatian nobles retained their lands and titles. ]] By the mid-1400s, the Hungarian Kingdom was gravely hurt by the Ottoman expansion as much of the mountainous country now known as Bosnia And Herzegovina fell to the Turks. At the same time, Dalmatia became mostly Venetian . Dubrovnik was a City-state that was firstly Byzantine (Roman) and Venetian, but later, unlike other Dalmatian city-states, it became independent as Republic Of Dubrovnik , even if it was often under the Suzerainty of neighboring powers. The Battle Of Mohács in 1526 led the Croatian Parliament to elect the Habsburg s to the throne of Croatia. Habsburg rule eventually did prove to be successful in thwarting the Ottomans, and by the 18th century, much of the Croatian territories that had previously been occupied were liberated. The odd crescent shape of the Croatian lands remained as a mark, more or less, of the frontier to the Ottoman advance into Europe . Istria , Dalmatia and Dubrovnik all eventually passed to the Habsburg Monarchy between 1797 and 1815 . ]] Following World War I , Croatia joined the State Of Slovenes, Croats And Serbs (comprising what is today, Slovenia , Croatia and Bosnia ). Shortly thereafter, this joint state in turn formed a union with Serbia to form the Kingdom Of Serbs, Croats And Slovenes (which eventually became Yugoslavia in 1929 ). Yugoslavia was invaded during World War II and Croatia declared independence and became the Independent State Of Croatia . When the Axis powers were defeated, Yugoslavia became a federal Socialist State . Along with Slovenia, Croatia declared her independence from Yugoslavia on June 25 , 1991 , which triggered the Croatian War Of Independence . The Serb population living in border areas of Croatia revolted, supported by the Yugoslav Army , and the ensuing months saw combat between various Croatian and Serbian armed forces. During this stage of the war, the independence of Croatia was recognized by the international community, while the Serbs proclaimed their own state, the Republic Of Serbian Krajina , and by the early 1992 the troops entrenched. This stage of the war left hundreds of thousands as refugees on the Croatian side. In 1995 , the Croatian Army successfully launched two major offensives to retake the rebel areas by force, leading to a mass exodus of the Serbian population from those areas. A few months later, the war ended upon the negotiation of the Dayton Agreement . A peaceful integration of the remaining Serbian-controlled territories was completed in 1998 under UN supervision. Croatia is currently in the process of joining the European Union . Accession negotiations were opened on October 4 2005 . Geography See Also: Geography of Croatia , a UNESCO - World Heritage Site]] Croatia is situated between central, southern, and eastern Europe. It has a rather peculiar shape that resembles a crescent or a horseshoe which helps account for its many neighbours: Slovenia , Hungary , the Serbia n part of Serbia And Montenegro , Bosnia And Herzegovina , the Montenegrin part of Serbia and Montenegro, and Italy across the Adriatic. Its mainland territory is split in two non-contiguous parts by the short coastline of Bosnia and Herzegovina around Neum . ]] Its terrain is diverse, containing:
The country is famous for its many beautiful National Parks . Croatia has a mixture of Climate s. In the north and east it is Continental , Mediterranean along the coast and a semi-highland and Highland Climate in the south-central region. Politics See Also: Politics of Croatia Since the adoption of the 1990 Constitution , Croatia has been a Democratic Republic . Between 1990 and 2000 it had a Semi-presidential System , and since 2000 it has a Parliamentary System . The President Of The Republic (''Predsjednik'') is the Head Of State , directly elected to a five-year term and limited by the Constitution to a maximum of two terms. In addition to being the Commander In Chief of the armed forces, the president has the procedural duty of appointing the Prime minister with the consent of the Parliament, and has some influence on foreign policy. The Croatian Parliament (''Sabor'') is a Unicameral legislative body of not less than 100 and not more than 160 representatives, all elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The plenary sessions of the Sabor take place from January 15 to July 15, and from September 15 to December 15. The Croatian Government (''Vlada'') is headed by the Prime Minister who has 2 deputy prime ministers and 14 ministers in charge of particular sectors of activity. The executive branch is responsible for proposing legislation and a budget, executing the laws, and guiding the foreign and internal policies of the republic. Croatia has a three-tiered judicial system, consisting of the Supreme Court , county courts, and municipal courts. The Constitutional Court rules on matters regarding the Constitution . ''See also:'' Counties See Also: Counties of Croatia in Pula , Istria ]]
# Zagreb County (Zagrebačka županija) # Krapina-Zagorje County (Krapinsko-zagorska županija) # Sisak-Moslavina County (Sisačko-moslavačka županija) # Karlovac County (Karlovačka županija) # Varaždin County (Varaždinska županija) # Koprivnica-Križevci County (Koprivničko-križevačka županija) # Bjelovar-Bilogora County (Bjelovarsko-bilogorska županija) # Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (Primorsko-goranska županija) # Lika-Senj County (Ličko-senjska županija) # Virovitica-Podravina County (Virovitičko-podravska županija) # Požega-Slavonia County (Požeško-slavonska županija) # Brod-Posavina County (Brodsko-posavska županija) # Zadar County (Zadarska županija) # Osijek-Baranja County (Osječko-baranjska županija) # Šibenik-Knin County (Šibensko-kninska županija) # Vukovar-Srijem County (Vukovarsko-srijemska županija) # Split-Dalmatia County (Splitsko-dalmatinska županija) # Istria County (Istarska županija) # Dubrovnik-Neretva County (Dubrovačko-neretvanska županija) # Međimurje County (Međimurska županija) See also: List Of Cities In Croatia Economy See Also: Economy of Croatia skyline]] Croatia has an economy based mostly on various Services and some, mostly light, Industry . Tourism is a notable source of income during the summer. The estimated Gross Domestic Product per capita in Purchasing Power Parity terms for 2004 was USD 11,200 or 41.6% of the EU average for the same year. The Croatian economy is Post-communist . In the late 1980s, at the beginning of the process of economic Transition , its position was favourable, but it was gravely impacted by de-industrialization and war damages as well as having problems from losing the markets of Yugoslavia and the SEV . Main problems include massive structural Unemployment followed by an insufficient amount of economic reforms, including overpriced Kuna . Of particular concern is the gravely backlogged Judiciary system combined with inefficient Public Administration , especially involving land ownership. The country has since experienced faster Economic Growth and has been preparing for membership in the European Union, its most important Trading Partner . In February 2005, Croatia implemented the Stabilization And Association Agreement with the EU and is advancing further towards full EU membership. The country expects some major economic impulses and high growth rates in the following next years (currently Croatia suffers most from its high export deficit and considerable debt). Some big trading companies have already taken advantage of the liberalization of the Croatian market. Croatia is expecting a boom in investments, especially Greenfield investments. Demographics See Also: Demographics of Croatia near Dubrovnik ]] The population of Croatia has been stagnating over the last decade. The 1991-1995 war in Croatia had previously displaced large parts of the population and increased emigration. The natural growth rate is minute or negative (less than ± 1%), as the Demographic Transition has been completed half a century ago. Average life expectancy is approximately 75 years, and the literacy rate is 98.5%. Croatia is inhabited mostly by Croats (''89.6%''). There are around twenty minorities, Serbs being the largest one (''4.5%''), others having less than ''0.5%'' each. The predominant religion is Catholicism (''87.8%''), with some Orthodox (''4.4%'') and Sunni Muslim (''1.3%'') minorities. The official and common language, Croatian , is a South Slavic Language , using the Latin Alphabet . Less than 5% of the population cites other languages as their mother tongues. Culture See Also: Culture of Croatia , from the 9th century]] in Šibenik ]] Croatian culture is based on a Thirteen Century Long History during which the country has attained many monuments and cities, which gave birth to a good number of Brilliant Individuals . The country includes Six World Heritage Sites And Eight National Parks . Two Nobel Prize winners came from Croatia, as did numerous important inventors and Other Notable People — notably, some of the first Fountain Pen s came from Croatia. Croatia also has a place in the history of clothing as the origin of the Necktie (''cravat''). The country has a long Artistic, Literary and Musical Tradition . Of particular interest is also the diverse Cuisine . See also
References
External links
|