Hrvatska

Hrvatska, internationally known as Croatia, is a country at the crossroads of Central Europe, Southeast Europe, and the Adriatic coast. It covers about 56,600 square kilometers and has a population of around 3.9 million. It borders Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, and has a long Adriatic coastline with many islands. The capital and largest city is Zagreb.

Political system: Croatia is a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic. The president is the head of state and the prime minister leads the government. It joined the European Union in 2013 and is a member of the euro area and the Schengen Area. Croatia has been a NATO member since 2009. Administratively, the country is divided into 20 counties (županije) and the City of Zagreb, which has county status.

History: The region has a long history, including the medieval Kingdom of Croatia, a union with Hungary from 1102, and later rule by the Habsburgs and Yugoslavia. Croatia declared independence in 1991, followed by the Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995). Since the 1990s it has undergone rapid economic and infrastructural development.

Geography and culture: The interior is traversed by the Dinaric Alps; the Adriatic coast features islands, coves, and a Mediterranean climate. Dubrovnik, Split, and the Plitvice Lakes National Park are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The official language is Croatian; minority languages are recognized. National symbols include the coat of arms with the red-and-white checkerboard. The economy is service-oriented, with tourism a major sector; industry and agriculture are also important. The currency is the euro, and Croatia is a member of the European Union and NATO.