Hrvatske

Hrvatska, known in English as Croatia, is a country in Southeast Europe on the Adriatic Sea. In Croatian, the country is called Hrvatska; Hrvatske is the genitive form used in phrases such as “of Croatia.” It is bordered by Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast, and it maintains a long maritime border with Italy. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb.

The coast is marked by many islands and historic towns. Croatia has about 3.8 to 4 million people, with Croats forming the majority. The official language is Croatian; minority languages include Serbian, Italian, and Hungarian.

Historically, Croatia was a medieval kingdom and later entered a personal union with Hungary in 1102. It became part of the Habsburg monarchy, then of Yugoslavia after World War I. Croatia declared independence in 1991, leading to the War of Independence, which ended in 1995. It joined the EU in 2013, NATO in 2009, and Schengen in 2023.

Croatia is a parliamentary republic. The unicameral Parliament (Sabor) and a prime minister-led government operate alongside a president as head of state. The economy is services-oriented, with tourism a major sector along the Dalmatian coast and on the Adriatic islands. Other important industries include shipbuilding, manufacturing, and agriculture.

Culturally, Croatia is known for its historic architecture, coastal cuisine, and diverse folk traditions. UNESCO sites include the Old City of Dubrovnik and Plitvice Lakes National Park. The country uses the euro as its official currency since 2023, and the Croatian language, written in the Latin script, is the principal language; Catholicism is the predominant religion.

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