Map of Croatia
Croatia is a country in Europe with its capital at Zagreb, home to about 3.88 million people across 56,594 km². The interactive map below plots 10 cities and towns, 4 rivers, 1 mountain summits and 14 ports recorded for Croatia in YearMaps.
- Population
- 3.88 million
- Area
- 56,594 km²
- Capital
- Zagreb
- Continent
- Europe
Interactive Map of Croatia
Centred on Zagreb at 45.8000° N, 16.0000° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Croatia
Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Italy to the west. The Croatian archipelago contains over 1,000 islands and islets, the largest overseas territory on the Adriatic Sea. Its capital, largest city and main cultural and economic centre is Zagreb. Major urban centers include Split, Rijeka, and Osijek. The country is composed of twenty counties spanning 56,594 square kilometres (21,851 square miles) within four administrative regions. Croatia has a population of nearly 3.9 million as of 2026.
Croatian history began with the 6th century arrival of the Croats to Roman Illyria. Settled as two duchies a century later, Croatia was granted independence in 878 under Duke Branimir and elevated into a kingdom under King Tomislav in 925. The Trpimirović dynastic succession crisis placed Croatia into a personal union with Hungary in 1102. In 1527, amid Ottoman conflict, Croatia aligned with the Habsburg monarchy. It reorganized into the State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs before merging into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1918. During World War II, most of Croatia was invaded by the Axis powers who installed a puppet state known as the Independent State of Croatia. A resistance movement restored sovereignty, emerging as the Socialist Republic of Croatia within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1943. Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, successfully fighting the War of Independence until 1995.
Modern Croatia is a representative democracy with a prime minister, president, and unicameral parliament. Its constitution ensures separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Croatian politics reflect a multi-party system. Croatia is part of many international organizations and forums including the European Union, United Nations, WTO, and NATO, among others. It exerts regional influence as a small power in Europe, particularly within neighboring Southeast Europe. Since 1999, the Croatian Armed Forces have deployed internationally for a variety of peacekeeping missions and military interventions. Croatia was elected to serve on the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council from 2008 to 2009.
A developed country, Croatia has an advanced economy considered high-income and dominated by its service, industrial, and agricultural sectors.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Croatia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Croatia
The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end 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 consisting of six socialist republics, including Croatia, under the strong hand of Josip Broz, aka TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before Yugoslav forces were 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 2009 and the EU in 2013. In January 2023, Croatia further integrated into the EU by joining the Eurozone and the Schengen Area.
- Location
- Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia.
- 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.
- Highest point
- Dinara 1,831 m.
- Lowest point
- Adriatic Sea 0 m.
- Coastline
- 5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km; islands 4,058 km)
- Land borders
- Total: 2,237 km; border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km; Hungary 348 km; Montenegro 19 km; Serbia 314 km; Slovenia 600 km.
- Major rivers
- Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
- Natural resources
- Oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 26.6% (2023 est.); arable land: 15.5% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 9.6% (2023 est.); forest: 34.7% (2023 est.); other: 38.2% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Destructive earthquakes.
- Geographic note
- Controls most land routes from Western Europe to the Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits; most Adriatic Sea islands lie off the coast of Croatia -- some 1,200 islands, islets, ridges, and rocks.
- Languages
- Croatian (official) 95.2%, Serbian 1.2%, other 3.1% (including Bosnian, Romani, Albanian, and Italian) unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 79%, Orthodox 3.3%, Protestant 0.3%, other Christian 4.8%, Muslim 1.3%, other 1.1%, agnostic 1.7%, none or atheist 4.7%, unspecified 3.9% (2021 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Croat 91.6%, Serb 3.2%, other 3.9% (including Bosniak, Romani, Albanian, Italian, and Hungarian), unspecified 1.3% (2021 est.)
- Economy
- Upper-middle-income Balkan economy; newest euro user (introduced in 2023); increased investments from EU structural funds and tourism sector contributing to strong but moderating economic growth; declining energy prices and restrictive monetary policy easing inflation; historically low unemployment rate with labor shortages within services and manufacturing sectors.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Croatia in Numbers
- Population
- 3.88 million
- GDP
- US$105.1 billion
- GDP per person
- US$27,104
- Life expectancy
- 78.9 years
- Population growth
- 0.26% a year
- Population density
- 69 per km²
- Urban population
- 57.8%
- Surface area
- 88,070 km²
- Forest cover
- 34.8%
- Arable land
- 15.2%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 83.6%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Croatia in Depth
History
The area known as modern Croatia was inhabited throughout the prehistoric period. Neanderthal fossils dating to the middle Palaeolithic period were unearthed in northern Croatia, best presented at the Krapina site. Remnants of Neolithic and Chalcolithic cultures were found in all regions. The largest proportion of sites is in the valleys of northern Croatia. The most significant are Baden, Starčevo, and Vučedol cultures. Iron Age hosted the early Illyrian Hallstatt culture and the Celtic La Tène culture.
The region of modern-day Croatia was settled by Illyrians and Liburnians, while the first Greek colonies were established on the islands of Hvar, Korčula, and Vis. In 9 AD, the territory of today's Croatia became part of the Roman Empire. Emperor Diocletian was native to the region.
Geography
Croatia is situated in Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Hungary is to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast and Slovenia to the northwest. It lies mostly between latitudes 42° and 47° N and longitudes 13° and 20° E. Part of the territory in the extreme south surrounding Dubrovnik is a practical exclave connected to the rest of the mainland by territorial waters, but separated on land by a short coastline strip belonging to Bosnia and Herzegovina around Neum. The Pelješac Bridge connects the exclave with mainland Croatia.
Economy
Croatia has a highly developed mixed economy. It is one of the largest economies in Southeast Europe by nominal gross domestic product (GDP). It maintains a similarly high regional GDP-per-capita. It is an open economy with accommodative foreign policy, highly dependent on international trade in Europe. Within Croatia, economic development varies among its counties, with strongest growth in Central Croatia and its financial centre, Zagreb. It has a very high level of human development, low levels of income inequality, and a high quality of life. Croatia's labor market has been perennially inefficient, with an underdeveloped investment climate and an ineffective corporate and income tax system.
Croatia's economic history is closely linked to its historic nation-building efforts.
Demographics
With an estimated population of 3.87 million in 2024, Croatia ranks 128th by population in the world. Its 2018 population density was 72.9 inhabitants per square kilometre, making Croatia one of the more sparsely populated European countries. The overall life expectancy in Croatia at birth was 77.7 years in 2024.
The total fertility rate of 1.46 children per mother, is one of the lowest in the world, far below the replacement rate of 2.1; it remains considerably below the high of 6.18 children rate in 1885. Croatia's death rate has continuously exceeded its birth rate since 1998.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Croatia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Croatia: Key Facts
| Official language | Croatian |
|---|---|
| Head of state | Zoran Milanović |
| Head of government | Andrej Plenković |
| Form of government | republic |
| Calling code | +385 |
| Internet domain | .hr |
| Highest point | Dinara |
| Lowest point | Adriatic Sea |
| Established | 25 June 1991 |
Facts from Wikidata Q224 (CC0).
History of Croatia: Empires and States
The atlas records 28 polities whose mapped territory included part of Croatia, from Roman Republic in 164 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Republic | 164–32 BCE | A large part |
| The Roman Empire | 31 BCE – 475 CE | Most |
| Western Roman Empire | 395–475 CE | Most |
| Ostrogoths | 455–499 CE | Most |
| Ostrogothic Kingdom | 500–545 CE | Most |
| Eastern Roman Empire | 536–632 CE | A small part |
| The Byzantine Empire | 536–637 CE | A small part |
| Lombards | 546–568 CE | A large part |
| Avar Khaganate | 569–792 CE | A large part |
| Kingdom of the Franks | 793–849 CE | A large part |
| Carolingian Empire | 793–910 CE | A large part |
| First Bulgarian Empire | 830–839 CE | A large part |
| East Franks | 850–910 CE | A large part |
| Kingdom of Croatia | 926–1093 CE | A large part |
| Kingdom of Hungary | 1094–1539 CE | Most |
| The Holy Roman Empire | 1450–1458 CE | A large part |
| House of Habsburg | 1450–1458 CE | A large part |
| Vassalage of Electorate of Brandenburg to Holy Roman Empire | 1450–1458 CE | A large part |
| Kingdom of Spain | 1529–1555 CE | A small part |
| The Spanish Empire | 1529–1555 CE | A small part |
| The Ottoman Empire | 1540–1695 CE | A small part |
| Habsburg Monarchy | 1556–1805 CE | Most |
| Republic of Venice | 1564–1699 CE | A small part |
| Austrian Empire | 1806–1867 CE | Most |
| Austria-Hungary | 1868–1918 CE | Most |
| Yugoslavia | 1919–1945 CE | Most |
| Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | 1946–1991 CE | Most |
| Republic of Croatia | 1992–2024 CE | Most |
Historical Maps of Croatia
Croatia on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Croatia
Croatia (Croatian: Hrvatska) is a Mediterranean country in Southeastern Europe, and is a part of the Balkans. Much of the tourist industry is concentrated along the coast. Nautical tourism is supported by marinas, while cultural tourism relies on the appeal of medieval coastal cities and cultural events taking place during the summer. Inland areas offer agrotourism, mountain resorts, and spas. Zagreb is a significant destination, rivalling major coastal cities and resorts. Croatia has unpolluted marine areas with nature reserves and 116 Blue Flag beaches. Croatia was ranked first in Europe for swimming water quality in 2022 by the European Environmental Agency.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Croatia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Croatia
10 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zagreb | 722,526 | Grad Zagreb | National capital |
| 2 | Split | 214,741 | Splitsko-Dalmatinska | Populated place |
| 3 | Rijeka | 170,992 | Primorsko-Goranska | Populated place |
| 4 | Slavonski Brod | 97,718 | Brodsko-Posavska | Populated place |
| 5 | Osijek | 95,077 | Osjecko-Baranjska | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Zadar | 71,258 | Zadarska | Populated place |
| 7 | Pula | 61,599 | Istarska | Populated place |
| 8 | Karlovac | 55,063 | Karlovacka | Populated place |
| 9 | Šibenik | 37,112 | Šibensko-Kninska | Admin-1 capital |
| 10 | Dubrovnik | 36,994 | Dubrovacko-Neretvanska | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in Croatia
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dinara | 1,831 m | 6,007 ft | Europe |
Dinara
Mountain · 1,831 m
Dinara is a mountain rising to 1,831 metres (6,007 ft) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, in the Europe region. The summit stands on the border between them. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..
Dinara is a 100-kilometre-long (60-mile) mountain range in the Dinaric Alps, located on the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. It has four major mountains or peaks, from north-west to south-east:
Sinjal or Dinara (1,831 m), eponym to the range, highest mountain in Croatia
Troglav (1,913 m), highest peak in the range
Note the dual use of the name Dinara, which is also the origin of the name for the whole Dinaric Alps. The range is composed of limestone and dolomite.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Dinara (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 1,831 m (6,007 ft)
- Global rank
- #448 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Europe (#49)
- Countries
- Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia
- Coordinates
- 44.0600°, 16.3800°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Dinara ranks #448 by elevation, below Punta la Marmora (1,834 m) and above Morro da Boa Vista (1,827 m).
- Ranges:
- Dinaric Alps (Europe), Appennini (Europe)
More about Dinara
Climate
Dinara is located only a few dozen kilometers away from the Adriatic Sea, and is part of the Dalmatian Hinterland, but the climate on Dinara is a much colder, mountain climate, making it one of the coldest places in Croatia with average temperatures between 2 and 4 °C at the peaks. The average precipitation is high, while the number of sunny hours per year ranges between 1,700 and 1,900.
There are no inhabited areas on the mountain itself and human presence consists mostly of small shacks that belong to the herdsmen from the nearby valleys such as that of the Cetina river.
Tourism
One of the most fascinating massifs is on the southwestern slope. It is six kilometers long and up to 1,700 meters high, providing an interesting landscape for the travelers on the roads in the valley below to view. The massif does not attract many climbers, but its Ošljak peak (1,706 m) does.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Dinara (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Rivers in Croatia
4 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
Ports in Croatia
14 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rovinj | 49.4 m | Small | Adriatic & Ionian Seas | point_of_interest |
| 2 | Umag | 45.7 m | Very Small | Adriatic & Ionian Seas | medium vessels |
| 3 | Pula | 42.1 m | Very Small | Adriatic & Ionian Seas | large vessels |
| 4 | Ploce | 38.4 m | Very Small | Adriatic & Ionian Seas | medium vessels |
| 5 | Split | 31.1 m | Major | Adriatic & Ionian Seas | large vessels |
| 6 | Senj | 27.4 m | Very Small | Adriatic & Ionian Seas | medium vessels |
| 7 | Sibenik | 9.1 m | Small | Adriatic & Ionian Seas | medium vessels |
| 8 | Dugi Rat | 5.5 m | Very Small | Adriatic & Ionian Seas | medium vessels |
| 9 | Omisalj | 5.5 m | Small | Adriatic & Ionian Seas | large vessels |
| 10 | Zaliv Rasa | 5.5 m | Very Small | Adriatic & Ionian Seas | point_of_interest |
The other 4 (channel depth, class, sea, max vessel)
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Croatia
9 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian | 1979 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) (iv) |
| 2 | Old city (Dubrovnik) | 1979 | Cultural | (i) (iii) (iv) |
| 3 | Plitvice Lakes National Park | 1979 | Natural | (vii) (viii) (ix) |
| 4 | Euphrasian Basilica | 1997 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) (iv) |
| 5 | Historic City of Trogir | 1997 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) |
| 6 | Šibenik Cathedral | 2000 | Cultural | (i) (ii) (iv) |
| 7 | Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe | 2007 | Natural | (ix) |
| 8 | Stari Grad Plain | 2008 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) (v) |
| 9 | The Venetian Works of defence between 15th and 17th centuries | 2017 | Cultural | (iii) (iv) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Croatia
4 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BALKAN Peninsula | 189,639 km² | Pen/cape | Europe |
| 2 | Alföld | 100,263 km² | Plain | Europe |
| 3 | Dalmatia | 16,188 km² | Coast | Europe |
| 4 | Dinaric Alps | 3,001 km² | Range/mtn | Europe |
Countries Bordering Croatia
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Europe
Croatia: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Croatia?
- The capital of Croatia is Zagreb.
- What is the population of Croatia?
- Croatia has a population of about 3.88 million, the #131 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Croatia?
- Croatia covers 56,594 km², ranking #129 by area, with about 68 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Croatia in?
- Croatia is in Europe.
- Which countries border Croatia?
- Croatia shares a land or maritime border with Hungary, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia.
- What is the largest city in Croatia?
- Zagreb is the largest city in Croatia, with a metropolitan population of about 722,526.
- What is the highest mountain in Croatia?
- The highest summit recorded for Croatia in YearMaps is Dinara at 1,831 m (6,007 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.