Information

Geographic position
Croatia extends from the easterly edges of the Alps in the northwest, through the Pannonian lowlands, to the banks of the Danube in the east. Its central region is covered by the Dinara mountain range, while the southern region ends on the Adriatic coast.

Surface area
The mainland covers an area of 56,594 km2. Its territorial waters cover a surface area of 31,067 km2.

Population
Croatia has 4,437,460 inhabitants.

Demographics
The majority of the population are Croats, with the largest minorities being Serbs, Bosnians, Slovenes, Hungarians, Czechs, Italians and Albanians.

System of government
Croatia is a multi-party parliamentary republic.

Capital
With 779,145 inhabitants, Zagreb is the economic, transport, cultural and academic centre of the country.

Length of the coastline
6,278 km, of which 4,398 km is made up of island coastlines, solitary rocks and reefs.

Number of islands, solitary rocks and reefs
1,244. The largest islands are Krk and Cres. There are 50 inhabited islands.

Highest peak
Dinara, 1,831 m above sea level.

Climate
The prevailing climate in the country’s continental interior is moderately warm and rainy. Areas of high altitude, while Croatia’s highest peaks, have a mountain climate which includes snowfall. The areas along the Adriatic coast have a pleasantly mild Mediterranean climate with a large number of sunny days, summers are hot and dry and winters are mild and wet. Average temperatures in the continental interior are: January -2 to 0 oC, with somewhat lower temperatures at the highest altitudes; August approximately 20 oC, with around 12 oC at the highest altitudes. Average temperatures in the Littoral (Adriatic Coast) are: January – 5 to 9 oC, August – 22 to 25 oC. The sea temperature in winter is 12 oC and approximately 25 oC in summer.