Largest Cities in Croatia

Facts about Croatia

Official languages: Croatian, Serbian
Capital: Zagreb
Area: 56,542 km²
Population: 4.5 million residents
Population density: 79.43 residents per km²
Currency: HRK
Internet TLD: .hr
ISO codes: HR, HRV, 191
The telephone code for Croatia is +385

Flag of Croatia

The Croatian flag has undergone numerous changes that have mirrored political events in the country. After the creation of socialist Croatia in 1949, the Pan-Slavic tricolor (blue, white, red) with the Yugoslav partisan star in the middle was chosen as the national flag. After the declaration of independence in 1991, the star was replaced by the country’s coat of arms, and later a symbolic crown was added to differentiate it from the Ustaše flag. Both the flag and the coat of arms are of great importance to Croats. The checkered shield of the coat of arms represents the Croatian nation and the five small coats of arms represent the Croatian provinces – from the left they are Old Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria and Slavonia.

Croatia is a country in south-eastern Europe. The Croatian national territory covers approx. 87,700 square kilometers, of which 56,592 are land and 31,067 are sea territory.

Due to the territorial location of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the national territory of Croatia is restricted to a continental northern part and a long coastal strip, which are only connected in the northwest. The southernmost part of the coastal area (the region around Dubrovnik to the border with Montenegro) is separated from the rest of Croatia over a width of about three kilometers by the municipality of Neum, which belongs to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The length of the Adriatic coastline is 1778 kilometers. But if you add the numerous Croatian islands, it is 6176 km. Croatia has a total of 1246 islands, of which only 47 are permanently inhabited.

The Adriatic coast is the center of tourism and shipping. Around 10 million tourists visit Croatia every year and generate around 20% of Croatia’s GDP. Shipbuilding also makes an important contribution to Croatia’s economic output. The Croatian shipyards have a long tradition, are known for their good quality and enjoy a high reputation all over the world.

On July 1, 2013, Croatia became the 28th member of the EU. Accession to the EU is expected to give the country an important economic boost.

Biggest Cities of Croatia by Population

Zagreb is the capital and largest city in Croatia, located in the northwest of the country. It is home to around 810,000 people and is considered one of the most important economic, cultural and scientific centers of Croatia. The city has a long history, dating back to Roman times when it was known as Agram. Zagreb is known for its vibrant culture, with a wide range of theatres, galleries, museums and other attractions for visitors to enjoy. The city also boasts beautiful parks and gardens as well as numerous historic monuments.

Split is the second largest city in Croatia with a population of around 180,000 people. Located on the Adriatic Sea coast in Dalmatia region, Split is an important port city and popular tourist destination. The Old Town area of Split contains some impressive ancient ruins such as Diocletian’s Palace which was built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian in 4th century AD. This palace now forms part of Split’s UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to many shops selling tourist souvenirs. Split also features some beautiful beaches such as Bačvice beach which attracts many visitors during summer months when temperatures are high enough for swimming and sunbathing.

Croatia: Zagreb

The capital of Croatia is called Zagreb. Around 800,000 people live here. With the suburbs there are probably almost over a million. Zagreb is the largest city in Croatia. There are many businesses here and the city is of great importance to Croatia’s economy. Only 200,000 people live in the second largest city in Croatia, Split.

Neighboring countries of Croatia

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Hungary
• Montenegro
• Serbia
• Slovenia