Croatia - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Croatia, it was name probably derives from the Croats, a Slavic tribe who migrated to the Balkans in the 7th century A.D., but that name may be related to the Russian word khrebet, meaning "mountain chain". The Government system in this country is the parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 20 counties (zupanije, singular - zupanija) and 1 city* (grad - singular) with special county status; Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska (Bjelovar-Bilogora), Brodsko-Posavska (Brod-Posavina), Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria), Karlovacka (Karlovac), Koprivnicko-Krizevacka (Koprivnica-Krizevci), Krapinsko-Zagorska (Krapina-Zagorje), Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska (Medimurje), Osjecko-Baranjska (Osijek-Baranja), Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska (Primorje-Gorski Kotar), Sibensko-Kninska (Sibenik-Knin), Sisacko-Moslavacka (Sisak-Moslavina), Splitsko-Dalmatinska (Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska (Varazdin), Viroviticko-Podravska (Virovitica-Podravina), Vukovarsko-Srijemska (Vukovar-Syrmia), Zadarska (Zadar), Zagreb*, Zagrebacka (Zagreb county)
National symbols
Red-and-white checkerboard.
The flag
The National flag of Croatia has .
Info
The National Anthem
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More about the government of Croatia
| Date of Independence | 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia); notable earlier dates: ca. 925 (Kingdom of Croatia established), 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes established, later became Yugoslavia) |
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| National holiday | Statehood Day (National Day), 30 May (1990) |
| Legal system | civil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1990 |
| Amendment process | Proposed by at least one fifth of the Assembly membership, by the president of the republic, by the Government of Croatia, or through petition by at least 10% of the total electorate; proceedings to amend require majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; passage by petition requires a majority vote in a referendum and promulgation by the Assembly |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Croatia |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 5 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Zoran MILANOVIC (since 18 February 2020) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Andrej PLENKOVIC (since 19 October 2016) |
| Cabinet | Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the Assembly |
| Election/appointment process | president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president and approved by the Assembly |
| Most recent election date | December 2024 (first round) and January 2025 (second round) |
| Election results | 2025: Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 74.6%, Dragan PRIMORAC (independent) 25.3% 2019: Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 52.7%, Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (HDZ) 47.3% |
| Expected date of next election | 2029 |
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature name | Croatian Parliament (Hrvatski Sabor) |
| Legislative structure | Unicameral |
| Number of seats | 151 (all directly elected) |
| Electoral system | Proportional representation |
| Scope of elections | Full renewal |
| Term in office | 4 years |
| Most recent election date | 4/17/2024 |
| Parties elected and seats per party | Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) (55); Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) (37); Homeland Movement (DP) (11); We Can! – Political Platform (Možemo!) (10); Independent (NZ) (10); Other (28) |
| Percentage of women in chamber | 33.1% |
| Expected date of next election | April 2028 |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court (consists of the court president and vice president, 25 civil department justices, and 16 criminal department justices) |
| Judge selection and term of office | President of Supreme Court nominated by the president of Croatia and elected by the Sabor for a 4-year term; other Supreme Court justices appointed by the National Judicial Council; all judges serve until age 70 |
| Subordinate courts | Administrative Court; county, municipal, and specialized courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Pjer ŠIMUNOVIĆ (since 8 September 2017) |
| Chancery | 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 588-5899 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 588-8937 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://mvep.gov.hr/embassy-114969/114969 |
| Consulate(s) general | Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle (WA) |
| Consulate(s) | Anchorage (AL), Houston, Kansas City (MO),Minneapolis/St. Paul (MN), New Orleans, Pittsburgh (PA) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Trey LYONS (since January 2025) |
| Embassy | Ulica Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb |
| Mailing address | 5080 Zagreb Place, Washington DC 20521-5080 |
| Telephone | [385] (1) 661-2200 |
| FAX | [385] (1) 665-8933 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://hr.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 10 (8 cultural, 2 natural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Plitvice Lakes National Park (n); Historic Split (c); Old City of Dubrovnik (c); Euphrasian Basilica; Historic Trogir (c); Šibenik Cathedral (c); Stari Grad Plain (c); Zadar and Fort St. Nikola Venetian Defense Works (c); Primeval Beech Forests (n); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c) |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Croatia
Info
International organization participation
All Important Facts about Croatia
Want to know more about Croatia? Check all different factbooks for Croatia below.
