PEOPLE
The Croats
are believed to be a purely Slavic people who migrated from Ukraine
and settled in present-day Croatia during the 6th century. After
a period of self-rule, Croatians agreed to the Pacta Conventa
in 1091, submitting themselves to Hungarian authority. By the
mid-1400s, concerns over Ottoman expansion led the Croatian Assembly
to invite the Habsburgs, under Archduke Ferdinand, to assume control
over Croatia. Habsburg rule proved successful in thwarting the
Ottomans, and by the 18th century, much of Croatia was free of
Turkish control.
In 1868,
Croatia gained domestic autonomy while remaining under Hungarian
authority. Following World War I and the demise of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire, Croatia joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes
(the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes became Yugoslavia
in 1929). Yugoslavia changed its name once again after World War
II. The new state became the Federal Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia
and united Croatia and several other states together under the
communistic leadership of Marshall Tito (born Josip Broz).
After
the death of Tito and with the fall of communism throughout eastern
Europe, the Yugoslav federation began to crumple. Croatia held
its first multi-party elections since World War II in 1990. Long-time
Croatian nationalist Franjo Tudjman was elected President, and
one year later, Croatians declared independence from Yugoslavia.
Conflict between Serbs and Croats in Croatia escalated, and one
month after Croatia declared independence, civil war erupted.
The United
Nations mediated a cease-fire in January 1992, but hostilities
resumed the next year when Croatia fought to regain one-third
of the territory lost the previous year. A second cease-fire was
enacted in May 1993, followed by a joint declaration the next
January between Croatia and Yugoslavia. However, in September
1993, the Croatian Army led an offensive against the Serb-held
Republic of Krajina. A third cease-fire was called in March 1994,
but it, too, was broken in May and August 1995 after Croatian
forces regained large portions of Krajina, prompting an exodus
of Serbs from this area. In November 1995, Croatia agreed to peacefully
reintegrate Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Dirmium under
terms of the Erdut Agreement. In December 1995, Croatia signed
the Dayton peace agreement, committing itself to a permanent cease-fire
and the return of all refugees.
The death
of President Tudjman in December 1999, followed by the election
of a coalition government and President in early 2000, brought
significant changes to Croatia. The government, under the leadership
of Prime Minister Racan, progressed in implementation of the Dayton
Peace Accords, regional cooperation, refugee returns, national
reconciliation, and democratization.
On November 23, 2003, national elections were held for Parliament. The current government, headed by Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, took office in December 2003. The Sanader government has made membership for Croatia in the European Union and in NATO its top priorities. Elections for Parliament are not expected again until November 2007. Presidential elections were held in January 2005. President Mesic was re-elected to a second term in office, defeating Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) candidate Jadranka Kosor in two rounds of balloting. President Mesic was inaugurated for a second term on February 18, 2005. Presidential elections will next be held in January 2010.
Population (July 2005 est.) 4,495,904.
Growth rate (2004 est.): -.02%
Ethnic groups Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, other 5.9% (including Bosniak, Hungarian , Slovene, Czech, and Roma) (2001 census)
Religions: Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, Slavic Muslim 1.28%, others 6.52%.
Language: Croatian (South Slavic language, using the Roman script).
Health (2005 est.): Life expectancy--male 70.79 years; female 78.31 years. Infant mortality rate--6.84 deaths/1,000 live births.
