Croatia
Political overview
Croatia is a parliamentary democracy and is organised as a unitary republic. The political system is based on the principle of the division of power into three branches: the legislative, the executive and the judiciary.
The Croatian Parliament, or Sabor, has a single chamber whose members are elected for four-year terms.
The Sabor’s 151 members are distributed as follows: 10 national constituencies of 14 members each; one diaspora constituency with three members; and one constituency for members of national minorities with eight members.
The President of the Republic, who is elected by general, direct election for a period of five years, represents the country abroad, cooperates with the Government in shaping and implementing foreign policy and commands the armed forces.
The Prime Minister is the Head of Government. The Government assumes its duties when it receives the confidence of the majority of all Members of the Sabor. The Government proposes laws and the State Budget, leads foreign and internal policy, and directs and monitors the work of the state administration.
Foreign policy
Croatia's foreign policy is focused on its immediate region (the Western Balkans), its membership of the European Union (EU), and trans-Atlantic cooperation, primarily through its membership of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
Croatia’s membership of the EU took effect on 1 July 2013. It joined the Eurozone and the Schengen area from 1 January 2023.
Croatia joined the Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on 24 March 1992, the United Nations (UN) on 22 May 1992, the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 30 November 2000 and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) on 1 April 2009. On 8 July 2022, Croatia officially started negotiations to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Bilateral relations
Australia and Croatia enjoy friendly relations, based on strong people-to-people links. Australia recognised Croatia on 16 January 1992, following its declaration of independence from Yugoslavia on 25 June 1991 and the two countries established diplomatic relations on 13 February 1992. Australia opened a consulate in Zagreb on 21 September 1992, which was converted to an Embassy in October 1999.
Croatia has an embassy in Canberra, and consulates in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.
Fast Facts
- Croatian visitors to Australia (visitor arrivals – 2023) – 3,100
- Australian visitors to Croatia (resident returns – 2023) – 35,960
- Resident Australian population born in Croatia (2021 census) – 43,302
- Australian residents of Croatian descent (2021 census) – 164,362
High level engagement
- December 2023 – Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Dr Gordan Grlić-Radman visited Australia.
Agreements and arrangements with Croatia
- Social Security (2004)
- Air Services (2013)
A comprehensive list of bilateral agreements and texts is available at the Australian Treaties Database.
Public diplomacy
The Australian Embassy in Zagreb manages a public diplomacy program focused on showcasing Australian innovation, education, and lifestyle, including arts, sport and culture. In 2023, the Embassy’s flagship event was the Australia Day screening of the feature documentary ‘COUNTRYMAN’, which explores the intersection of First Nations Australian and Croatian heritage.
Economic diplomacy
Two-way goods and services trade between Australia and Croatia was valued at $258 million in 2023. Imports from Croatia to Australia were valued at $234.7 million, while Australian exports to Croatia were values at $23.3 million. Australian investment in Croatia is modest, and largely focused on the retail and tourism sector.
More economic and trade information can be found in the Croatia Country Economic Factsheet [PDF].
Business
Austrade's Milan Office, covering Croatia, aims to attract foreign direct investment into Australia and promotes the Australian education sector. There is expanded interest by dynamic IT Croatian start-ups in Australia.
Australian Embassy in Croatia
Grand Centar 5th Floor,
Hektorovičeva 2
Tel:+385 1 4891 200
Email: austemb.zagreb@dfat.gov.au
Website: Home (embassy.gov.au)
Travel
See Smartraveller for information on travelling to Croatia.