Croatia is located in Central Europe on the Mediterranean, and has a territory of 21,851 square miles. It has more than a thousand islands in the Adriatic Sea, with Cres and Krk being the largest. Its population is 4.2 million people. Croatia has both continental and Mediterranean climates. A number of rivers traverse its lands, and the sea coastline is impressive in length and beauty.

The territory of Croatia has been inhabited since the prehistoric period, so the country today has an abundant cultural and historical heritage. It became a part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia after World War II. The country declared independence in 1991 and transitioned to democratic rule and a market economy.

Croatia has a high-income economy fueled by its services, industrial, and agricultural sectors. The major exports are machinery, transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, and food products. Croatia trades mostly with countries in the European Union. Tourism is also well-developed because of the land’s natural beauty and diversity. The country ranks as the 18th most visited tourist destination in the world.

About 60% of the population lives in urban areas. The capital, Zagreb, has around 700,000 citizens. Split and Rijeka, two of the other important cities in Croatia, have about 150,000 inhabitants each.

Top Skills

Croatian is the official language in Croatia. A few other languages are recognized as minority languages, including Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Ruthenian, Serbian, and Slovakian. Most Croatians know another language besides their native one, with about half of them speaking English as a second language. English is widely used in business, trade, and education. German is the next most popular foreign language. The literacy rate is 99.3%.

School education is free for all in Croatia. Croatians who speak a minority language can receive their education in Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Serbian, or German. After graduating high school, Croatians can continue their studies in one of the eight universities in the country. They are located in Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek, Zadar, Pula, and Dubrovnik. The University in Zagreb is internationally recognized as a top university. Croatian universities have competitive programs in engineering, medicine, economics, and law.

Due to the small size of the country and the limitations of the local job market, many young professionals turn to freelancing. They prefer the flexibility of remote work as well as the numerous job opportunities it presents. Having substantial qualifications and knowledge, they offer high-quality services in software development, marketing, translation, and business management.

Income Range

The average monthly salary in Croatia is 8,300 HRK ($1,220). Jobs in administration and business planning pay about 5,000 HRK ($740) per month. Engineering and automotive professionals earn about the average monthly income. The highest paying positions are in marketing, banking, and biotechnology—these professionals earn from 12,000 to 14,000 HRK ($1,700–$2,100) monthly.

Currency

The currency in Croatia is the Croatian kuna. The exchange rate is 1 USD to 6.76 HRK.

Currency Exchange

You can transfer money to and from Croatia via all popular online payment services, including PayPal, Payoneer, and Transferwise.