Croatia Demographics

During greatest part of 20 century population of Croatia has been rising from 3430270 in 1931 to 4784265 in 1991. During last decade of 20 century the population of Croatia has been stagnating because of Yugoslav Wars. During the 1991-1995 war, large sections of the population were displaced and emigration increased. In, 1991 during the war campaign carried out by Serb forces in Serb regions and the Croatian paramilitary in Croat-populated areas, 80,000 Croats were expelled from their homes by force or fled the violence and approximately 350,000 Serbs fled from the same causes. During the final days of the war in 1995 ca. 220.000 Serbs fled from Croatia infront of a massive attack from Croatian forces. This event has caused the ICTY to indict General Ante Gotovina and other for genocide on the Serbian people. It is also said that Croatian president Dr. Franjo Tudjman would have been indicted if he had not died prior too the indictment. Most of the Croats have since returned but a large portion fled to western Europe and stayed there. Only a small fraction of Serbs of Croatia have returned to their homeland since 1995, according to the Human Rights Watch.

The natural growth rate of the population is currently negative with the demographic transition completed in the 1970s. Average life expectancy is 75.1 years, and the literacy rate is 98.1 percent. During last years Croatian government is under pressure to add every year even 40 % more foreign working permits for foreign workers and it is trying with immigration policy to call back emigrants to return. The main religions of Croatia are Roman Catholic 88%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2%.