Croatia

SHORT INFORMATION

Croatia - Population and Languages

The population of Croatia in 2003 was estimated by the United Nations at 4,428,000, which placed it as number 115 in population among the 193 nations of the world. In that year approximately 13% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 20% of the population under 15 years of age.

SHORT INFORMATION

Administrative divisions of Croatia

The subdivisions of Croatia on the first level are the 20 counties (županija, pl. županije) and one city-county (grad, "city"). On the second level these are municipalities (općina, pl. općine) and towns (also named grad, pl. gradovi).Both of these type of subdivisions consist of settlements(naselje, pl. naselja). The 1st- and 2nd-level subdivisions are self-governed, while naselja are used mainly for statistical purposes, though they can also institute one or more levels of self-government, typically in cities.

HOLIDAYS AND TRADITIONS

Wedding in Croatia

Couples arrange their own marriages. Young people usually meet in school, through friends, or at work. They often begin to spend time together in the company of a larger group of friends. A young man and woman usually have a serious relationship before they meet each other's families. Individuals theoretically have a great deal of choice about marriage partners, but Croats tend to marry people of the same nationality and religion and with the same educational level and social status.