US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. GALBRAITH
embassy: Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb
mailing address: US Embassy, Zagreb, Unit 1345, APO AE 09213-1345
telephone: [385] (41) 455-55-00
FAX: [385] (41) 455-85-85
Flag: red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of
arms (red and white checkered)
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Republic of Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area, with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav average. Croatia faces considerable economic problems stemming from: the legacy of longtime communist mismanagement of the economy; large foreign debt; damage during the internecine fighting to bridges, factories, power lines, buildings, and houses; the large refugee population, both Croatian and Bosnian; and the disruption of economic ties to Serbia and the other former Yugoslav republics, as well as within its own territory. Western aid and investment, especially in the tourist and oil industries, would help restore the economy. The government has been successful in some reform efforts including stabilization policies and has normalized relations with creditors. Yet it still is struggling with privatization of large state enterprises and with bank reform. The draft 1996 budget, which had raised concerns about inflation, capitalizes on the "peace dividend" to boost expenditures on the repair and upgrading of infrastructure.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $20.1 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 1.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $4,300 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 12.7% industry: 30.6% services: 56.7% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1995)
Labor force: 1.444 million (1995) by occupation: industry and mining 31.1%, agriculture 4.3%, government 19.1% (including education and health), other 45.5% (1993)