The Human Truth Foundation

Croatia (Republic of Croatia)

http://www.humantruth.info/croatia.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#croatia

Croatia
Republic of Croatia
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index40th best
CapitalZagreb
Land Area 55 960km21
LocationEurope, The Mediterranean
Population4.2m2
Life Expectancy77.58yrs (2017)3
GNI$30 132 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesHR, HRV, 1915
Internet Domain.hr6
CurrencyKuna (HRK)7
Telephone+3858

1. Overview

The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent Communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands, along with a majority of Croatia's ethnic Serb population. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998. In April 2009, Croatia joined NATO; Croatia signed the EU Accession Treaty in December 2011 and ratified the Treaty in January, 2012.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverCroatia´s rare blend of glamour and authenticity make it Europe´s `it´ destination, where beaches vie for attention with cultural treasures, ancient architecture and time-tested folk traditions. Croatia has been touted as the `new this´ and the `new that´ for years since its re-emergence on the tourism scene, but it´s now clear that it´s a unique destination that holds its own and then some: this is a country with a glorious 1778km-long coast and a staggering 1244 islands. The Adriatic coast is a knockout: its sapphire waters draw visitors to remote islands, hidden coves and traditional fishing villages, all while touting the glitzy beach and yacht scene. Istria captivates with its gastronomic delights and wines, and the bars, clubs and festivals of Zagreb, Zadar and Split remain little-explored gems. Eight national parks showcase primeval beauty with their forests, mountains, rivers, lakes and waterfalls. You can end your journey in dazzling, historic Dubrovnik in the south - just the right conclusion to any trip. Best of all, Croatia hasn´t given in to mass tourism: there are pockets of unique culture and plenty to discover off the grid.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Croatia National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
4Hong Kong0.952
5Australia0.951
...
37Saudi Arabia0.875
38Portugal0.866
39Latvia0.863
40Croatia0.858
41Andorra0.858
42Qatar0.855
Europe Avg0.87
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
...
45Turkey$31 033
46Slovakia$30 690
47Bahamas$30 486
48Croatia$30 132
49Romania$30 027
50Greece$29 002
Europe Avg$40 512
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12,13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12,13
1Taiwan28.6
2Norway29.4
3Denmark31.2
4Sweden32.2
5Finland32.6
...
37Romania60.4
38Greece60.5
39Latvia61.1
40Croatia62.9
41Monaco63.0
42Kosovo63.4
Europe Avg57.3
World Avg86.1
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Croatia's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Croatia's population is predicted to rise to 4.185 million by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.49. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population (2018)2
Pos.
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
4Indonesia267.7m
5Pakistan212.2m
...
125Central African Rep.4.7m
126Mauritania4.4m
127Panama4.2m
128Croatia4.2m
129Kuwait4.1m
130Moldova4.1m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
41Antigua & Barbuda78.5
42China78.2
43Czechia77.7
44Croatia77.6
45Barbados77.6
46USA77.2
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
78Latvia1.50
79Czechia1.50
80Spain1.50
81Croatia1.49
82Dominican Rep.2.51
83Lithuania1.49
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)15
Pos.Lower is better
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3Chad04.7
4Burkina Faso04.7
5Sierra Leone04.8
...
169Belgium38.1
170Switzerland38.3
171Canada38.5
172Croatia39.7
173Malta39.9
174France40.5
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)16
Pos.
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
...
38Gabon13.8%
39St Kitts & Nevis13.7%
40Seychelles13.6%
41Croatia13.4%
42UK13.4%
43Latvia13.2%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants (2010)17
Pos.
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
...
31Micronesia19.7%
32Belarus18.4%
33Eritrea18.0%
34Croatia17.1%
35Liechtenstein17.1%
36Cyprus17.0%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#Croatia #equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #italy #morals #politics #prejudice #serbia #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)18,19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18,19
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
4Netherlands15.8
5New Zealand17.5
...
47Mexico56.6
48Ecuador58.1
49Greece58.3
50Croatia58.3
51Albania59.6
52Ukraine59.7
Europe Avg50.3
World Avg87.7
q=199.

Croatia does relatively well in ensuring human rights and freedom, compared to many other countries. Croatia comes in the best 20 in its nominal commitment to Human Rights20. It does better than average in terms of commentary in Human Rights Watch reports21 (but low for Europe), LGBT equality22, opposing gender inequality23, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms24 (but bad for Europe) and in supporting press freedom25 (but high for Europe). But, there's bad news too. Croatia does worse than average in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice26, speed of uptake of HR treaties27 and in freethought28. The Roman Catholic Church and related national religious bodies systematically undermine women's rights, family planning and LGBT tolerance in Croatia, including applying direct pressure to doctors and medical staff29. The Catholic hold on children's education is used to teach prejudiced and biased doctrine, especially to attack the non-religious29. In order to maintain basic human rights, the Catholic Church and its national outlets need to be strictly disestablished and prevented from abusing its power.

Croatia has not been dealing with asylum seekers fairly, deporting some to Serbia without examining their cases30 and returning others to Italy, therefore forcing other countries to bear an unfair portion, and damaging the lives of those seeking asylum.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Croatia's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #Croatia #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Europe (2020)31,32
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31,32
1Monaco13.0
2Norway61.0
3Finland65.3
4Switzerland65.6
5Italy67.5
...
22UK81.1
23Slovakia81.1
24Macedonia82.5
25Croatia82.9
26Poland83.5
27Czechia83.6
28France83.8
Europe Avg82.5
q=46.
Health (2020)31,32
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31,32
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
...
55Brazil82.1
56Cuba82.4
57Macedonia82.5
58Croatia82.9
59Turkmenistan83.1
60Tajikistan83.1
61Canada83.5
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives31. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau31.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean31, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa31.

For more, see:

Health:

Croatia does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Croatia does better than average in terms of its fertility rate14, its adolescent birth rate23, its average life expectancy11 and in its immunizations take-up33. Croatia does not succeed in everything, however. Croatia does worse than average in terms of its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance34, its alcohol consumption rate35 (still low for Europe) and in its smoking rate36. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in its suicide rate37. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016.

Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
41Antigua & Barbuda78.5
42China78.2
43Czechia77.7
44Croatia77.6
45Barbados77.6
46USA77.2
Europe Avg78.36
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption (2016)35
Pos.Lower is better
Per Capita35
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
...
129Vietnam8.4
130Ukraine8.6
131Netherlands8.7
132Croatia8.9
133Cameroon8.9
134Canada8.9
Europe Avg10.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
78Latvia1.50
79Czechia1.50
80Spain1.50
81Croatia1.49
82Dominican Rep.2.51
83Lithuania1.49
Europe Avg1.61
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates (2014)36
Pos.Higher is worse36
182Montenegro4 125
181Belarus3 831
180Lebanon3 023
179Macedonia2 732
178Russia2 690
...
164Estonia1 775
163Hungary1 759
162Japan1 713
161Croatia1 709
160Cyprus1 688
159Serbia1 644
Europe Avg1 648
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate (2013)37
Pos.
Per 100k37
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
4Jordan0.2
5Maldives0.7
...
73France33.2
74Moldova35.7
75Switzerland36.2
76Croatia36.4
77Estonia37.9
78Serbia38.1
Europe Avg26.99
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)34
Pos.Lower is better
Rank34
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
4UK4
5Norway5
...
80Uruguay80
81Dominican Rep.81
82Zambia82
83Croatia83
84Indonesia84
85Bolivia85
Europe Avg47.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults (2016)38
Pos.Lower is better
%38
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
...
136France59.5
137Belgium59.5
138Lithuania59.6
139Croatia59.6
140El Salvador59.9
141Dominica60.3
Europe Avg58.5
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate (2015)23
Pos.Lower is better
Per 100023
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
4Hong Kong3.2
5Slovenia3.8
...
27Bosnia & Herzegovina8.6
28Saudi Arabia8.8
29France8.9
30Croatia9.5
31Israel9.7
32Canada9.8
Europe Avg14.6
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)33
Pos.Higher is better
Avg %33
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
4Niue98.8
5Mongolia98.7
...
48Rwanda96.1
49Sao Tome & Principe96.0
50Malaysia96.0
51Croatia95.9
52Nicaragua95.9
53Tunisia95.7
Europe Avg92.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Croatia's Modernity and Learning

#education #english #intelligence #maths #modernity #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Europe (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Finland8.4
2Switzerland15.1
3Estonia15.8
4Denmark16.0
5Belgium16.1
...
25Slovakia39.5
26Portugal40.1
27Greece40.9
28Croatia44.3
29Ukraine47.1
30Bulgaria47.3
31Liechtenstein47.7
Europe Avg41.2
q=49.
Modernity and Learning (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
...
37Russia40.6
38Greece40.9
39Argentina43.8
40Croatia44.3
41Ukraine47.1
42Bulgaria47.3
43Liechtenstein47.7
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research and Development (2016)
Pos.Higher is better
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2939
2Israel4.1139
3Japan3.5839
4Finland3.1739
5Sweden3.1639
...
38Malta0.8940
39Greece0.8439
40India0.8241
41Croatia0.8140
42Kenya0.7942
43Ukraine0.7640
Europe Avg1.32
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education (2018)43
Pos.Higher is better43
1Luxembourg100.0%
2Estonia100.0%
3Austria100.0%
4Canada100.0%
5Finland100.0%
...
20Moldova96.4%
21Germany96.3%
22Russia95.9%
23Croatia95.7%
24Azerbaijan95.6%
25USA95.6%
Europe Avg88.3%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling (2021)44
Pos.Higher is better
Years44
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
...
56Liechtenstein15.2
57Mauritius15.2
58Belarus15.2
59Croatia15.1
60Montenegro15.1
61Hungary15.0
Europe Avg16.1
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours (2017)34
Pos.Lower is better
Rank34
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
4Denmark4
5UK5
...
30Romania30
31Cyprus31
32Ireland32
33Croatia33
34Israel34
35Barbados35
Europe Avg31.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Maths, Science & Reading (2015)45
Pos.Higher is better
Score45
1Singapore1655
2Hong Kong1598
3Japan1586
4Macau1582
5Estonia1573
...
33Italy1456
34Luxembourg1450
35Iceland1443
36Croatia1426
37Lithuania1425
38Hungary1424
Europe Avg1417
World Avg1389
q=70.
Religiosity (2018)46
Pos.Lower is better
%46
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
...
38Portugal36
39Azerbaijan38
40Chile41
41Croatia42
42Moldova42
43Argentina43
Europe Avg25.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ (2006)47
Pos.Higher is better47
1Hong Kong108
2Singapore108
3S. Korea106
4Japan105
5Taiwan105
...
53Lithuania91
54Cambodia91
55Albania90
56Croatia90
57Kyrgyzstan90
58Chile90
Europe Avg96.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users (2016)48
Pos.Higher is better48
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
4Bermuda97%
5Andorra97%
...
42Lithuania77%
43Latvia76%
44Lebanon76%
45Croatia74%
46Hong Kong74%
47Cayman Islands74%
Europe Avg76.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake (2017)49
Pos.Higher is better
Ratio49
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
4USA35.0
5Greece33.5
...
74Iran0.1
75Zambia0.1
76Panama0.1
77Croatia0.1
78Costa Rica0.1
79Serbia0.1
Europe Avg8.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

7. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

World Giving Index (2013-2021)50
Pos.Lower is better50
1Myanmar (Burma)2.7
2New Zealand4.0
3USA4.7
4Australia4.9
5Indonesia9.0
...
139Mauritania111.3
140Bulgaria112.3
141Azerbaijan112.3
142Croatia113.0
143Tunisia114.3
144Madagascar114.8
Europe Avg75.2
World Avg67.9
q=160.
Corruption (2022)51
Pos.Higher is better
Points51
1Denmark90.0
2Finland87.0
3New Zealand87.0
4Norway84.0
5Singapore83.0
...
54Rwanda51.0
55Malta51.0
56Saudi Arabia51.0
57Croatia50.0
58Mauritius50.0
59Namibia49.0
Europe Avg57.61
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness (2018)52
Pos.Higher is better52
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
4Iceland7.5
5Switzerland7.5
...
79Greece5.4
80Tajikistan5.4
81Montenegro5.3
82Croatia5.3
83Dominican Rep.5.3
84Algeria5.3
Europe Avg6.06
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity and Culture (2017)34
Pos.Lower is better
Rank34
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
4Switzerland4
5Sweden5
...
35New Zealand35
36Belize36
37Iceland37
38Croatia38
39Bulgaria39
40Marshall Islands40
Europe Avg35.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid and Development (2017)34
Pos.Lower is better
Rank34
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
4Netherlands4
5Switzerland5
6Serbia6
7Belgium7
8Norway8
9Finland9
10Croatia10
11Georgia11
12Philippines12
Europe Avg42.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.

8. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index (2021)53
Pos.Lower is better53
1Iceland1.10
2New Zealand1.25
3Denmark1.26
4Portugal1.27
5Slovenia1.32
...
15Sweden1.46
16Australia1.47
17Germany1.48
18Croatia1.48
19Hungary1.49
20Belgium1.50
Europe Avg1.69
World Avg2.08
q=163.
Peacekeeping and Security (2017)34
Pos.Lower is better
Rank34
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
4Egypt4
5Nigeria5
...
143Belize143
144Haiti144
145Libya145
146Croatia146
147UAE147
148Central African Rep.148
Europe Avg84.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees and UN Treaties (2017)34
Pos.Lower is better
Rank34
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
4Sweden4
5Malta5
...
55Zambia55
56Lithuania56
57Ukraine57
58Croatia58
59Bangladesh59
60Seychelles60
Europe Avg37.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism (2019)54
Pos.Lower is better
Score54
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
4Equatorial Guinea0.00
5Cambodia0.00
6Portugal0.00
7Croatia0.00
8Benin0.00
9Mauritania0.00
10Slovenia0.00
11Costa Rica0.00
12Romania0.00
Europe Avg1.62
World Avg2.78
q=150.

9. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 (2015)55
Pos.Higher is better
%55
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
4Kuwait+81.2
5Dominican Rep.+79.5
...
60Lebanon+04.8
61Gabon+04.5
62Ukraine+04.1
63Croatia+03.8
64Iraq+03.3
65USA+02.7
Europe Avg+15.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance (2018)56
Pos.Higher is better56
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
4Malta80.9
5Sweden80.5
...
38Turkmenistan66.1
39Seychelles66.0
40Albania65.5
41Croatia65.5
42Colombia65.2
43Hungary65.0
Europe Avg69.6
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency (2014)57
Pos.Higher is better57
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
4Colombia17.54
5Ireland17.54
...
47Brazil10.10
48Algeria10.00
49Macedonia10.00
50Croatia10.00
51France09.90
52Lebanon09.90
Europe Avg09.80
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.Earlier is better
Signed
1China1993 Dec 29
2Guinea1993 Dec 29
3Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
4Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
5Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
...
161Turkmenistan1996 Dec 17
162Laos1996 Dec 19
163Haiti1996 Dec 24
164Croatia1997 Jan 05
165Belgium1997 Feb 20
166Dominican Rep.1997 Feb 23
Europe Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment (2011)58
Pos.Higher is better
%58
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
4Trinidad & Tobago74.5%
5Costa Rica74.2%
...
73Mongolia38.4%
74Hungary38.0%
75Mauritania38.0%
76Croatia37.8%
77Cambodia37.1%
78Namibia36.6%
Europe Avg33.6%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy (2019)59
Pos.Higher is worse59
184Chad40.90
183Central African Rep.40.10
182Sierra Leone39.00
181Somalia38.90
180Nigeria37.10
...
34Belarus4.40
33New Zealand4.30
32Poland4.30
31Croatia4.30
30Hungary4.20
29UK4.10
Europe Avg4.86
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) (2017)60
Pos.Lower is better
%60
1Ukraine25.0
2Belarus25.4
3Slovenia25.4
4Czechia25.9
5Moldova25.9
...
23Austria30.5
24Sao Tome & Principe30.8
25Poland30.8
26Croatia31.1
27S. Korea31.6
28Germany31.7
Europe Avg31.5
World Avg38.1
q=152.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #catholicism #christianity #croatia #democracy #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)46
Pos.Lower is better
%46
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
...
38Portugal36
39Azerbaijan38
40Chile41
41Croatia42
42Moldova42
43Argentina43
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)61
Pos.Higher is better
%61
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
4Czechia61
5Estonia49
...
42Trinidad & Tobago9
43Albania8
44Dominican Rep.7
45Croatia7
46Kyrgyzstan7
47Cambodia7
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below62:

Christian93.4%
Muslim1.4%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jew0.1%
Unaffiliated5.1%

By adding up the Pew Forum data for the major monotheistic religions we can see that these make up 94.9% of the population. Yet there are simply too many who disbelieve in God for this to be true (7%). This is due to the so-called 'Census Effect', whereby many put down a religion for cultural reasons rather than because it reflects their beliefs. In highly Christian countries, as many as half of those who say they're a Christian lack any connection to a Church, and do not hold Christian beliefs (such as believing in God!).

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 95.2% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 42% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census)63.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Despite declining interest in religion, the Croatian government gifts huge amounts to the Catholic church as part of a mixture of legal and formal provisions, as well as through many indirect funding lines. Much of this is underpinned by four laws that were enacted in the 1990s without public consultation, causing controversy due to the hefty financial obligations involved, and, tying the Catholic Church in as a provider of services to law enforcement, education and curriculum content, politics and the armed forces.29. The RCC uses its influence in school to teach against other religions and especially against the non-religious29.

Policies that cause direct or indirect discrimination on the grounds of religion are not consistent with democracy or human rights. So, although Article 40 of the Croatian Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and religion29, and Article 41 grants religious equality29, in reality there is much to do to remove the entrenchment of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) before freedom of thought and secular fairness can be attained.

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