Southeastern Europe.

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

56,542 sq km (21,831 sq miles).

4.4 million (official estimate 2006).

77.8 per sq km.

Zagreb. Population: 779,145 (official estimate 2006).

Croatia stretches along the Adriatic coast, narrowing north-south; the major ports being Rijeka, Pula, Zadar, Sibenik, Split and Dubrovnik, with a larger inland area running west-east from Zagreb to the border with Serbia. The northern two-thirds of this border are formed by the River Danube. The country borders Slovenia and Hungary to the north, Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast and Bosnia & Herzegovina (southeast from Zagreb; northeast from the Adriatic coastline).

Republic. Independence from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia proclaimed in 1991.

President Stjepan Mesic since 2000.

Prime Minister Ivo Sanader since 2003.

On 25 June 1991 Croatia declared itself independent from the rump Yugoslavia, a move that resulted in the Homeland War (1991-1995), which saw Croatia pitted against the might of the Yugoslav army and Serb irregular forces. In December 1991 the German government recognised Croatian independence, with the rest of the world quickly following suit.

The death of the country's first democratically elected president, Franjo Tudjman, in December 1999 heralded a new era of Croatian politics; Stjepan Mesic stepped into the fold and Croatia adopted a more conciliatory approach at home and abroad. Steady progress has been made in improving relations with Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro and the country's economy is growing.

Croatia's accession to the EU, which began in February 2003, stalled in the face of the government's reluctance to hand military figures over to the Hague. However, Croatia is now on track to be a full member by 2009.

Croatian, Serbian, Italian, Slovene, Slovak and German.

Roman Catholic Croats (87.8% of the total population) and Eastern Orthodox Serbs (4.4%), as well as small communities of Protestants, Jews and Muslims.

220 volts AC, 50Hz.

People normally shake hands upon meeting and leaving. Smoking is generally acceptable but there are restrictions in public buildings and on public transport.

Photography: Certain restrictions exist.