Croatia explained to kids

Croatia is a country located in Central and Southeast Europe. It is bordered by Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the southeast, Montenegro to the southeast, the Adriatic Sea to the southwest, and Slovenia to the northwest. Croatia covers an area of 56,594 square kilometers (21,851 square miles) and has a population of 4.07 million. The capital and largest city is Zagreb. The Croats arrived in the area in the 7th century and established their own state in the 9th century. In the 13th century, the Croats became a kingdom, and in the 16th century they established their own kingdom in what is now Croatia. The Croats were ruled by the Habsburgs from the 17th to the 19th centuries. In 1918, the Croats declared their independence from Austria-Hungary, and in 1991 they became a republic. Croatia is a member of the European Union, the United Nations, and NATO. It is also a member of the Council of Europe and the World Trade Organization. The country has a high HDI and is ranked 18th in the world. Croatia is a unitary state with a parliamentary system of government. The president is the head of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. The unicameral Croatian Parliament is the legislative body, and the Croatian Government is the executive body. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Croatia has a market economy with a high level of human development. The service sector dominates the economy, followed by industry and agriculture. Tourism is also a significant sector of the economy. Croatia is a developed country with a very high standard of living.