Overview
The Croatian kuna was the currency of Croatia from 1994 to 2023, when it was replaced by the euro. It was managed by the Croatian National Bank and served the country during its transition to EU membership and eurozone adoption.
Economy
- Croatia is a member of EU, NATO, Council of Europe, OSCE, CEFTA.
- Main industries include: Chemicals and plastics, Machine tools, Fabricated metal, Electronics, Pig iron and rolled steel products, Aluminum, Paper, Wood products, Construction materials, Textiles, Shipbuilding, Petroleum and petroleum refining, Food and beverages, Tourism.
- Croatia is part of the World Trade Organization.
- Imports are machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, foodstuffs.
- Major exports include transport equipment, machinery, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels.
- GDP: $71.0 billion (2022, final year).
- GDP per capita: $17,399 (2022).
- Unemployment rate: 7.0% (2022).
- Inflation rate: 10.7% (2022).
- Main trading partners: Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Trade agreements: EU Single Market, Various bilateral agreements.
History
- Previous currencies used: Croatian dinar, Yugoslav dinar, Austro-Hungarian krone.
- The kuna was introduced in 1994, replacing the Croatian dinar. The name comes from the Croatian word for marten, whose pelts were once used as currency. Croatia adopted the euro on January 1, 2023.
- 1991: Croatian independence declared
- 1991-1994: Croatian dinar used
- 1994: Kuna introduced, replacing dinar at 1000:1
- 1998: Croatian National Bank established independence
- 2013: EU membership achieved
- 2020: Joined ERM II (eurozone waiting room)
- 2023: Euro adoption, kuna discontinued
- Exchange rate peg: EUR (2020-2023) through ERM II.
- Exchange rate peg: Managed float (1994-2020).
- Currently pegged to EUR (2020-2023), discontinued January 1, 2023 at 7.53450 (final conversion rate to EUR).
General Information
- ISO 4217 Code: HRK
- Symbols: HRK/kn
- Currency Subunits: 100 lipa
- Central Bank: Croatian National Bank (discontinued HRK operations)
- Monetary Policy: Currency was managed through ERM II until euro adoption. Croatia now follows ECB monetary policy as eurozone member.
- Bills: 5 kn, 10 kn, 20 kn, 50 kn, 100 kn, 200 kn, 500 kn, 1000 kn
- Coins: 1 lipa, 2 lipe, 5 lipa, 10 lipa, 20 lipa, 50 lipa, 1 kuna, 2 kune, 5 kuna, 25 kuna
- USD Exchange Rate: 7.53450 (final conversion rate to EUR)
- Pegged To: EUR (2020-2023), discontinued January 1, 2023 at 7.53450 (final conversion rate to EUR)
- Capital: Zagreb
- Population: 3,854,000 (2023 est.)
- Area: 56,594 km²
- Languages: Croatian (official), Serbian, Other
- Time Zones: UTC+1 (CET), UTC+2 (CEST in summer)
- Government Type: Parliamentary republic
- Head of Government: President (head of state), Prime Minister (head of government)
- Independence: June 25, 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
- Ethnic Groups: Croat 90.4%, Serb 4.4%, Other 5.2%
- Religions: Roman Catholic 86.3%, Orthodox 4.4%, Muslim 1.5%, Other 1.5%, Unspecified 2.5%, Not religious 3.8%
- Literacy Rate: 99.3% (2015 est.)
- Transport: Zagreb Airport, extensive road network, railway connections, Adriatic Sea ports
- Communications: Advanced telecommunications, 72% internet penetration, comprehensive mobile coverage
- Energy: Natural gas 39%, Oil 27%, Hydroelectric 26%, Coal 6%, Renewables 2%
- Countries Using This Currency: Croatia
- Data Sources: Central Bank: Croatian National Bank (discontinued HRK), Economic Data: Croatian Bureau of Statistics, World Bank, IMF, Trade Data: Croatian Customs Administration, Demographic Data: Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Geographic Data: State Hydrometeorological Service, Historical Data: Croatian National Bank archives
- Last Updated: 2025