Country Profiles: Croatia

Croatia is located in Europe.

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. The country joined NATO in April 2009 and the EU in July 2013.
CIA World Factbook

With an area of 56,594 sq km, it is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of West Virginia.

Croatia shares a border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, and Slovenia. It is geographically diverse with flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline, and islands.

People who live in Croatia are called Croats or Croatians; Croatian is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2013, there are 4,475,611 people in Croatia. The ethnic groups that reside in Croatia are mostly Croat (89.6%) with some Serb (4.5%) and other (5.9%), including Bosniak, Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, and Roma. Croatian (96.1%) is the official language, but Serbian (1%) and other/undesignated (2.9%), including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German, are spoken there. Roman Catholic make up approximately 87.8% of the population, while Orthodox (4.4%), other Christian (0.4%), and Muslim (1.3%) make up most of the rest.

The country's official name is Republic of Croatia. The capital is Zagreb, and the country is made up of 20 counties. Croatia gained independence from Yugoslavia on June 25, 1991. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current president is Ivo Josipovic. Information about the leaders of Croatia's government can be found here. The currency is the kuna (abbreviated HRK), which stands at 5.8503 HRK per USD as of 2012.

All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Croatian Government Site

Croatia, CIA World Factbook

Background Notes: Croatia, U.S. Department of State

2012 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Croatia, U.S. Department of State.

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Country Profiles: Bulgaria

Bulgaria is located in Europe. The first Bulgarian state was formed in the late 7th century when the Bulgars merged with the Slavic inhabitants. Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007. With an area of 110,879 sq km, it is slightly larger than the U.S. state of Tennessee.

Bulgaria shares a border with Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey. It is mostly mountains with lowlands in the north and southeast.

People who live in Bulgaria are called Bulgarians, which is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2012, there are 7,037,935 people in Bulgaria. The ethnic groups that reside in Bulgaria are mostly Bulgarian (76.9%), as well as Turk (8%) and Roma (4.4%). Several languages are spoken there: the official language Bulgarian, as well as Turkish and Roma. Eastern Orthodox make up approximately 59.4% of the population, while Muslims (Sunni and Shia) make up an additional 7.8%.

The country's official name is the Republic of Bulgaria. The capital is Sofia, and the country is made up of 28 provinces. Though Bulgaria gained complete independence from the Ottoman Empire on September 22, 1908, a constitution was not adopted until July 12, 1991. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current president is President Rosen Plevneliev. Information about the leaders of Bulgaria's government can be found here. The currency is the leva(abbreviated BGN), which stands at 1.4065 BGN per USD as of 2011.

All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Bulgarian Government Site

Bulgaria, European Union

Bulgaria, CIA World Factbook

Background Notes: Bulgaria, U.S. Department of State

2011 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Bulgaria, U.S. Department of State.

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Country Profiles: Austria

Austria is located in Europe. Originally the center of power for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria dwarfed in size after being defeated in World War I. After being annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938 and occupied by Allies in 1945, Austria finally gained independence in 1955. With an area of 83,871 sq km, Austria is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Maine.

Austria shares a border with Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, and Switzerland. It is mostly mountainous in the west and south (Alps) and flat or gently sloping in the east and north.





People who live in Austria are known as Austrians, which is the adjective used to describe items from that country. German is the official language (88.6%), but Turkish (2.3%), Serbian (2.2%), and Croatian (1.6%) are also spoken. Most Austrians are Catholic (73.6%), but there are Protestants (4.7%) and Muslims (4.2%) in Austria too.


Austria's official name is the Republic of Austria. The capital is Vienna, and Austria is divided into 9 states. The current president of Austria is Heinz Fischer. More information about the leaders of Austria's government can be found here. The currency in Austria is the euro (abbreviated EUR), which stands at .755 EUR per USD as of 2010.





All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Federal Chancellery of Austria

Austria, CIA World Factbook

Background Notes: Austria, U.S. Department of State

Austria 2010 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, U.S. Department of State.

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Country Profiles: Andorra

Andorra is located in Europe. From 1278 to 1993 (715 years), Andorra was a co-principality ruled by both French and Spanish leaders. In 1993, the government became a parliamentary democracy. With 468 sq km, it is 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Andorra is landlocked and shares a border with France and Spain. It is composed of rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys.





People who live in Andorra are called Andorrans, which is also the adjective used to describe items from this country. As of July 2011, there are 84,825 people living in Andorra. This population is mostly Spanish (43%) and Andorran (33%) with some Portuguese (11%) and French (7%). While Catalan is the official language of Andorra, French, Castilian, and Portuguese are also spoken. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion of the country.

The country's official name is Principality of Andorra. The capital is Andorra la Vella, and the country is made up of seven parishes. Andorra's constitution can be found here on Constitution Finder. The current Chief of State is French Co-Prince Nicolas Sarkozy, and the current Executive Council President is Antoni Marti Petit. Information about the leaders of Andorra's government can be found here. The currency is the euro (abbreviated EUR), which stands at 0.755 EUR per USD as of 2010.





All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Andorra, The Pyrenean Country

Andorra, CIA World Factbook

Background Note: Andorra, U.S. Department of State

Andorra 2010 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, U.S. Department of State

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Country Profiles: Albania

Albania is located in Europe. Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939. With an area of 28,748 sq km, it is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Maryland.

Albania shares a border with Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo. It mostly has mountains and hills, but also has small plains along the coast.



People who live in Albania are called Albanians, which is also the adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2011, there are almost three million people in Albania. The ethnic groups that reside in Albania are Albanian (95%) and Greek (3%). The official language of Albania is Albanian, though Greek, Vlach and Romani are also spoken. Muslims make up 70% of the population, with Albanian Orthodox making up 20% and Roman Catholics the final 10%.

The country's official name is Republic of Albania. The capital is Tirana, and the country is composed of 12 counties. Though Albania gained independence from the Ottoman Empire on November 28, 1912, a constitution was not approved by parliament until October 21, 1998. The constitution can be found here on Constitution Finder. The current president is Bamir Topi. Information about the leaders of Albania's government can be found here. The currency is the leke (abbreviated ALL), which stands at 104.08 ALL per USD as of 2010.




All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Council of Ministers, Republic of Albania

Albania, CIA World Factbook

Background Note: Albania, U.S. Department of State

Albania 2010 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, U.S. Department of State.

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