“Croatia, be reconciled to God!”
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(2 Corinthians 5:20,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Europe
Population | 3.85 million
Area | 56,594㎢, Located on the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula in Europe.
Capital City | Zagreb (770,000 people)
People Groups | Total 25 Groups, Croats 89.7%, Serbs 4.2%, others 6.1%
Unreached People Groups | 2 (0.7% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Croatian
Total Languages | 23
Bible Translations | Completed 17, Partial 1
Religion | Christianity 92.3% (Protestantism 0.04% Catholicism 83.4%), Non-religious 5.3%, Islam 1.9% Evangelical 0.4% (17,000 people)
》 About Croatia
Croatia was established as a kingdom in 925 when the northern Principality of Pannonia and the southern Principality of Dalmatia were unified. To escape threats from the Byzantine Empire, it formed a union with the Kingdom of Hungary from 1102. In 1918, it joined Serbia and Slovenia to form the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. After the death of Tito in 1980, the federation dissolved, leading to a civil war, and in 1991, Croatia declared independence. The conflict between the Serb minority and Croatian forces intensified with federal military involvement and continued for four years. In 1998, the disputed region of Eastern Slavonia was finally returned to Croatia. Croatia is a parliamentary republic. President Zoran Milanović was re-elected in 2025 and is serving a second term. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has been in office since 2016.
Croatia was one of the wealthiest among the former Yugoslav republics, but the 1991–1995 war caused severe damage. From 2000 to 2007, GDP began to recover due to a rebound in tourism and consumer spending. Tourism remains a key part of the economy, and Croatia is aiming to become a Southeast European energy hub by operating a floating LNG terminal. After joining the EU in 2013, EU-funded infrastructure projects and growing foreign investment laid the foundation for new economic growth.
Croatia’s GDP per capita is approximately $23,900
》 Scripture Focus
| 2 Corinthians 5:16–20(NIV) 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. |
》 Prayer Points
1. In Croatia, being “Croatian” often implies being Catholic. Catholicism has long played a key role in shaping the nation’s history, culture, and identity. However, only about 15% of Catholics attend mass regularly. In many churches, the Bible is not actively taught, and religious practices often focus on icons, relics, and veneration of Mary and angels, reflecting a superstitious faith. Protestantism is very small—only about 0.4% of the population are evangelical Christians, and of those, it’s estimated that only a quarter regularly attend Sunday worship. There are roughly 150 evangelical churches across three main denominations, most of them located in the northern and urban areas. Baptists, Pentecostals, and independent churches are planting churches in partnership with international mission organizations. These churches and ministries have built strong relationships by caring for those impacted by war, creating spaces of worship and fellowship across ethnic lines. Let us pray that the power of the gospel—the message of the cross that reconciles sinners to God—will take hold in Croatia and bring victory over sin and Satan.
2. Foreign missionaries are working with local churches to plant new churches. Organizations such as the Baptists, GME (Global Missions Europe), SEND International, Pioneers, UWM (United World Mission), and the Assemblies of God are active in the country. However, the high cost of living and the slow pace of church growth make it difficult for pastors and missionaries to maintain long-term, stable ministry.
Osijek Evangelical Theological Seminary plays a key role in training future Christian leaders. As an interdenominational and international school, it welcomes students from Central and Eastern Europe who are being equipped to serve in their own countries. Prayer movements are also spreading across the nation, giving hope for spiritual renewal. Let us pray that churches and missionaries will work together to plant churches in unreached areas, and that they will have the vision and strength to send missionaries to other countries in the Balkans, extending Christ’s reconciling work to all.
3. Croatian youth and young adults are losing hope due to high unemployment, drug abuse, and a widespread lack of belief in God. Ethnic hatred among Croats, Serbs, and Bosnians must not carry over into the younger generation. Ministries like the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (STEP/IFES) and Campus Crusade for Christ (CCCI) are sharing the gospel and discipling students on campuses. The gospel must also reach minority groups such as the Romani (Gypsies), Albanians, and Slovenes. Various resources—including printed Bibles, audio versions, and children’s Bibles—are being distributed throughout the country. Many helpful Christian materials are being translated into Croatian, with much of the work led by the evangelical publisher IPHEC. Let us pray that churches will sincerely reach out to every ethnic group and the next generation in Croatia, so they may be restored through the peace and love that only Jesus can give. Let us also pray that they will no longer live bound by the past, but experience new life through faith in Christ.
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