As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, estimates on how many Croats live abroad by Croatian diplomatic missions and consular offices across the world, as well as by Croatian Catholic missions, reveal the number of ethnic Croats who live abroad.

These latest figures have also been aided by various censuses carried out in countries where Croatian emigrants and their descendants reside, as well as estimates taken by Croatian communities in some of these countries. As such, it is currently estimated that around 3,200,000 Croatian emigrants and their descendants live outside Croatia in various nations around the world. This was announced by the Central State Office for Croats outside the Republic of Croatia.

Based on the estimates of individual countries around the world, the number of Croats who live abroad, as well as their descendants, is as follows:

Argentina: about 250,000
Australia: about 250,000
Austria: about 90,000
Belgium: about 7,000
Brazil: about 70,000
Bolivia: about 5,000
Chile: about 200,000
Denmark: about 2,500
Ecuador: about 4,000
France: about 40,000
Ireland: about 20,000
Italy: about 60,000
South Africa: about 8,000
Canada: about 250,000
Luxembourg: around 3,000
The Netherlands: about 10,000
Norway: around 2000
New Zealand: about 100,000
Germany: about 500,000
Paraguay: about 5,000
Peru: about 6,000
United States of America: about 1,200,000
Sweden: about 40,000
Switzerland: about 80,000
Uruguay: about 5,000
Great Britain: about 5,000
Venezuela: about 5,000

According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Croatia has 3,855,641 inhabitants, while estimations suggest that there are over 3.2 million Croats and their descendants living abroad.

The post Around 3.2 Million Croats Live Abroad – Here’s Where appeared first on Total Croatia.

Personal transfers consist mainly of money flows that immigrants send to households in their country of origin, writes Tportal.

In the last five years, a significant growth of transfers to countries outside the EU has been noticeable at the EU level. Since 2018, outflows have increased by 41 percent, while inflows have shown a much more modest growth of only 15 percent. As a result, the deficit in the transfer balance at the EU level increased significantly and reached almost EUR 30 billion last year.

Last year, personal transfers resulted in a surplus for nine EU countries, as their inflows exceeded outflows. Among these countries, four reported a surplus representing more than one percent of their gross domestic product.

Croatia found itself at the very top of that list, with a surplus of 1.9 billion euros, or 2.8 percent of its gross domestic product. This means that Croatian emigrants from countries outside of the European Union remitted significantly more money to Croatia than foreign temporary workers in Croatia sent to their countries.

Croatia is followed by Bulgaria (1.4 percent), Portugal (1.4 percent) and Romania (1.3 percent), who all recorded a surplus. Conversely, Cyprus showed the largest deficit in transfers (-0.9 percent), followed by Malta and Spain (-0.6 percent each), when expressed as a share of their gross domestic product.

The post Croats Working Outside the EU Send Significant Amounts to Homeland appeared first on Total Croatia.

We received the following from Gina Pilić, Council Member of the Republic of Croatia for Croats Abroad- Representative for the USA:

Croatia swore in 75 new citizens on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. All these citizens attended the swearing-in ceremony in Los Angeles at the 72nd annual St. Anthony’s Croatian Catholic Church Festival in Los Angeles.

Some of these new citizens had been waiting for almost three years to receive their approval for citizenship. Those who were sworn in on Saturday were between the ages of 7 and 63 years old. Many of the new Croatian citizens had tears in their eyes as they finally realized their dreams of being recognized as Croats.

The swearing-in ceremony was officiated by Consul General of Los Angeles Renee Pea. The Los Angeles Croatian Consulate accepts applications from more than ten American states. Over one-third of the new citizens traveled more than eight hours to attend the ceremony. According to the information we received, this was the largest swearing-in ceremony of Croatian citizens in the world to date.

Congratulations to all, and Welcome!

The post California is a Little More Croatian: 75 New Citizens in 1 Ceremony appeared first on Total Croatia.

As a national umbrella organisation, the NFCACF was founded in Chicago in September 1993.  The NFCACF continues to be a strong advocate for the Croatian American community, especially in American politics and diplomacy, thanks to the charter that was ratified by twenty Croatian American groups. Over the last decade, the organisation has undertaken many innovative cultural and educational projects of great interest to the community. 

The Assembly of Delegates of the NFCACF met this time with 28 delegates from a dozen Croatian American organizations to discuss a wide range of issues. Initiatives, such as the Congressional Croatian Caucus, the NFCACF-Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU), Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame (CAS-HOF), the new Youth Committee, the Art Donation Committee, and the History Speaker Series were a few of the major topics discussed. At the delegate’s meeting, the following Executive Committee officers were elected: Steve Rukavina-President, Biljana Lovrinovic-Abel, Executive Vice President, and three Vice Presidents: John Kraljic, Mario Spalatin, and Ron Zivic. National Treasurer Adam Radman was re-elected as the National Treasurer, and also, were Anna Maria Sicenica-Secretary and Mark Plavetic-Assistant Secretary, and with Officers-At-Large Bernadette Luketich-Sikaras and Carolyn Bruno.  There were seventeen Board Members elected too on Saturday. 

As a result of his incredible dedication to the NFCACF since its founding in 1993, Dr. Joseph Cindrich received the first ever “NFCACF Legacy Award.” The award was given to Dr. Cindrich for his service as former NFCACF president in 1998 and six-term member of the board. Unfortunately, Dr. Joseph Cindrich was unable to attend the event in person, but upon receiving the news at his home in Menlo Park, CA, he expressed his gratitude, stating, “As a dedicated Croatian, I was very proud in being co-founder the establishment of National Federation of Croatian Americans in the 1990s and later served as its President.” Dr. Cindrich was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 for his assistance to the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and for all his Croatian activism, including his many years on the Board of Directors of the Croatian Scholarship Fund (CA). NFCACF president, Steve Rukavina, expressed his group’s intention to annually recognise and pay tribute to Croatian American activists who played a crucial role in the establishment of our national umbrella organisation.  

The NFCACF Anne Pavlich “Volunteer of the Year” award was presented to Joe Brajevich (San Pedro CA) for his contribution to the NFCACF Special Olympics Committee. The amount of funds raised by him set a record for Croatia’s Special Olympics organization and were used to fully sponsor Croatia’s twenty-member delegation at the Summer World Games in Berlin, Germany, which begins on June 17th with 7,500 athletes from 140 countries. 

A public session was held in the afternoon featuring the Croatian Ambassador Pjer Simunovic (US-Croatian Alliance), as well as Professor Edward P. Joseph of Johns Hopkins-SAIS (Southeast Europe regional issues); Sherry Ricchiardi (War Journalism/Croatia 1991), Richard Lolich (Croatian American Sports HOF and its inaugural ceremony in Cleveland in October 2022), Joe Foley (Washington Report-Congressional Croatian Caucus), and Steve Rukavina, NFCACF President (“40 Highlights Over 30 Years”). 

In celebration of this milestone anniversary, the NFCACF held a reception at the Croatian Embassy on Saturday night. The Cosmopolitan Grill catered the meal for the sixty guests, while Croatian Premium Wines provided Croatian wines, including Malvazija and Plavac Mali. Speakers at the evening reception included Michael Sawkiw from the Ukrainian Congress of America, and Pulitzer Prize winner Roy Gutman (author of A Witness to Genocide). During the Embassy reception, Maya Brlecic, an internationally acclaimed pianist from Zagreb, played to fill the air with celebration music while Croatian wine smiles flourished. 

The post Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation’s 30th anniversary celebrated in Washington appeared first on Total Croatia.

Rep. David P. Joyce | Rep. David P. Joyce Official Website

The bipartisan Congressional Croatian Caucus promotes bilateral cultural exchange between the USA and Croatia, seeking to expand the important friendship between our two nations by highlighting our shared values, engaging in cross cultural cooperation, and advancing business and trade opportunities across the Atlantic.

“Northeast Ohio is home to roughly 15,000 Americans whose primary ancestry is Croatian, representing the fourth largest concentration of Croatians in the United States,” said Rep. Joyce. “Today, Croatian Americans continue to make critical contributions to our community, strengthening our state. I am proud to co-chair this caucus and look forward to working with my colleagues to advocate for the Croatian community.”

“San Pedro is considered the heart of the Croatian American community in Los Angeles and home to the largest Croat population on the West Coast. I am honored to represent such a strong community that has contributed to the vibrancy and development of California’s 44^th Congressional District in Congress,” said Rep. Barragán. “I am proud to relaunch the Congressional Croatian Caucus as its Co-chair with my colleagues and will continue to advocate for the interests of the Croatian community in my district.”

“With its rich history, vibrant culture, and strategic location, Croatia plays a vital role in the region and beyond,” said Rep. Tenney. “Croatia holds a special place in my heart, and I am honored to be named Vice Chair of this caucus alongside my colleagues. By re-establishing the Congressional Croatian Caucus, we aim to strengthen the ties that bind our two nations, promote cooperation in various areas of mutual interest, and foster a deeper relationship between the U.S. and Croatia. Together, we will work to promote the welfare and interests of Croatians while providing a voice for the vibrant Croatian diaspora.”

“Croatia is an incredible partner and ally with the United States, and Croatian Americans have made incredible contributions to our country,” said Rep, Dan Kildee. “In Congress, I will continue to look for ways to strengthen the relationship between Croatia and the United States.”

“The Croatian American community is very grateful that so many congressional members belong to our caucus and are interested in issues that affect the Republic of Croatia and the Southeast Europe region. We especially want to thank the four leaders of our caucus led by Rep. David Joyce (OH) and Rep. Nanette Barragan (CA) and with newly added Vice-Chairs Rep. Claudia Tenney (NY) and Rep. Dan Kildee (MI) for their support of this congressional coalition,” said Steve Rukavina, President of the National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

The post Congressional Croatian Caucus Relaunched for the 118th Congress of the USA appeared first on Total Croatia.

During this week, a series of events will be held, including the Croatian Heritage Night at the LAFC hosted by the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). LAFC will host Croatian Heritage Night when they take on the San Jose Earthquakes at BMO Stadium on Saturday night. Following the match, there will also be a special meet-and-greet session with two notable figures associated with Croatia: LAFAC forward Stipe Biuk, who moved to the club from Hajduk Split, and assistant coach Ante Razov, a first-generation Croatian-American.

History Lecture by Fulbright Scholar Dr. Tomislav Matic titled “Four Centuries of Croats in America – Explorers, Adventurers and Visionaries” will be held on Wednesday. One of the key events during the week is the Croatian Wine Tasting & Dinner including music by Roko Blažević, who represented Croatia at the Eurovision song contest, scheduled for Thursday evening. There will be also Croatian Karaoke on Friday, as well as the first annual Southern California Croatian Bocce Tournament and Kids’ Soccer Games on Saturday.

At the official announcement of the Croatian Cultural Week in the Los Angeles City Council, City Councilman Tim McOsker presented the Proclamation of the Croatian Cultural Week to the Consul General of Croatia in Los Angeles, Renee Pea. This event was attended by members of the Croatian community of Los Angeles, presidents of Croatian associations and societies, as well as don Ivan Jordan, pastor of the Croatian parish of St. Ante in Los Angeles and don Ivan Gerovac, priest in the church of St. Mary of the Sea in San Pedro, and members of the Organizing Committee of the Croatian Cultural Week, including Jack Barić, the Committee’s chairman.

In his speech, Councilor McOsker emphasized the importance of the Croatian community in Los Angeles, especially in its suburb of San Pedro, where they had a great influence on the development of the port and the fishing and processing industry, noting: “Croatian culture is deeply rooted in the history of the port area of Los Angeles. Although we gather every four years to celebrate and cheer on their amazing soccer team during the World Cup, it is the weekly and monthly gatherings that make their impact so strong in our community. San Pedro is home to one of the largest populations of Croatian immigrants in the United States with 35,000 residents.” In her speech, the Consul General emphasized the role played by our Croatian community in Los Angeles, which is successful and well integrated, but they still cherish and preserve the Croatian language and culture, customs and traditions, for which she thanked them. She pointed out that June 9, 2023 will be the 30th anniversary since Los Angeles became Split’s Sister City. After the speeches, a Croatian singer artist Rebecca Posavec sang two Croatian songs.

On the same day, at a Fish luncheon at the Dalmatian Club in San Pedro, Janice Hahn, Chair of the LA County Board of Supervisors, which represents 10 million people, presented Consul General Pea with the Los Angeles County Commendation declaring Croatian Cultural Week, saying: “I am proud to represent one of the largest Croatian-American communities in the country. Croatian immigrants helped shape San Pedro as we know and love it today”. A charter was also presented to the Consul General by Steven Bradford, Senator of the State of California 35 District, as well as Mike Gipson, Assemblyman of California’s 65 District.

This week will culminate on Sunday, May 28, with the Croatian Independence Street Party in San Pedro, which will take place at 22nd Street Park, located at 140 W. 22nd St. starting at 11:30 a.m. There will be an energetic atmosphere filled with music, dance, and an array of Croatian cultural performances.

Photos credit: LA Vatreni

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

The post Diaspora Ties Strengthen as Croatian Culture Week Proclaimed in Los Angeles appeared first on Total Croatia.

As Vecernji writes, New York City Mayor Eric Adams emphasized on Monday that the ties between New York and the Croatian community are the strongest they have ever been. The Democrat mayor of New York City even put on the jersey of the Croatian national football team, by which Croatia is recognized all over the world, to participate in the celebration of the 30^th anniversary of the opening of the Croatian consulate and the 31^st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The USA recognized Croatia on April 7, 1992. 

“The largest Croatian population in America is right here. And I know how beautiful your country is because years ago, when I was in Croatia, and watching the beautiful waterfront, and watching how lovely the people are, watching how one can go there to just renew their energy and spirit”, said Adams.

The bond between New York City and our Croatian community is as strong as ever.

Today we welcomed Croatian-Americans to Bowling Green to celebrate that bond by raising their flag and proclaiming this day Croatia Heritage Day. pic.twitter.com/gdIphRJB9e

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) May 22, 2023

Consul General of Croatia, Nikica Kopačević, presented the mayor with the official jersey of the Croatian football team, and Eric Adams said that he would wear it proudly and exclaimed: “Consider me to be a member of team Croatia!” He then thanked the Croats, both as a community in the USA and those who attended the raising of the Croatian flag at Bowling Green in Manhattan.

“You believe in family, entrepreneurship and public safety”, said Adams.

“When we raise the flag, we also raise and lift up this great country”, added the mayor and said that this is a good opportunity to highlight the great heritage of the Croatian American community. He concluded his courtly remarks with a look into the future of New York City, in which the Croatian community will play a major role, and proclaimed Croatian Heritage Day.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated Croatian Diaspora section.

The post New York City Mayor Proclaims 22nd May Croatia Heritage Day appeared first on Total Croatia.

Wherever I look, i see shoots of hope for the future of Croatia. 

Entrepreneurs who are becoming more successful at business, a slowing down of the emigration in Osijek and surrounding area, and a much greater engagement from the Croatian diaspora with the young movers and shakers in the Homeland. Not to mention the steady trickle of those in the diaspora who have decided to return to Croatia for its safety, lifestyle and authentic experiences. You can read a number of interviews about their experiences in the TCN section, Croatian Returnee Reflections. 

One of the strongest bonds that has been built across the Atlantic has been with the Association of Croatian-American Professionals (ACAP), which has been doing excellent work promoting Croatia and ties to Croatia since its inception in 2014. The official website describes itself 

The Association of Croatian-American Professionals is an international network of 2,000+ professionals spanning all industries and academic communities.  Since 2014, ACAP has endeavored to connect and inspire Croatian-American professionals from the United States and around the world to exchange ideas and engage in business collaboration while preserving the cultural heritage we all hold dear to our hearts.

ACAP is a non-profit organization created to foster knowledge-sharing, networking, and promoting Croatian and Croatian-American professionals, and trade between the two. We are active in providing opportunities for professional development, promoting trade, bridging businesses and communities, and facilitating networking events. We welcome individuals of non-Croatian heritage who are active in the Croatian community.

And ACAP is coming to Zagreb! This year’s ACAP 2023 conference will be held in Croatia for the first time, from July 5-8 in Zagreb, bringing together some of the heavyweights of the diaspora looking to develop more business and connections in Croatia. These include the CEO of the world-famous Cleveland Clinic, Tomislav Mihaljevic. Health tourism is a huge potential for Croatia, which boasts excellent in the field, and ACAP 2023 has made it a large focus of the event, backed by some very influential speakers in the field, including ACAP President, Dr. Steven Zivko Pavletic:

We hope you will be able to join us in Zagreb. Expectations are high and we will need your support to make this conference a full success. We hope to highlight the excellence of Croatian professionals in Zagreb with a force like never before.

More details on the July conference can be found here with the agenda and link to register. 

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What’s it like living in Croatia, and where can you get the best survival tips? TCN CEO Paul Bradbury and TCN Editor Lauren Simmonds have teamed up to publish Croatia, a Survival Kit for Foreigners.

Follow Paul Bradbury on LinkedIn.

The post Association of Croatian American Professionals Conference Coming to Zagreb (ACAP 2023) appeared first on Total Croatia.

The script was written by Dr. Natalija Kanacki and Dr. Dorothy McClellan. He has received more than 40 awards for directing since 2005, when his American filmmaking career began. His work varies from history, human rights, science, social life, technology, medicine, and sci-fi as well. 

Nikola Knez’s film examines whether the Croatian electoral process was successful or failed in guaranteeing citizens’ democratic rights in a free, prosperous, transparent and productive society for thirty years since the founding of the sovereign Republic of Croatia. In this documentary, prominent Croatian political and humanitarian leaders, legal experts, and scholars are interviewed in a revealing and honest manner about the following key issues:

– Is the electoral process able to select leaders who act in the true interests of the people rather than those of the political elite?

– Does the electoral process produce policies that win public support and create a mandate that governments enforce?

– Is the electoral process characterised by broad the participation of citizens who enjoy political freedom?

– Can politicians and leaders of political parties be held accountable for their actions?

There is no doubt that electoral law is one of the most crucial aspects of Croatia’s aspirations for a democratic and just future. In this documentary, respected ladies and gentlemen share their perspectives on Croatia’s electoral law: Vice Vukojević, Vladimir Šeks, Dr. Željka Markić, Prof. Ph.D. Joseph Jurčević, Dr. Natalija Kanački, Ph.D. Tomislav Jonjić, assistant professor, Ph.D. Stjepan Šterc, Ph.D. Davorka Budimir, Ph.D. Andrej Grubišić, Ph.D. Hrvoje Pende, Karlo Novosel and Đuro Vidmarović.

On the Croatian Film Institute’s website, you can see this film and read more about Nikola Knez’s work. The Croatian version is also available while the Spanish and German versions of the film are being prepared.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

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