United States , 1910 The United States has the
largest Croatian diaspora outside of Croatia. Croatians in Detroit first appeared around 1890, settling usually in the region of Russel. In
Illinois the Croatians started concentrating mostly around Chicago. Although it was created a bit later, the Croatian settlement in Chicago became one of the most important ones in the United States. The settlement especially started developing after World War I and Chicago became the center of all Croatian cultural and political activities. It is calculated that there were roughly 50,000 Croats in Chicago in the 1990s, while there were altogether 100,000 Croats living in 54 additional
Croatian settlements in Illinois. There is a significant Croat population also in
Indianapolis that settled during the
Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s. According to the 2005
U.S. Community Survey, there were 401,208 Americans of full or partial Croatian descent. Pittsburgh has a sizeable Croatian population. The headquarters of the
Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU) - the oldest and largest Croatian organization in the United States - is located in the eastern suburb of Monroeville, PA, established in the 1880s. The CFU publishes a weekly newspaper,
The Zajednicar Weekly, in both English and Croatian. Most of the Croatians in
Pittsburgh originally settled in the early 1900s on the city's North Side. A neighborhood centered on East Ohio Street along the Allegheny River between Millvale and the North Shore was named Mala Jaska after an area in Croatia (northwest of Zagreb). The broader
Croatian American community participate in a variety of bilateral organizations seeking to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Croatia. The National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCACF) was established in 1993 to advance the diaspora within the U.S. while the Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP) seeks to enhance joint economic synergy and public policy. Many regional societies and clubs exist in
Washington, D.C.,
New York,
California, and
the Midwest.
Bosnia and Herzegovina , home to the majority of the
Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 2024. The relationship between Croatia's diasporic population and the native
Croat of Bosnia and Herzegovina is complex. The Croat community in this region are native to Bosnia and Herzegovina, mostly speaking
Croatian and identifying as
Catholic. The
geographical limits of land occupied by the
Croat people and citizens of various Croatian states has changed significantly
throughout history. The status of the Croat community within
Bosnia and Herzegovina as a "
diaspora" as opposed to a simple ethnic dispersion of Croats is debated in modern ethnographic research.
Croatian nationality law affords citizenship to anyone living in Bosnia and Herzegovina of Croat descent, allowing for duel citizenship as well. This consequently has grown Croatian citizenry living abroad and led to large scale immigration to Croatia and the broader European Union. Croatia is considered a
nation state while the community in Bosnia and Herzegovina is considered a
constituent nation of that country. They are frequently referred to as Bosnian Croats, but since the
War in Bosnia and Herzegovina the number of Herzegovinian Croats exceeds the number in Bosnia. The Croats maintain an unofficial capital in
Mostar, with the city being home to the largest Croatian population. There is no precise data regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina's population since the last war. The UNHCR conducted an unofficial census in 1996, but the data has not been recognized. Ethnic cleansing in the 1990s saw the vast majority of Croats resettle to
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This region directly borders the Croatian region of
Dalmatia. It is estimated that there are approximately 600,000 Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to 2000 data from the
CIA World Factbook, Bosnia and Herzegovina is ethnically 14.3% Croat.
Canada Croatians reportedly immigrated to Canada as early as 1541 when two Croatians from Dalmatia served on the crew of Jacques Cartier's third voyage to Canada. There are approximately 114,880
Canadians of Croatian ethnic origin as reported in the 2011 National Household Survey. The Croatian community is present in most major Canadian cities (including
Toronto,
Hamilton,
Ottawa,
Winnipeg,
Vancouver,
Calgary,
Windsor, and
Montreal, as well as
Mississauga and
Oakville) in the form of designated Croatian churches, parks, and other organizations. Notable Croatian Canadian organizations include the
Croatian Fraternal Union, the Croatian Canadian Folklore Federation (Vancouver), and the Croatian Canadian Cultural Centre (Calgary). Some of the more popular Croatian Canadian events are the
Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament and the Canadian-Croatian Folklore Festival. Croatian Canadians have had a notable presence in the form of soccer teams all around Canada, one of the most famous clubs was the now defunct
Toronto Metros-Croatia, who are succeeded by
Toronto Croatia.
Bolivia Chile n ship ready to travel to
South America. Croats are an important ethnic group in
Chile; they are citizens of Chile who were either born in Europe or are Chileans of Croatian descent deriving their
Croatian ethnicity from one or both parents. Chile has one of the largest communities of ethnic
Croats outside the
Balkans Peninsula and it is one of the most significant communities in the
Croatian diaspora – second only to that which is found in the United States. They are one of the main examples of successful assimilation of a non Spanish-speaking European
ethnic group into Chilean society. Many successful entrepreneurs, scientists, artists and prominent politicians holding the highest offices in the country have been of Croatian descent. The Croatian community first established itself in two provinces situated in the extreme ends of
Chile:
Antofagasta, in the
Atacama desert of the north and
Punta Arenas in the
Patagonian region in the south. The massive arrival of Croats in Chile began in 1864 and the migration grew steadily until 1956 – reaching a number of more than 60,000. It is officially accepted that there are up to 380,000
Chileans of Croatian descent (who clearly identify themselves as Chilean-Croats).
Argentina , 2006 Argentines of Croatian descent number over 250,000.
Paraguay The largest number of Croats arrived in Paraguay between 1860 and 1920. In those years, Croats emigrated mainly from the Dalmatian coast, predominantly from southern Dalmatia (islands and Boka Kotorska). Their main motivation for emigration was economic. The first Croat in Paraguay was Ivan the Baptist Marchesetti, a missionary of the Society of Jesus, a native of Rijeka, who served in the Jesuit missions in Paraguay from 1757 until his death in Paraguay (1767). Most of the Croats living in Paraguay are descended from these early immigrants. In the beginning, they were engaged in trade, pharmacy, small trades, mechanical works, gunsmiths, river navigation, rural jobs such as selling wood, construction, animal husbandry, professional jobs, etc. According to the statistical study conducted in 2022, approximately 41,502 Croatian descendants live in the Republic of Paraguay. In the late 19th century, there was considerable immigration of Croatians to Uruguay, mainly from the region of
Dalmatia. Most of them settled in
Montevideo, however, small communities were established in towns such as
Conchillas and
Carmelo. For much of the 20th century, the was composed of
ethnic Croats, as well as
Montenegrins,
Serbs,
Bosnians and
Slovenes, but ceased to exist in the 1990s due to the
Yugoslav Wars.
Colombia The Croatian community is present in most major Colombian cities, including
Bogotá,
Cali and
Barranquilla. There are approximately 5,800
Colombians of Croatian ethnic origin as reported.
Venezuela Croatian immigration to Venezuela dates back to the late nineteenth century, and was characterized by the individual arrival of merchant seamen. Until
World War I, only a few Croats settled in Venezuela, nevertheless it was in the period of
World War II when the Croatian families that escaped from the
government of Tito began to settle in the country. Most of these immigrants came from present-day Croatian territory, particularly from the coastal and inland areas of
Dalmatia. Others came from
Bosnia and Herzegovina. The majority of the members of the Croatian community settled in
Caracas and
Valencia and, to a lesser extent, in other cities of the interior:
Maracay,
Maracaibo,
Mérida and in localities of the
Yaracuy state, where some joined the work in the sugar industry. Also, several forest technicians arrived that later contributed to the establishment of the School of Forestry Engineering at the
University of the Andes. A large percentage of the Croatians were artisans, who later became small entrepreneurs, and many were professionals, especially engineers and technicians, who had outstanding performance in Venezuela.
Australia Croatia has been a significant source of migrants to Australia, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s. In 2016, 133,264 persons resident in Australia (0.6%) identified themselves as having a
Croatian ancestor. In 2006, there were over 50,000 Croatian-born Australians, with 70% arriving before 1980. This community is quickly ageing and almost half of Croatian-born Australians were over the age of sixty in 2006. However,
Croatian language and culture continues to be embraced amongst younger generations and descendants of post-war immigrants. In 2001, the
Croatian language was spoken by 69,900 people in Australia. in
Clifton Hill, 2011 The vast majority of Croatians in Australia are Christians, mostly
Catholics while there are
Protestant,
Greek Catholic and
Seventh-Day Adventists, as well as a small minority adhering to
Islam. There are Croatian-speaking Catholic congregations in most major cities. In
Melbourne, there are congregations in
St Albans,
Taylors Lakes,
Hillside and
Avondale Heights. In
Sydney there are congregations in
Blacktown,
St John's Park,
Summer Hill,
Mona Vale,
Botany,
Chatswood West and
South Hurstville. In
Adelaide, there are Croatian-speaking congregations in
North Adelaide and
Adelaide CBD and in
Canberra and rural New South Wales there are regular services at
Farrer,
Evatt and
Batemans Bay.
Balcatta and
North Fremantle host Croatian services in
Perth. St Nikola Tavelic Church in
Clifton Hill is an important religious and cultural centre for Melbourne's Croatian community. There is a Croatian
Seventh-Day Adventist congregation located in
St Albans, in Melbourne's western suburbs as well as one in
Springvale, while there is also Croatian Adventist congregation in
Dundas - in Sydney's north-west. In addition, Melbourne's local
Croatian Muslim community has established the Croatian Islamic Centre in
Maidstone also in Melbourne's west. These Muslims are descendants of those who converted to Islam after the
Ottoman conquest of the Balkans. Melbourne's 35,000 Croatians were initially concentrated in the inner suburbs though now most live in the Western suburbs particularly in the
City of Brimbank where a Croatian mayor (Brooke Gujinovic) was elected in 1999. There are around 90 Croatian sporting, religious or cultural clubs or organisations operating in Melbourne. In Sydney, there are over 30,000 Croatians, with a large concentration residing in
St John's Park and surrounding suburbs. Furthermore, there is a high concentration of Croatians in
Geelong, where the community has a significant influence, particularly in
Bell Park where over 15% of the population speaks Croatian at home. It is likely that the first Croat in Sydney was Stefano Posich, who was born in
Sicily to Croatian parents and migrated to Australia in 1813. Croats first immigrated to Australia during the
Victorian gold rush of the 1850s. During this time, Croats were counted as Austrians because much of Croatia was a part of the
Habsburg Empire. Croatians were not recorded separately (from other
Yugoslavs) until the 1996 Census. In 1947, at least 5,000 Croatians were residing in Australia - mainly from the coastal region of
Dalmatia. Between 1890 and World War II, at least 250 Croatians settled in Melbourne. Since then, thousands of Croatians have arrived after World War II as displaced persons or economic migrants. Many Croatians found work in manufacturing and construction. a substantial amount of Croats came to Australia during the 1960s and 1970s due to high unemployment, limited economic opportunities and anti-Croatian sentiment in Yugoslavia - many of these immigrants came to Australia under family reunion programs. Many Croatian Australians were born in former Yugoslav states such as Bosnia and Herzegovina. , 2007|268x268px Croatian people are visible in all parts of Australian society, but they have made a big impact in the sporting arena with many football clubs being formed by immigrants, two of the more famous and most successful being
Melbourne Knights FC and
Sydney United. Both clubs have played in Australia's top league the
NSL and Melbourne Knights winning the championship back to back in the season 1994/5 and 1995/6.
Sydney United has produced the largest number of full Australian internationals. The Croatian community holds the
Australian-Croatian Soccer Tournament which has been held annually since 1974. It is the largest 'ethnic' based soccer competition in Australia as well as the oldest national soccer competition in the nation. Some famous Croatian-Australian football players to represent Australia are
Mark Viduka,
Jason Čulina,
Mark Bresciano,
Zeljko Kalac,
Josip Skoko,
Tony Popovic all who ironically lined up against Croatia in the
2006 World Cup in Germany, playing against Australian-born Croatian international
Josip Šimunić. A total of 47 Croatian Australians have gone on to play for the Australian national team, including 7 who captained the national team. Other notable Croatian Australians include actor
Eric Bana, former Archbishop of Adelaide
Matthew Beovich, politician
John Tripovich, rugby league coach and former player
Ivan Cleary, tennis player
Jelena Dokic and television presenter
Sarah Harris amongst others. Since
Croatian independence in the 1990s, an official embassy has been opened in Canberra while consulates have been established in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.
New Zealand The first Croat to settle in
New Zealand is believed to be Pauvo (Paul) Lupis who deserted his Austrian ship in the late 1800s. Although Croats had contact with New Zealand and a few had settled the proper
migration waves began when the
Austro-Hungarian Empire allowed Italian wine and oil into the Empire's territories for a substantially less duty, thus rendering peasants and farmers bankrupt. This treaty was the beginning of many events which causes migration mainly from
Dalmatia. There were 5,000 migrants of Croatian descent between 1890 and 1914, prior to World War I. A further 1,600 migrated during the 1920s before the onset of the
Great Depression. Another 600 in the 1930s, prior to World War II. Between 1945 and 1970, 3,200 migrated to New Zealand. Arrivals during the 1990s fled the
conflict in former Yugoslavia. The main destination for settlers was the
Northland gum fields where the young boys were sent to dig
Kauri tree gum from swamps. Until the 1950s, the gum was used to varnish wooden furniture and the likes. Here on these fields, Croats were treated as outcasts by the British Empire and called "Austrians" because of the passport they carried. They were looked at with suspicion, mainly because they would share profits and send money back to their villages in
Dalmatia. Many British settlers who worked the same fields resented the Dalmatian gum-diggers, whom they nicknamed "Dallies", a term which is still occasionally used. On these fields as outcasts, the
Croatian immigrants were thrown together with the other outcasts, the native
Māori people who having many of the same view points and coming from villages themselves. Many Croatian men married
Māori women as they came to New Zealand as bachelors before a bride could be sent from their home village. The local
Maori called them
Tarara because they spoke in
Croatian very fast. Many Māori nowadays refer to themselves as Tarara and carry Croatian family names.
Miss New Zealand 2010
Cody Yerkovich (spelled in Croatian as
Jerković) is an example of the Māori Croatian mix Tarara. In modern times, Croatian immigrants have continued to arrive, with many starting their own business with the abundance of good soil and land. Many turned to work similar to what they did back in
Dalmatia, such as vineyards, orchards and fishing. Some notable companies in the wine industry are Delegat, Nobilo, Selak, Villa Maria, Montana and Kuemue River Wines, all owned by Croatian families. In fishing, there are two big companies, the first being Talley's Seafood founded in 1936, by Ivan Peter Talijancich (spelled Talijančić in Croatian) established Talley's in
Motueka, New Zealand, and the second being Simunovich (spelled Šimunović in Croatian) Fisheries Limited which has thrived and become a large company from deep sea scampi. In sport, many small clubs and associations have come and gone.
Central United (formerly Central Croatia SC) formed in 1962; the club is still going to this day. The football club, formed by a group of young Croatian immigrants from Dalmatia, played initially in the lower division of the Northern League before rising to become one of New Zealand's top football clubs by the late 1990s. Central United FC were the New Zealand champions in 1999, 2001 and were runner-up in 1998. Central United FC also won the Chatham Cup in 1997, 1998, 2005 and 2007 and were runners-up in 2000 and 2001. Their home ground is at
Kiwitea Street Stadium, in
Sandringham (
Auckland). Some notable former players are: •
Chris Zoricich •
Ivan Vicelich – New Zealand's most capped international. •
Luka Bonačić – Ex-
Hajduk Split player and coach. Other notable New Zealanders of Croatian descent include singer
Lorde, historian
James Belich, golfer
Frank Nobilo, rugby player
Frano Botica, motor racing drivers
Robbie Francevic and
Paul Radisich, tennis player
Marina Erakovic, architect
Ivan Mercep, artist
Milan Mrkusich, and musicians
Peter and
Margaret Urlich.
India There is a limited Croatian diaspora in India. From 1999 to 2025, approximately 250 residents of
Gandaulim village in
Goa, India were able to claim Croatian citizenship through
jus sanguinis nationality law regarding
colonial descent. The Croatian
Republic of Ragusa (1358–1808) had a colonial settlement –
Sao Braz – in the Indian village for over a century alongside
the Portuguese. Since the 2000s,
heritage tourism between
Dubrovnik, Croatia and Gandaulim has increased, maintaining legacy ties. The Church of Saint Blaise, honoring the patron saint of Dubrovnik, in the village is a common tourist attraction buoyed by
Croatia–India relations. == Communities ==