croatia

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often related by family connections, place of emigration, region etc. Thus, many colonies of former BraË residents
can be found in Chile, while emigrants from Dubrovnik have a large community in Peru, emigrants from
Hvar in Argentina, emigrants from KorËula in Brazil, emigrants from Vis in California, emigrants from Peljeπac
in Louisiana, emigrants from Makarska in New Zealand, and Dalmatians and large groups of former residents of
Meappleimurje are present in Australia, etc.
The research conducted so far does not give a precise answer to the question of how many Croats have left
their country and how many of them currently live abroad. By comparing the estimates from several sources,
the conclusion was reached that there are about 750,000 Croats who have emigrated with the intention of taking
up permanent residence in one of the destination countries. Serious studies estimate that about 2.5 million
Croatian emigrants, together with their descendants, live in overseas countries.
It should be noted that large migrations within the territory of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have
changed the ethnic aspect of some parts of these countries (emigration of Muslims from Slavonia to Bosnia,
Catholics from Bosnia to Slavonia, Lika, Istria, etc., immigration of Bunjevci Croats to BaËka and of Vlachs to
Croatia and Bosnia). Thus, Croatian national minorities in Italy (Molise Croats), Austria (Burgenland Croats),
Hungary, Slovakia, Moravia and Romania were formed.
Croats in Austria The Croatian minority in Austria (GradiπÊe-Burgenland) has about 40,000 members, 15,000
of whom live in Vienna. They have a highly developed national life, especially in the cultural aspect, and they strongly
resist the loss of ethnic identity. For this purpose, amongst other things, they use their own social and minority
press in the Burgenland Croatian language.
Croats in Belgium About 8000 Croats live in Belgium. In addition to the older generation of emigrants
(today their descendants) who arrived in Belgium before and between the two world wars, the new, post-war emigrants
make up most of the Croatian minority.
Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina 752,068 Croats used to live in Bosnia, making up 17.3% of the
total population. The decrease in their number is distinct. The majority of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina live in
Western Herzegovina, Posavina and Central Bosnia.
Croats in Montenegro The number of Croats living in Montenegro slightly exceeds 6000. The number of
Croats in Montenegro has been in continuous decline, particularly since 1971.
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