An urbanized area in Croatia can gain the status of grad (which can be translated as town or city as there is no distinction between the two terms in Croatian) if it meets one of the following requirements:

  1. is the center of a county (županija), or
  2. has more than 10,000 residents, or
  3. is defined by an exception (where the necessary historical, economic or geographic reasons exist)

A city (town) represents an urban, historical, natural, economic and social whole. The suburbs comprising an economic and social whole with the city, connected with it by daily migration movements and daily needs of the population of local significance, may also be included into the composition of a city as unit of local self-government.[1]

Grad (city/town) is the local administrative equivalent of općina (translated as "municipality"), with the only distinction being that the former usually comprise urban areas whereas the latter commonly consist of a group of villages. Both municipalities and city/towns often comprise more than one settlement, as the administrative territory of a grad may include suburban villages or hamlets near the city/town in question. Settlements (naselja) are the third-level spatial units of Croatia,[2][3] and the smallest unit for which the decennial census data are published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics but are not administrative entities, i.e. they are governed by the municipal or city/town council of the local administrative unit they belong to.

Croatian cities are administratively subdivided into "city districts" (gradski kotari/gradske četvrti) and/or "local committees" (mjesni odbori) with elected councils. The City of Zagreb, as the capital, not being part of any county, is subdivided into both city districts and local committees.[4]

  • In December 1992 there were 70 cities and towns and 419 municipalities in Croatia organized into 20 counties (plus the city of Zagreb which is both a city and a county).[5]
  • In 2001 there were 122 cities and towns (excluding Zagreb) and 423 municipalities. This was the territorial division used for the 2001 census.[5]
  • In 2006 the latest revision was made, which listed a total of 127 cities and towns and 429 municipalities in Croatia. This division was used for the latest 2011 census.[6]
  • In 2013 the municipality of Popovača was upgraded to town, bringing the total to 128 cities and towns and 428 municipalities.[7]

According to the Constitution, the city of Zagreb, as the capital of Croatia, has a special status. As such, Zagreb performs self-governing public affairs of both city and county.[8]

Tasks and organization

Cities (in English these would be called "towns"), within their self-governing scope of activities, perform the tasks of local significance, which directly fulfil the citizens' needs, and which were not assigned to the state bodies by the Constitution or law, particularly the tasks referring to urban design of settlements and dwelling, zoning and urban planning, communal activities, child care, social welfare, primary health care, personality development and primary education, culture, physical culture and sports, consumers protection, protection and improvement of the natural environment, fire and civil defence, local transport.[1]

"Big cities" ("big city" is a Croatian legal term, in English these would be just "cities"), i.e. cities with more than 35,000 inhabitants that are also economic, financial, cultural, public health, scientific or traffic centres and cities that are county seats, in addition to these tasks, are also responsible for tasks regarding public roads maintenance and issuing of building and location permits.[1]

City government

City council (Gradsko vijeće) is the representative body of citizens and the body of local self-government. The councillors are elected for a four-year term on the basis of universal suffrage in direct elections by secret ballot using proportional system with d'Hondt method. The executive head of the city is the mayor (gradonačelnik), also elected in direct elections by majoritarian vote (two-round system) for a four-year term (together with one or two deputy mayors).[9] The mayor (with the deputy mayor/s) can be recalled by a referendum. City administrative departments and services manage administrative procedures in their areas of jurisdiction. The mayor names heads (principals) of the departments and services, who are chosen on the basis of a public competition.[1]

List of cities and towns

The following is a complete list of all officially designated 128 cities/towns in Croatia, sorted by population according to the 2021 population census. At the time of the 2001 census, there had been 123 cities/towns in the country and four former municipalities were administratively upgraded to towns prior to the 2011 census: Vodnjan (in 2003), Kutjevo, Otok, and Sveta Nedelja (in 2006). In addition, the table includes data for Popovača, also a former municipality which was re-designated as town in the latest administrative revision in April 2013.[7]

The Municipal column in the table lists total population within the geographical boundary of the local administrative subdivision. This means that the figure often includes other smaller settlements such as villages or hamlets located on the outskirts or near the city/town proper. In contrast, the Town/City proper column lists only population of the city/town proper, without the smaller settlements which administratively belong to the city. Both numbers are given as in some cases the figures may vary dramatically (for example Velika Gorica with nearby settlements has a population of around 61,000 but the town proper has only 30,000 residents).

The town of Kaštela is a unique exception in that it only exists as an administrative unit - it is legally treated as an agglomeration of seven separate settlements with populations ranging from 3,000 to 7,000, none of which is actually called "Kaštela". Its town council is located in Kaštel Sućurac.

Another set of exceptions arises from the special status of the City of Zagreb, which is considered both a county and a city, and is further subdivided into city districts, local committees and settlements. Unlike its other districts, the district of Sesvete still has the status of a standalone settlement with a population of about 55,000. This would make it a large city in itself, but it does not have the administrative status of a city.[10][11]

  ¤ County seat. There is a total of 21 counties of Croatia but only 20 county seats - the capital Zagreb doubles as a county (called City of Zagreb or Grad Zagreb) and the seat of the separate Zagreb County (Zagrebačka županija) which surrounds Zagreb but does not actually include the capital city.
#1 Zagreb
#2 Split
#3 Rijeka
#4 Osijek
#5 Zadar
#6 Velika Gorica
#7 Slavonski Brod
#8 Pula
#9 Karlovac
#10 Sisak
City / town County Municipal Town/City proper
2021 pop.[12] Rank 2021 pop.[12] Rank
Zagreb ¤ Zagreb769,944
1
665,774
1
Split ¤ Split-Dalmatia161,312
2
150,410
2
Rijeka ¤ Primorje-Gorski Kotar108,622
3
108,622
3
Osijek ¤ Osijek-Baranja96,848
4
75,916
4
Zadar ¤ Zadar County70,829
5
67,349
5
Velika Gorica Zagreb County61,198
6
30,086
11
Pula Istria County52,411
7
52,411
6
Slavonski Brod ¤ Brod-Posavina50,039
8
45,083
7
Karlovac ¤ Karlovac County49,594
9
41,979
8
Varaždin ¤ Varaždin County43,999
10
36,384
9
Šibenik ¤ Šibenik-Knin42,589
11
31,085
10
Dubrovnik ¤ Dubrovnik-Neretva41,671
12
27,034
14
Sisak ¤ Sisak-Moslavina40,185
13
27,886
13
Kaštela Split-Dalmatia37,951
14
—
—
Samobor Zagreb County37,481
15
16,914
21
Bjelovar ¤ Bjelovar-Bilogora36,433
16
24,351
15
Vinkovci Vukovar-Srijem31,057
17
28,247
12
Koprivnica ¤ Koprivnica-Križevci28,666
18
22,304
17
Čakovec ¤ Međimurje27,266
19
15,160
23
Solin Split-Dalmatia24,912
20
21,058
18
Zaprešić Zagreb County24,186
21
18,813
19
Đakovo Osijek-Baranja23,687
22
16,941
20
Sinj Split-Dalmatia23,574
23
10,828
31
Vukovar ¤ Vukovar-Srijem23,536
24
22,616
16
Požega ¤ Požega-Slavonia22,364
25
16,894
22
Petrinja Sisak-Moslavina20,165
26
13,123
26
Kutina Sisak-Moslavina19,681
27
12,053
28
Virovitica ¤ Virovitica-Podravina County19,366
28
13,531
25
Križevci Koprivnica-Križevci19,052
29
10,581
32
Sveta Nedelja Zagreb County18,307
30
1,369
116
Dugo Selo Zagreb County17,861
31
11,152
30
Poreč Istria County16,666
32
8,899
37
Metković Dubrovnik-Neretva15,349
33
14,062
24
Sveti Ivan Zelina Zagreb County14,703
34
2,598
93
Jastrebarsko Zagreb County14,657
35
5,331
60
Našice Osijek-Baranja14,336
36
7,339
43
Omiš Split-Dalmatia14,125
37
5,976
51
Makarska Split-Dalmatia13,344
38
12,800
27
Vrbovec Zagreb County13,052
39
4,581
63
Rovinj Istria County13,039
40
11,693
29
Ivanić-Grad Zagreb County13,028
41
8,477
39
Ivanec Varaždin County12,785
42
5,020
61
Umag Istria County12,767
43
6,781
44
Trogir Split-Dalmatia12,429
44
10,150
34
Ogulin Karlovac County12,251
45
7,389
42
Novi Marof Varaždin County11,872
46
1,816
111
Knin Šibenik-Knin11,755
47
8,317
40
Nova Gradiška Brod-Posavina11,719
48
9,850
35
Krapina ¤ Krapina-Zagorje11,553
49
4,212
64
Slatina Virovitica-Podravina County11,524
50
8,717
38
Gospić ¤ Lika-Senj11,464
51
6,339
48
Novska Sisak-Moslavina11,234
52
5,994
50
Opatija Primorje-Gorski Kotar10,661
53
5,715
54
Labin Istria County10,488
54
5,837
53
Popovača Sisak-Moslavina10,306
55
3,641
75
Kastav Primorje-Gorski Kotar10,265
56
10,265
33
Duga Resa Karlovac County10,207
57
5,389
57
Daruvar Bjelovar-Bilogora10,159
58
7,474
41
Crikvenica Primorje-Gorski Kotar10,004
59
6,218
49
Valpovo Osijek-Baranja9,783
60
6,341
47
Benkovac Zadar County9,728
61
2,520
94
Imotski Split-Dalmatia9,321
62
4,060
68
Županja Vukovar-Srijem9,246
63
9,246
36
Pleternica Požega-Slavonia9,243
64
2,957
88
Belišće Osijek-Baranja8,884
65
5,358
59
Vodice Šibenik-Knin8,704
66
6,629
45
Zabok Krapina-Zagorje8,678
67
3,417
80
Garešnica Bjelovar-Bilogora8,672
68
3,326
85
Ludbreg Varaždin County8,519
69
3,469
78
Otočac Lika-Senj8,361
70
3,882
73
Pazin ¤ Istria County8,306
71
3,989
70
Ploče Dubrovnik-Neretva8,252
72
4,748
62
Trilj Split-Dalmatia8,228
73
1,901
109
Donji Miholjac Osijek-Baranja8,063
74
5,359
58
Beli Manastir Osijek-Baranja8,053
75
6,390
46
Bakar Primorje-Gorski Kotar7,581
76
1,192
119
Mali Lošinj Primorje-Gorski Kotar7,565
77
5,577
56
Đurđevac Koprivnica-Križevci7,386
78
5,844
52
Glina Sisak-Moslavina7,207
79
4,067
67
Rab Primorje-Gorski Kotar7,168
80
365
126
Pakrac Požega-Slavonia7,095
81
4,147
65
Prelog Međimurje7,041
82
4,041
69
Lepoglava Varaždin County6,973
83
3,397
81
Čazma Bjelovar-Bilogora6,947
84
2,424
95
Krk Primorje-Gorski Kotar6,846
85
3,945
71
Drniš Šibenik-Knin6,263
86
2,762
90
Buzet Istria County5,997
87
2,324
100
Senj Lika-Senj5,978
88
4,145
66
Pregrada Krapina-Zagorje5,953
89
1,882
110
Mursko Središće Međimurje5,928
90
3,347
84
Vodnjan Istria County5,850
91
3,149
87
Oroslavje Krapina-Zagorje5,840
92
3,255
86
Ozalj Karlovac County5,836
93
1,055
121
Vrgorac Split-Dalmatia5,711
94
2,131
103
Zlatar Krapina-Zagorje5,603
95
2,838
89
Biograd na Moru Zadar County5,598
96
5,598
55
Varaždinske Toplice Varaždin County5,551
97
1,596
112
Korčula Dubrovnik-Neretva5,419
98
2,661
91
Grubišno Polje Bjelovar-Bilogora5,389
99
2,615
92
Donja Stubica Krapina-Zagorje5,331
100
2,118
104
Delnice Primorje-Gorski Kotar5,158
101
3,879
74
Ilok Vukovar-Srijem5,147
102
3,928
72
Lipik Požega-Slavonia5,126
103
1,951
106
Otok Vukovar-Srijem4,902
104
3,576
76
Kutjevo Požega-Slavonia4,886
105
1,947
107
Orahovica Virovitica-Podravina County4,552
106
3,395
82
Buje Istria County4,451
107
2,108
105
Novi Vinodolski Primorje-Gorski Kotar4,345
108
3,349
83
Supetar Split-Dalmatia4,341
109
3,423
79
Slunj Karlovac County4,192
110
1,559
114
Kraljevica Primorje-Gorski Kotar4,073
111
2,424
95
Hvar Split-Dalmatia3,998
112
3,527
77
Novigrad  Istria County3,883
113
2,286
101
Vrbovsko Primorje-Gorski Kotar3,872
114
1,260
118
Novalja Lika-Senj3,667
115
2,405
97
Obrovac Zadar County3,608
116
801
122
Skradin Šibenik-Knin3,349
117
504
125
Čabar Primorje-Gorski Kotar3,239
118
332
127
Pag Zadar County3,187
119
2,343
99
Opuzen Dubrovnik-Neretva2,851
120
2,366
98
Stari Grad Split-Dalmatia2,790
121
1,924
108
Cres Primorje-Gorski Kotar2,738
122
2,205
102
Nin Zadar County2,714
123
1,099
120
Klanjec Krapina-Zagorje2,543
124
507
124
Hrvatska Kostajnica Sisak-Moslavina1,946
125
1,485
115
Vis Split-Dalmatia1,927
126
1,587
113
Vrlika Split-Dalmatia1,706
127
711
123
Komiža Split-Dalmatia1,395
128
1,266
117

See also

Sources

  • Croatian Parliament (2013-02-18). "Zakon o lokalnoj i područnoj (regionalnoj) samouoravi (pročišćeni tekst)". Narodne novine (in Croatian) (19/2013). Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  • Croatian Parliament (2012-12-21). "Zakon o lokalnim izborima". Narodne novine (in Croatian) (144/2012). Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  • "The Constitution of the Republic of Croatia (consolidated text)". Croatian Parliament. Archived from the original on 2015-11-02. Retrieved 2016-10-04.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Zakon o lokalnoj i područnoj (regionalnoj) samoupravi (pročišćeni tekst)" [Local and Regional Self-Government Act (consolidated text)]. Narodne novine (in Croatian). No. 19/2013. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  2. ↑ Register of spatial units of the State Geodetic Administration of the Republic of Croatia. Wikidata Q119585703.
  3. ↑ "Zakon o područjima županija, gradova i općina u Republici Hrvatskoj". Narodne novine (in Croatian). Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  4. ↑ "Local self - government". City of Zagreb Official Website. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Explanation on changes of the territorial constitution of the Republic of Croatia from 1991 to 2001". Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011 - Notes on Methodology". Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Popovača dobila status grada". Poslovni dnevnik (in Croatian). 12 April 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  8. ↑ The Constitution of the Republic of Croatia (consolidated text) - Croatian Parliament Archived 2015-11-02 at the Wayback Machine.Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  9. ↑ "Zakon o lokalnim izborima" [Local Elections Act]. Narodne novine (in Croatian). No. 144/2012. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements, 2011 Census: City of Zagreb". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2012.
  11. ↑ "Population by Age and Sex, by Districts of City of Zagreb, 2011 Census". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Census of population, households and dwellings in 2021 - First results". dzs.hr (in Croatian and English). January 2022. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
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