Croats in Germany ( hr, Hrvati u Njemačkoj; german: Kroaten in Deutschland) refers to persons living in

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...

who have total or partial Croatian ancestry. They form the sixth largest

ethnic minority The term 'minority group' has different usages depending on the context. According to its common usage, a minority group can simply be understood in terms of demographic sizes within a population: i.e. a group in society with the least number o ...

in Germany. In 2021, there were 434,610 Croats holding Croatian citizenship and living in Germany.

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

's State Office for the Croats Abroad, Croatian embassy in

Berlin Berlin is Capital of Germany, the capital and largest city of Germany, both by area and List of cities in Germany by population, by population. Its more than 3.85 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European U ...

and Croatian Catholic Missions estimated that there are more than 500,000 Croats and their descendants living in Germany.

Demographics

According to the German Federal Statistical Office of Wiesbaden in 2021, there were 434,610 Croatian citizens living in Germany. According to data from church institutions there are about 310,000 to 350,000 Croatians living in Germany.

Numbers of Croats

In Germany per year

* 2021: 434,610 * 2020: 426,485 * 2019: - * 2018: 395,665 * 2017: 367,900 * 2016: 332,605 * 2015: - * 2014: 270,558 * 2013: - * 2012: - * 2011: - * 2010: 220,199 * 2009: - * 2008: - * 2007: 225,309 * 2006: 227,510 * 2005: 228,926 * 2004: 229,172 * 2003: 236,570 * 2002: 230,987 * 2001: 223,819 * 1994: 176,251 * 1993: 153,146

Per federal state

In year 2019

Cities

In year 2019 Among the German cities Stuttgart and Pforzheim had the highest share of Croats in 2011 according to German Census data.

Notable Croatians and people of Croatian descent in Germany

* Fredi Bobic, former footballer * Stipe Erceg, actor *

Werner Herzog Werner Herzog (; born 5 September 1942) is a German film director, screenwriter, author, actor, and opera director, regarded as a pioneer of New German Cinema. His films often feature ambitious protagonists with impossible dreams, people with u ...

, film director * Milko Kelemen, professor at the Stuttgarter Musikakademie Stuttgart *

Ivan Klasnić Ivan Klasnić (; born 29 January 1980) is a Croatian former professional footballer who played as a striker. He began his career with local side FC St. Pauli, and moved to Werder Bremen in 2001 after helping his previous team to promotion to th ...

, footballer * Niko Kovač, football coach and former player *

Robert Kovač Robert Kovač (; born 6 April 1974) is a Croatian professional football manager and former player who played as a centre-back. He was known for his ability with the ball and skill at dispossessing opponents. His older brother is football manage ...

, football coach and former player * Vanessa Mai, singer * Sandra Nasić, singer for the rock band,

Guano Apes Guano Apes are a German rock band formed in 1994 in Göttingen. The band consists of Sandra Nasić (vocals), Henning Rümenapp (guitars, backing vocals), Stefan Ude (bass, backing vocals), and Dennis Poschwatta (drums, backing vocals). AllMus ...

* Ivo Robić, musician * Zvonimir Serdarušić, handball coach *

Edin Terzić Edin Terzić (; born 30 October 1982) is a German-Croatian professional football coach and former player, who was most recently the head coach of German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund until June 2024. After a playing career as a forward in t ...

, football coach and former player *

Jeremy Toljan Jeremy Isaiah Richard Toljan (; born 8 August 1994) is a German professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Serie A club Sassuolo. Club career On 5 October 2013, Toljan made his debut for 1899 Hoffenheim in a Bundesliga game against 1. ...

, football player * Jasmin Wagner, singer * Nikki Adler, boxer

References

External links

Croatian Academic Union Germany
Hrvatski akademski savez: Network of students and academics in Germany who are Croatians or of Croatian descent
Kroatische Zeitung
News about business, education, society, tourism and sports {{Portal bar, Croatia, Germany

Ethnic groups in Germany