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

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

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 The Croatian nationality law dates back from June 26, 1991, with amendments on May 8, 1992, October 28, 2011, and January 1, 2020, and an interpretation of the Constitutional Court in 1993. It is based upon the Constitution of Croatia (Chapter II ...

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 the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

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 Fredi Bobic ( sl, Fredi Bobič, born 30 October 1971) is a German football executive and former player who played as a striker. He is the sporting director of Bundesliga club Hertha BSC. Club career Bobic was born in Maribor, SFR Yugoslavia, ...

, former footballer *

Stipe Erceg Stipe Erceg (; born 30 October 1974) is a German/Croatian actor. He is notable for playing the role of Peter in the 2004 Hans Weingartner film ''The Edukators'' alongside Daniel Brühl and Julia Jentsch, as well as the role of Holger Meins in '' ...

, 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 un ...

, film director *

Milko Kelemen Milko Kelemen (30 March 1924 – 8 March 2018) was a Croatian composer. Life Milko Kelemen was born in Slatina, Croatia (then Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes). He studied under Stjepan Šulek in Zagreb, under Olivier Messiaen in Paris ...

, professor at the Stuttgarter Musikakademie

Stuttgart Stuttgart (; Swabian: ; ) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known as the ''Stuttgarter Kessel'' (Stuttgart Cauldron) and lies an hour from the ...

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 Niko Kovač (; born 15 October 1971) is a Croatian professional football coach and former player. He is currently the manager of Bundesliga club VFL Wolfsburg. Kovač was the long-standing captain of the Croatia national team until his retire ...

, 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 manag ...

, football coach and former player *

Vanessa Mai Vanessa Marija Else Ferber (' Mandekić, born 2 May 1992), known professionally as Vanessa Mai, is a German singer. She was first known as a member of Schlager band Wolkenfrei and later began working as a solo artist following the band's split. ...

, singer *

Sandra Nasić Sandra Nasić (born 25 May 1976) is a German singer best known as the vocalist of the rock band Guano Apes. Career Nasić was born in Göttingen, West Germany, where she grew up with her Croatian mother and sister. After she received her high ...

, 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). AllMusic ...

Ivo Robić Ivo Robić (28 January 1923 – 9 March 2000) was a Croatian singer-songwriter. Domestic career Robić began his career as a soloist with the Radio Zagreb Orchestra, while studying at the same time in Zagreb. He performed during World War II o ...

, musician *

Zvonimir Serdarušić Zvonimir Serdarušić (; born 2 September 1950) is a Croatian former professional handball coach and player who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics for Yugoslavia. In May 1998, he also acquired German citizenship. Career Yugoslavia Serdaruši ...

, handball coach * Edin Terzić, 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 Jasmin Wagner (; born 20 April 1980), better known as Blümchen (), is a German pop and dance music singer and actress. Although she releases her English albums under the name Blossom, her German stage name actually translates to "floret" or ...

, 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