Who are precisely Croats? What are they like? How do they live? What do they do? These are just some of the questions that will be answered in this article.Croatian PeopleThe genesis story of almost every country is folklore, and the Croats are no exception. According to Croat legend, in the distant past several tribes headed by five brothers and two sisters moved into Croatia. The name of one of the five brothers was Hrobatos. From his name comes “Hrvat,” which translates into “Croat” in Croatian.It is hard for modern historians to trace the Croats’ past. Very little is known about their origin or other aspects of their early history. It is well known that the ancient Croat forefathers left remnants of their existence across central and Eastern Europe. If we minus the explanation drawn from the legend, the origin and meaning of the name Croat remain unknown. PopulationThe population of Croatia is believed to be around 4.5 million. Estimates range from 4.4 to 4.7 million, but the precise number remains unknown. This figure has changed very little during the past decade. During the last part of the 20th century, Croatia’s population growth rate was one of the lowest in the world. During the 1990s, the war took a heavy toll on the country’s population and structure. Between 1991 and 1995, tens of thousands of people were killed. Men, to be particular, were almost lost from the population. Hundreds of thousands more were displaced from their shelters, and many of these folks took refuge in other countries.Life expectancy for Croatian people is around 70 years for males and about 78 years for females. A lifestyle that includes heavy drinking and smoking, and great stress brought on by the economic uncertainty of past years, contributes to the much lower figure for males. Even so, these numbers place Croatia on the list of countries with a long life expectancy. There can be many issues when a population stagnates. An ageing population can create multiple problems. As the population grows older, a smaller percentage of a country’s people will be in the age group most suitable for having children. This, in turn, leads to a decline in the natural population increase rate, which in Croatia is a negative rate. The country’s population is declining by approximately 0.2 per cent per year. Demographers, the scientists who study human populations, believe that by the year 2050, the population may drop to about 3.5 million.These issues include increased health care needs, care for the elderly, and finding enough workers to fill jobs. Today, the population problem is an issue for which the Croatian government is searching for a solution actively.Way of Life in CroatiaThe culture practised by Croatian people is similar in many respects to that of people throughout the entire area. Language and religion (Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, and Muslims, for instance, each differ in some respects) are two significant parts of culture that vary from country to country in southeastern Europe.