Croatia

Croatia—until 1991 a part of Yugoslavia—has a population of 4.5 million (2008 estimate), with a female life expectancy of 78.5 years. It has a birth rate of 9.6 per 1,000, and an infant mortality rate of 6.7 per 1,000 live births. The crude divorce rate in the country is 1.12 divorces per 1,000 marriages (2004 estimate). In 2006, 44.6 percent of women aged 15 and older in Croatia were in the labor force, and their employment-to-population ratio was 38.3.

Croatia provides mandatory maternal leave from 28 days before the expected date of birth to 42 days following the actual birth; the leave may be extended until the child is 1 year old. After the 42nd day after birth, the father can take work leave in place ...