Dubrovnik-Neretva County Explained

Dubrovnik-Neretva County
Native Name:Dubrovačko-neretvanska županija
Native Name Lang:hr
Settlement Type:County
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Croatia
Seat Type:County seat
Seat:Dubrovnik
Leader Title:Župan
Leader Name:Nikola Dobroslavić
Leader Party:HDZ
Leader Title1:Assembly
Area Total Km2:1781
Population As Of:2021
Population Total:115564
Population Density Km2:auto
Iso Code:HR-19
Blank Name Sec1:HDI (2019)
Blank Info Sec1:0.859[1]
· 4th
Website:edubrovnik.org
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:020

The Dubrovnik-Neretva County (pronounced as /dǔbroːʋniːk-něreːtʋa/; Croatian: Dubrovačko-neretvanska [[županija]], pronounced as /dǔbroʋat͡ʃko-nerěːtʋanskaː ʒupǎnija/) is the southernmost county of Croatia. The county seat is Dubrovnik and other large towns are Korčula, Metković, Opuzen and Ploče. The Municipality of Neum, which belongs to neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina, divides the county in two parts which are connected only by the Pelješac Bridge. The southern part of the county consists of Dubrovnik and the surrounding area, including the Pelješac peninsula, and the islands of Korčula, Lastovo, Mljet, Šipan, Lopud and Koločep. The northern part of the county includes the Neretva Delta, the Baćina lakes north of Ploče, and a swath of hinterland near the southernmost slopes of Biokovo and around the hill of Rujnica. The northern part of the Mljet island is a national park. The Lastovo archipelago is a designated nature park. The southernmost tip of the county is the Prevlaka peninsula at the border with Montenegro. It is the only Croatian county that borders Montenegro.

Although the 9 kilometres-long stretch of coast belonging to Neum effectively makes the southern part of the county an exclave (disconnecting it from mainland Croatia) it is still connected with the rest of the country via the Pelješac Bridge. Road traffic going to and from Dubrovnik through Neum is usually less subject to customs controls in order to reduce the traffic congestion. The road connecting Dubrovnik to the rest of the country via Neum has one lane per direction and bus lines passing through Neum often make rest stops there so that passengers can take advantage of lower Bosnian taxes and purchase tobacco and alcoholic beverages as they tend to be cheaper there.

Administrative division

On the local level, the Dubrovnik-Neretva County is further subdivided into 5 towns (grad, pl. gradovi) and 17 municipalities (općina, pl. općine).

Towns
style=width:8.5em TownPopulation
(2021 census)
Dubrovnik41,562
Korčula5,415
Metković15,235
Opuzen2,838
Ploče8,220
Municipalities
style=width:8.5em Municipality Population
(2021 census)
Blato3,330
Dubrovačko primorje1,636
Janjina522
Konavle8,607
Kula Norinska1,414
Lastovo748
Lumbarda1,209
Mljet1,062
Orebić3,705
Pojezerje943
Slivno2,046
Smokvica868
Ston2,491
Trpanj683
Vela Luka3,772
Zažablje553
Župa dubrovačka8,705

Demographics

As of the 2021 census, the county had 115,564 residents. The population density is 65 people per km2.[2]

As of the 2011 census, the county had 122,568 residents. The population density is 69 people per km2.

At the 2021 census, ethnic Croats formed the vast majority with 94.2% of the population, followed by Bosniaks at 1,4%, Serbs at 1.2% and 3.2% being other ethnic groups combined.

Protected areas

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab. hdi.globaldatalab.org. en. 2021-07-19.
  2. Web site: 22 September 2022 . The final results of the Census 2021 have been published. . 9 May 2023 . Croatian Bureau of Statistics.