Istria is known for its multicultural population, hard-working people and keeping the common values of openness and mutual tolerance. According to the 2021 Census, the County of Istria has 195,237 inhabitants living in 10 cities and 31 municipalities. The Istrian peninsula covers an area of 3,476 square kilometers. This area is shared by three countries: Croatia, Slovenia and Italy.
A very small part of Istria, only the northern side of the Mile peninsula, belongs to the Republic of Italy. The Slovenian coast with the Bay of Kopar and part of the Piran Bay up to the mouth of the Dragonja River is part of the Republic of Slovenia.
CLIMATE - The main characteristic of the climate of the Istrian peninsula is the Mediterranean climate. The Mediterranean climate along the coast gradually changes inland and becomes continental, due to the cold air flowing from the mountains and the proximity of the Alps. The main characteristics of the Mediterranean climate are hot and dry summers, with an average number of nearly 2,400 sunny hours per year. Winters are mild and pleasant, and snow is a rare occurrence.
The annual average air temperature along the northern part of the coast is about 14°C, and 16°C in the southern area and islands. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of around 6°C, while July and August are the warmest, with an average temperature of around 24°C.
The period when the daily average air temperature is higher than 10°C lasts approximately 260 days a year, and hot weather, with a daily maximum above 30°C, lasts at most twenty days.
COAST - The length of the Istrian coast, including islands and islets, is 539 kilometers. The western coast of Istria is more indented and, together with the islands, 327 kilometers long. The eastern coast, together with the islets, is 212 kilometers long.
The Istrian economy is very diverse. It has a developed processing industry, construction, trade, sea fishing and fish farming, agriculture and transport. According to the number of economic entities and according to the financial indicators of the business, the leading activities are: tourism, processing industry, trade and construction. Istria is traditionally the most visited tourist region in the Republic of Croatia, so in 2022 there were 4,709,074 arrivals and a total of 29,507,116 overnight stays.