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Croats or Croatians (; Croatian: Hrvati, pronounced [xr̩ʋǎːti]) are a South Slavic ethnic group and nation native to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other neighboring countries in Central and Southeastern Europe. They share a common Croatian ancestry, culture, history, and speak the Croatian language. The ethnic group is predominantly Catholic.

Croats form a sizeable minority in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and Slovenia. Many emigrated from Europe and established a sizable diaspora in the aftermath of World War II for political, social, and economic reasons. Grassroots assistance from earlier communities and the Catholic Church allowed them to settle in the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand. 3.9 million people in Croatia identify themselves as Croats, consituting about 90.4% of the population. Another 553,000 live in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they are one of the country's three constituent ethnic groups. This population is predominantly found in Western Herzegovina, Central Bosnia, and Bosnian Posavina. The Croat minority in Serbia numbers about 70,000 and mostly lives in Vojvodina. The ethnic Tarara people, indigenous to Te Tai Tokerau in New Zealand, are of mixed Croatian and Māori Ngāpuhi descent. Tarara Day is celebrated every 15 March to commemorate their "highly regarded place in present-day Māoridom".

The Croatian language is official in Croatia, the European Union, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatian is a recognized minority language within Croatian autochthonous communities and minorities in Montenegro, Austria (Burgenland), Italy (Molise), Romania (Carașova, Lupac), and Serbia (Vojvodina).