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Politics & World • World Leaders

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović is a Croatian politician and diplomat who served as president of Croatia from 2015 to 2020.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović is a Croatian politician and diplomat who served as president of Croatia from 2015 to 2020. She was the first woman elected to that office and the youngest person to assume the Croatian presidency at the time. Before becoming president, she held senior diplomatic and government posts, including foreign minister and Croatia’s ambassador to the United States.

Early life and education

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović was born in Rijeka in 1968. She studied international relations in Zagreb and also studied in the United States as a visiting scholar.

Diplomatic and political career

She held senior positions in Croatian government and diplomacy, including minister of foreign affairs and ambassador to the United States. From 2011 to 2014, she served at NATO as assistant secretary general for public diplomacy.

Presidency

Grabar-Kitarović won the Croatian presidential election in January 2015 and served until February 2020. She was the first woman to hold the office and lost her re-election bid to Zoran Milanović.

Public profile and later activity

Her presidency brought substantial international attention, particularly during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. After leaving office, she remained active in public and international roles, including involvement with the International Olympic Committee.

Key facts

  • She served as the 4th president of Croatia from 2015 to 2020.
  • She was the first woman elected president of Croatia.
  • Before the presidency, she served as Croatia’s minister of foreign affairs and ambassador to the United States.
  • She also served as an assistant secretary general at NATO from 2011 to 2014.
  • In the 2019–2020 presidential election, she was defeated by Zoran Milanović.
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Canadian context

No direct Canada-specific connection is established in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović?
She is a Croatian politician and diplomat who served as president of Croatia from 2015 to 2020.
Was she the first woman president of Croatia?
Yes. She was the first woman elected to the Croatian presidency.
What offices did she hold before becoming president?
She served as Croatia’s minister of foreign affairs, ambassador to the United States, and assistant secretary general at NATO.
Who succeeded her as president of Croatia?
Zoran Milanović succeeded her after winning the 2019–2020 presidential election.
What political party is she associated with?
She is associated with the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).

References

  1. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kolinda-Grabar-Kitarovic
    Supports: Presidency, first woman president, 2015 election outcome
  2. Treccani — https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/kolinda-grabar-kitarovic/
    Supports: Birthplace, education, ministerial service, ambassador to the U.S., NATO role, presidency, 2019–2020 election result
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolinda_Grabar-Kitarovi%C4%87
    Supports: Birth date, nationality, presidency dates, first woman elected, youngest person to assume the presidency
  4. Official website — https://kolinda.hr/
    Supports: Biographical summary, first female foreign minister, first female NATO assistant secretary general, academic background
  5. United Nations — https://www.un.org/pga/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/03/biography-KGrabar.pdf
    Supports: Official biography and election as president in January 2015