The presence of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) among men and women in Croatia was investigated from 1990 to 1993. DNA obtained from 338 cervical and 79 male urethral scrapes was analysed by slot-blot hybridization with digoxigenin labeled HPV type 6, 11, 16 and 18 DNA probes. The prevalence of HPV infection was higher in the male population (26.6%) than in the female population (19.8%). Low risk HPV (HPV 6, 11), high risk HPV (HPV 16, 18) and indeterminate HPV were found in 5.3%, 6.9% and 8.8% cases, respectively. Over the years, the increase (from 4.9% to 37.6%) of HPV infection was almost equal in male and female population suggesting an epidemic feature of this sexually transmitted disease.