Soil damage caused by water erosion is currently one of the most serious global problems, both in the world and in Croatia. Implications of soil erosion are of the utmost importance for the overall economic development, notably for agriculture, forestry and water management. For this reason, land management should involve permanent soil protection from erosion. This requires preparation of maps of soil erosion risk, as the basis for implementing the policies of soil protection against erosion. The paper presents the results of investigating the estimation of the risk of soil erosion by water in Croatia, using the qualitative cartographic method according to the CORINE program, on the basis of which maps of potential and real erosion risk (scale 1:300,000) were made for the entire territory of the Republic of Croatia. Pedocartographic investigations were carried out with the aid of modern computer equipment and GIS technology. Research results indicate that the largest part of the Republic of Croatia has low potential risk of soil erosion by water, estimated at 42.3% relative to the overall area of the country. The class of moderate potential erosion risk was determined on 24%, and the class of high potential erosion risk on 32% of the studied area. Low real erosion risk was determined on as much as 53.4% of the studied area, moderate real risk on 32%, and high real risk of soil erosion by water on 13% of the Croatian area. The Geographic Information System of soil erosion in Croatia has been established, which enables the users to acquire all the necessary information, from data on the main input parameters to the final results of the soil erosion risk estimation. The system is open to permanent input of new data or data resulting from changes in nature. It is an example that confirms the justification and need of applying the GIS technology in mapping erosion. The produced erosion risk maps as well as the established GIS of soil erosion in Croatia can serve as the main sources of information required for planning sustainable use and protection of soils at national and regional levels in the Republic of Croatia. Keywords: soil, water, erosion, CORINE program, map, Croatia.