Its main goals are to promote Croatian national and cultural identity in the fields of art, science, spiritual creativity, economy and public life as well as to care for social development of Croatia.

Matica Hrvatska also publishes many books in one of its most famous editions called Stoljeća hrvatske književnosti (Centuries of Croatian literature).

As of 2018, Matica has 122 branches in: Austria (1), Belgium (1), Bosnia and Herzegovina (13), Croatia (98), Germany (3), Hungary (3), Montenegro (1), Serbia (1) and Slovenia (1).

The reason for the refusal to accept Statute of the Society was that the Government feared that the establishment of a cultural national institution would threaten the existence of the multiethnic Austrian Empire.

It was stated that its main purpose was: "Publication of old classical Illyrian, especially those from Dubrovnik, and other useful books from the latest writers on organic (Croatian) language."

Janko Drašković said at the opening ceremony: "The main purpose of our society is to disseminate science and literature in our national language and to give the opportunity to our young people to educate themselves in the spirit of patriotism.

These books were Osman, the 17th-century historical-romantic epic poem about events related to the life and reign of the Turkish Sultan Osman II, written by Ivan Gundulić and completed by Ivan Mažuranić; and Teuta, a drama about the Illyrian Queen Teuta and the tragic discord in her state which caused its destruction and subtraction of the freedom of her people, written by Dimitrija Demeter.

Although Statute of Matica was finally approved in 1847 book publishing and cultural life of the nation were not a priority at the moment due to the Hungarian Revolution of 1848.

[5] When the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts was founded in 1866 Matica ilirska joined with it so they could together print and publish literary and scientific books.

During this post-war period Matica experienced a crisis which was manifested in a decline of the revenue that was caused by the decrease of purchasing power of the people due to war while the state wasn't giving any money assistance.

However, despite this Matica published many book written by the prominent Croatian writers such as: Miroslav Krleža, August Cesarec, Vladimir Nazor, Milutin Cihlar Nehajev, Tin Ujević, Nikola Šop, Ivo Kozarčanin, Mile Budak, Ivan Goran Kovačić, Dragutin Tadijanović, Dobriša Cesarić, Mate Balota, Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić and Sida Košutić.

From 1936 to 1943 Matica founded its first branches in Zagreb, Čakovec, Osijek, Sisak, Karlovac, Samobor, Varaždin, Vinkovci, Vukovar, Dubrovnik and Sarajevo.

On January 11, 1941 Government of the Banovina of Croatia made a decision that the Steering and Supervisory Board of Matica would be dismissed and Commissariat led by Ante Martinović established.

During this period of occupation Matica has published books written by many domestic and foreign writers, and literature for young people.

(Split (1953), Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Zadar (1954), Vinkovci (1959), Osijek, Požega (1961), Pula, Šibenik (1962), Pakrac, Sisak, Čakovec, Županja (1964), Karlovac, Umag, Poreč, Slavonski Brod, Križevci (1965), Varaždin, Koprivnica, Gospić (1966), Pazin, Rovinj (1969), Korčula, Jastrebarsko, Metković, Đakovo, Imotski, Orahovica (1970), Donji Miholjac, Bjelovar, Našice, Drniš, Otok, Ilok, Omiš, Virovitica, Nova Gradiška, Zaprešić, Blato, Petrinja, Samobor, Valpovo, Makarska, Novska, Kutina, Ozalj, Krapina, Podravska Slatina, Trogir, Ploče, Kaštel Sućurac, Sinj and Ogulin (1971).)