Ribar was born in Vukmanić (part of Karlovac) and held a PhD in law.
He worked as an attorney in Zagreb, Đakovo and Belgrade.

Ribar lost his entire family during World War II: his two sons, Jurica and Ivo, and his wife, Antonija.
Both Jurica and Ivo were killed in action in 1943 fighting for the Partisans, while Ribar's wife was executed by the Germans in 1944.
Ivo Lola Ribar, his younger son, was in charge of the Young Communist League of Yugoslavia (SKOJ) during the war, and was proclaimed posthumously a People's Hero of Yugoslavia.
Ribar was born in Vukmanić (part of Karlovac) and held a PhD in law. He worked as an attorney in Zagreb, Đakovo and Belgrade.
Ribar lost his entire family during World War II: his two sons, Jurica and Ivo, and his wife, Antonija. Both Jurica and Ivo were killed in action in 1943 fighting for the Partisans, while Ribar's wife was executed by the Germans in 1944. Ivo Lola Ribar, his younger son, was in charge of the Young Communist League of Yugoslavia (SKOJ) during the war, and was proclaimed posthumously a People's Hero of Yugoslavia.
Ivan Ribar