- by croatiaweek
- April 19, 2026
- in
Split
Croatia is showing early signs of demographic recovery, with a modest rise in births, a decline in overall mortality and a growing number of citizens returning from abroad.
Speaking on N1 television, demographer Stjepan Šterc highlighted encouraging data comparing the first two months of 2025 and 2026.
During that period, around 250 more children were born, while the natural population decline has reduced by approximately 400 people over the past year. Overall mortality has also fallen by about 300.
One of the most notable trends is the return of Croatian citizens. Over the past three years, around 35,000 people have moved back to the country. Although emigration still exceeds return migration, the gap is narrowing.
In 2024, around 20,000 people left Croatia, and if current trends continue, that number is expected to fall further, raising the possibility that returnees could soon outnumber those leaving.
At the local level, new initiatives aimed at supporting families are beginning to emerge. In Sveta Nedelja, Mayor Dario Zurovec has introduced innovative measures designed to ease childcare pressures and provide additional income for families.
One such initiative, dubbed the “grandparent service”, offers financial support to grandparents who actively help care for their grandchildren. Another measure targets unemployed parents, adoptive parents and guardians with three or more young children, providing financial assistance for childcare.
These schemes offer €360 per month per child and have been welcomed by Minister Ivan Šipić, who has called on other local authorities to adopt similar approaches to support demographic renewal.
Šterc emphasised that while local governments have taken the initiative, stronger coordination with national policies is essential to achieve lasting results.
Demographic policy, Šterc stressed, should be treated as a national priority beyond political divisions. He urged all political stakeholders to work together, noting that Croatia has faced low birth rates for years.
According to Šterc, upcoming legislative changes, expected by the end of the year, will focus on four main priorities.
Those are reducing the emigration of young people, encouraging family formation and higher birth rates, implementing planned and controlled immigration policies and directing young and educated individuals to depopulated areas.
These measures aim to create long-term demographic stability and reverse population decline.
Addressing the role of foreign workers, Šterc noted that Croatia may be nearing its current capacity for labour migration. However, the focus must now shift towards better integration.
He argued that full assimilation is unrealistic, but functional integration, where foreign workers are active participants in society while maintaining their cultural identity, is both achievable and necessary.
This requires coordinated efforts from the state, employers and workers, including improved working conditions and social inclusion.