Croatia records birth rate increase, continuing positive trend 

ZAGREB, 5 March 2020 – Croatia’s birth rate increased in 2019, continuing a positive trend over the past three years. 

There were over 600 more babies born in Croatia last year compared to the year prior with over 36,500 births. This was over 1,300 more babies born than two years earlier.

Croatian PM Andrej Plenkovic shared the news with his cabinet on Thursday morning. 

“According to the Ministry of Administration, we have solid news – the number of births in 2019 is 36,553, which is more than in 2018 when it was 35,905, and in 2017, there were 35,221. There is a positive trend here, but it is far from completely canceling the negative trend,” said Plenkovic at Thursday’s cabinet session.

Croatia, which has been battling with population problems, announced that demographics would be a focus during its European Union presidency.

A new ministry was established in Croatia recently to focus on the demography crisis and today Plenkovic also spoke about the new “Wish II” competition, reporting that the Government has so far invested HRK 7.6 billion in active employment measures to keep the youth in the country, Vecernji list writes.