Croatia records lowest birth rate in its history

A tough year for Croatia’s demographics

Croatia experienced a record low in births last year, according to data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS).

With just 32,170 children born in 2023, this marks the lowest figure since the country began recording such statistics. While 2023 saw a significant decrease in deaths, the natural population growth remained negative.

A total of 51,275 deaths were recorded, compared to 56,979 in 2022—a reduction of 5,704 or 10%. This brings the negative population growth to 19,105, slightly less severe than in previous years, Mirovina.hr reports.

The number of births in 2023 dropped by 1,713 compared to the previous year, a 5.1% decrease. This continues a worrying trend, with births steadily declining over the last decade.

In 2013, for example, 40,083 children were born—7,758 more than in 2023. Factors such as economic challenges, rising living costs, and inflation likely contributed to this decline.

The demographic picture is particularly bleak in six counties, where the number of deaths is double the number of births.

These counties include Lika-Senj, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Karlovac, Požega-Slavonia, Sisak-Moslavina, and Šibenik-Knin.

On the brighter side, Međimurje County reported the most favourable ratio, with 84 births per 100 deaths, followed by Zagreb and Dubrovnik-Neretva County, both at 77 births per 100 deaths.

Croatia also saw a record-high net migration gain last year. In 2023, 69,396 people moved to the country, while 39,128 emigrated, resulting in a positive balance of 30,178.

This migration surplus is the highest in the past decade. Croatia has never recorded positive natural population growth since gaining independence. The closest it came was in 1995, with a near-zero difference of -354 between births and deaths.

Despite some improvements, such as fewer deaths in 2023, the falling birth rate poses a long-term challenge.