Croatia, the new plan for population growth - The government will invest 685 million euros to curb the demographic crisis
Croatia is taking action to tackle its declining population and low birth rate with a €685m plan focused on supporting families and encouraging the return of migrants. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic unveiled the measures, which will be implemented in March 2025, saying demographic revitalization is crucial for the country's future.
For years, Croatia has faced a steady decline in its population. Since joining the EU in 2013, the population has shrunk by nearly 10%, and forecasts suggest it could drop to just 2.5 million by the end of the century. Last year, the number of births reached a record low of 32,170, compared with 55,000 in 1997.
The new plan focuses on improving conditions for parents. Maternity payments will be tripled, going to 3,000 euros for the second half of the leave, while paternity leave will be doubled from 10 to 20 days. The newborn bonus will also be doubled to 618 euros. These measures aim to ease the financial burden of starting a family and encourage more people to stay in Croatia.
The government is also focusing on the housing and education sectors, aiming to address the challenges faced by young families. Investments of 2.7 billion euros will go to pre-school education, schools, sports halls and teaching in shifts. By 2030, every child is expected to have a guaranteed place in kindergarten.
The country's shrinking labor force is another problem for the country, with around 400,000 people having left since 2013. Previous efforts, such as offering financial incentives for migrants to return, have had limited success.
The government has also significantly increased the budget for demographic measures, with allocations increasing to EUR 769 million by 2026 and EUR 805 million by 2028. By 2100, a population decline of more than 40% is predicted in Croatia, according to UN estimates for World Population Prospects 2024.
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