Croatia has lost almost 10% of its population in 10 years, according to the latest census data released today in the country, which are described as a “disaster” by experts.
The country, a member of the European Union, has a population of 3.8 million, up from 4.2 million a decade ago, a 9.25% drop, according to the Croatian Statistical Office.
“This is an incredible disaster for Croatia,” demographer Stepan Sterc told N1.
The areas in central and eastern Croatia are hardest hit by the declining population.
For a long time now, the country has been “bleeding” from its inhabitants due to a sluggish economy, corruption and a lack of prospects for its young people. Emigration has also benefited from Croatia's accession to the EU in 2013. More than 250,000 Croats have since left to live in other Member States, particularly Germany, Austria and Ireland, according to official figures.
According to UN forecasts, Croatia will not have more than 2.5 million inhabitants by the end of the century.
In December, the Croatian government announced premiums of up to 26,000 euros to encourage those who have left and resided in other EU countries to return to the country.
