Croatia sees 17,000 citizens return, mostly from Germany and Bosnia

Croatia experienced a net population increase in 2025 due to immigration, with 56,665 people moving into the country compared to 37,485 emigrating. Official statistics from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics reveal that 70.3% of immigrants were foreign nationals, while 29.7%, or 16,843 individuals, were Croatian citizens returning home.

The primary countries of origin for immigrants were Germany, with 9,628 arrivals (17% of total), followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina with 6,306 (11.1%), and Nepal with 6,264 (11.1%). Among the Croatian citizens who immigrated, the largest contingents came from Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Europe was the main source of immigrants, accounting for 36,327 individuals.

Conversely, 35% of emigrants were Croatian citizens, totaling 13,138 people, with the majority aged between 20 and 39. The largest number of Croatian citizens emigrated to Germany (46.8%), followed by Austria and Switzerland. The data also includes nearly 3,000 Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Croatia under temporary protection.

Despite the influx of immigrants, Croatia's demographic structure remains a concern. The number of children under 14 decreased by approximately 8,000 compared to 2024, while the population aged 65 and over increased by nearly 15,000. This trend contributes to an aging population, with 911,500 residents aged 65 or older at the end of 2025.