Falls cause 1147 deaths in Croatia, four times more than traffic accidents

Injuries claim one in every twenty lives in Croatia, serving as the leading cause of death among young individuals, the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) reported for 2024. The data reveals that falls are the most frequent cause of fatal injuries, resulting in 1147 deaths last year, a figure four times higher than fatalities from traffic accidents.

Across Croatia, 2651 people died from injuries in 2024, constituting 5.2% of all deaths. Injuries rank as the fourth leading cause of mortality, following heart and vascular diseases, malignant tumors, and endocrine and metabolic diseases. The HZJZ report indicates that injuries remain a significant cause of premature death, particularly for younger demographics, while falls present a major public health challenge for the elderly.

The HZJZ identified falls as the cause of 43% of all injury-related deaths in 2024. Suicides followed, accounting for 543 deaths, and traffic accidents caused 276 fatalities. Men represent 59% of all injury-related deaths. The report specifically highlights that fatal falls disproportionately affect individuals over 65, emphasizing the increasing importance of fall prevention strategies as Croatia's population ages.

Mortality rates from injuries vary by age group: traffic accidents are the leading cause for those up to 19 years old, suicides are most common among adults aged 20 to 64, and falls are the predominant cause for those over 65. The overall injury mortality rate in 2024 was 68.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, but this figure rose to 189.5 per 100,000 among individuals older than 65. The report also noted regional disparities in suicide mortality rates, with coastal counties generally showing lower rates than inland ones.