Strategic Measures to Boost Birth Rates and Retain Population
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Thursday announced a comprehensive €685 million package designed to address the country’s demographic challenges, including an aging population, low birth rates, and significant emigration. With the population of Croatia at about 3.8 million, experts caution that the nation is on the brink of a demographic crisis, with a shrinking workforce.
Detailed Support for Families
Plenkovic emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Figures show that the situation requires decisive measures… that will boost birth rates and enable the return of our emigrants.” The initiative, set to begin in March, primarily focuses on aiding parents. “The family is a nucleus of Croatia’s society and we want… to improve the position of mothers and fathers,” he added.
Key Enhancements to Family Benefits
Among the new measures, the maximum maternity allowance will triple from the current €998. A one-off payment for newborns will increase to over €600, and paternity leave will double from 10 to 20 days. These steps come as Croatia has seen a continuous decline in birth rates, with 2023 marking the lowest number of births since 1991 at 32,170, a sharp drop from the 55,000 births in the peak year of 1997.
Population Trends and Challenges
Despite a slight uptick in the live birth rate to 1.53 per woman in 2022, above the EU average of 1.46, the overall population has decreased by nearly 10% since Croatia joined the EU in 2013. The United Nations forecasts a further decline to 2.5 million by the century’s end. This demographic downturn has raised alarms about the country’s future resilience.
Efforts to Reverse Emigration
Previous attempts to curb the brain drain, such as offering €26,000 to expatriates in the EU to return and start businesses, have seen limited success, with only about 700 individuals returning. The reasons for emigration include not just the allure of higher wages abroad but also dissatisfaction with domestic issues like corruption and nepotism.
