Croatia records rise in births and net migration in 2025

In 2025 Zagreb County reported 2,797 births, an increase of 145 over 2024 and the largest absolute rise among Croatian counties. The county also ranked high in births per 1,000 residents at 9.02. Velika Gorica, the county’s largest city, saw the biggest absolute growth of any Croatian town with 643 births, up 76 from the previous year, narrowing its natural population decline to just nine more deaths than births.

National demographic data show that Croatia’s net migration turned positive again after years of loss. From 2022 to 2025 the country attracted 92,437 more people than it lost. In 2025 the migration balance was +19,180, the first year that the net flow of Croatian citizens abroad turned positive (+3,705). Foreign nationals now account for 70.3 % of all newcomers, with Asia providing the largest single source of immigrants (16,036 persons). While the overall birth count in Croatia remains below replacement level, the combined effect of higher birth numbers in key regions and a resurgence of immigration points to a modest improvement in the nation’s demographic outlook.