Croatia’s public debt stays below Eurozone average as blocked accounts affect 194,000 citizens

Eurostat data released in early 2026 shows Croatia’s consolidated public debt at 58.4 % of GDP, well under the Eurozone average of 88.9 % and the EU average of 82.9 %. Despite the low debt level, the country’s seasonally‑adjusted budget deficit reached 3.4 % of GDP in the first quarter, exceeding the EU‑imposed 3 % ceiling.

At the same time, the Croatian Financial Agency (Fina) reported that, at the end of June 2026, 194,100 private individuals had their accounts blocked, carrying a principal debt of €3.1 billion. Including accrued interest, total unpaid consumer debt rose to €4.28 billion. Additionally, 13,900 businesses owed €437.7 million, bringing the overall amount of outstanding liabilities for businesses to €545.7 million when interest is added. The debt is split between banks (20.6 % of total debt) and other financial institutions (23.2 %).