# Chronic disease and smoking mortality trends in Croatia

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/chronic-disease-mortality-trends-in-croatia
> Updated: 2026-10-10T11:06:34.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 3.

Mortality data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health indicates that 50,007 people died in Croatia in 2025, representing a decrease of 1,073 deaths from the previous year. Circulatory diseases are the primary cause of death, accounting for 39.7 percent of fatalities, followed by neoplasms at 26.8 percent. Mortality patterns differ by age; for those under 65, tumors are the leading cause, whereas circulatory diseases are the primary cause for those aged 65 and older.

During the ‘Chronic non-communicable diseases – time for action’ conference, specialists addressed the challenges of managing chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Gordana Pavliša, head of the Institute for Allergic and Obstructive Lung Diseases at the Jordanovac Lung Clinic, noted that COPD symptoms like shortness of breath and coughing are often mistaken for natural aging or smoking effects, leading to delayed intervention.

Public health research presented by Zrinka Mach, president of the Croatian Society for Chronic Diseases, shows that while 94.2 percent of respondents support state-funded obesity treatments, 64.9 percent identify medication costs as a significant barrier to care. 

Further data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health reveals that smoking causes 25 deaths daily in the country. The adult smoking rate is 38 percent, notably higher than the European Union average of approximately 24 percent, with rates exceeding 40 percent among citizens aged 25 to 34. Experts at a conference in Šibenik highlighted the economic burden, noting annual healthcare costs related to smoking reach half a billion euros, alongside impacts from sick leave and early retirement. There is also a noted rise in e-cigarette use among young people.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-10: Croatia reports 25 daily deaths due to smoking

Croatia faces a public health crisis with a 38 percent adult smoking rate, causing 25 deaths daily and costing the country half a billion euros in annual healthcare expenses.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-reports-25-daily-deaths-due-to-smoking

### 2026-10-05: Chronic non-communicable diseases drive mortality in Croatia

Experts in Croatia warn that chronic non-communicable diseases, including COPD and asthma, are leading causes of death, often due to delayed diagnosis and high medication costs.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chronic-non-communicable-diseases-drive-mortality-in-croatia

### 2026-10-03: Croatia mortality data: Circulatory diseases remain leading cause of death

New data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health shows 50,007 deaths in 2025. Circulatory diseases are the top cause overall, but tumors are the leading cause of death for those under 65.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-mortality-data-circulatory-diseases-lead-causes-of-death-in-2025

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Cite as: Chronic disease and smoking mortality trends in Croatia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/chronic-disease-mortality-trends-in-croatia