# Croatia pension system assets and reform demands

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/croatia-pension-system-assets-and-reform-demands
> Updated: 2026-08-25T06:15:50.000Z. Sources: 20. Developments: 4.

Croatia’s pension landscape is characterized by both growing asset values and significant social welfare concerns. By mid-2026, assets in the country’s second pillar pension funds exceeded €29 billion. Recent data from the Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency (Hanfa) shows that net assets of mandatory pension funds (OMF) reached €28.8 billion at the end of July, a 0.2 percent monthly increase. Total membership rose to 2,418,271 by late July, with 7,583 new members joining during the month. While Category A funds led annual returns at 18.13 percent, monthly performance varied, with Categories B and C recording slight declines.

Simultaneously, political pressure for reform has intensified. The Retiree Party has called for urgent systemic changes, citing high poverty rates among the elderly. The party claims that up to 40 percent of citizens over age 65 live on the brink of destitution, with over 654,000 pensioners receiving monthly payments of less than 600 euros. Proposed reforms include a new pension adjustment formula, the introduction of a thirteenth pension, and the abolition of taxes on pensions below 3,000 euros.

In response to economic pressures, more than 1.2 million pensioners are expected to receive an increase of approximately 5.38 percent. This adjustment, driven largely by higher inflation, is significantly higher than the 2.68 percent increase seen in January. The recalculation is based on the ratio of average wage growth and inflation. While some recipients may see absolute increases of up to 130 euros, those with lower pensions will see smaller increases.

## Claims

- Every fifth Croat is officially poor. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Up to 40 percent of people older than 65 are living on the brink of poverty. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- More than 654,000 retirees receive a pension of less than 600 euros. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The party is demanding urgent reforms to the pension system. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-25: Croatia to increase pensions by approximately 5.38 percent

Over 1.2 million Croatian pensioners are set to receive a pension increase of approximately 5.38 percent, with some seeing monthly increases of up to 130 euros due to inflation and wage growth adjustments.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-to-increase-pensions-by-approximately-538-percent

### 2026-08-24: Croatia mandatory pension funds' assets reach 28.8 billion euros

Croatia's mandatory pension funds' net assets rose to 28.8 billion euros in July, with total membership reaching over 2.4 million people.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-mandatory-pension-funds-assets-reach-288-billion-euros

### 2026-08-20: Croatia faces elderly poverty crisis and pension reform calls

The Retirees' Party warns that every fifth Croatian is officially poor, calling for urgent pension reforms as elderly citizens face rising poverty and increasing costs in care homes.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/retirees-party-demands-urgent-pension-reform-in-croatia

### 2026-08-12: Croatia pension fund assets exceed €29 billion amid rising member mobility

Croatia's pension savings reached €28.7 billion in mid-2024, with rising member mobility and returns in certain fund categories, such as AZ's Category A funds reaching 10.32%.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-pension-fund-assets-exceed-29-billion-amid-rising-member-mobility

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Cite as: Croatia pension system assets and reform demands. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/croatia-pension-system-assets-and-reform-demands