# Demographic and economic shifts in Zadar County

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/demographic-and-economic-shifts-in-zadar-county
> Updated: 2026-10-04T05:05:02.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

Zadar County has seen significant economic and labor market growth, characterized by a substantial increase in insured individuals and a 63.1 percent decrease in unemployment compared to 2016. This development is driven by various sectors, including construction, manufacturing, and tourism.

However, this economic shift has contributed to demographic changes in the Zadar Peninsula. Intensive apartmentization for tourism has caused a decline in the permanent resident population as families move to the outskirts for affordable housing. This trend has resulted in record low school enrollment at the Petar Preradović Elementary School, with first-grade numbers reaching their lowest point since the school began operating after World War II.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-04: Zadar Peninsula faces record low school enrollment amid demographic shifts

Zadar's Peninsula is seeing record-low school enrollment as intensive apartmentization drives permanent residents away from the city center toward the outskirts.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/zadar-peninsula-faces-record-low-school-enrollment-amid-demographic-shifts

### 2026-09-25: Zadar County reports significant employment growth and falling unemployment

Zadar County reports significant economic growth, with employment rising by over 19,000 people in ten years and unemployment dropping by 63.1 percent since 2016.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/zadar-county-reports-significant-employment-growth-and-falling-unemployment

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Cite as: Demographic and economic shifts in Zadar County. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/demographic-and-economic-shifts-in-zadar-county