First Release

Year: LIX.
Zagreb, 22 July 2022
STAN-2022-2-1

ISSN 1334-0557

MIGRATION OF POPULATION OF REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, 2021

 

Data on international and internal migration of the population of the Republic of Croatia are presented for the period from 2012 to 2021 and data at the county level for the period from 2017 to 2021.

International migration

In 2021, a total of 35 912 persons immigrated to the Republic of Croatia and 40 424 persons emigrated from it. The Republic of Croatia had a negative net migration with foreign countries, which amounted to -4 512.

In 2021, a total of 29.6% of Croatian citizens and 70.4% of aliens immigrated into the Republic of Croatia, while 64.2% of Croatian citizens and 35.8% of aliens emigrated abroad.

In the total number of immigrants and emigrants, there is a significant share of aliens within the issued stay and work permits.

Out of the total number of immigrants, 22.4% of persons arrived from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Out of the total number of emigrants from the Republic of Croatia, 32.3% of persons emigrated to Germany.

With regard to sex structure, there were more men (72.7%) in the total number of immigrants. Out of the total number of emigrants, there were also more men (63.5%). The largest number of persons who emigrated abroad were aged 20 − 39 (45.9%).

In 2021, the greatest share in the total number of persons who immigrated to the Republic of Croatia was recorded in the City of Zagreb (23.4%) and the County of Split-Dalmatia (10.0%). The largest share in the total number of emigrants from the Republic of Croatia to foreign countries was recorded in the City of Zagreb (18.3%), followed by the County of Split-Dalmatia (8.5%) and the County of Primorje-Gorski kotar (7.8%).

Internal migration

In 2021, there were 71 864 persons who changed their place of residence within the Republic of Croatia.

The largest number of persons who migrated within the Republic of Croatia were aged 20 − 39 (45.9%), while the share of women in the total number of persons who migrated was 54.6%.

Within the total number of persons who migrated on the territory of the Republic of Croatia in 2021, the largest number of persons (40.5%) migrated between counties, 38.5% of persons migrated between towns/municipalities of the same county and 21.0% of persons migrated between settlements of the same town/municipality.

The majority of migrations between towns/municipalities within the same county in 2021 were recorded in the County of Split-Dalmatia and the County of Primorje-Gorski kotar. The majority of migrations between counties were recorded in the City of Zagreb and the County of Zagreb.

Out of the total of twenty counties and the City of Zagreb, seven counties had a positive net migration between counties (the number of immigrants was larger than the number of emigrants) and the highest one was recorded in the County of Zagreb (1 904 persons). Thirteen counties and the City of Zagreb had a negative net migration between counties, the largest ones being recorded in the County of Slavonski Brod-Posavina (-447 persons) and the county of Vukovar-Sirmium (-395 persons).

The total migration of population in 2021

The largest positive total net migration of population in 2021 (the difference between the total number of immigrants from another county and abroad, and the total number of emigrants to another county and abroad) was recorded in the County of Zagreb (1 746 persons). The largest negative total net migration of population was recorded in the County of Slavonski Brod-Posavina (-1 268 persons), the County of Vukovar-Sirmium (-1 261 persons) and the County of Osijek-Baranja (-1 222 persons).

 

I INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION

1 INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION OF POPULATION OF REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

   Immigrants Emigrants Net migration 
2012  8 959  12 877 -3 918
2013  10 378  15 262 -4 884
2014  10 638  20 858 -10 220
2015  11 706  29 651 -17 945
2016  13 985  36 436 -22 451
2017  15 553  47 352 -31 799
2018  26 029  39 515 -13 486
2019  37 726  40 148 -2 422
2020  33 414  34 046 -632
2021  35 912  40 424 -4 512

G-1 NET MIGRATION OF POPULATION OF REPUBLIC OF CROATIA WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES, 2012 – 2021

2 INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION OF POPULATION, BY COUNTRY OF CITIZENSHIP

Country of citizenship 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Immigrants Emigrants Immigrants Emigrants Immigrants Emigrants Immigrants Emigrants Immigrants Emigrants
Total 15 553 47 352 26 029 39 515 37 726 40 148 33 414 34 046 35 912 40 424
Croatia 7 911 45 367 8 619 36 413 9 882 32 453 8 460 20 886 10 622 25 950
Europe 6 891 1 661 16 109 2 769 24 194 7 224 22 220 11 988 20 223 12 704
European Union1) 2 087 647 2 108 753 2 314 971 3 814  923 4 753 987
Austria  116  20  130  55  132  63  224  66 317 64
Bulgaria  45 18  45  23  65  30 54  23 90 21
Czech Republic  52  12  61  24  42  19  137  28 159 16
France  85  51  91  30  100  58  116  34 303 46
Italy  304  134  266  99  307  131  376  140 449 156
Hungary  99  51  83  45  118  40  132  47 162 49
Netherlands  55  8  70  26  45  16  75  17 95 29
Germany  462  94  453  129  487  192  823  200 1 134 173
Poland  57  18  79  19  79  27  97  37 291 31
Romania  47  36  38  36  70  40  61  20 96 30
Slovakia  55  20  49  18  49  28  81  22 160 21
Slovenia  513  105  535  172  573  247 1 331  187 859 241
Sweden  63  18  58  25  52  36  67  33 107 24
Other European countries1) 4 804 1 014 14 001 2 016 21 880 6 253 18 406 11 065 15 470 11 717
Albania 207 6 642 87 1 304  292 1 091  680 1 024 764
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 946  482 7 932 1 161 9 680 3 241 7 634 4 530 6 371 4 661
Montenegro  48  20  79  25  156  46  217  71 229 125
Kosovo 255 64 1 394 87 3 635  597 2 443 1 656 1 835 1 725
Russian Federation  132  51  108  48  146  47  177  73 156 84
North Macedonia2)  205  71  798  96 1 462  391 1 106  805 1 027 743
Serbia  553  185 2 161  294 3 995 1 156 4 191 2 446 3 131 2 891
United Kingdom1)  100  28  134  40  196  47 277 32 187 39
Ukraine  223  76  618  134 1 071  364  951  640 735 538
Asia  401  192  880  153 3 084  231 2 159  871 4 358 1 454
Africa  70  28  83  22  139  24  135  58 177 65
North and Central America  165  75  202  90  235  119  277  150 293 175
South America  75  16  86  38  145  47  136  58 200 56
Oceania  34  5  39  16  37  22  22  24 38 15
Unknown  6  8  11  14  10  28  5  11 1 5

1) As of 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom orderly ceased to be an EU Member State.

2) As of 15 February 2019, the Republic of Croatia uses the name Republic of North Macedonia in all forms of public communication.

3 INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION OF POPULATION, BY AGE AND SEX, 2021

Age Immigrants Emigrants
Total Men Women Total Men Women
Total  35 912  26 101  9 811  40 424  25 669  14 755
0 – 4   800   401   399   845   454   391
5 – 9   654   354   300  1 489   744   745
10 – 14   579   278   301  1 330   686   644
15 – 19  1 358   981   377  1 528   841   687
20 – 24  4 689  3 362  1 327  4 250  2 766  1 484
25 – 29  5 079  3 851  1 228  5 064  3 275  1 789
30 – 34  4 604  3 606   998  4 833  3 338  1 495
35 – 39  4 182  3 307   875  4 389  3 089  1 300
40 – 44  3 565  2 868   697  4 183  2 806  1 377
45 – 49  2 896  2 238   658  3 609  2 341  1 268
50 – 54  2 169  1 639   530  2 895  1 856  1 039
55 – 59  1 631  1 125   506  2 188  1 427   761
60 – 64  1 362   804   558  1 320   827   493
65 – 69  1 203   662   541  1 065   525   540
70 – 74   655   383   272   803   402   401
75 and over   486   242   244   633   292   341

4 INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN/DESTINATION AND CITIZENSHIP, 2021

Country of origin/destination Immigrants Emigrants
Total Croatian citizens Aliens Unknown Total Croatian citizens Aliens Unknown
Total  35 912  10 622  25 289 1  40 424  25 950  14 469 5
Europe  29 048  9 248  19 799 1  37 623  25 023  12 596 4
European Union  10 655  6 151  4 503 1  20 884  19 938   946 -
Austria   928   586   342 -  3 425  3 364   61 -
Belgium   79   32   47 -   173   162   11 -
Czech Republic   200   38   161 1   108   91   17 -
Denmark   51   35   16 -   154   150   4 -
France   335   66   269 -   182   148   34 -
Ireland   437   413   24 -   866   858   8 -
Italy   657   264   393 -   733   581   152 -
Luxembourg   20   14   6 -   64   62   2 -
Hungary   159   44   115 -   83   45   38 -
Netherlands   166   90   76 -   382   357   25 -
Germany  5 371  4 225  1 146 -  13 077  12 906   171 -
Poland   293   11   282 -   57   28   29 -
Romania   83   5   78 -   37   8   29 -
Slovakia   183   20   163 -   42   21   21 -
Slovenia  1 005   161   844 -   804   548   256 -
Spain   214   27   187 -   84   64   20 -
Sweden   192   98   94 -   518   497   21 -
Other European countries  18 393  3 097  15 296 -  16 739  5 085  11 650 4
Albania  1 023   1  1 022 -   768   5   763 -
Bosnia and Herzegovina  8 055  1 786  6 269 -  6 613  1 978  4 633 2
Montenegro   255   30   225 -   158   35   123 -
Kosovo  1 811   32  1 779 -  1 696   23  1 673 -
Norway   93   56   37 -   197   181   16 -
Russian Federation   162   25   137 -   99   20   79 -
North Macedonia1)  1 051   36  1 015 -   779   36   743 -
Serbia   3 743   577  3 166 -  3 999  1 083  2 914 2
Switzerland   478   377   101 -  1 125  1 114   11 -
United Kingdom2)   338   160   178 -   589   555   34 -
Ukraine   735   5   730 -   545   6   539 -
Asia  4 436   148  4 288 -  1 598   173  1 425 -
Africa   214   61   153 -   74   13   61 -
North and Central America   781   516   265 -   589   436   153 -
Canada   280   233   47 -   154   136   18 -
USA   470   280   190 -   409   281   128 -
South America   250   60   190 -   60   8   52 -
Oceania   136   105   31 -   82   65   17 -
Australia   122   97   25 -   67   55   12 -
Unknown  1 047   484   563 -   398   232   165 1

1) As of 15 February 2019, the Republic of Croatia uses the name Republic of North Macedonia in all forms of public communication.

2) As of 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom orderly ceased to be an EU Member State.

G-2 CROATIAN CITIZENS EMIGRATED ABROAD, BY COUNTRY OF NEXT RESIDENCE, 2021

5 INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION OF POPULATION, BY COUNTIES

County of 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Immigrants Emigrants Immigrants Emigrants Immigrants Emigrants Immigrants Emigrants Immigrants Emigrants
Republic of Croatia  15 553  47 352  26 029  39 515  37 726  40 148  33 414  34 046  35 912  40 424
Zagreb  830  3 201  1 741  2 828  2 934  2 941  2 529  2 505  2 967  3 125
Krapina-Zagorje  192  593  314  619  855  633  1 046  713  1 058  1 069
Sisak-Moslavina  502  3 211  795  2 130  1 068  1 904  962  1 207  1 113  1 664
Karlovac  421  1 194  680  994  933  1 310  1 177  988   972  1 285
Varaždin  343  1 346  718  1 172  1 408  1 384  1 206  1 182  1 356  1 501
Koprivnica-Križevci  185  989  271  827  368  748  438  502   820   641
Bjelovar-Bilogora  162  1 016  217  869  294  920  335  634   321   757
Primorje-Gorski kotar  1 479  2 962  2 278  2 890  2 932  2 748  2 632  2 625  2 600  3 152
Lika-Senj  178  608  328  443  462  424  349  359   364   431
Virovitica-Podravina  167  1 322  180  1 009  268  998  258  562   278   651
Požega-Slavonia  166  1 564  299  1 172  373  1 078  375  712   451   814
Slavonski Brod-Posavina  348  3 271  807  2 258  1 184  2 073  927  1 436  1 039  1 860
Zadar  732  1 367  1 289  1 370  2 145  1 917  1 818  1 629  1 922  1 935
Osijek-Baranja  598  5 094  879  3 635  1 225  3 069  1 328  2 032  1 267  2 242
Šibenik-Knin  487  1 199  770  1 033  1 185  1 125  908  1 019   972  1 093
Vukovar-Sirmium  447  5 091  820  3 001  1 164  2 510  940  1 953  1 074  1 940
Split-Dalmatia  1 984  2 992  2 952  2 872  4 414  2 714  3 209  3 265  3 582  3 421
Istria  1 859  1 543  2 765  1 852  3 977  2 582  3 813  2 600  3 046  2 694
Dubrovnik-Neretva  555  788  1 016  716  2 025  725  1 600  1 112  1 188  1 563
Međimurje  203  1 187  512  1 256  867  1 088  866  1 003  1 123  1 195
City of Zagreb  3 715  6 814  6 398  6 569  7 645  7 257  6 698  6 008  8 399  7 391

G-3 INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION OF POPULATION OF REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, BY COUNTIES, 2021

II INTERNAL MIGRATION

1 INTERNAL MIGRATION OF POPULATION OF REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, BY PLACE OF MIGRATION

    Total Migrant population
Between settlements of same town/municipality Between towns/municipalities of same county Between counties
2012  68 839  14 314  26 908  27 617
2013  76 840  16 827  30 054  29 959
2014  80 736  15 983  30 947  33 806
2015  75 927  14 241  28 268  33 418
2016  74 752  14 890  28 350  31 512
2017  71 580  13 869  27 278  30 433
2018  71 703  14 238  27 081  30 384
2019  71 790  14 290  26 982  30 518
2020  64 155  12 870  24 841  26 444
2021  71 864  15 104  27 628  29 132

G-4 INTERNAL MIGRATION OF POPULATION OF REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, 2012 – 2021

2 INTERNAL MIGRATION OF POPULATION OF REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, BY AGE, SEX AND PLACE OF MIGRATION, 2021

Age Seks Total Migrant population
Between settlements of same town/municipality Between towns/municipalities of same county Between counties
Total Total  71 864  15 104  27 628  29 132
  Men  32 637  6 938  12 302  13 397
  Women  39 227  8 166  15 326  15 735
0 – 4 Total  5 946  1 304  2 556  2 086
  Men  3 063   652  1 297  1 114
  Women  2 883   652  1 259   972
5 – 9 Total  3 799  1 095  1 586  1 118
  Men  1 918   553   799   566
  Women  1 881   542   787   552
10 – 14 Total  2 808   858  1 141   809
  Men  1 385   439   549   397
  Women  1 423   419   592   412
15 – 19 Total  2 703   725  1 127   851
  Men  1 216   333   516   367
  Women  1 487   392   611   484
20 – 24 Total  5 713  1 149  2 294  2 270
  Men  1 906   410   682   814
  Women  3 807   739  1 612  1 456
25 – 29 Total  10 652  1 926  3 903  4 823
  Men  3 824   680  1 323  1 821
  Women  6 828  1 246  2 580  3 002
30 – 34 Total  9 547  1 897  3 591  4 059
  Men  4 314   852  1 612  1 850
  Women  5 233  1 045  1 979  2 209
35 – 39 Total  7 056  1 525  2 658  2 873
  Men  3 460   732  1 284  1 444
  Women  3 596   793  1 374  1 429
40 – 44 Total  5 211  1 245  1 983  1 983
  Men  2 604   633   973   998
  Women  2 607   612  1 010   985
45 – 49 Total  3 809   863  1 405  1 541
  Men  1 974   422   716   836
  Women  1 835   441   689   705
50 – 54 Total  3 102   602  1 167  1 333
  Men  1 593   304   588   701
  Women  1 509   298   579   632
55 – 59 Total  2 746   533   996  1 217
  Men  1 391   269   487   635
  Women  1 355   264   509   582
60 – 64 Total  2 682   468   961  1 253
  Men  1 292   234   474   584
  Women  1 390   234   487   669
65 – 69 Total  2 464   404   904  1 156
  Men  1 234   215   474   545
  Women  1 230   189   430   611
70 – 74 Total  1 652   228   595   829
  Men   742   98   278   366
  Women   910   130   317   463
75 and over Total  1 974   282   761   931
  Men   721   112   250   359
  Women  1 253   170   511   572

G-5 MIGRATED POPULATION OF REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, BY AGE AND SEX, 2021

G-6 INTERNAL MIGRATION OF POPULATION OF REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, BY PLACE OF MIGRATION, 2021

3 INTERNAL MIGRATION OF POPULATION OF REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, BY COUNTIES AND PLACE OF IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION, 2021

County of Immigrants Emigrants Net migration between counties Migrant population within county
Total From another county Total Into another county Between settlements of same town/municipality Between towns/municipalities of same county
Republic of Croatia  71 864  29 132  71 864  29 132 0  15 104  27 628
Zagreb  7 792  4 771  5 888  2 867 1 904  1 575  1 446
Krapina-Zagorje  2 352   915  2 106   669 246   479   958
Sisak-Moslavina  2 630   886  3 006  1 262 -376   928   816
Karlovac  1 907   798  1 745   636 162   438   671
Varaždin  2 598   717  2 611   730 -13   529  1 352
Koprivnica-Križevci  1 705   550  1 850   695 -145   396   759
Bjelovar-Bilogora  2 165   652  2 468   955 -303   683   830
Primorje-Gorski kotar  6 228  1 685  6 208  1 665 20   693  3 850
Lika-Senj   951   463   911   423 40   309   179
Virovitica-Podravina  1 157   412  1 351   606 -194   336   409
Požega-Slavonia  1 286   413  1 505   632 -219   380   493
Slavonski Brod-Posavina  1 937   622  2 384  1 069 -447   246  1 069
Zadar  3 158  1 376  2 895  1 113 263   300  1 482
Osijek-Baranja  4 694  1 313  4 941  1 560 -247  1 116  2 265
Šibenik-Knin  1 851   837  1 869   855 -18   447   567
Vukovar-Sirmium  2 233   754  2 628  1 149 -395   203  1 276
Split-Dalmatia  7 534  1 597  7 780  1 843 -246  1 099  4 838
Istria  4 494  1 344  4 035   885 459   905  2 245
Dubrovnik-Neretva  2 182   570  2 443   831 -261   774   838
Međimurje  1 997   380  2 082   465 -85   332  1 285
City of Zagreb  11 013  8 077  11 158  8 222 -145 2 9361)  -

1) Data for the City of Zagreb refer to migration between settlements within the City of Zagreb.

III TOTAL MIGRATION IN 2021

1 TOTAL NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS AND EMIGRANTS, BY COUNTIES, 2021

County of Immigrants Emigrants Total net migration Net migration between counties Net migration with foreign countries
Total From another county From abroad Total Into another county Abroad
Republic of Croatia -1)  29 132  35 912 -1)  29 132  40 424 -1) 0 -4 512
Zagreb  7 738  4 771  2 967  5 992  2 867  3 125 1 746 1 904 -158
Krapina-Zagorje  1 973   915  1 058  1 738   669  1 069 235 246 -11
Sisak-Moslavina  1 999   886  1 113  2 926  1 262  1 664 -927 -376 -551
Karlovac  1 770   798   972  1 921   636  1 285 -151 162 -313
Varaždin  2 073   717  1 356  2 231   730  1 501 -158 -13 -145
Koprivnica-Križevci  1 370   550   820  1 336   695   641 34 -145 179
Bjelovar-Bilogora   973   652   321  1 712   955   757 -739 -303 -436
Primorje-Gorski kotar  4 285  1 685  2 600  4 817  1 665  3 152 -532 20 -552
Lika-Senj   827   463   364   854   423   431 -27 40 -67
Virovitica-Podravina   690   412   278  1 257   606   651 -567 -194 -373
Požega-Slavonia   864   413   451  1 446   632   814 -582 -219 -363
Slavonski Brod-Posavina  1 661   622  1 039  2 929  1 069  1 860 -1 268 -447 -821
Zadar  3 298  1 376  1 922  3 048  1 113  1 935 250 263 -13
Osijek-Baranja  2 580  1 313  1 267  3 802  1 560  2 242 -1 222 -247 -975
Šibenik-Knin  1 809   837   972  1 948   855  1 093 -139 -18 -121
Vukovar-Sirmium  1 828   754  1 074  3 089  1 149  1 940 -1 261 -395 -866
Split-Dalmatia  5 179  1 597  3 582  5 264  1 843  3 421 -85 -246 161
Istria  4 390  1 344  3 046  3 579   885  2 694 811 459 352
Dubrovnik-Neretva  1 758   570  1 188  2 394   831  1 563 -636 -261 -375
Međimurje  1 503   380  1 123  1 660   465  1 195 -157 -85 -72
City of Zagreb  16 476  8 077  8 399  15 613  8 222  7 391 863 -145 1 008

1) Data for Total are not presented since data on migrations within the Republic of Croatia were included as well.

G-7 TOTAL NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS AND EMIGRANTS, BY COUNTIES, 2021

 

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Data source

Surveys on internal and international migration of population of the Republic of Croatia are carried out based on data collected by the Ministry of the Interior.

The Permanent Residence Act (NN, Nos 144/12 and 158/13) lays down the conditions governing the registration and deregistration of permanent and temporary residence of Croatian citizens. The Aliens Act (NN, No. 133/20) lays down the conditions of entry, movement, stay and work of aliens who are third-country nationals in the Republic of Croatia. The Act on Nationals of the European Economic Area Member States and Their Family Members (NN, Nos 66/19, 53/20 and 144/20) regulate conditions for the entry, movement, stay and work of nationals of the European Economic Area (hereinafter referred to as: EEA) Member States and their family members.

Coverage and comparability

Since 2011, international migration statistics have been processed according to the methodology based on the UN Recommendations on Statistics of International Migration and the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection.

The statistical definition of international migrant is based on the concept of usual residence. According to this concept, immigrants from abroad and emigrants to foreign countries are persons who have changed their country of usual residence for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least one year.

Data on migration encompass Croatian citizens and aliens who have been granted temporary or permanent stay in the Republic of Croatia.

According to the methodology that was used until 2010, the international migration statistics included the citizens of the Republic of Croatia and aliens with the granted permanent stay in the Republic of Croatia who registered or cancelled their place of permanent residence in the Republic of Croatia.

Due to the implementation of the Permanent Residence Act (NN, Nos 144/12 and 158/13), data from 2013 onwards have included persons who were absent for more than a year from their permanent residence for temporary stay outside the Republic of Croatia and reported their absence to the Ministry of the Interior.

Definitions and explanations

Migration is the spatial movement of people.

A migrant is a person who changed a place of residence (immigrant, emigrant).

Internal migration of population is the change of a place of residence on the territory of the Republic of Croatia.

International migration of population is the change of a country of usual residence.

The internal migration statistics collects and processes data on migration flows of population on the territory of the Republic of Croatia, that is, the data on number and characteristics of persons who changed their place of residence in a given calendar year.

The international migration statistics collects and processes data on international migration flows, that is, the data on number and characteristics of persons who changed their country of usual residence in a given calendar year.

Place of permanent residence, according to Article 2 of the Permanent Residence Act, is a place and address in the Republic of Croatia where a person settled with an intention of staying permanently in order to exercise their rights and commitments related to life interests such as family, professional, economic, social, cultural and other interests.

Place of temporary residence, according to Article 2 of the Permanent Residence Act, is a place and address in the Republic of Croatia where a person resides temporarily but without an intention of settling there.

Citizenship is defined as person's permanent legal relation with a state, which admits a special legal status to a person. Croatian citizenship can be obtained according to the Croatian Citizenship Act (NN, Nos 53/91, 70/91, 28/92, 113/93, 4/94, 130/11, 110/15, 102/19 and 138/21) by origin, birth on the territory of the Republic of Croatia, naturalisation and on the basis of international contracts. Citizenship of the Republic of Croatia terminates: by discharge, renouncement and in accordance with international agreements.

Alien, according to Article 3 of the Aliens Act, is any person who is not a Croatian national, but has the nationality of one of the Member States of the European Economic Area (EEA), the Swiss Confederation, the nationality of third-country or is a stateless person.

EEA national means a person having the nationality of one of the EEA Member States (the European Union, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland).

Third-country national is a person who is not national of the EEA Member States or the Swiss Confederation.

Third country shall mean a state other than an EEA Member State or the Swiss Confederation.

Temporary stay, according to Article 57 of the Aliens Act, shall be granted to a third-country national who intends to stay or stays in the Republic of Croatia for the following purposes:

  1. Family reunification
  2. Secondary school education and university studies
  3. Scientific research
  4. Humanitarian grounds
  5. Life partnership
  6. Work
  7. Work of posted workers
  8. Stay of persons with long-term residence in another EEA Member State
  9. Other purposes
  10. Stay of digital nomads.

According to Article 61 of the Aliens Act, a temporary stay permit shall be issued for the term of validity of up to one year.

According to Article 15 of the Act on nationals of the European Economic Area Member States and their family members, EEA national who intends to stay in the Republic of Croatia for more than three months have to register their temporary stay. A national of an EEA Member State may register temporary stay for the purpose of:

  1. Work
  2. University studies or vocational training
  3. Other purpose
  4. Family reunification
  5. Life partnership.

Permanent stay, according to Article 3 of the Aliens Act, shall mean legal stay granted to certain categories of third-country nationals staying in the Republic of Croatia for a period shorter than five years (the conditions for granting permanent stay are prescribed by law).

According to Article 27 of the Act on nationals of the European Economic Area Member States and their family members, EEA nationals are entitled to permanent stay after five years of uninterrupted legal stay in the Republic of Croatia. The Law prescribes specific exceptions, that is, categories of persons who can exercise the right to permanent residence even if they have legally stayed in the Republic of Croatia for a shorter period of time.

Net migration of population (migration balance) is the difference between the number of immigrants and emigrants of a particular area or country in a given period of time. The contribution of migration to overall population growth or decline is due to positive or negative net migration (net migration is positive when the number of immigrants exceeds the number of emigrants, or net migration is negative when the opposite is true).

Total net migration of population of the county is the difference between the total number of immigrants from another county and abroad and the total number of emigrants to another county and abroad.

Age of migrants is presented as an age reached at the moment of migration. Each age group includes persons who reached age within limits of an interval. For example, the age group from 15 to 19 years includes all persons who have reached 15 years and more, but have not yet turned 20.

Territorial constitution

Data on migration are presented by territorial constitution as on 31 December 2021, according to the Act on the Territories of Counties, Towns and Municipalities in the Republic of Croatia (NN, No. 86/06).

 

Abbreviations  
   
EC European Community
NN Narodne novine, official gazette of the Republic of Croatia
UN United Nations
USA United States of America
   
Symbols  
   
- no occurrence
0 value non zero but less than 0.5 of the unit of measure used

 

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