The Croatian Bureau of Statistics published the results of the 2025 Income Survey, and the data from the chapter on economic burden show a visible long-term shift in Croatia.

In 2010, more than half of households stated that they made ends meet with difficulty or great difficulty. In 2025, there were fewer than one fifth of such households.

According to CBS data, the share of households that stated they made ends meet with great difficulty fell from 18.3% in 2010 to 3.8% in 2025. At the same time, the share of those who answered that they made ends meet with difficulty fell from 34.6% to 15.3%.

Taken together, the share of households living under serious financial pressure decreased from 52.9% to 19.1%. That is a drop of 33.8 percentage points in 15 years.

Fewer households in the most difficult zone

The data do not mean that life in Croatia has become easy for everyone. Still, 43.1% of households state that they make ends meet with some difficulty. But the difference is that the most difficult part of the scale has shrunk sharply.

In 2010, only 12.8% of households stated that they made ends meet fairly easily, easily, or very easily. In 2025, that share rose to 37.8%.

In other words, in 15 years Croatia moved from a situation in which most households were in the difficult or very difficult category to a situation in which fewer than 20% of households are in those categories.

A major drop in utility bills and unexpected expenses

A similar trend can also be seen in other indicators of economic burden. The share of households that were late in paying utility bills fell from 28% in 2010 to 7.3% in 2025.

An even more pronounced decline is visible in unexpected financial expenses. In 2010, 62.3% of households could not cover such an expense. In 2025, that share amounted to 31.2%.

The indicator referring to the ability to pay for one week of annual holiday away from home also changed significantly. In 2010, 67.3% of households could not afford it, while in 2025 that share fell to 32.6%.

Heating is no longer as much of a problem as before

CBS also records a decrease in the share of households that cannot afford adequate heating in the coldest months. In 2010, there were 8.3% of such households, and in 2025, 4.2%.

This is an almost halved share. Although this indicator covers a smaller part of the population than the issue of utility bills or unexpected expenses, it is important because it shows the most basic level of living standards.

These data do not mean that financial problems have disappeared. The prices of food, housing, and services still strongly affect the everyday perception of living standards. That is why, for many citizens, statistical progress may not coincide with personal impressions.

But the long-term comparison shows that the share of households in the most difficult financial position has decreased significantly. The biggest shift is visible precisely where the problems are most concrete: making ends meet, falling behind on utility bills, unexpected expenses, and basic living needs.

The picture of Croatia is nevertheless different from 15 years ago

On 26 June 2026, CBS published additional results of the 2025 Income Survey, including the Economic burden chapter in the Statistics in Series publication. The Income Survey is a regular annual survey used to collect data on income, economic status, and the financial and material conditions of the population. CBS also states that the survey is aligned with Eurostat methodology, which enables comparability with other member states of the European Union.

Source: Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Statistics in Series, Results of the 2025 Income Survey, Economic burden.