Croatia has recorded population growth for the third consecutive year, while during 2025, 410 more children were born than the year before.

The positive trend continued in the first 6 months of 2026, when almost 700 more children were born than in the same period last year. This was stated by the Minister of Demography and Immigration, Ivan Šipić, for Dnevnik Nove TV.

The state will co-finance larger cars

The government is preparing a new demographic measure intended for families with at least 4 children. The state is expected to co-finance the purchase of cars with 7 seats with an amount of up to 15,000 euros, subject to a certain income threshold, dnevnik.hr reports. Šipić told families planning to buy a car in the autumn to wait for the presentation of the measure, as the announced subsidy could bring them significant savings.

More returnees from abroad

The minister claims that after approximately 15 years, a significant number of Croatian returnees has been recorded for the first time and that many among them are young families. According to official data, 80% of returnees are of working age, and more than 13,000 people have so far used the tax exemption measure. The Law on Demographic Renewal and additional measures intended to facilitate the return of Croatian emigrants are also in preparation.

One subsidy will not solve the problem

Šipić acknowledges that assistance in purchasing a car alone cannot stop demographic decline. The government is therefore announcing the linking of demographic measures with affordable housing, tax relief, healthcare, kindergartens, and education. At the same time, he warned about the growing number of abortions, which he described as a serious social problem.

The positive shifts still need to become a lasting trend

The increase in the number of children born and the return of some emigrants are the first encouraging indicators after years of unfavorable statistics. However, the real effect of the new measures will only be able to be assessed once it becomes clear whether affordable housing, secure jobs, and sufficiently stable living conditions can be ensured for young families in the long term.