By: Senada Šelo Šabić
Over the last three decades, Croatia has been steadily losing its population. The 2021 national census results show that Croatia has a population of 3,871,833 million people, 413,056 less than in 2011. Demographic decline is partly a result of wartime human losses in the 1990s, but ever since it has been steered by a combination of factors including decreasing birth rates, increasing emigration and limited immigration. Since Croatia joined the European Union in 2013, emigration of mostly young and educated hit new record highs. The author of this Policy Brief argues that the government’s policy solutions have not reversed negative demographic trends and offers policy recommendations for a progressive and comprehensive immigration policy in Croatia.