These 10 Croatian cities generated almost 70% of all business profits

(Photo: Julien Duval/Zagreb Tourist Board)

ZAGREB, 2 October 2026 (Hina) – Businesses based in just 10 Croatian cities generated €7.2 billion in net profit in 2025, accounting for 69.9% of the total net profit recorded by companies across the country, according to an analysis by Croatia’s Financial Agency (FINA).

The cities were Zagreb, Pula, Split, Sveta Nedelja, Rijeka, Velika Gorica, Varaždin, Osijek, Zadar and Poreč.

Together, they were home to 53.2% of all Croatian businesses and employed 55.8% of the country’s workforce. Their companies generated 65% of total revenues, 68.5% of total profits and 64.1% of total losses recorded by Croatian businesses in 2025.

The figures are based on annual financial reports submitted by companies liable for corporate income tax to the Register of Annual Financial Statements.

Zagreb far ahead

Zagreb accounted for by far the largest share of profits, with businesses headquartered in the capital generating €5.1 billion in net profit.

That represented 70.9% of the combined net profit generated by businesses in the 10 leading cities. Zagreb also ranked first nationally for the number of businesses, total revenues and employees.

Pula ranked second for net profit, with €427.8 million, despite being sixth in Croatia by number of businesses and ninth by total revenues.

Split ranked third, with €391.7 million in net profit. It was second nationally for the number of businesses, revenues and employees.

One of the most notable differences between the number of businesses and profitability was recorded in Sveta Nedelja.

The city had 1,126 businesses, placing it 19th nationally by that measure, but ranked fourth for net profit, with companies based there generating €259 million.

Osijek recorded €159 million in net profit, followed by Zadar with €146.6 million and Poreč with €145.5 million.

Major companies make a significant impact

Among individual companies, Zagreb-based pharmaceutical company Pliva recorded the largest net profit, at €199.4 million.

It was followed by Bugatti Rimac, headquartered in Sveta Nedelja, with €114.5 million, and Lidl Hrvatska, based in Velika Gorica, with €69.8 million.

FINA’s analysis also highlighted the impact individual companies can have on the results of smaller cities.

Bugatti Rimac accounted for 44.2% of the total net profit generated by businesses in Sveta Nedelja in 2025.

In Poreč, tourism company Plava Laguna accounted for 40.2% of the city’s total business net profit, while Lidl Hrvatska represented 40.1% of the total in Velika Gorica.

The figures show the concentration of Croatian business activity and profitability in a relatively small number of urban centres, while also highlighting the significant contribution of individual major companies to the economies of smaller cities.