Croatia sees surge in paternity leave as more fathers take time off for newborns

ZAGREB, 21 March (Hina) – Some 19,000 fathers in Croatia took paternity leave last year, up by 3,000 from a year earlier, with the state spending nearly €23 million on the benefit, €13.6 million more than in 2024.

The figures were released by the Ministry of Demography and Immigration.

Croatia introduced paid paternity leave in August 2022, initially granting 10 working days for one child and 15 for twins or multiple births.

From 1 March last year, the entitlement was extended to 20 working days for the birth of one child and 30 working days for twins or multiple births.

The leave is a non-transferable right of the father and can be taken within the first six months of a child’s life. During this period, fathers receive full salary compensation funded by the state.

Between August 2022 and 2024, nearly 40,000 fathers made use of paternity leave.

Marking Father’s Day this week, the ministry said it had prepared educational gifts for fathers visiting with their children, inviting “all fathers and children” to join the celebrations.

“The aim of the initiative is to promote active fatherhood and highlight the importance of fathers’ role in parenting,” the ministry said.