Record number of Croatians returning home as economy and quality of life improve

As Croatia’s economy continues to strengthen and living standards improve, increasing numbers of Croatians living abroad are choosing to return home, according to officials and experts speaking at a discussion organised by the Croatian Heritage Foundation.

Among those highlighting the trend was Goran Šaravanja, chief economist at the Croatian Chamber of Economy, who returned to Croatia from Australia 27 years ago.

Šaravanja, who was a guest on HRT’s main evening news Dnevnik on Wednesday, said he decided to leave Sydney while still free to explore new opportunities before settling permanently abroad.

He took unpaid leave from his role at the New South Wales Treasury Department and ultimately chose to remain in Croatia.

Reflecting on the changes since his return, he said Croatia today is significantly more open, stable and internationally connected than it was in the late 1990s.

He pointed to Croatia’s accession to NATO and the European Union as key turning points that increased confidence in the country’s long-term future.

According to Šaravanja, many Croatian companies benefited greatly from EU membership, particularly exporters who gained easier access to European markets.

He added that Croatia’s economy is currently in a sustained growth phase, with lower economic imbalances than in previous periods of expansion.

He also noted changes in Croatia’s labour market, saying employees today are more willing to change jobs and pursue new opportunities, reflecting a more flexible and modern working environment.

Economic factors remain one of the main reasons behind the rise in return migration. Šaravanja said the difference in disposable income between Croatia and wealthier European countries has narrowed considerably once housing and other living costs are taken into account.

Safety and quality of life were also highlighted as important factors. He said many returnees value Croatia’s safe environment, where children can still play freely outdoors and travel independently to school.

At the same time, challenges remain for families returning from abroad, particularly when adapting to different education systems.

Šaravanja said even his own experience as a parent has shown how difficult it can sometimes be to navigate differences between Croatian and Australian schooling methods.

Croatia is also seeing growing interest from descendants of Croatian emigrants in South America.

Maria Florencia Luchetti, originally from Buenos Aires, said discovering her Croatian roots during a family visit to Dubrovnik inspired her to move to Croatia and pursue language and scholarship programmes.

Officials from the Ministry of Demography and Immigration said Croatia recorded a record 13,300 returnees in 2024, with most arriving from Germany, Austria and Ireland. Preliminary data suggests the number could rise even further in 2025.