First time in history more Croats live outside Croatia than in it

ZAGREB, 14 October 2025 (Hina/MORH) For the first time in history, more Croats are living outside of Croatia than within its borders, Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Ivan Anušić, revealed at a conference in Osijek on Tuesday.

Speaking at the event “Croatian Immigration and Economic Development: Specifics and Opportunities”, held on 14 October 2025 at the Osijek-Baranja County Economic Centre, Anušić emphasised the government’s commitment to creating better conditions for the return of Croatian emigrants.

“The Croatian diaspora, born out of difficult historical circumstances, has shown throughout the world that Croats are hardworking and successful people,” said Anušić in his opening address.

“In the most challenging times, they played a vital role in the creation of an independent Croatia in the 1990s.”

Anušić highlighted that returning Croats could greatly enrich the country, just as they have strengthened the communities they joined abroad.

“More Croats live outside Croatia than in it,” he noted.

“We must give them the opportunity to return and invest here, because they stood by us when Croatia needed them most. The Croatian Government will continue to create conditions for their return home.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Ivan Anušić (Photo: MORH/ J. Šeri)

Today around 3.8 million Croats live in Croatia, whilst an estimated 5 million live abroad.

The conference, aimed at strengthening ties between the Croatian diaspora and the national economy, brought together government officials, business representatives and members of the Croatian community from around the world.

(Photo: MORH/ J. Šeri)

Among the attendees were Minister of Demography and Immigration Ivan Šipić, State Secretary of the Central State Office for Croats Abroad Zvonko Milas, and numerous other dignitaries.

Šipić: Measures to combat negative trends from previous years

Minister Šipić announced that measures will continue to be taken in the field of birth rate, as well as immigration policy, in which there is economic potential and opportunities for future investments and returns.

Our goal is to combat and reverse negative trends, because there have also been positive developments recently. For several months in a row, we have had more births than last year, and the number of returns and returnees is more significant. This does not mean that we have won, but this is how we are combating negative trends from previous years, Šipić assessed.

He believes that the return of emigrants will not happen overnight, but rather with patient and responsible policies, and that changes will begin to occur when there is a sense of security, the possibility of finding a job and an apartment more quickly, and security for young people.

A great challenge awaits us, and that is the fight for the survival and survival of the Croatian people through demographic policy, and the Government and this Ministry will make their contribution to removing some existing obstacles, such as resolving citizenship or residence issues, said Minister Šipić.

Milas said that Croatia must help emigrants understand that Croatia is not only the homeland of their ancestors or a country they visit for vacations, but that Croatia is the homeland of each and every one of them, and the message must be sent for them to take part in all aspects of life in Croatia.

The event underscored the government’s ongoing focus on demographic renewal and the economic potential of Croatia’s global diaspora, a community that continues to play a key role in the country’s future.