Young people are choosing to stay on Croatia’s islands – Krk leads the way

Krk

For years, Croatia’s islands have been associated with depopulation and outward migration, particularly among younger generations. However, recent developments suggest a changing trend.

Islands are becoming increasingly attractive places to live and work, with the island of Krk standing out as a leading example.

According to the latest official data, average net salaries in several island communities, including Sutivan, Cres, Punat, Rab and the town of Krk, are among the highest in Croatia, reaching up to €1,600 per month.

Krk, in particular, has the highest number of employees and entrepreneurs of all Croatian islands, signalling a strong and diversified local economy, HRT reports.

A walk through the streets of Krk in the early morning offers a glimpse of this transformation. The aroma of fresh bread and croissants now comes from a new craft bakery run by 23-year-old Natalija Mrakovčić.

After completing her gastronomy studies in Zagreb and gaining experience in respected restaurants, she made the decision to return home and open a business with her mother.

“It takes a lot of knowledge, effort, willpower and tears at the beginning to reach a perfect loaf of bread,” Mrakovčić says. What was initially planned as a seasonal venture has grown into a year-round operation, reflecting steady local demand beyond the tourist season.

While she hopes to continue learning and gaining experience abroad, Mrakovčić is clear about her long-term plans. “I would always want to come back home,” she says.

Her story reflects a wider trend.

According to the Croatian Government’s report on islands, over the past decade the number of entrepreneurs and employees on the islands has increased by approximately 40 per cent.

Tourism remains a key sector, but it is supported by trade, construction and manufacturing, providing greater economic stability.

Punat, on Krk’s southern coast, has long been an industrial and maritime hub. Its shipyard has been operating for more than a century and remains a cornerstone of the local economy.

The town is also home to Croatia’s oldest marina, Marina Punat, which continues to employ generations of island families.

“We are proud that many employees of the Marina Punat Group spend their entire working lives here,” says Teo Marević, Head of Communications. “In many cases, colleagues are parents, children and even grandparents.”

For residents like Ivica Žužić, who works at Marina Punat, island life offers a quality of living that is difficult to replace. “My wife is originally from Rijeka, but she wouldn’t move back now,” he says. “We visit her parents at weekends, but after two hours we are already returning home.”

Looking ahead, local authorities stress that infrastructure and housing are crucial to sustaining this positive trend.

Krk

The Municipality of Punat is developing housing projects that will remain in permanent municipal ownership and be rented out at affordable prices, aimed primarily at young families and key workers.

“Our most important measure is the construction of housing that will be municipally owned and offered at affordable rents,” says Punat Mayor Daniel Strčić. “This is essential if we want people to stay and build their lives here.”

Such initiatives are expected to strengthen not only individual communities, but the wider island region as a whole. Krk’s experience suggests that with the right mix of employment opportunities, infrastructure and housing policy, Croatia’s islands can move from a narrative of decline to one of long-term sustainability and growth.