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Croatia

Europe · Southeast Europe

Very high safetyModerate cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and human development is high. Youth unemployment is high for Europe.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa and home internet at 136 Mbps.ExpatCombines very high development and very high safety.RetireeCombines high life expectancy and very high safety.
vs Albaniavs Portugalvs Italy
Safety

23rd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.619lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#23 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.7per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
75.7Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferVery highNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the European median

Median disposable income
€15,057per adult, a year, after tax and transfersModerate
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
18.0New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
12.8years of median income to buy a median flatModerateNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 136% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 52% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$30K$60K$50,946 PPP$27,104Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $11,501 a person, $17,629 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2007, $13,756 a person, $19,567 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2008, $15,888 a person, $21,018 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2009, $14,475 a person, $20,358 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2010, $13,730 a person, $20,139 at PPP, inflation 1%2011, $14,692 a person, $21,191 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2012, $13,508 a person, $21,618 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2013, $14,135 a person, $22,430 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2014, $14,187 a person, $22,706 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2015, $12,284 a person, $23,750 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2016, $12,820 a person, $25,803 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2017, $13,902 a person, $27,887 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2018, $15,460 a person, $29,789 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2019, $15,564 a person, $33,064 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2020, $14,808 a person, $31,594 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2021, $17,789 a person, $36,930 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2022, $18,466 a person, $42,125 at PPP, inflation 10.8%2023, $22,183 a person, $47,760 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2024, $24,050 a person, $49,551 at PPP, inflation 3%2025, $27,104 a person, $50,946 at PPP, inflation 3.7%$0$30K$60KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $11,501 a person, $17,629 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2007, $13,756 a person, $19,567 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2008, $15,888 a person, $21,018 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2009, $14,475 a person, $20,358 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2010, $13,730 a person, $20,139 at PPP, inflation 1%2011, $14,692 a person, $21,191 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2012, $13,508 a person, $21,618 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2013, $14,135 a person, $22,430 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2014, $14,187 a person, $22,706 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2015, $12,284 a person, $23,750 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2016, $12,820 a person, $25,803 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2017, $13,902 a person, $27,887 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2018, $15,460 a person, $29,789 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2019, $15,564 a person, $33,064 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2020, $14,808 a person, $31,594 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2021, $17,789 a person, $36,930 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2022, $18,466 a person, $42,125 at PPP, inflation 10.8%2023, $22,183 a person, $47,760 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2024, $24,050 a person, $49,551 at PPP, inflation 3%2025, $27,104 a person, $50,946 at PPP, inflation 3.7%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
78.9years, at birthHigh
#46 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
76WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
13.3PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Higher youth unemployment than most of Europe

Youth unemployment
18.3%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceHigh
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
136 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
617EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery highEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet136 MbpsVery fast
Mobile138 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
€2,366 a month
Duration
12 months
Renewable
No
Application fee
€75about $82
  • Tax treatmentExempt
  • Processing timeAbout 30 days
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineYes
  • Path to residencyNo
  • NationalitiesSome are restricted
Official page
Aerial cityscape of Zagreb showcasing historic buildings and modern skyline.
How it changed

Croatia's Human Development Index

0.889Very high human development

41st of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 29th of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #39Lithuania0.895
  2. #40Portugal0.890
  3. #41Croatia0.889
  4. #41Latvia0.889
  5. #43Qatar0.886
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1995

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.713 in 1995 to 0.889 in 2023.

0.650.800.950.88919952000201020231995: 0.7131996: 0.7251997: 0.7341998: 0.7441999: 0.7532000: 0.7692001: 0.7852002: 0.7922003: 0.7982004: 0.8072005: 0.8142006: 0.8192007: 0.8252008: 0.8272009: 0.8262010: 0.8312011: 0.8362012: 0.8392013: 0.8462014: 0.8482015: 0.8522016: 0.8562017: 0.8622018: 0.8672019: 0.8722020: 0.8672021: 0.8762022: 0.8862023: 0.8890.650.800.9519952000201020231995: 0.7131996: 0.7251997: 0.7341998: 0.7441999: 0.7532000: 0.7692001: 0.7852002: 0.7922003: 0.7982004: 0.8072005: 0.8142006: 0.8192007: 0.8252008: 0.8272009: 0.8262010: 0.8312011: 0.8362012: 0.8392013: 0.8462014: 0.8482015: 0.8522016: 0.8562017: 0.8622018: 0.8672019: 0.8722020: 0.8672021: 0.8762022: 0.8862023: 0.889

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 29 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
78.9 years2024at birthUp 3.7 years from 75.2 years in 2005
Internet users
84%2024of people onlineUp 46 points from 38% in 2006
Urban population
58%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 2 points from 55% in 2006
Births per woman
1.462024births per womanDown 0.04 from 1.50 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
34%2021of energy usedUp 8 points from 27% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
42024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 2 from 6 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
4.8 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 0.5 t from 5.3 t in 2005
Forest area
35%2023of land under forestUp 1 point from 34% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Adriatic coastline; joined the euro and Schengen in 2023, tourism-driven and scenic. The case for living here is peace, very high human development and good English among locals. The case against is high youth unemployment for Europe.

About Croatia

Croatia is an Adriatic country with one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe, a chain of islands, crystal clear sea, and medieval walled towns like Dubrovnik and Split that attract visitors from across the world. The interior has its own quieter appeal, with Plitvice Lakes, rolling vineyards, and the elegant capital Zagreb. It can feel overrun in peak summer season along the coast, but the shoulder months offer the same beauty with far more breathing room.

Practical facts

  • CapitalZagreb
  • LanguagesCroatian
  • Currencyeuro (EUR)
  • Area55,960 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

Bosnia and HerzegovinaHungaryMontenegroSerbiaSlovenia

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Quick answers

What is Croatia's Human Development Index?

Croatia's Human Development Index is 0.889 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #41 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Croatia safe?

Croatia scores 1.62 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #23 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Croatia?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Croatia at 52.4 (New York = 100); that is #105 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Croatia?

Life expectancy at birth in Croatia is 78.9 yrs (World Bank), ranked #46 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Croatia?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Croatia at 176.6, ranked #21 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.