In 2024, there were nearly 2.66 million registered vehicles, with passenger cars alone numbering almost two million, yet only 32,069 children were born that year, which is significantly less than the 35,845 born in 2020. Children now make up just 14.3% of the total population of 3.87 million.
Demographers point to changing social patterns: women increasingly pursue education and careers, often delaying childbirth until their thirties, while population policies have struggled to adapt.
Economists link the rise in car ownership to improved living standards and higher employment, often resulting in households purchasing a second car. The juxtaposition of economic growth and declining fertility highlights a defining challenge for Croatia’s future.
