The Croatian Population Among the Oldest in the World: Shifts in Age Structure, 1991–2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3986/dd/2026.2.9Keywords:
depopulation, age structure, Croatia, population aging, migrationAbstract
This paper presents changes in the age composition of the Croatian population from 1991 to 2021 using several analytical indicators to quantify and establish the level of aging of the country’s population. During the observed period, the share of the population aged 0–19 decreased from 26.2% to 19.2%, while the share of the population aged 60 and over increased from 17.5% to 29.9%, making the Croatian population one of the oldest in the world. Due to these demographic shifts, Croatia will soon face economic, social, and financial difficulties, as fewer people contribute to the country’s pension and health-care systems.
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