September the 24th, 2026 – Another horrendous statistic for the country as as many as 40% of Croatian retirees are formally at risk of falling into poverty.
Just over the border in neighbouring Slovenia, 27 percent of retirees over the age of 65 are at risk of poverty, and in Norway, just nine percent are in the same category, the report states. Poslovni reports the shameful statistic that around 40 percent of Croatian retirees over the age of 65 live at risk of poverty, according to recent Eurostat data. Only Latvia and Lithuania have a higher share, while the European Union average is 19 percent.
Melita Čičak, acting director of the Pension System Directorate, warned in an interview for Dnevnik Nova TV about the difference in the length of working service between Croatia and other countries.
“All of these countries that are ahead on this list have significantly longer service; for example, in Slovenia the average service is 38.9 years, while in Croatia it’s 32 years,” she said. According to the data presented, the average pension in Croatia has risen by 113 percent since 2016 and now amounts to €764. That is laughable given that the staggering rise in the cost of living is burdening everyone, particularly retirees, who allocate a large part of their income to their most basic needs.
“Inflation always hits retirees first. We know that they’re unfortunately a social category and that they spend the largest part on healthcare, utilities, on medicines,” said economist Petar Vušković. The report also warns about the rise in heating and fuel prices, which further pressures retirees. Speaking about people remaining for a longer time in the world of work, Čičak concluded: “We haven’t yet decided to raise the age for acquiring the right to a pension like other countries, but through other mechanisms we encourage longer remaining in the world of work.”
