December the 16th, 2023 – Despite Croatia’s brain drain and ongoing demographic issues, Zadar is succeeding in attracting more and more new inhabitants.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, approximately 12,000 more people immigrated to the Republic of Croatia than emigrated, and except for Zagreb, which was omitted from the analysis due to its specific size, Zadar attracted the most immigrants of all cities.
Indian national Arundeep Singh came to Zadar as a tourist for New Year’s Eve. He liked the city and moved there soon after. “It was winter time. There was total peace, no crowds, and the people in Zadar were open. The relationships between people are warmer and it’s all much easier,” Arundeep Singh told HRT.
According to data from the State Bureau of Statistics (CBS), last year, the City of Zadar attracted 913 more people than moved away, and local people aren’t at all surprised by this. “Well, Zadar is one of the best destinations to come to in Croatia,” they naturally claimed. They also think that the city is laid out and designed in the best way to suit regular people and normal life.
Zadar’s city administration believes that what attracts all of these new people is a good economic and entrepreneurial climate, the opening of new kindergartens and schools, and the general safety levels. What repels them are the unfortunately high property prices, but there’s a good side of that coin, as well. “This year, too, we provided 100 apartments for young people,” revealed Branko Dukić, the mayor of Zadar.
The mayor also noted that record high employment has been being recorded in that Dalmatian coastal city, and since there are problems with the lack of manpower, as there is all over the country, he is happy that people from elsewhere are deciding to come and live in Zadar.
The city rented an apartment on favourable terms for the Kardum family, who moved with their children from Osijek. The husband is a neonatologist, and his wife is an immunologist, and they are important reinforcements for the local Zadar hospital. “We’re very satisfied with the city, it has everything a young family needs, and you’re right there by the sea,” stated Dr. Darjan Kardum.
