Croatia is experiencing growth three times higher than the EU and eurozone average, Finance Minister Marko Primorac said on Wednesday, commenting on the latest data regarding Croatia’s GDP growth in the first quarter of this year.
The Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) published its first estimate on Wednesday, showing that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 2.9% in real terms in Q1 2025 compared to the same period last year. This marks the 17th consecutive quarter of economic growth, though the pace has slowed compared to the previous quarter, when growth stood at 3.9%.
According to Primorac, the data confirm the strength of the Croatian economy. “This continued strong growth aligns with our expectations,” he said, adding that both the Ministry of Economy and the Government had forecasted a real GDP growth rate of 3.3%.
Regarding the components most responsible for driving economic growth, Primorac pointed to gross fixed capital investments—both private and public. He mentioned a range of investment projects, including those related to post-earthquake reconstruction, highlighting the resulting boom in the construction sector and related industries.
He also emphasized significant export growth, especially in goods, which increased by over 11% year-on-year in the first quarter. Household consumption also made a strong contribution to GDP growth, which he linked to rising living standards—wages, allowances, and pensions are all on the rise, he noted.
“When we look at the broader macroeconomic context compared to other EU countries and the eurozone average, Croatia is recording growth three times higher than the EU and eurozone average,” he said, stressing the importance of considering this in any full analysis of the situation.