60% of Croatian households struggle to make ends meet

Six out of 10 Croatian households struggle to cover essential monthly costs like utilities, housing payments and groceries, placing the country far above the European Union benchmark of 42 percent, according to 2024 statistics. Greece leads all member states with 86 percent of families facing financial strain, followed by Bulgaria at 77 percent and Slovakia plus Romania tied at roughly 65 percent each.

German and Dutch residents face the least hardship at 18 percent and 19 percent respectively, while Luxembourg, Sweden and Finland round out the most economically secure nations with rates between 24 percent and 28 percent. Croatia continues grappling with persistent inflation that drives up prices for food and other necessities, with analysts predicting this trend will persist through 2026 even as costs stabilize elsewhere in the eurozone.

Officials may impose price controls on basic household goods and groceries if poverty rates continue climbing. The country’s economic challenges contrast sharply with conditions in northern European states, where fewer than three in 10 families report difficulty managing routine expenses.