Women in Croatia Earn €52 Less Than Men, DZS Data Shows

The average monthly salary for men in Croatia is €1,473, while women earn €52 less, or €1,421, according to the latest data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) released on Friday. This gap is one of the key findings of the 21st edition of the publication 'Women and Men in Croatia 2026,' which provides a comprehensive overview of the status of genders across a range of statistical indicators.

According to DZS data, Croatia is home to 1,983,669 women, comprising 51.3 percent of the total population, and 1,882,564 men, or 48.7 percent. The publication, which DZS has been releasing for two decades, covers various life stages-from education and employment to retirement-and offers insights into long-term societal trends.

Population Aging, Marriages Later and Less Frequent

The data reveals significant population aging. The average age of men in 2024 was 42.8 years, about 13 years higher than in 1953 when the average was 29.3 years. Women are on average 46.2 years old, roughly 15 years older compared to 31.9 years in 1953.

Citizens are marrying later. The average age of women at first marriage is 29.8 years, eight years higher than in 1970 (21.6 years). Men first marry at an average age of 32, compared to 25.5 in 1970. The dynamics of marriage have also changed-in 2024, there were 4.5 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants, half as many as in 1950 (9.9). Meanwhile, the number of divorces per 1,000 marriages has increased three and a half times, from 83 in 1950 to 288 in 2024.

Women More Educated but Less Likely to Hold Top Positions

In terms of educational attainment, 25.7 percent of women have higher education, compared to 22.2 percent of men. Secondary education is more prevalent among men (62.4 percent versus 49.4 percent for women). The publication also notes a doubling in the number of women with university or professional degrees and doctorates compared to the 1960s and 1970s.

However, the representation of women in leadership roles within educational institutions decreases with the level of the system. In the last academic year, no woman held the position of rector, and women accounted for 31 percent of faculty deans. At the level of secondary school principals, the ratio is nearly equal (49.4 percent women and 50.6 percent men), while women dominate as primary school principals at 61.4 percent.

Construction and Education, A Gender-Divided Labor Market

The employment structure by sector shows pronounced gender segregation. Men make up 89.1 percent of those employed in construction, while women dominate education with an 80.9 percent share. Nearly equal representation is seen in real estate, professional, scientific, and technical activities, as well as hospitality.

Judiciary: Men on the Supreme Court, Women in Commercial Courts

In the judiciary, men are the majority on the Supreme Court, comprising 65.5 percent of judges. Women are most represented in commercial courts (78.4 percent), and they account for over 70 percent in county and municipal courts. The High Criminal Court has an equal split of male and female judges (50-50).

Pensions: A Gap of Nearly €110

Disparities are also evident in the pension system. The average male retiree is 72 years old, has 32 years and 11 months of work experience, and receives a pension of €670.19. The average female retiree is a year and a half older, has 30 years and 4 months of service, and receives €560.60-nearly €110 less.

As Index.hr reports, the DZS publication provides statistical indicators that allow for comparisons of life opportunities, working conditions, and social status between women and men. Narodno.hr highlights that the new edition continues a visual approach with interactive charts, making official statistics more accessible to citizens who are not professional data analysts. According to Zadarski list, the data confirmed long-term trends of population aging and increasingly later marriages.