What is the maximum share of the monthly installment in income according to the new CNB rules?

For cash and non-housing loans, the installment must not exceed 40 percent of income, while for housing loans, the limit is 45 percent of income.

How much new debt do citizens take on for every 100 euros of repaid debt?

For every 100 euros of repaid debt, citizens take on 28 euros of new debt, indicating a continuous increase in total debt.

Economy

Croatians Increasingly Live on Credit: Debt Exceeds 11 Billion Euros

Q: What is the total amount of consumer loans held by citizens in Croatia?

Total household debt through consumer loans has exceeded 11 billion euros.

E.K. · 09. 08. 2026. | 2 min

Despite stricter CNB rules, consumer borrowing continues to rise, with average debt per debtor reaching 9,000 euros.

Summary

Consumer debt of citizens has exceeded 11 billion euros, with an average debt of 9,000 euros per debtor.
For every 100 euros of repaid debt, citizens take on 28 euros of new debt, meaning total debt is not decreasing.
The CNB has introduced limits: the installment for cash loans is a maximum of 40% of income, and for housing loans, 45% of income.

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Croatian citizens are increasingly turning to loans to bridge the gap between paychecks, and data from the Croatian National Bank (CNB) reveals a worrying trend in borrowing. For every 100 euros of debt repaid, citizens take on an additional 28 euros of new debt, meaning the total debt is not decreasing but continuously growing.

According to available data, total household debt through consumer loans has exceeded 11 billion euros. The average debt per debtor stands at around 9,000 euros, indicating a high level of financial burden on households.

Total Household Loans Reach 28.7 Billion Euros

At the end of May, total household loans amounted to 28.7 billion euros. Within this figure, housing loans represent a more stable part of the portfolio. There are currently about 235,000 active housing loans in Croatia, with approximately 25,000 new ones approved annually. Their stability stems from the fact that they are secured by mortgages and real estate.

CNB Sets Strict Limits on Monthly Installments

To prevent citizens from using loans to cover regular living expenses and falling into a debt spiral, the CNB has introduced new, stricter rules for loan approval. For non-housing and cash loans, the monthly installment must not exceed 40 percent of the borrower's income. For housing loans, this limit is set at a maximum of 45 percent of income.

The aim of these measures is to protect citizens from excessive borrowing and preserve the financial stability of households amid rising living costs.