What is the share of professional firefighters in Croatia?

According to Eurostat data, professional firefighters in Croatia make up 0.43 percent of total employment, which is the second highest share in the EU.

Which countries have been hardest hit by wildfires this year?

Greece, France, and Spain have suffered the most, with wildfires so far affecting an area of about half a million hectares.

How many citizens rate the work of firefighters positively?

According to data from the Croatian Firefighting Association, as many as 97 percent of Croatian citizens rate the work of firefighters positively.

Where do neighboring countries rank in terms of firefighter share?

Hungary ranks 12th, Italy 14th, Austria is near the bottom, and data for Slovenia is unavailable, but it is estimated to have around 650 professional firefighters.

Croatia

Croatia Ranks Second in the EU: Professional Firefighters Make Up 0.43 Percent of All Employed

H.D. · Prije 2h | 2 min

As the heatwave persists and wildfires rage across Europe, Eurostat data reveals that Croatia has a significantly higher share of professional firefighters than all its neighbors, and citizens trust them more than any other institution.

Summary

Croatia ranks second in the EU for the share of professional firefighters at 0.43 percent, just behind Greece (0.47 percent).
While wildfires ravage Europe, France and Spain rank only 16th and 17th in terms of firefighter share.
As many as 97 percent of Croatian citizens rate the work of firefighters positively, making them the most trusted institution.

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0.43 percent of all employed persons in Croatia are professional firefighters, this is the Eurostat figure for last year, placing the country second in the European Union, just behind Greece. The number carries extra weight as the heatwave shows no signs of letting up, with the State Hydrometeorological Institute issuing warnings for the entire country, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius in Dalmatia. They are the ones on the front line defending against increasingly frequent wildfires.

Greece First, Portugal Third

Across the entire European Union, around 372,000 professional firefighters were registered last year, 0.18 percent of total employment. Greece leads the ranking with a share of 0.47 percent. Portugal ranks third with 0.33 percent.

Comparisons with neighbors further highlight Croatia's position. Hungary ranks 12th, Italy 14th, and Austria is near the bottom. Data for Slovenia is unavailable, but estimates suggest around 650 professional firefighters.

France and Spain Only 16th and 17th

Paradoxically, the countries hardest hit by devastating wildfires this summer, France and Spain, rank only 16th and 17th in terms of the share of professional firefighters. Since the start of summer, wildfires in Greece, France, and Spain have consumed around half a million hectares. The Netherlands closes the ranking with just 0.05 percent.

Beyond the numbers, Croatia can also boast something that statistics don't measure so easily, public trust. According to data from the Croatian Firefighting Association, firefighters are the institution citizens trust the most. Their work is rated positively by as many as 97 percent of respondents. They are followed by the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service and emergency medical services.

More frequent heatwaves, prolonged dry spells, and extreme weather conditions are making the job of firefighters increasingly complex. Croatia's position near the top of Europe, measured by the share of professionally employed firefighters, shows just how vital such a system is for the safety of citizens, infrastructure, and tourist areas.