Croatia records EU's largest reduction in gender pension gap since 2020

Croatia has achieved the largest reduction in the gender pension gap among EU member states, with the gap narrowing by 11 percentage points since 2020, the government has said. The improvement is largely attributed to credited pension service for parents.

The figures were set out in the government's opinion on the 2025 annual report by Gender Equality Ombudswoman Višnja Ljubičić, who stressed that a gap still exists and called for further measures. Credited pension service of six months per child, introduced through amendments to the Pension Insurance Act in 2019, has had a positive effect over the period it has been in force.

According to Eurostat, the gender pension gap in Croatia stood at 19.3% in 2024, down from 30.4% in 2020 and well below the EU average of 24.5%. Amendments adopted in 2025 doubled the credited service to 12 months per biological or adopted child. The government estimates around 27,000 pension recipients will qualify for the 12-month credit by the end of 2026, giving an average pension increase of 3% per child.

On employment, the government said registered unemployment fell 14.8% compared with 2024, with the number of unemployed women down 18.6% and unemployed men down 10%. The ombudswoman's report, submitted to parliament, covers employment, pensions, gender-based violence, demographic policy and other areas.