Croatia

An EU Member State since 2013 and part of the Schengen and Eurozone areas since 2023, Croatia continues to strengthen its asylum and protection systems in line with international and EU standards. 

In 2024, the country recorded nearly 27,000 asylum-seekers, down 61% from the previous year, while arrivals of unaccompanied and separated children increased. Onward movement remained high, and first-instance recognition rates dropped to 21%, prompting UNHCR to continue its support for fair asylum procedures and durable solutions.

Croatia remains a signatory to key refugee and statelessness conventions, including the Global Compact on Refugees. Since 2021, UNHCR has worked alongside the government and civil society to support the Independent National Monitoring Mechanism for border conduct, including through participation in its Advisory Board.

Croatia continues to host over 29,000 refugees from Ukraine under the Temporary Protection Directive, with national authorities providing healthcare and social welfare services. At the same time, the country faces demographic decline and labour shortages, making the inclusion of forcibly displaced persons in the workforce a strategic priority. In a significant gesture of solidarity, Croatia made its largest-ever donation to UNHCR in early 2025 to support winter relief efforts for war-affected Ukrainians.