Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
First results on the main demographic developments in the year of reference.
3.2. Classification system
Not applicable.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
3.4.1 Please indicate the definition of:
Population
The mother's residence
The data deaths
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
X
X
X
3.4.2 Please describe the national definition of:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
The concept of place of usual residence is used in defining of the total population. The place of usual residence is considered a place where a person spends most of his/her daily time, irrespective of a short-term absence from it (e.g. due to going to vacation, trip, medical treatment, visit etc.). In line with the definition of the place of usual residence, the total population includes the following persons: those who have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months and those who have not lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months but have the intention of staying there for at least one year.
A live-born child (live birth) is every child who exhibits signs of life at birth, such as breathing, beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movements of voluntary muscles.
A deceased person (death) is every live-born person in whom there is a permanent disappearance of all evidence of life.
Immigrants are persons who have changed their country of usual residence for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least one year.
Emigrants are persons who have changed their country of usual residence for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least one year.
3.4.3 Please provide details of the deviations of the national definition used from the usual residence definition.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
No deviations
No deviations
No deviations
No deviations
No deviations
3.5. Statistical unit
Number of persons.
3.6. Statistical population
In case of survey as data source, please describe the target statistical population (one or more) which the data set refers to:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
3.7. Reference area
Data are available at national level of geographical detail.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Not available.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Counts of statistical units.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31st December). The reference period for vital events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The operation of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics is based on the Official Statistics Act (OG, Nos 25/20 and 155/23).
Its regular statistical surveys are based on the Programme of Statistical Activities of the Republic of Croatia 2021-2027 (OG, No. 29/22), which also gathered other institutions and ministries that make together with the Bureau, the system of the official statistics.
Annual Implementation Plans of Statistical Activities of the Republic of Croatia define a title, periodicity, contents, implementation method, territorial characteristics, time schedule and the status of harmonisation of individual statistical surveys with national and international standards.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not available.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The Official Statistics Act (OG, Nos 25/20 and 155/23).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not available.
8.1. Release calendar
A precise overview of publication dates for all data issued by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics is available in the interactive Calendar of Statistical Data Issues.
8.2. Release calendar access
Publishing dates are specified in the Calendar of Statistical Data Issues available on the website of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Statistical data are available to all users in the same way and at the same time.
Data are published exactly at 11 a.m. according to pre-announced publishing dates.
Publishing dates are specified in the Calendar of Statistical Data Issues and data are available on the website of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics free of charge.
Any deviation from the announced publishing dates is announced at least three working days before the publishing date on the website of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, with an explanation of the reasons for the deviation.
Data are disseminated annually.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Statistics in Line (the place where the newest version of the data in excel format can be found):
"Implementation of Total Quality Management in Croatian Bureau of Statistics″ (CBS, Zagreb, 2015) and ″Handbook for Calculation of Quality Indicators″ (CBS, Zagreb, 2015) available on the website of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
All the special cases were treated in line with the Conference of European Statisticians Recommendations for the 2020 Censuses of Population and Housing as well as with the Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and Council of 9 July 2008 on population and housing censuses.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Not available.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
Not available.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Please report on the reasons for any unreliability of the data on:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Net migration
There are no particular reasons for any unreliability of the data on population except the under-coverage in net migration.
There are no particular reasons for any unreliability of the data on live births.
There are no particular reasons for any unreliability of the data on deaths.
Return immigration of nationals is not covered when emigration is not reported.
Emigration of nationals is not covered if they do not reported their departure abroad.
Under-coverage of nationals (nationals who did not report their migrations are not covered).
13.2. Sampling error
In case of survey as data source, please provide information on the part of the difference between a population value and an estimate thereof, derived from a random sample, which is due to the fact that only a subset of the population is enumerated.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
13.3. Non-sampling error
In case of survey as data source, please provide information on the error in survey estimates which cannot be attributed to sampling fluctuations.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
14.1. Timeliness
Not available.
14.2. Punctuality
Not available.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Statistics are comparable between geographical areas.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Please provide information on the length of comparable time series (indicate the first reference year for which data are availble), reference periods at which series occur, the reasons for the breaks and treatments of them.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Data are comparable since 2001.
Since 1998, data on births have been collected and processed in line with the definition of the usual residence. Until 1997, data on births were processed according to a mother’s permanent residence.
Since 1998, data on deaths have been collected and processed in line with the definition of the usual residence. Until 1997, data on deaths were processed according to a deceased person’s permanent residence.
Since reference year 2008, data based on usual residence provided to Eurostat according to the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007. Until reference year 2007, only migrations for permanent residence were considered.
Since reference year 2008, data based on usual residence provided to Eurostat according to the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007. Until reference year 2007, only migrations for permanent residence were considered.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not available.
15.4. Coherence - internal
All data are consistent.
The population is based on data from the last census adjusted by the components of population change.
The difference between the size of the population at the beginning and the end of a period is equal to the algebraic sum of natural change and net migration.
Not available.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not available.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Post-2011 census revisions: population estimates and migration data (needed for revision of past population estimates) were revised for the intercensal period.
Post-2021 census revisions: population estimates were revised for the whole intercensal period.
18.1. Source data
Please report on the data sources used for the first reference year and inform of any changes thereto, to produce:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
The following surveys are data sources for the population estimate of the Republic of Croatia: Census of Population, Households and Dwellings, birth statistics, death statistics, migration statistics
Data source for births are registers of births kept in registrars’ offices of every particular area.
Data source for deaths are registers of deaths kept in registrars’ offices of every particular area.
Migration statistics are carried out based on data collected by the Ministry of the Interior (database on permanent and temporary residence; database on foreigners).
Migration statistics are carried out based on data collected by the Ministry of the Interior (database on permanent and temporary residence; database on foreigners).
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data on births and deaths are collected monthly.
Data on migration are collected annually.
18.3. Data collection
Data on live births are collected through the Statistical Report on Births for each recording in the state registers of births.
Data on deaths are collected through the Statistical Report on Deaths for each recording in the state registers of deaths.
Data on migration are delivered in the electronic form by the Ministry of the Interior.
18.4. Data validation
Data on live births and deaths covers all persons who were born or deceased in a particular calendar year and who were entered into registers of births or deaths. These data are collected on the electronic forms.
Reporting units are required to provide accurate, complete and updated data and in the content and form which is determined by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics and within the timeliness determined by the Annual Implementation Plan. If the data stated by the reporting units are not accurate, complete and updated, the reporting units will be bound to correct them, and/or make additions, in conformity with instructions and within set deadlines.
Migration statistics are carried out based on data collected by the Ministry of the Interior. Persons' legal duty to register changes of their place of residence is based on the law. The Permanent Residence Act (OG, Nos 144/12, 158/13 and 114/22) lays down the conditions governing the registration and deregistration of permanent and temporary residence of Croatian citizens. The Aliens Act (OG, Nos 133/20, 114/22 and 151/22) lays down the conditions of entry, movement, stay and work of aliens who are third-country nationals in the Republic of Croatia. The Act on Nationals of the European Economic Area Member States and Their Family Members (OG, Nos 66/19, 53/20, 144/20 and 114/22) regulate conditions for the entry, movement, stay and work of nationals of the European Economic Area Member States and their family members.
18.5. Data compilation
After the data on births and deaths have been collected on the electronic forms and submitted to the CBS begins the processing of the collected data. First is done coding and data entry, then data verification and all the logical and computational controls of data.
Data that are based on individual records of migrants reporting their changes of residence are transferred annualy by the Ministry of the Interior to CBS where the processing of the received data is done with all the controls.
Population estimate is calculated on the basis of the census data, natural change and net migration data.
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustments.
Not available.
First results on the main demographic developments in the year of reference.
30 June 2025
3.4.1 Please indicate the definition of:
Population
The mother's residence
The data deaths
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
X
X
X
3.4.2 Please describe the national definition of:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
The concept of place of usual residence is used in defining of the total population. The place of usual residence is considered a place where a person spends most of his/her daily time, irrespective of a short-term absence from it (e.g. due to going to vacation, trip, medical treatment, visit etc.). In line with the definition of the place of usual residence, the total population includes the following persons: those who have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months and those who have not lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months but have the intention of staying there for at least one year.
A live-born child (live birth) is every child who exhibits signs of life at birth, such as breathing, beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movements of voluntary muscles.
A deceased person (death) is every live-born person in whom there is a permanent disappearance of all evidence of life.
Immigrants are persons who have changed their country of usual residence for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least one year.
Emigrants are persons who have changed their country of usual residence for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least one year.
3.4.3 Please provide details of the deviations of the national definition used from the usual residence definition.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
No deviations
No deviations
No deviations
No deviations
No deviations
Number of persons.
In case of survey as data source, please describe the target statistical population (one or more) which the data set refers to:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Data are available at national level of geographical detail.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31st December). The reference period for vital events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
Please report on the reasons for any unreliability of the data on:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Net migration
There are no particular reasons for any unreliability of the data on population except the under-coverage in net migration.
There are no particular reasons for any unreliability of the data on live births.
There are no particular reasons for any unreliability of the data on deaths.
Return immigration of nationals is not covered when emigration is not reported.
Emigration of nationals is not covered if they do not reported their departure abroad.
Under-coverage of nationals (nationals who did not report their migrations are not covered).
Counts of statistical units.
After the data on births and deaths have been collected on the electronic forms and submitted to the CBS begins the processing of the collected data. First is done coding and data entry, then data verification and all the logical and computational controls of data.
Data that are based on individual records of migrants reporting their changes of residence are transferred annualy by the Ministry of the Interior to CBS where the processing of the received data is done with all the controls.
Population estimate is calculated on the basis of the census data, natural change and net migration data.
Please report on the data sources used for the first reference year and inform of any changes thereto, to produce:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
The following surveys are data sources for the population estimate of the Republic of Croatia: Census of Population, Households and Dwellings, birth statistics, death statistics, migration statistics
Data source for births are registers of births kept in registrars’ offices of every particular area.
Data source for deaths are registers of deaths kept in registrars’ offices of every particular area.
Migration statistics are carried out based on data collected by the Ministry of the Interior (database on permanent and temporary residence; database on foreigners).
Migration statistics are carried out based on data collected by the Ministry of the Interior (database on permanent and temporary residence; database on foreigners).
Data are disseminated annually.
Not available.
Statistics are comparable between geographical areas.
Please provide information on the length of comparable time series (indicate the first reference year for which data are availble), reference periods at which series occur, the reasons for the breaks and treatments of them.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Data are comparable since 2001.
Since 1998, data on births have been collected and processed in line with the definition of the usual residence. Until 1997, data on births were processed according to a mother’s permanent residence.
Since 1998, data on deaths have been collected and processed in line with the definition of the usual residence. Until 1997, data on deaths were processed according to a deceased person’s permanent residence.
Since reference year 2008, data based on usual residence provided to Eurostat according to the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007. Until reference year 2007, only migrations for permanent residence were considered.
Since reference year 2008, data based on usual residence provided to Eurostat according to the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007. Until reference year 2007, only migrations for permanent residence were considered.
