[The demographic situation in the Croatian Republic]

Croatia is a low-natality region characterized by slowing growth rate of its total population and a decrease of its proportion in total population of Yugoslavia. This declining trend in Croatia, in accordance with its developmental features, is primarily the result of a fall in natural population increment due to a constant decline in natality/fertility and to mild increase in mortality. These features of the natural movement of population are typical for the areas in which the process of demographical transition has been completed. However, the decrease in the total population of Croatia, together with a decline in natural population increment has also contributed to a negative migration balance (both in internal and external migrations). These characteristics of the natural movement of population have brought about considerable imbalances in its age structure through a decrease in the number and proportion of young people, a mild increase in the working age population and through an intensive increase in the number and proportion of old people. Such tendencies will have numerous unfavourable consequences on the further development of population and on socio-economic development of Croatia.