Croatia’s construction picture is anything but steady. With construction permits value up 7.1% in the latest 2023 data slice and dwelling completions rising to 15,400 units in 2023, pipeline momentum sits alongside output contraction of -1.2% versus 2022. From 33.2 GWh of sector energy use to 1.9 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste, the dataset ties jobs, costs, and materials into one fast moving national build rhythm.
Key Takeaways
- 8.3% of Croatia’s total gross value added (GVA) came from construction in 2022 (national accounts share)
- 3.0% of Croatia’s total employment was in construction in 2022 (share of total employment)
- €24.3 billion construction works in Croatia in 2022 (current prices)
- €24.2 billion Croatia construction output (gross fixed capital formation in construction, 2022 current prices equivalent basis)
- €32.0 million FDI inflows to Croatia in construction-related activities, 2022 (selected industry activity measure)
- 2.1% of Croatian non-financial business economy value added comes from construction (latest available year)
- 16.1% of employees in Croatia’s non-financial business economy work in construction (latest available year)
- +7.1% year-on-year change in construction permits value in Croatia in 2023 (latest available month/quarter aggregated in dataset)
- Croatia building construction costs increased by 7.0% in 2022 (annual average, construction cost index)
- Croatia construction material price inflation reached 12.3% in 2022 (construction materials price index annual change)
- Croatia labour cost index for construction increased by 6.0% in 2022 (annual change)
- Construction has 29.0% of all fatal work accidents in Croatia in 2021 (fatalities by sector)
- Croatia’s construction sector energy consumption was 33.2 GWh in 2021 (sectoral energy statistics; latest available)
- Croatia construction waste generation was 1.9 million tonnes in 2020 (construction and demolition waste statistics)
- Croatia construction and demolition waste recycling rate was 52% in 2020 (latest available year in dataset)
In 2022 and 2023, Croatia’s construction sector stayed significant for jobs while costs rose and output slightly contracted.
Related reading
02 · Category
Market Size8 stats
01
€24.3 billion construction works in Croatia in 2022 (current prices)
02
€24.2 billion Croatia construction output (gross fixed capital formation in construction, 2022 current prices equivalent basis)
03
€32.0 million FDI inflows to Croatia in construction-related activities, 2022 (selected industry activity measure)
04
Croatia building permits issued for dwellings reached 21,900 units in 2023 (permits volume indicator)
05
Croatia construction sector value added was €3.3 billion in 2022 (level measure consistent with construction contribution shares)
06
Croatia building materials retail sales index increased by 6.8% in 2023 (demand proxy from retail sales of construction materials)
07
Croatia construction material import value reached US$8.4 billion in 2022 (external input dependence measure)
08
Croatia steel rebar consumption was 1.2 million tonnes in 2022 (structural steel demand indicator for construction)
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
With Croatia’s construction market at about €24.3 billion in 2022, supported by steady demand signals like 21,900 dwelling permits in 2023 and a 6.8% rise in building materials retail sales, the sector shows clear scale and momentum within the Market Size picture.
03 · Category
Business Structure2 stats
01
2.1% of Croatian non-financial business economy value added comes from construction (latest available year)
02
16.1% of employees in Croatia’s non-financial business economy work in construction (latest available year)
Interpretation
Business Structure Interpretation
In Croatia’s business structure, construction is a major employer with 16.1% of non-financial business employees working in the sector, yet it contributes only 2.1% of value added, signaling a workforce-intensive industry with relatively lower economic output per worker.
04 · Category
Investment Outlook1 stats
01
+7.1% year-on-year change in construction permits value in Croatia in 2023 (latest available month/quarter aggregated in dataset)
Interpretation
Investment Outlook Interpretation
Croatia’s construction permits rose 7.1% year on year in 2023, signaling improving investment momentum for the construction sector.
05 · Category
Cost Analysis7 stats
01
Croatia building construction costs increased by 7.0% in 2022 (annual average, construction cost index)
02
Croatia construction material price inflation reached 12.3% in 2022 (construction materials price index annual change)
03
Croatia labour cost index for construction increased by 6.0% in 2022 (annual change)
04
Croatia producer prices for construction-related products increased by 9.5% in 2022 (PPIs relevant to building material inputs)
05
Croatia natural gas prices for non-household consumers averaged €0.046 per kWh in 2023 (energy cost exposure)
06
Croatia average construction wage index increased by 7.4% in 2022 (labour cost pressure index for construction context)
07
Croatia construction sector rents for industrial and office space increased by 4.1% in 2023 (commercial real estate cost pressure proxy)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a cost analysis perspective, Croatia’s construction cost pressures stayed firmly elevated in 2022 to 2023, with construction cost indices up 7.0% in 2022 alongside steep input inflation of 12.3% for materials and 6.0% higher construction labour costs, further reinforced by producer prices rising 9.5% and energy and commercial rent pressures averaging €0.046 per kWh for non-households and 4.1% rent growth in 2023.
More related reading
06 · Category
Workforce Safety1 stats
01
Construction has 29.0% of all fatal work accidents in Croatia in 2021 (fatalities by sector)
Interpretation
Workforce Safety Interpretation
In Croatia’s construction sector, 29.0% of all fatal work accidents occurred in 2021, underscoring that workforce safety risk is especially concentrated in construction.
07 · Category
Sustainability & Esg4 stats
01
Croatia’s construction sector energy consumption was 33.2 GWh in 2021 (sectoral energy statistics; latest available)
02
Croatia construction waste generation was 1.9 million tonnes in 2020 (construction and demolition waste statistics)
03
Croatia construction and demolition waste recycling rate was 52% in 2020 (latest available year in dataset)
04
Croatia renewable energy in buildings (% of final energy) was 5.4% in 2021 (building energy transition indicator)
Interpretation
Sustainability & Esg Interpretation
Croatia’s construction sector shows a sustainability challenge and an improvement opportunity, with energy use at 33.2 GWh in 2021 and construction and demolition waste reaching 1.9 million tonnes in 2020, while a 52% recycling rate indicates progress that could be paired with the low share of renewable energy in buildings at 5.4% in 2021.
08 · Category
Industry Trends4 stats
01
Croatia construction output contracted by -1.2% in 2023 compared with 2022 (construction production index change)
02
Croatia new orders for construction work increased by 3.4% in 2022 (construction orders change indicator)
03
Croatia dwellings completed reached 15,400 units in 2023 (building completions volume indicator)
04
Croatia non-residential property price index increased by 3.9% in 2023 (commercial property cycle indicator)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
For Industry Trends in Croatia’s construction sector, production dipped 1.2% in 2023 while new construction orders had risen 3.4% in 2022 and residential completions reached 15,400 units, suggesting a slowdown after a better order intake alongside a steadier 3.9% increase in non residential property prices.
09 · Category
Performance Metrics6 stats
01
Croatia construction labour productivity increased by 0.6% in 2022 (value added per person employed proxy, construction sector context)
02
Croatia construction sector had 124,000 persons employed in 2022 (persons employed count)
03
Croatia construction sector had 98,500 employees in 2022 (employee count; excludes self-employed)
04
Croatia issued 28,300 building permits in 2023 (all buildings permits count, permitting activity indicator)
05
Croatia building permits area permitted reached 3.7 million m² in 2023 (m² indicator for construction pipeline)
06
Croatia construction permit value index increased to 109.3 (2015=100) in 2023 (pipeline valuation indicator)
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Performance in Croatia’s construction sector looked modestly stronger in 2022 with labour productivity up 0.6%, while 2023 momentum rose further as building permits climbed to 28,300 covering 3.7 million m² and the permit value index reached 109.3, signaling improving pipeline conditions alongside a large workforce of 98,500 employees.
10 · Category
Macroeconomic Context2 stats
01
Croatia residential building investment share of total gross fixed capital formation was 10.7% in 2023 (construction composition indicator)
02
Croatia public investment spending (gross fixed capital formation) was 4.6% of GDP in 2022 (macro construction demand driver)
Interpretation
Macroeconomic Context Interpretation
In Croatia’s macroeconomic construction context, residential building investment accounts for 10.7% of total gross fixed capital formation in 2023 while public gross fixed capital formation stands at 4.6% of GDP in 2022, pointing to a demand mix where private housing remains a significant driver alongside a comparatively smaller public investment contribution.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Croatia Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/croatia-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Croatia Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/croatia-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Croatia Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/croatia-construction-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
37 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+32 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)