Challenges of Getting Old in Croatia

The experience of older age and ageing is unique for each individual. It is influenced by various factors, such as their socio-economic status, level and type of activities, healthHealth and functional abilities, type and extent of social networks, personal interests, social participation, and care needs and others (Victor in Old Age in Europe: A Textbook of Gerontology. Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 45–58, 2013; Walker in The Future of Ageing in Europe—Making an Asset of Longevity. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, pp. 1–28, 2019). The process of population ageingPopulation ageing is one of the major challenges that modern states must address through appropriate policies. Europe is the continent witnessing the most advanced process of population ageingPopulation ageing. According to Eurostat (Population structure and ageing. Eurostat, 2023), in 2022, one-fifth (21.2%) of the total EU population was aged 65 or over. Among EU member states, CroatiaCroatia is one of the oldest countries. Italy (23.8%), Portugal (23.7%), Finland (23.1%), Greece (22.7%), and Croatia (22.5%) had the highest shares of older peopleOlder people in the total population (Eurostat in Population structure and ageing. Eurostat, 2023). CroatiaCroatia is currently facing a significant demographic challenge, as its population is projected to both age and decrease in size. This chapter will focus on addressing the main challenges faced by the older population in CroatiaCroatia.