When comparing a state of affairs in Zagreb's social policy in Zagreb in 2018 and 2017, it is evident that unemployment was reduced by more than one-fifth, the number of social welfare beneficiaries dropped by about 8% and the number of beneficiaries receiving benefits from the City of Zagreb fell as well.

The City of Zagreb’s Welfare Council and the CERANEO – Centre for the Development of Non-Profit Organisations , on Friday presented a comparative social picture of the City of Zagreb.

The head of the city department for social welfare, Romana Gali,c said that the document presented indicators of the quality of life in Zagreb which serve as the basis for taking necessary actions and implement social policies.

This is the first time we compared the situation from year to year and this comparison indicates that there are fewer beneficiaries in the social welfare system in 2018 compared to 2017, said Galic.

Presenting some key welfare trends, CERANEO’s Iva Mrdeza underscored that according to some estimates, the city population increased by 1.61% in 2017 compared to 2011 however the population is also ageing.

In 2017, 56.2% of Zagreb’s population was aged between 25 and 64, 18% were in the age cohort above 65 and the age cohort between 15 to 24 is smallest.

An analysis of households indicates a decrease in the divorce rate and a slight growth in the number of marriages. In 2017 there were 332.9 divorces per 1,000 marriages while the number of marriages was 4.9 per 1,000 inhabitants

The net average wage of those employed in Zagreb amounted to HRK 6,962 in 2017, or 15.32% higher than the national average. Unemployment was reduced by 20.5% in 2017, whereas in 2018 it was cut by 22.3%.

CERANEO introduces itself as “a think tank organization that collects, analyzes and investigates problems in the area of social policy, promoting innovative approaches in addressing these issues, explores and advocates for greater role of civil society.”