WEB engleska verzija end.indd - UNDP Croatia

CHAPTER 3THE SOCIALLY EXCLUDEDFigure 4: Age-gender structure of the population in Croatia in 200110095M W908580757065605550454035302520151050-40000 -30000 -20000 -10000 0 10000 20000 30000 40000no major differences. 34 This rate can be explained bythe traditional views and values of marriage in theseareas, but also by the economic and social crisis, inwhich existential problems are the main reason whymany couples decide to stay together, although theywould otherwise part. 35Data on the household structure in Croatia showsthat Croatian households are usually small, whichmeans that 63.37% of households have three or lessmembers, while only 6.81% of households have sixor more members. In 2001 the average family withchildren, which is usually the equivalent of a householdin Croatia, had only 1.7 children. 36 In view ofthe household structure by use of residence, it isimportant to note that 82.93% of households live inresidences that they own or co-own.In addition to the narrow population base and thelarge proportion of older individuals, there are somemore peculiarities in the age-sexual structure ofCroatia. According to the 2001 census, the number ofwomen at an advanced age was twice that of men,a result of the longer life span of women. Thus, thepercentage of women in the total population washigher than the percentage of men (51.9% vs. 48.1%).In addition, the population that is approximately 55years old is reduced because of World War Two, whilethe population of approximately 30 year-olds is less asa result of the migrations that preceded 1970. 37 This,along with an unfavourable economic situation andlong-term trends in low fertility rates, has resulted infewer children (0-4 years).Taking the above into consideration, it would appearthat the Croatian population is regressing. It isprobable that with the present and indicative trendsin population movement, Croatia will become evensmaller and demographically poorer.Croatia’s Educational structureThere are several trends occurring in the educationalstructure of the population in Croatia. Almost 19% ofCroatia’s population over 15 has not finished primaryschool. Most of these are elderly people which constitutean uneducated older population in Croatia. Thesituation is much better in the working contingent34 In 2000, the rate is 0.97 in Croatia, 2.4 in Austria and Germany, 2.6 in Belgium, 2.7 in Denmark, 1.0 in Bulgaria, and 1.0 in Slovenia. Source:Council of Europe – Comparative Report.35 Puljiz, V., Zrinščak, S. (2002) Hrvatska obiteljska politika u europskom kontekstu. Revija za socijalnu politiku, No 2/2002.4036 In 2001, 26.85% of families had only one child. 47.45% had two children, 17.75% had three, 5.18% had four children, and 2.74% offamilies had five or more children. Source: Author’s calculations based on the data in the 2001 census.37 Migration saldo from 1961 to 1970 was -258.5 thousand (Gelo et al., 2005).