Brod-Posavina County is a traditional center of industry and entrepreneurship in a strong momentum towards green, innovative, digital economy and satisfied society.
The County is placed in the southern part of the Slavonia region, in the area between Psunj, Požega and Dilj mountain, with river Sava as a natural border with Bosnia and Herzegovina (163 km). It covers an area of 2,030 km2, which is 3.59% of the total territory of the Republic of Croatia (56,542 km2) and is 14th largest county. It is one of the narrowest and longest counties bordering Vukovar-Srijem County in the east, Osijek-Baranja County in the north, Požega-Slavonia County in the north, and Sisak-Moslavina County in the west. The county is an area with a moderate continental climate. Water, forests and fertile soil, navigable river and European road corridors are natural conditions that enable the development of economy, transport, trade and culture.
The County consists of 28 local self-government units: 2 cities and 26 municipalities. The center of the County is the City of Slavonski Brod where live more than a third of all County residents and where is concentrated most of the social and economic life. The second town in the Brod-Posavina County is City of Nova Gradiška, which is the center of the western part of the county.
The main competitive advantage of Brod-Posavina County is its extraordinary geostrategic position. County is located at the intersection of two European transport corridors:
1Pan-European corridor X which connects Western Europe with South-Eastern Europe and the Middle East and Pan-European corridor Vc which connects northern and eastern Europe with the Adriatic Sea. Railway, road and waterways, telecommunication, network and an oil pipeline pass through the county. The four main cities (Zagreb, Budapest, Belgrade and Sarajevo) are located within a radius of 350 km from Slavonski Brod, center city of the County. The nearest airports are Osijek Airport, located 90 km away, and Franjo Tuđman Airport, located 180 km from Slavonski Brod. In Slavonski Brod, there is Jelas Airfield, intended for sports and recreational purposes, which is one of 28 registered airfields in the Republic of Croatia. In the municipality of Garčin, there is a sports airstrip. The Sava River, which also represents a natural border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, enables river traffic with Central and Southern Europe as the most cost-effective way of transporting. The port of Slavonski Brod is connected by road and rail infrastructure to international infrastructure corridors.
According to the 2021 Population Census the current population of County is 130.782 which is 3.4% of the total population of Croatia. Population density according to Croatian Bureau of Statistics estimates 64.4 inhabitants/km2.
Cost competitiveness, in terms of initial investment costs, utility service prices, and wages, provides a significant advantage that positions Croatia and Brodsko-posavska County as an attractive destination for business expansion and market share growth.
According to Financial agency, there are 2.520 active companies in Brod-Posavina County in 2023 with 21,702 employees. The most represented business activities in the County are: manufacturing industry, trade, construction and agriculture, forestry and fishing. The most important economic activity is manufacturing industry where dominate metal processing companies, wood processing and furniture production, chemical and food products production. The manufacturing industry also has the largest share in export incoms. Entrepreneurs from the Brod-Posavina County mostly export to Germany, Italy, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austria.
The strengths of Brodsko-posavska County’s economy are reflected in its favorable geographical position, the presence of entrepreneurial support institutions, a tradition in the metal processing industry, and the wealth of natural resources and cultural heritage and traditions.
Long-standing tradition and professional workforce in certain industries represent a significant development potential. Education and science are key factors in the development of the County, where competence centers in vocational education and the University of Slavonski Brod, whose educational programs are focused on cooperation with the economic sector, play a special role. Additionally, previous investments in education in the metal, wood and agricultural sectors contribute to economic development.
The entrepreneurial support infrastructure of the Brod-Posavina County consists of 35 economic zones of various sizes and levels of equipment and five entrepreneurial support institutions.
Thanks to its strategic position, developed infrastructure, strong industrial tradition and continuous investments in education and innovation, Brod-Posavina County represents a dynamic economic center with high investment attractiveness and sustainable development potential.
[Source: The center for development of Brod – Posavina County, March 2025]
Main Indicators
|
GDP
EUR
|
1.453.333.000 |
|
Population
|
126.444 |
|
Men |
62.711 |
|
Women |
63.733 |
|
Age 0-14 |
17.499 |
|
Age 15+ |
108.945 |
|
GDP Per Capita
EUR
|
11.314,00 |
|
Area Size
km²
|
2.027 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics: GDP (2022), Population (2024, Estimate), Area size (2021)
Gross Value Added by ActivitiesEUR
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2022
Infrastructure
|
Motorways
km
|
129 |
|
Broadband Connections
number and density
|
26.355 / 56% |
|
Number of issued building permits
|
305 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics: Motorways (2023), Building permits (2023), Croatian Regulatory Agency for Network Industries: Broadband Connections (Q2 2024)
Investments
| |
Amount |
|
Foreign Direct Investments
million EUR
|
254 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2024
Foreign Direct Investment by Activitymil. EUR
| Activity |
Amount |
|
Manufacture of food products
|
128,67 |
|
Manufacture of finished metal products, except machinery and equipment
|
80,40 |
|
Architectural activities and engineering
|
10,69 |
|
Information service activities
|
10,41 |
|
Beverage production
|
8,87 |
|
Other
|
14,56 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2024
Foreign Direct Investment by Countrymil. EUR
| Country |
Amount |
|
Belgium
|
142,39 |
|
Austria
|
59,54 |
|
Germany
|
46,02 |
|
British Virgin Islands
|
16,30 |
|
Italy
|
11,73 |
|
Other
|
-22,38 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2024
Gross Investment in new Fixed Assets, by Location of Investment Constructions and Types of Assets
| Asset type |
Amount (EUR, 000) |
| Buildings, spaces and structures |
103.506 |
| Machinery and equipment with fittings |
59.432 |
| Transport equipment |
12.525 |
| Cultivated biological resources |
7.841 |
| Intellectual property products |
2.909 |
|
Total
|
189.394
|
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2023
Biggest Investors
Source: Financial Agency, data for 2024
Maximum Investment Incentives' Intensity according to the Investment Promotion Act
| Large enterprises |
Medium enterprises |
Small and micro-enterprises |
| 50% |
60% |
70% |
Source: 2022-2027 Regional Aid Map for Croatia
International Trade
Export by Activity000 EUR
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2024
Import by Activity000 EUR
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2024
Export by Country000 EUR
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2024
Import by Country000 EUR
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2024
Education
| Eduction level |
Number of pupils |
|
Kindergartens and Other Legal Entities Implementing Preschool Education Programmes
|
3.875 |
|
Basic Schools, Beginning of School Year
|
10.009 |
|
Upper Secondary Schools, Beginning of School Year
|
4.679 |
|
Students Enrolled on Professional and University Study, According to Place of Permanent Residence
|
3.055 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2023/2024
Number of High School Studends Who Have Completed Their Education
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2022/2023
Number of Students and Institutions by Educational Sectors
| Educational Sector |
Number of Institutions |
Number of Students |
|
Mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and metallurgy
|
4 |
740 |
|
Electrical engineering and computing
|
3 |
574 |
|
Health and social work
|
1 |
458 |
|
Economics, trade and business administration
|
3 |
444 |
|
Tourism and catering
|
3 |
335 |
|
Agriculture, food and veterinary
|
2 |
323 |
|
Construction and geodesy
|
3 |
251 |
|
Personal, security and other services
|
2 |
203 |
|
Transport and logistics
|
2 |
150 |
|
Textiles and leather
|
2 |
109 |
|
Forestry, wood processing and treatment
|
3 |
104 |
Source: Ministry of Science and Education, data for 2024/2025
Students Who Graduated From University Study or Completed Professional Studys
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2021
Students Enrolled at Institutions of Higher Education, by Scientific and Artistic Fields of Study
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2022/2023
Institutions of Higher Education and Graduated Students
| Name |
Students who graduated from or completed university or professional study |
|
Polytechnic in Slavonski Brod
|
523 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2021
Business Indicators of Enterprises
| Activity |
Number of Business Entities |
Number of Persons Employed |
Average Monthly Gross Earnings per Person in Paid Employment
(EUR) |
|
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
|
122 |
573 |
1.652 |
|
Mining and quarrying
|
6 |
60 |
1.517 |
|
Manufacturing
|
547 |
9.662 |
1.341 |
|
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
|
19 |
347 |
1.824 |
|
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
|
18 |
666 |
1.371 |
|
Construction
|
592 |
3.318 |
1.356 |
|
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
|
495 |
3.211 |
1.313 |
|
Transportation and storage
|
214 |
1.675 |
1.416 |
|
Accommodation and food service activities
|
144 |
635 |
1.227 |
|
Information and communication
|
114 |
670 |
1.823 |
|
Financial and insurance activities
|
21 |
411 |
1.838 |
|
Real estate activities
|
44 |
56 |
1.429 |
|
Professional, scientific and technical activities
|
336 |
983 |
1.639 |
|
Administrative and support service activities
|
94 |
634 |
1.210 |
|
Public administration and defence, compulsory social security
|
93 |
2.498 |
2.044 |
|
Education
|
93 |
3.336 |
1.946 |
|
Human health and social work activities
|
144 |
2.899 |
2.448 |
|
Arts, entertainment and recreation
|
675 |
396 |
1.380 |
|
Other service activities
|
1.296 |
303 |
1.181 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2024
Unemployed
| |
Rate |
|
Unemployment Rate
|
11,40% |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2024
Unemployed by Activity
| Activity |
Number |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing |
156 |
| Mining and quarrying |
6 |
| Manufacturing |
734 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply |
3 |
| Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities |
58 |
| Construction |
322 |
| Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
443 |
| Transportation and storage |
100 |
| Accommodation and food service activities |
413 |
| Information and communication |
31 |
| Financial and insurance activities |
25 |
| Real estate activities |
11 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities |
119 |
| Administrative and support service activities |
178 |
| Public administration and defence, compulsory social security |
466 |
| Education |
153 |
| Human health and social work activities |
196 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation |
27 |
| Other service activities |
287 |
| Not classified |
781 |
| Total |
4.509 |
Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2024
Registered unemployed by occupation
Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2024
Support Institutions Contacts
