Lika-Senj County spans 5,350.00 km² of land and 596.63 km² of sea surface. Its geographical position, geostrategic location, and unique natural features create a blend of mountainous and coastal regions, making it one of the most diverse counties with significant development potential. Gospić is the administrative center of the County. Despite its relatively large area, Lika-Senj County is the least populated and sparsely inhabited region in Croatia, ranking last (21st place) compared to other counties and the City of Zagreb.
Lika-Senj County encompasses four cities—Gospić, Novalja, Otočac, Senj—and eight municipalities: Brinje, Donji Lapac, Karlobag, Lovinac, Perušić, Plitvička Jezera, Udbina, and Vrhovine. It is divided between mountainous Croatia and the Croatian Littoral, bordered by Primorje-Gorski Kotar County to the northwest, Karlovac County to the north, Zadar County to the south and southeast, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the east. Positioned as a crossroads, it connects major Croatian cities—Zagreb, Rijeka, and Split—as well as Zadar and Karlovac.
The County benefits from excellent transportation infrastructure, including the A1 highway (connecting Zagreb-Split-Dubrovnik) and national roads linking Zadar and Karlovac. Gospić and Otočac serve as significant transit hubs. Railways ensure regional and national connectivity, while nearby airports in Rijeka (Krk Island) and Zadar provide access to domestic and international destinations. Investment in maritime infrastructure—ports, docks in Senj, Stinica Bay, Žigljen, Novalja—has enhanced connections to islands like Pag, Rab, and Krk.
Natural advantages include vast forests, abundant freshwater reserves, significant hydropower potential, agricultural land, and aquaculture opportunities. The County prioritizes industries such as wood processing, food production, agriculture and livestock farming, renewable energy, and tourism (coastal, eco, and rural tourism). Remarkably, 58% of Croatia’s national parks are in Lika-Senj County, including Plitvice Lakes, Paklenica, and Northern Velebit, along with Velebit Nature Park and many protected areas.
Lika-Senj County invites investments through developed infrastructure, strategic location, proximity to EU and Southeast Europe markets, established entrepreneurial zones, and incentives for investors. The Development Center offers services like incubation, coworking spaces, business education, and support for start-ups. It acts as a one-stop hub for entrepreneurial and investment services.
There are numerous reasons to invest in Lika-Senj County. These include its developed infrastructure (social, transport, business, telecommunications), excellent geostrategic location (equidistant from Croatia’s three main trade hubs—Zagreb, Rijeka, and Split), proximity to EU and Southeastern European markets (bordering Bosnia and Herzegovina), established entrepreneurial zones ready to welcome investors, highly motivated workforce, availability of national, regional, and local incentives for investments, and excellent quality of life.
To foster entrepreneurship, Lika-Senj County established the Development Center, a central institution offering professional business services to entrepreneurs and investors. The Development Center acts as a “one-stop service” for investors, consolidating all required services in a single location. Its support focuses on incubation, acceleration, and facilities for processing fruits and honey, aiding both new and existing entrepreneurs. The Center provides information on financial incentives and the latest trends, organizes educational workshops, seminars, and conferences for skill development, and offers virtual incubators and coworking services, including business registration for users, networking opportunities for incubator members, help finding business partners, reduction of operational costs, IT support, access to fully equipped coworking spaces, shared meeting and presentation facilities, expertise in managing start-ups during their early years, virtual promotional space for members and online education.
[Source: Lika-Senj County, March 2025]
Main Indicators
|
GDP
EUR
|
738.827.158 |
|
Population
|
43.058 |
|
Men |
21.430 |
|
Women |
21.628 |
|
Age 0-14 |
5.603 |
|
Age 15+ |
37.455 |
|
GDP Per Capita
EUR
|
17.222,69 |
|
Area Size
km²
|
5.353 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics: GDP (2023), Population (2024, Estimate), Area size (2021)
Gross Value Added by ActivitiesEUR
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2023
Infrastructure
|
Motorways
km
|
118 |
|
Broadband Connections
number and density
|
10.162 / 58% |
|
Number of issued building permits
|
230 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics: Motorways (2024), Building permits (2024), Croatian Regulatory Agency for Network Industries: Broadband Connections (Q2 2024)
Investments
| |
Amount |
|
Foreign Direct Investments
million EUR
|
463 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2025
Foreign Direct Investment by Activitymil. EUR
| Activity |
Amount |
|
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
|
238,55 |
|
Real estate ownership investments
|
104,12 |
|
Civil engineering
|
60,70 |
|
Accommodation
|
3,15 |
|
Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products
|
1,90 |
|
Other
|
-200,19 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2025
Foreign Direct Investment by Countrymil. EUR
| Country |
Amount |
|
China
|
122,42 |
|
Hong Kong SAR China
|
115,82 |
|
Slovenia
|
99,56 |
|
Germany
|
87,47 |
|
Austria
|
14,23 |
|
Other
|
23,31 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2025
Gross Investment in new Fixed Assets, by Location of Investment Constructions and Types of Assets
| Asset type |
Amount (EUR, 000) |
| Buildings, spaces and structures |
98.236 |
| Machinery and equipment with fittings |
51.366 |
| Transport equipment |
15.567 |
| Cultivated biological resources |
4.811 |
| Intellectual property products |
876 |
|
Total
|
175.742
|
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2024
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 |
| 40% |
50% |
60% |
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
|
1.382 |
|
Basic Schools, Beginning of School Year
|
3.039 |
|
Upper Secondary Schools, Beginning of School Year
|
1.021 |
|
Students Enrolled on Professional and University Study, According to Place of Permanent Residence
|
829 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2024/2025
Number of High School Studends Who Have Completed Their Education
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2023/2024
Number of Students and Institutions by Educational Sectors
| Educational Sector |
Number of Institutions |
Number of Students |
|
Tourism and catering
|
3 |
207 |
|
Economics, trade and business administration
|
2 |
132 |
|
Electrical engineering and computing
|
3 |
131 |
|
Health and social work
|
1 |
123 |
|
Transport and logistics
|
1 |
68 |
|
Mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and metallurgy
|
2 |
63 |
|
Forestry, wood processing and wood processing
|
1 |
50 |
|
Construction and geodesy
|
1 |
42 |
|
Personal, security and other services
|
1 |
42 |
Source: Ministry of Science and Education, data for 2024/2025
Students Who Graduated From University Study or Completed Professional Studys
Source: Državni zavod za statistiku, podaci za 2024. godinu
Institutions of Higher Education and Graduated Students
| Name |
Students who graduated from or completed university or professional study |
|
Polytechnic "Nikola Tesla" in Gospić
|
49 |
Source: Državni zavod za statistiku, podaci za 2021. godinu
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
|
70 |
953 |
1.781 |
|
Mining and quarrying
|
8 |
36 |
1.699 |
|
Manufacturing
|
155 |
1.026 |
1.393 |
|
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
|
21 |
397 |
1.973 |
|
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
|
26 |
657 |
1.413 |
|
Construction
|
193 |
720 |
1.300 |
|
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
|
149 |
1.206 |
1.356 |
|
Transportation and storage
|
91 |
1.053 |
1.588 |
|
Accommodation and food service activities
|
235 |
1.283 |
1.290 |
|
Information and communication
|
26 |
49 |
1.757 |
|
Financial and insurance activities
|
1 |
153 |
1.724 |
|
Real estate activities
|
44 |
50 |
1.177 |
|
Professional, scientific and technical activities
|
115 |
202 |
1.575 |
|
Administrative and support service activities
|
75 |
143 |
1.197 |
|
Public administration and defence, compulsory social security
|
70 |
1.826 |
2.106 |
|
Education
|
40 |
1.292 |
1.885 |
|
Human health and social work activities
|
51 |
954 |
2.270 |
|
Arts, entertainment and recreation
|
274 |
309 |
1.751 |
|
Other service activities
|
597 |
133 |
1.473 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2024
Unemployed
| |
Rate |
|
Unemployment Rate
|
8,20% |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2024
Unemployed by Activity
| Activity |
Number |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing |
46 |
| Mining and quarrying |
2 |
| Manufacturing |
98 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply |
1 |
| Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities |
19 |
| Construction |
62 |
| Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
100 |
| Transportation and storage |
35 |
| Accommodation and food service activities |
173 |
| Information and communication |
6 |
| Financial and insurance activities |
4 |
| Real estate activities |
5 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities |
19 |
| Administrative and support service activities |
36 |
| Public administration and defence, compulsory social security |
119 |
| Education |
40 |
| Human health and social work activities |
39 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation |
46 |
| Other service activities |
60 |
| Not classified |
222 |
| Total |
1.132 |
Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2024
Registered unemployed by occupation
Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2024
Support Institutions Contacts
