Varaždin County is the oldest county in Croatia, located in its north-western part, with a centuries-long tradition of entrepreneurship, guilds and crafts. Today, the biggest assets of economic development in the region are entrepreneurs, who manage to achieve outstanding business results, whereby small and medium enterprises prevail, employing 73% of all the employed in the economy.
With an area of only 1.261,2 km², it is the third smallest county and accounts for 2.23% of the total land area of the Republic of Croatia. Although small in surface, it is one of the most densely populated Croatian regions.
Transport-wise, it is located at the intersection of European road and railway corridors, i.e., the transversal corridor connecting the central Podunavlje region with the northern Adriatic Sea, and the longitudinal corridor connecting the eastern Alps with the lower Podravina region.
There are 6 towns and 22 municipalities in Varaždin County. Most of them have entrepreneurial or business zones, providing favourable investment conditions for investors. The city of Varaždin, mentioned for the first time in 1181, is the seat (capital) of the County and the main urban centre.
Today’s prevailing branch of industry is processing industry: food industry, leather and footwear, construction, logistics, metal, rubber and plastics, wood industry, electrical equipment. In recent time, IT companies have rapidly started to emerge.
Varaždin County offers:
√ Developed network of business zones with all the necessary infrastructure
√ Flexible educated labour force
√ Good transport connections – close to road and rail corridors
√ Rated as one of the most competitive areas in Croatia
√ Continuous investment in education and efforts to harmonize supply and demand on the labour market
[Source: Varaždin County, May 2025]
Main Indicators
|
GDP
EUR
|
2.461.715.000 |
|
Population
|
158.818 |
|
Men |
78.561 |
|
Women |
80.257 |
|
Age 0-14 |
21.051 |
|
Age 15+ |
137.767 |
|
GDP Per Capita
EUR
|
15.511,00 |
|
Area Size
km²
|
1.262 |
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
|
44 |
|
Broadband Connections
number and density
|
24.720 / 48% |
|
Number of issued building permits
|
552 |
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
|
671 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2024
Foreign Direct Investment by Activitymil. EUR
| Activity |
Amount |
|
Clothing production
|
140,46 |
|
Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding
|
127,61 |
|
Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products
|
105,74 |
|
Manufacture of electrical equipment
|
64,25 |
|
Production of chemicals and chemical products
|
59,18 |
|
Other
|
174,18 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2024
Foreign Direct Investment by Countrymil. EUR
| Country |
Amount |
|
Germany
|
141,21 |
|
Luxembourg
|
128,02 |
|
Austria
|
86,88 |
|
Slovenia
|
84,19 |
|
Italy
|
47,42 |
|
Other
|
183,71 |
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 |
144.768 |
| Machinery and equipment with fittings |
135.415 |
| Transport equipment |
24.241 |
| Cultivated biological resources |
5.845 |
| Intellectual property products |
4.353 |
|
Total
|
319.159
|
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
|
6.244 |
|
Basic Schools, Beginning of School Year
|
11.885 |
|
Upper Secondary Schools, Beginning of School Year
|
6.626 |
|
Students Enrolled on Professional and University Study, According to Place of Permanent Residence
|
3.760 |
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 |
|
Mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and metallurgy
|
4 |
760 |
|
Electrical engineering and computing
|
3 |
722 |
|
Health and social work
|
2 |
563 |
|
Economics, trade and business administration
|
4 |
556 |
|
Tourism and catering
|
4 |
392 |
|
Construction and geodesy
|
1 |
337 |
|
Agriculture, food and veterinary
|
5 |
322 |
|
Transport and logisitics
|
2 |
298 |
|
Personal, security and other services
|
1 |
247 |
|
Graphic technology and audio-visual design
|
1 |
230 |
|
Forestry and wood processing
|
3 |
158 |
|
Geology, mining, petroleum and chemical technology
|
1 |
119 |
|
Textiles and leather
|
1 |
118 |
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 2024
Institutions of Higher Education and Graduated Students
| Name |
Students who graduated from or completed university or professional study |
|
Faculty of Organisation and Informatics, Varaždin and Departments
|
524 |
|
Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering Varaždin
|
67 |
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
|
111 |
309 |
1.508 |
|
Mining and quarrying
|
14 |
259 |
1.871 |
|
Manufacturing
|
845 |
20.419 |
1.502 |
|
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
|
99 |
488 |
2.157 |
|
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
|
37 |
1.081 |
1.556 |
|
Construction
|
1.032 |
5.658 |
1.476 |
|
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
|
902 |
6.002 |
1.475 |
|
Transportation and storage
|
267 |
3.246 |
1.434 |
|
Accommodation and food service activities
|
310 |
1.510 |
1.316 |
|
Information and communication
|
294 |
1.329 |
2.361 |
|
Financial and insurance activities
|
45 |
965 |
2.130 |
|
Real estate activities
|
171 |
207 |
1.509 |
|
Professional, scientific and technical activities
|
666 |
1.669 |
1.759 |
|
Administrative and support service activities
|
195 |
957 |
1.295 |
|
Public administration and defence, compulsory social security
|
119 |
2.710 |
2.319 |
|
Education
|
182 |
4.917 |
1.972 |
|
Human health and social work activities
|
180 |
4.037 |
2.226 |
|
Arts, entertainment and recreation
|
802 |
524 |
1.541 |
|
Other service activities
|
1.605 |
435 |
1.455 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2024
Unemployed
| |
Rate |
|
Unemployment Rate
|
3,20% |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2024
Unemployed by Activity
| Activity |
Number |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing |
71 |
| Mining and quarrying |
2 |
| Manufacturing |
708 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply |
3 |
| Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities |
29 |
| Construction |
172 |
| Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
191 |
| Transportation and storage |
65 |
| Accommodation and food service activities |
113 |
| Information and communication |
28 |
| Financial and insurance activities |
13 |
| Real estate activities |
5 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities |
54 |
| Administrative and support service activities |
74 |
| Public administration and defence, compulsory social security |
105 |
| Education |
100 |
| Human health and social work activities |
98 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation |
7 |
| Other service activities |
88 |
| Not classified |
316 |
| Total |
2.242 |
Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2024
Registered unemployed by occupation
Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2024
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