Croatia Croatia vs Malta Malta development indicators, 2024

Indicator
Croatia
Croatia, Value
Malta
Malta, Value
Croatia
Croatia, Rank
Malta
Malta, Rank
Croatia Croatia as % of
Malta Malta
Current account balance (% of GDP) -1.13 5.69 63 19
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 49.8 123 39 6 40.3 %
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) 5.04 175 21 1 2.88 %
GDP per capita (current US$) 23,931 42,347 50 27 56.5 %
GDP per capita, PPP (current international US$) 48,575 67,364 46 24 72.1 %
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 52.9 106 52 6 49.9 %
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) 2.97 1.65 80 123 180 %
Net migration -5,186 6,323 139 52
Population, total 3,866,300 574,346 129 170 673 %

Demography and Health

Croatia has a slightly higher birth rate (8.3) than Malta (8.1), indicating a marginally more youthful population. However, Croatia suffers from a significantly higher death rate (13.3) compared to Malta's (7.3), which could point to health-related challenges and a higher average age in its population. Life expectancy in Croatia stands at 78.5 years, versus 83.5 years in Malta, suggesting better health services or lifestyle in Malta. Croatia has a commendable under-5 mortality rate of 4.6, making it ranked 13th globally, while Malta's is slightly higher at 5.5, which ranks it 12th. Net migration is negative for Croatia (-5186), indicating an outflux of people, while Malta enjoys positive net migration (+6323), showcasing its attractiveness to immigrants.

Economy

Croatia's economy demonstrates a GDP per capita of $23,931, significantly lower than Malta's $42,347. In terms of purchasing power parity (PPP), Croatia's GDP per capita is $48,575, also lower than Malta's $67,364. While Croatia has a higher percentage of GDP from exports of goods and services (49.8%) compared to Malta's remarkable 123%, it does experience a larger import percentage (52.9%) than Malta (106%). Inflation levels in Croatia (3%) are higher than in Malta (1.7%), suggesting economic strains that could impact consumer power.

Trade and Investment

Croatia's foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows represent 5% of its GDP, while Malta enjoys a significant advantage with 175%. This stark contrast highlights Malta's strong investment climate. Current account balance is negative for Croatia (-1.1%) and positive for Malta (5.7%), indicating better trade performance and economic stability in Malta. Both countries have a greater dependence on foreign trade; however, Croatia's reliance is reflected in its higher import to GDP ratio.

Governance and Institutions

In terms of governance, Croatia has slightly better scores in government effectiveness (0.7 vs 0.4), but Malta excels in political stability and absence of violence/terrorism (0.9 vs 0.6) and Rule of Law (0.7 vs 0.4). While Croatia has made strides, its challenges remain evident in corruption control (0.2) which is more pronounced than Malta (0.1). Regulatory quality similarly shows Croatia (0.6) lagging behind Malta (0.7), which could affect ease of doing business in the country. There is a marked difference in unemployment rates, with Croatia at 6.1%, compared to Malta's much lower 3.1%, indicating a more robust labor market in Malta.

Infrastructure and Technology

Both nations show capabilities in infrastructure and technological developments. Internet usage is high in Croatia (83.2%) but even higher in Malta (92.1%), which could indicate better digital access and services. The Logistics Performance Index (LPI) shows both countries performing relatively well, with Croatia at 3 and Malta at 3.7, indicating that both have effective trade and transport infrastructures. However, Croatia's patent applications (77) outpace Malta's (5), signaling a more active innovation environment.

Environment and Sustainability

Croatia stands out with its renewable energy consumption at 34.1% of total energy usage, making it 7th in the world, compared to Malta's 8.6%, which ranks it 27th. Croatia also manages lower levels of water stress at 1.5% compared to Malta's significant freshwater withdrawal (78.3%). However, Croatia's total greenhouse gas emissions per capita (6.5) are higher than Malta's (3.7), posing challenges for sustainable practices. Both countries are adequately addressing undernourishment, holding steady at 2.5% of their populations, reflecting well on their agricultural practices.