Croatia Croatia vs Netherlands Netherlands development indicators, 2024

Indicator
Croatia
Croatia, Value
Netherlands
Netherlands, Value
Croatia
Croatia, Rank
Netherlands
Netherlands, Rank
Croatia Croatia as % of
Netherlands Netherlands
Current account balance (% of GDP) -1.13 9.92 63 10
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 49.8 84.1 39 11 59.2 %
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) 5.04 -1.1 21 101
GDP per capita (current US$) 23,931 68,219 50 12 35.1 %
GDP per capita, PPP (current international US$) 48,575 84,218 46 11 57.7 %
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 52.9 72 52 20 73.5 %
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) 2.97 3.35 80 65 88.8 %
Net migration -5,186 121,628 139 17
Population, total 3,866,300 17,994,237 129 71 21.5 %

Demography and Health

Croatia has a total population of approximately 3.9 million, contrasting with the Netherlands, which boasts a significantly larger population of around 18 million. In terms of birth rates, Croatia reports 8.3 per 1,000 people, while the Netherlands has a slightly higher birth rate of 9.2, indicating a marginally more youthful demographic trend in the Netherlands. However, Croatia's death rate is considerably higher at 13.3 per 1,000 people compared to the Netherlands’ 9.5, reflecting potential challenges in healthcare and aging populations. Life expectancy at birth also favors the Netherlands, with 81.9 years against Croatia's 78.5 years. This discrepancy emphasizes the overall health and quality of life differences between the two nations. The mortality rate for children under five is closely comparable, standing at 4.6 for Croatia and 4.0 for the Netherlands. Croatia, unfortunately, faces a negative net migration rate of -5,186 individuals, while the Netherlands benefits from significant net migration inflows of 121,628 people, indicating a more attractive environment for potential migrants. Poverty rates are also of concern, with Croatia reporting a poverty headcount ratio of 18%, higher than the Netherlands' 14.5%. Additionally, both nations have a low prevalence of undernourishment, each at 2.5%. Croatia's health indicators have room for improvement, especially concerning life expectancy and migration trends.

Economy

The economic landscape of Croatia and the Netherlands presents notable contrasts. The GDP per capita in Croatia is around $23,931, significantly lower than the Netherlands’ GDP of $68,219. This difference underscores the wealth disparity and economic productivity between the two countries. Additionally, when looking at GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP), Croatia’s figure is $48,575, compared to the Netherlands' impressive $84,218, further illustrating the economic divide. Croatia's labor market reflects this with an unemployment rate of 6.1%, which is notably higher than the Netherlands’ low 3.5%. The control of corruption index paints a concerning picture for Croatia with a score of 0.2, in stark contrast to the Netherlands’ score of 1.9, indicating greater challenges in governance. Research and development expenditure also leans in favor of the Netherlands, with 2.3% of GDP spent compared to Croatia's 1.4%. Lastly, the current account balance highlights economic fragility for Croatia, standing at -1.1% of GDP, while the Netherlands maintains a robust surplus at 9.9%.

Trade and Investment

In terms of trade, Croatia's economy is significantly more reliant on exports, with exports of goods and services accounting for 49.8% of GDP, whereas the Netherlands exhibits a stronger export performance at 84.1% of GDP, indicating a highly integrated global trade position. High-technology exports further reveal stark contrasts; Croatia manages only $1.7 billion compared to the Netherlands’ massive $111 billion, showcasing the Netherlands’ advantages in innovation and technology. Import dependence is also evident, with Croatia at 52.9% of GDP versus the Netherlands' 72%, indicating varying reliance on external goods and services. Foreign direct investment net inflows paint a different picture, with Croatia attracting 5% of GDP, while the Netherlands experiences outflows of -1.1%, suggesting challenges in attracting or retaining foreign investment. Overall, Croatia's trade and investment landscape reflects both opportunities for growth and areas where it lags behind the more established economy of the Netherlands.

Governance and Institutions

Governance quality is significantly higher in the Netherlands compared to Croatia across multiple indicators. The Netherlands scores well on control of corruption (1.9) and regulatory quality (1.8), whereas Croatia shows much lower scores at 0.2 and 0.6, respectively, underscoring challenges in institutional integrity and regulatory frameworks. The rule of law is similarly prioritized in the Netherlands with a score of 1.6, while Croatia struggles at just 0.4. Government effectiveness is another area of divergence, with the Netherlands scoring 1.6 compared to Croatia's 0.7, indicating a generally more capable and responsive government in the Netherlands. Regarding political stability, both countries show similar scores (0.6 for Croatia and 0.7 for the Netherlands), but the systemic challenges noted in Croatia could affect its stability in the long term. This governance comparison underscores the need for Croatia to strengthen institutions to improve its political and economic environment.

Infrastructure and Technology

In terms of infrastructure and technology, the Netherlands leads significantly. The logistics performance index measuring trade and transport-related infrastructure quality is 4.2 for the Netherlands, indicative of a highly efficient and developed infrastructure system, compared to Croatia’s score of 3.0. This suggests potential challenges in trade facilitation and transport efficiency for Croatia. Internet usage is another area where the Netherlands excels with 97% of the population accessing the Internet, contrasting with Croatia's 83.2%, highlighting the technological divide. Patent applications illustrate innovation levels, with the Netherlands filing 2080 compared to Croatia's 77, emphasizing a significant gap in research and development outcomes. Overall, the infrastructure and technology metrics favor the Netherlands, pointing towards a more advanced and interconnected economy.

Environment and Sustainability

Both countries exhibit concern for environmental sustainability, but their strategies and performance differ. Croatia boasts a commendable renewable energy consumption rate of 34.1%, significantly higher than the Netherlands' 12.2%. This indicates Croatia's proactive stance on utilizing renewable energy. However, the Netherlands performs better on other environmental indicators, such as total greenhouse gas emissions per capita, being 8.4 tons for the Netherlands and 6.5 tons for Croatia. Water stress is a critical issue in the Netherlands, with a high score of 16.1 on freshwater withdrawal, compared to Croatia's 1.5, suggesting more sustainable water resource management in Croatia. These insights reflect a complex environmental narrative, where Croatia excels in renewable energy but faces pressure regarding pollution, while the Netherlands demonstrates advanced approaches to sustainability at the cost of certain environmental pressures.