Croatia Real Estate Market 2026Who buys property in Croatia
In the first quarter of 2026, foreigners bought 1,670 properties in Croatia, 14% fewer than a year earlier. The number has fallen every year since the record year 2022. Most purchases come from Slovenia, Germany and Austria. In 2025, 128 purchases came from the USA and 77 from the United Kingdom. The figures come from the Croatian tax administration, which records every purchase contract.
Who buys: purchases by country of origin
In 2025, Slovenia overtook Germany as the largest buying country. Purchases from Germany have almost halved since 2022. None of the nine strongest countries has grown, only Hungary and Poland are holding their level. The USA ranks 13th with 128 purchases. The United Kingdom, with 77 purchases, is not among the top 15.
All 15 countries as a table
| Country | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Share 2025 | Since 2022 | Trend | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slovenia | 3,296 | 3,407 | 3,533 | 2,576 | 28.1% | down 22% | |
| 2 | Germany | 3,627 | 3,018 | 2,665 | 1,962 | 21.4% | down 46% | |
| 3 | Austria | 1,541 | 1,347 | 1,187 | 875 | 9.6% | down 43% | |
| 4 | Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia-Herz. | 612 | 493 | 469 | 464 | 5.1% | down 24% | |
| 5 | Czech Republic | 768 | 683 | 586 | 460 | 5.0% | down 40% | |
| 6 | Hungary | 421 | 375 | 451 | 399 | 4.4% | down 5% | |
| 7 | Poland | 394 | 378 | 418 | 391 | 4.3% | down 1% | |
| 8 | Slovakia | 658 | 622 | 496 | 383 | 4.2% | down 42% | |
| 9 | Italy | 312 | 323 | 310 | 241 | 2.6% | down 23% | |
| 10 | Serbia | 170 | 168 | 140 | 185 | 2.0% | up 9% | |
| 11 | Netherlands | 198 | 206 | 218 | 170 | 1.9% | down 14% | |
| 12 | Ukraine | 82 | 104 | 112 | 135 | 1.5% | up 65% | |
| 13 | USA | 133 | 123 | 114 | 128 | 1.4% | down 4% | |
| 14 | Sweden | 225 | 183 | 159 | 98 | 1.1% | down 56% | |
| 15 | Switzerland | 63 | 81 | 105 | 97 | 1.1% | up 54% | |
| Foreigners total | 13,344 | 12,284 | 11,659 | 9,159 | 100% | down 31% |
Number of purchase contracts by the buyer's country of origin. Chart: the nine strongest countries in 2025, table: the 15 strongest. Plots of land, farmland and garages are included in the count.
First quarter 2026: the decline continues
From January to March 2026, foreigners bought 1,670 properties in Croatia. In the first quarter of 2025 the figure was 1,934. Overall, fewer properties were bought as well. The foreign share stayed the same at just over 7%.
| January to March | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All purchases | 26,909 | 23,444 | down 13% |
| Purchases by foreigners | 1,934 | 1,670 | down 14% |
| Foreign share | 7.2% | 7.1% | unchanged |
Most purchases in the first quarter of 2026: Slovenia 439, Germany 366, Austria 183, Bosnia and Herzegovina 99, Czech Republic 92. USA: 21. Both years as of early April, so comparable. For 2022 to 2024 the tax administration no longer publishes quarterly figures.
Croatian buyers shape the market
Foreigners are only a small part of the market. In 2025, 117,795 properties were sold in Croatia, 108,636 of them to buyers from Croatia. Their number has also fallen since 2022, but only by 12%.
The share of purchases from abroad has been between 6% and 10% for years. On the coast it is clearly higher. In Istria in 2025, more than one in four properties went to a foreign buyer.
| Year | All | Croatia | Foreign | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 108,914 | 101,821 | 7,093 | 6.5% |
| 2019 | 108,153 | 100,965 | 7,188 | 6.6% |
| 2020 | 102,779 | 96,513 | 6,266 | 6.1% |
| 2021 | 123,894 | 114,317 | 9,577 | 7.7% |
| 2022 | 137,386 | 124,042 | 13,344 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 137,479 | 125,195 | 12,284 | 8.9% |
| 2024 | 135,304 | 123,645 | 11,659 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 117,795 | 108,636 | 9,159 | 7.8% |
Istria share according to the tax administration's analysis in Opereta Bulletin no. 5: 26.9%.
Coastal regions compared
Almost four in ten properties in Croatia are sold on the coast. In 2025 there were 46,004 purchases in the seven coastal counties, 39% of all purchases in the country. In the first quarter of 2026 the share was 43%.
Most purchases in 2025 were in Kvarner Bay and Istria. Only Zadar and Lika-Senj grew. Zadar was the strongest coastal county in the first quarter of 2026.
| County | Purchases 2025 | vs 2024 | Jan. to March 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kvarner BayPrimorje-Gorski kotar | 9,970 | down 32% | 1,915 |
| IstriaIstarska | 9,807 | down 16% | 1,933 |
| ZadarZadarska | 8,569 | up 11% | 2,165 |
| Split-DalmatiaSplitsko-dalmatinska | 8,391 | down 24% | 1,966 |
| Sibenik-KninSibensko-kninska | 3,999 | down 22% | 847 |
| Dubrovnik-NeretvaDubrovacko-neretvanska | 2,770 | down 18% | 696 |
| Lika-SenjLicko-senjska | 2,498 | up 6% | 537 |
| Coast total | 46,004 | down 18% | 10,059 |
Purchases by all buyers, meaning domestic and foreign, including the hinterland. The tax administration does not publish how many foreigners buy in each county. For Istria it gives a foreign share of 26.9% in the Opereta Bulletin.
Holidaymakers and buyers compared
Slovenes buy the most in relation to their holiday trips. In 2024, more than two property purchases came for every 1,000 Slovenian guests. Germans are at just under one purchase.
The leaders are mostly neighbouring countries. From there the coast is easy to reach by car. In our experience, people who arrive quickly use their property more often. The short journey is therefore an important reason to buy for many buyers. Sweden is the exception. The country is far away, yet there are still 0.7 purchases for every 1,000 guests.
Britons, Italians and Poles often visit Croatia but rarely buy. For the United Kingdom there is only a tenth of a purchase for every 1,000 guests.
| Country | Guests | Purchases | per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slovenia | 1,571,000 | 3,533 | 2.2 |
| Slovakia | 500,000 | 496 | 1.0 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 515,000 | 469 | 0.9 |
| Germany | 3,072,000 | 2,665 | 0.9 |
| Czech Republic | 729,000 | 586 | 0.8 |
| Austria | 1,510,000 | 1,187 | 0.8 |
| Sweden | 231,000 | 159 | 0.7 |
| United Kingdom | 799,000 | 84 | 0.1 |
Guests: arrivals in commercial accommodation in 2024 according to the Croatian Bureau of Statistics DZS. Purchases 2024 according to the tax administration. The table shows the seven countries with the most purchases per 1,000 guests, plus the United Kingdom.
Croatia Real Estate Market 2026: Outlook
The decline continues in 2026, but not everywhere. In Zadar County, the number of purchases rose by 17.5% in the first quarter. Split-Dalmatia and Dubrovnik-Neretva also grew. Istria and Kvarner Bay kept losing. Zadar is now ahead of Kvarner Bay for the first time, in second place behind Zagreb.
Prices are not falling so far. In our survey of September 2026, the asking price on the coast averaged 4,180 EUR/m², almost 8% more than in 2025. The tax administration is expected to publish the full purchase figures for 2026 in spring 2027. We will add them here then.
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners buy property in Croatia?
In 2025 there were 9,159 purchase contracts, 7.8% of all purchases in Croatia. The peak was 13,344 in 2022. From January to March 2026, another 1,670 purchases were added.
Which countries do the buyers come from?
Mainly from Slovenia with 2,576 purchases, Germany with 1,962 and Austria with 875. Together these three countries account for 59% of all purchases from abroad.
How many Americans and Britons buy property in Croatia?
In 2025, buyers from the USA bought 128 properties and buyers from the United Kingdom 77. In 2022 the figures were 133 and 101. In the first quarter of 2026, 21 more purchases came from the USA.
Have prices fallen because of lower demand?
No. Asking prices on the coast rose by 35% from 2022 to 2026, to an average of 4,180 EUR/m². Only just under 5% of listings were reduced in price in 2026.
Conclusion: fewer buyers, yet higher prices
Since 2022, the number of purchases from abroad has fallen by almost a third. In the same period, asking prices on the coast rose by 35%, from 3,090 to 4,180 EUR/m². Sellers are therefore hardly lowering their prices, even though fewer people are buying. In our 2026 survey, only 371 of 7,652 listings with a price comparison became cheaper, just under 5%.
Purchases and prices in the coastal regions
| Region | Purchases | Prices | Purchases 2022 → 2025 | Price 2022 → 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IstriaIstarska | −31% | +38% | 14,315 → 9,807 | €3,150 → €4,350 |
| Kvarner BayPrimorje-Gorski kotar | −16% | +36% | 11,920 → 9,970 | €2,952 → €4,010 |
| Northern DalmatiaZadar, Sibenik-Knin | −11% | +39% | 14,174 → 12,568 | €2,810 → €3,910 |
| Central DalmatiaSplit-Dalmatia | −28% | +28% | 11,599 → 8,391 | €3,440 → €4,410 |
| Southern DalmatiaDubrovnik-Neretva | −19% | +37% | 3,421 → 2,770 | €3,340 → €4,560 |
Purchases by all buyers per county, meaning domestic and foreign, including the hinterland. Prices: asking prices Panorama Scouting, surveys 2022 and September 2026. Prices in EUR/m².
Sources: Porezna uprava, Croatian Tax Administration, Evidencije prometa nekretnina, as of 02.04.2026, 2025 values provisional, first quarter of 2025 according to Lider of April 2026. Drzavni zavod za statistiku, Turizam u 2024. Panorama Scouting, Property prices in Croatia 2026. Page updated: October 2026.