Bjelovar-Bilogora County is located in the eastern part of the group of counties in the central area of Croatia. It borders with Koprivnica-Križevac, Virovitica-Podravina, Sisak-Moslavina and Zagreb county. It encompasses the area of four characteristic geographical units: Bilogora, the marginal massifs of Papuk and Ravna Gora, Moslavačka Gora and the valley of Česma and Ilova rivers.
The area of the county is 2,640 km2. The center of the county is the city of Bjelovar, the political, cultural and economic center of the county, and it is home to numerous institutions that, through their activities, give the city appropriate importance. Also, the city of Bjelovar is only 80 km away from the city of Zagreb. In Bjelovar, there is a University with professional studies in mechatronics and computing, which is important for further economic development, especially in the metalworking and IT industries, but also professional studies in nursing which offers the acquisition of higher education in the field of nursing.
The towns of Daruvar, Čazma, Garešnica and Grubišno Polje, with their peculiarities and specificities in economic and social life, give a complete picture of the area of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. The county also includes 18 municipalities where significant efforts are being made to revive and strengthen the economic potential and enrich social life.
In the county, there are relatively rich deposits of gas and oil, high-quality building stone on the slopes of Papuk, quartz sand and ceramic clay on the slopes of Moslavačka Gora, brick clay in the wider area of the county and geothermal water in the area of Daruvar and Bjelovar. Forests of various types occupy 97,013.03 ha or 36.79% of the area of Bjelovar-Bilogora County, which qualifies it as medium forested. The county has well-distributed entrepreneurial zones with numerous incentives for entrepreneurs. Out of a total of 25 entrepreneurial zones, most of them are located in Bjelovar and Daruvar.
The economy of the county is based on agriculture and processing industry. Due to its favorable geographical position and climatic conditions with characteristics of a moderate continental climate, the county has extremely favorable conditions for the development of a large number of agricultural crops. Agricultural soils of different characteristics occupy a total of 139,991.68 ha or 53.10% of the County’s surface.
It is important to mention the production of food products and their distinctive assortment and product quality. In Bjelovar-Bilogora County, there is also a centuries-old tradition of growing freshwater fish.
The wood industry is one of the strategic branches of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County economy. It has developed on a rich and diverse fund of quality forests with significant capacities in the production of sawn timber and panels, production of plywood, veneer, chipboard, massive and panel furniture, parquet, wooden accessories and other products. Wood industry entrepreneurs of Bjelovar-Bilogora County market 40-100 percent of their production program to foreign markets such as England, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, France, Austria, Slovenia, etc.
The metalworking industry has significant production capacities and occupies an important place in the overall economy of the county, and most of it is located and operates in the area of the towns of Bjelovar and Daruvar.
In Daruvar, Daruvar spa operates – a special hospital for medical rehabilitation, a special form of health tourism based on thermal water sources.
[Source: Public Institution Development Agency of Bjelovar-Bilogora county, July 2022]
Main Indicators
GDP
EUR
|
938.436.000 |
Population
|
101.879 |
Men |
49.644 |
Women |
52.235 |
Age 0-14 |
14.653 |
Age 15+ |
87.226 |
GDP Per Capita
EUR
|
8.948,00 |
Area Size
km²
|
2.640 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics: GDP (2020), Population (2021), Area size (2021)
Gross Value Added by ActivitiesEUR
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2020
Infrastructure
Motorways
km
|
0 |
Broadband Connections
number and density
|
20.653 / 55% |
Number of issued building permits
|
274 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics: Motorways (2021), Building permits (2022), Croatian Regulatory Agency for Network Industries: Broadband Connections (2022)
Investments
|
Amount |
Foreign Direct Investments
million EUR
|
119 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2022
Foreign Direct Investment by Activitymil. EUR
Activity |
Amount |
Manufacture of other non - metallic mineral products
|
41,40 |
Processing of wood and products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials
|
35,00 |
Wholesale trade, except trade in motor vehicles and motorcycles
|
17,60 |
Manufacture of finished metal products, except machinery and equipment
|
13,50 |
Manufacture of food products
|
7,80 |
Other
|
3,60 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2022
Foreign Direct Investment by Countrymil. EUR
Country |
Amount |
Austria
|
37,90 |
Cyprus
|
35,50 |
Slovenia
|
24,40 |
Sweden
|
13,10 |
Bosnia & Herzegovina
|
10,30 |
Other
|
-2,40 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2022
Gross Investment in new Fixed Assets, by Location of Investment Constructions and Types of Assets
Asset type |
Amount (EUR, 000) |
Buildings, spaces and structures |
940.561 |
Machinery and equipment with fittings |
104.919 |
Transport equipment |
12.993 |
Cultivated biological resources |
5.998 |
Intellectual property products |
5.813 |
Total
|
224.992
|
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2021
Biggest Investors
Source: Financial Agency, data for 2022
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 2022
Import by Activity000 EUR
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2022
Export by Country000 EUR
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2022
Import by Country000 EUR
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2022
Education
Eduction level |
Number of pupils |
Kindergartens and Other Legal Entities Implementing Preschool Education Programmes
|
3.115 |
Basic Schools, Beginning of School Year
|
7.978 |
Upper Secondary Schools, Beginning of School Year
|
4.259 |
Students Enrolled on Professional and University Study, According to Place of Permanent Residence
|
2.092 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2022/2023
Number of High School Studends Who Have Completed Their Education
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2020/2021
Number of Students and Institutions by Educational Sectors
Educational Sector |
Number of Institutions |
Number of Students |
Economics, trade and business administration
|
4 |
701 |
Tourism and catering
|
5 |
608 |
Electrical engineering and computing
|
4 |
554 |
Mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and metallurgy
|
6 |
527 |
Health and social work
|
1 |
380 |
Transport and logistics
|
2 |
295 |
Construction and geodesy
|
2 |
115 |
Agriculture, food and veterinary
|
3 |
114 |
Graphic technology and audio-visual design
|
1 |
63 |
Personal, security and other services
|
2 |
52 |
Forestry, wood processing and wood processing
|
2 |
18 |
Source: Ministry of Science and Education, data for 2022/2023
Students Who Graduated From University Study or Completed Professional Studys
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2021
Institutions of Higher Education and Graduated Students
Name |
Students who graduated from or completed university or professional study |
Bjelovar University of Applied Sciences
|
151 |
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
|
278 |
1.552 |
1.165 |
Mining and quarrying
|
10 |
110 |
1.320 |
Manufacturing
|
693 |
6.150 |
1.020 |
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
|
56 |
507 |
1.223 |
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
|
33 |
431 |
1.007 |
Construction
|
598 |
1.450 |
999 |
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
|
932 |
2.841 |
1.032 |
Transportation and storage
|
171 |
927 |
1.013 |
Accommodation and food service activities
|
472 |
687 |
910 |
Information and communication
|
134 |
320 |
1.717 |
Financial and insurance activities
|
16 |
790 |
1.600 |
Real estate activities
|
34 |
46 |
1.010 |
Professional, scientific and technical activities
|
424 |
623 |
1.225 |
Administrative and support service activities
|
114 |
466 |
908 |
Public administration and defence, compulsory social security
|
87 |
2.365 |
1.450 |
Education
|
94 |
2.920 |
1.360 |
Human health and social work activities
|
173 |
2.346 |
1.501 |
Arts, entertainment and recreation
|
483 |
227 |
1.022 |
Other service activities
|
1.286 |
346 |
967 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2022
Unemployed
|
Rate |
Unemployment Rate
|
10,20% |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2022
Unemployed by Activity
Activity |
Number |
Agriculture, forestry and fishing |
190 |
Mining and quarrying |
6 |
Manufacturing |
494 |
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply |
3 |
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities |
35 |
Construction |
242 |
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
286 |
Transportation and storage |
57 |
Accommodation and food service activities |
303 |
Information and communication |
26 |
Financial and insurance activities |
19 |
Real estate activities |
7 |
Professional, scientific and technical activities |
67 |
Administrative and support service activities |
133 |
Public administration and defence, compulsory social security |
390 |
Education |
122 |
Human health and social work activities |
181 |
Arts, entertainment and recreation |
23 |
Other service activities |
185 |
Not classified |
666 |
Total |
3.435 |
Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2022
Registered unemployed by occupation
Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2022
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