Dubrovnik-Neretva County is the southernmost county of Adriatic Croatia. The largest part of the county’s territory is surrounded by the state borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the north, Montenegro in the southeast and Italy (sea border) in the south. The specialty of the county is the narrow and inhomogeneous coastal belt, separated from the hinterland by a mountain massif. The area of the County consists of two main functional and physiognomic zones: a relatively narrow longitudinal coastal zone with a cape of the open sea and nearby islands (the most important islands are Korčula, Mljet, Lastovo, the Elafite Islands and the Pelješac peninsula), and the agricultural area of the Neretva valley with a gravitating coastal belt.
Dubrovnik-Neretva County is one of the smaller Croatian counties, both in terms of land area and number of inhabitants. It covers an area of 1,781 km2, and according to the latest official census from 2021, it has 115,862 inhabitants. The coast, 1,024 km2 long, is very indented with 306 islands, islets, rocks and reefs, and varies from sheltered coves with sandy beaches of exotic beauty to a steep coast with cliffs exposed to the open sea. The diversity of the landscape is enriched by the biological diversity of land and sea, which makes this area unique in the Mediterranean. Dubrovnik-Neretva County ranks among the above-average developed Croatian counties in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per inhabitant. The basic characteristic of the County’s economy is that tertiary activities predominate in it, while the representation of the primary and secondary sectors is significantly smaller. It is connected by road with the A1 Ploče-Split-Zagreb highway and with other parts of Croatia, regional and local roads, Dubrovnik international airport and seaports; the passenger port of Dubrovnik and the cargo port of Ploče.
Tourism stands out as the most important branch of the county’s economy. Agriculture and fishing also represent a large potential. Agricultural areas, which are in second place in the country in terms of quality, are located in the Neretva valley, “Konavosko polje”, the Pelješac peninsula and the island of Korčula. The production of citrus fruits in the Neretva Valley is the most important in the Republic of Croatia, while fishing is developed in the Maloston Bay, the Neretva Channel and the area of the islands of Mljet and Korčula. On the peninsula of Pelješac and island Korčula, a significant share of viticulture, olive growing, and shipbuilding activities are held. The tradition of wine production in the county represents historical and touristic value. In addition to agriculture, the county has renewable energy resources due to its geographical location.
[Source: Regional Development Agency Dubrovnik-Neretva County DUNEA, July 2022]
Main Indicators
|
GDP
EUR
|
1.313.048.000 |
|
Population
|
115.564 |
|
Men |
56.545 |
|
Women |
59.019 |
|
Age 0-14 |
17.728 |
|
Age 15+ |
97.836 |
|
GDP Per Capita
EUR
|
10.714,00 |
|
Area Size
km²
|
1.781 |
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
|
19 |
|
Broadband Connections
number and density
|
33.722 / 81% |
|
Number of issued building permits
|
300 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics: Motorways (2021), Building permits (2022), Croatian Regulatory Agency for Network Industries: Broadband Connections (2021)
Investments
| |
Amount |
|
Foreign Direct Investments
million EUR
|
872 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2022
Foreign Direct Investment by Activitymil. EUR
| Activity |
Amount |
|
Accommodation
|
438,90 |
|
Real estate business
|
244,20 |
|
Proprietary investments in real estates
|
101,80 |
|
Construction of buildings
|
75,50 |
|
Supply of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning
|
23,10 |
|
Other
|
-11,40 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2022
Foreign Direct Investment by Countrymil. EUR
| Country |
Amount |
|
Sweden
|
250,20 |
|
Luxembourg
|
137,30 |
|
Switzerland
|
102,20 |
|
Netherlands
|
98,40 |
|
Italy
|
49,90 |
|
Other
|
234,10 |
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 |
298.169 |
| Machinery and equipment with fittings |
37.383 |
| Transport equipment |
6.059 |
| Cultivated biological resources |
905 |
| Intellectual property products |
1.101 |
|
Total
|
347.960
|
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 |
| 40% |
50% |
60% |
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
|
4.518 |
|
Basic Schools, Beginning of School Year
|
9.801 |
|
Upper Secondary Schools, Beginning of School Year
|
4.238 |
|
Students Enrolled on Professional and University Study, According to Place of Permanent Residence
|
4.420 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2021/22
Number of High School Studends Who Have Completed Their Education
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2019/2020
Number of Students and Institutions by Educational Sectors
| Educational Sector |
Number of Institutions |
Number of Students |
|
Tourism and catering
|
5 |
941 |
|
Economics, trade and business administration
|
5 |
579 |
|
Mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and metallurgy
|
5 |
389 |
|
Electrical engineering and computing
|
6 |
348 |
|
Health and social work
|
1 |
215 |
|
Transport and logisitics
|
2 |
205 |
|
Construction and geodesy
|
2 |
119 |
|
Personal, security and other services
|
1 |
95 |
|
Agriculture, food and veterinary
|
2 |
36 |
|
Textiles and leather
|
1 |
24 |
|
Graphic technology and audio-visual design
|
1 |
20 |
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
Students Enrolled at Institutions of Higher Education, by Scientific and Artistic Fields of Study
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2021/2022
Institutions of Higher Education and Graduated Students
| Name |
Students who graduated from or completed university or professional study |
|
RIT Croatia, Dubrovnik
|
168 |
|
Public university in Dubrovnik
|
326 |
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
|
150 |
263 |
974 |
|
Mining and quarrying
|
12 |
180 |
1.365 |
|
Manufacturing
|
384 |
1.381 |
1.020 |
|
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
|
31 |
326 |
1.586 |
|
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
|
52 |
1.077 |
1.144 |
|
Construction
|
851 |
3.228 |
1.044 |
|
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
|
1.174 |
4.111 |
1.048 |
|
Transportation and storage
|
499 |
2.552 |
1.389 |
|
Accommodation and food service activities
|
1.172 |
4.582 |
1.246 |
|
Information and communication
|
190 |
566 |
1.469 |
|
Financial and insurance activities
|
16 |
608 |
1.452 |
|
Real estate activities
|
497 |
231 |
1.241 |
|
Professional, scientific and technical activities
|
687 |
774 |
1.193 |
|
Administrative and support service activities
|
567 |
1.009 |
1.141 |
|
Public administration and defence, compulsory social security
|
143 |
3.653 |
1.457 |
|
Education
|
116 |
3.676 |
1.386 |
|
Human health and social work activities
|
146 |
2.658 |
1.718 |
|
Arts, entertainment and recreation
|
884 |
964 |
1.184 |
|
Other service activities
|
1.720 |
487 |
1.043 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2022
Unemployed
| |
Rate |
|
Unemployment Rate
|
14,00% |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2021
Unemployed by Activity
| Activity |
Number |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing |
115 |
| Mining and quarrying |
9 |
| Manufacturing |
293 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply |
5 |
| Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities |
36 |
| Construction |
268 |
| Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
643 |
| Transportation and storage |
272 |
| Accommodation and food service activities |
1.018 |
| Information and communication |
41 |
| Financial and insurance activities |
31 |
| Real estate activities |
27 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities |
147 |
| Administrative and support service activities |
219 |
| Public administration and defence, compulsory social security |
422 |
| Education |
158 |
| Human health and social work activities |
142 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation |
79 |
| Other service activities |
236 |
| Not classified |
368 |
| Total |
4.529 |
Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2022
Registered unemployed by occupation
Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2022
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