Šibenik – Knin County Download as PDF

Šibenik-Knin County is located between Zadar and Split-Dalmatia counties and covers a land area of 2,984 km2 of Croatian territory and a sea area of 2,686 km2 of the Croatian coastal sea, which is a total of 5,670 km2 (land and sea part), of which 52.62% falls on the land part, and 47.37% on the sea part.

Šibenik-Knin County includes 5 cities (Šibenik, Skradin, Vodice, Drniš i Knin) and 15 municipalities (Pirovac, Primošten, Rogoznica, Tisno, Tribunj, Bilice, Murter, Promina, Ružić, Unešić, Biskupija, Civljane, Ervenik, Kijevo i Kistanje), and the city of Šibenik presents the economic, cultural and administrative center of the county. 96,624 inhabitants live in Šibenik – knin county according to the first results of the 2021 census.

Šibenik – Knin County includes two national parks: Krka and Kornati. The “Krka” National Park is located entirely within the county and covers an area of 109 km2, which encompasses the course of the Krka River, and is known for its preserved natural, as well as cultural and historical heritage. For the Šibenik-Knin County, the Krka River has a special meaning, both because of its water supply and hydropower potential, and because of its natural and tourist attractiveness. The coastal and insular area is characterized by 259 islands, islets and rocks, and a special group is represented by the Kornati islands as the “denseest” island group in the European Mediterranean, which covers an area of 216.78 km². There are 89 islands, islets and rocks within the boundaries of the Kornati National Park.

Šibenik – Knin County includes three nature parks located in the county (Velebit, Lake Vrana and Dinara).
In addition to the above, in the area of Šibenik-Knin County there are six significant landscapes (Krka river-upper stream, Žutsko-Sitska island group, Water stream and canyon of Čikola river, Krka river-lower stream, Gvozdenovo-Kamenar and Kanal-Luka) and two monuments of nature (Stara straža and Cetina source). Also, there are 61 areas of the NATURA 2000 ecological network in the County.

Šibenik-Knin County is rich in tangible and intangible remains of a long history of settlement with 335 protected cultural assets. There are as many as 7 protected cultural assets (5 intangible and 2 tangible cultural assets) on the UNESCO’s list of world cultural heritage in county. A valuable cultural and touristic resource of the city of Šibenik is the fortification system of 4 fortresses: Barone, St. Mihovil, St. Nicholas and St. John, and significant county fortifications are the Knin fortress, which is the second largest military fortress in Europe, and the Gradina fortress in Drniš, which is still awaiting its reconstruction and valorization.

Šibenik-Knin County has an extremely important traffic position: it is connected to the coast by the Adriatic highway, by the highway to Knin and Bosnia and Herzegovina and to the interior of Croatia. Road and railway that is leading to Zagreb and Split is also very significant. In maritime traffic, the importance of the port of Šibenik should be emphasized. The main hub of maritime traffic is the port of Šibenik as a port open to public traffic of international importance. Apart from the main port of Šibenik, two ports of county importance, 23 ports of local importance and 19 ports of nautical tourism operate in the area of Šibenik-Knin County. The Šibenik-Knin County has a good air connection with Zagreb and the rest of the world via the “Split” airport in Kaštela (45 km) and the Zadar airport in Zemunik (50 km).

The development of the economy of the Šibenik – Knin County is focused on trade, tourism and construction, as well as on the processing industry as the most important branch of the economy, from which metal production makes a significant contribution to the economy of Šibenik. In addition to the leading aluminum industry in the county, there is a shipbuilding and building material industry, and larger capacities for finalizing products from mineral raw materials have been built.

According to the data of the Financial Agency in 2021, there were 2,763 companies in Šibenik-Knin County.

According to data from the Unified Register of Entrepreneurial Infrastructure (2022), there are six entrepreneurial support institutions operating in Šibenik-Knin County. The opening of economic zones in all cities in the county, and especially the economic zone “PODI”, which was declared an economic zone of county significance, enabled faster economic development and thus an increase in the number of employees. In addition to the Podi zone, more important business zones are located in the area of Drniš: the Drniš zone and the Radonić zone, in the area of the City of Skradin: the economic zone of Kos, in the area of the City of Knin: the business zone of Preparandija and in the area of the City of Vodice: the economic zone of Čista, which is adjacent to the Podi zone indicated by the spatial plan of the county as a zone of county significance.

The development of tourism is extremely important for the economy of Šibenik-Knin County. The tourist offer is still focused on the coastal belt, where over 5 million overnight stays are made annually and about 822,000 tourists stay. Investments in tourism capacities in the hinterland, which has great tourist potential, will certainly enable the development of new forms of rural tourism. Accommodation capacities in the area of Šibenik-Knin County are over 8,000 beds in hotels, over 40,000 beds in private accommodation, over 13,000 in campsites and more than 3,000 berths in 12 marinas.

Investments in wineries and the construction of oil mills intensified the planting of new vineyards and olive groves. The main wine-growing areas are Pirovac-Skradin-Šibenik, Knin, Drniš-Promina and Primošten. The already prepared “Irrigation Plan” Study will certainly give a new impetus to the development of traditional agricultural production (fruits, vegetables). In addition to the aforementioned agricultural products, Šibenik-Knin County has become recognizable for its production of prosciutto, cheese and shellfish.

[Source: Public institution Development Agency of Šibenik-Knin County, July 2022]

Main Indicators

GDP EUR 1.022.974.000
Population 96.381
Men 47.452
Women 48.929
Age 0-14 12.279
Age 15+ 84.102
GDP Per Capita EUR 10.398,00
Area Size km² 2.984
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 43
Broadband Connections number and density 24.748 / 60%
Number of issued building permits 234
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 527
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2022

Foreign Direct Investment by Activitymil. EUR

Activity Amount
Proprietary investments in real estates 360,30
Manufacture of rubber and plastic products 72,40
Sports activities and entertainment and recreational activities 49,60
Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products 38,20
Accommodation 21,80
Other -14,80
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2022

Foreign Direct Investment by Countrymil. EUR

Country Amount
Germany 114,20
Slovenia 64,30
Austria 63,40
Czechia 51,70
Hungary 38,40
Other 195,30
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 107.379
Machinery and equipment with fittings 45.343
Transport equipment 10.987
Cultivated biological resources 1.393
Intellectual property products 1.214
Total 168.113
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2021

Biggest Investors

Company Activity Website
LABI COMPANY d.o.o. ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICE ACTIVITIES http://www.laby.hr
LAGUNA TRADE d.o.o. ART, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION http://www.marinafrapa.hr
SOLARIS d.d. ACTIVITIES OF PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD PREPARATION AND SERVICE http://www.amadriapark.com.hr
VODOVOD I ODVODNJA d.o.o. WATER SUPPLY; WASTEWATER REMOVAL, MR. WASTE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION http://www.vodovodsib.hr
OBONJAN RIVIJERA d.d. ACTIVITIES OF PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD PREPARATION AND SERVICE http://www.obonjan.hr
VIDICI d.o.o. CONSTRUCTION
BIKARAC d.o.o. WATER SUPPLY; WASTEWATER REMOVAL, MR. WASTE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION http://www.bikarac.hr
PRESTA d.o.o. ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICE ACTIVITIES http://www.splendidyachting.com
Impol-TLM d.o.o. MANUFACTURING http://www.impol-tlm.hr
VISTA MARE MANAGEMENT d.o.o. CONSTRUCTION
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 3.244
Basic Schools, Beginning of School Year 7.040
Upper Secondary Schools, Beginning of School Year 3.535
Students Enrolled on Professional and University Study, According to Place of Permanent Residence 3.615
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2021/2022

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
Economics, trade and business administration 5 422
Mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and metallurgy 3 400
Electrical engineering and computing 4 387
Tourism and catering 4 335
Health and social work 1 321
Transport and logistics 1 312
Personal, security and other services 2 146
Agriculture, food and veterinary 3 124
Construction and geodesy 1 83
Forestry, wood processing and wood processing 1 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
Polytechnic Marko Marulić in Knin 62
Polytechnic in Šibenik 230
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 190 129 1.014
Mining and quarrying 14 46 1.693
Manufacturing 489 3.279 1.191
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 50 390 1.598
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities 43 993 1.089
Construction 623 1.461 1.009
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 963 3.757 1.010
Transportation and storage 200 1.151 1.134
Accommodation and food service activities 749 1.573 1.179
Information and communication 108 198 1.504
Financial and insurance activities 10 455 1.442
Real estate activities 349 108 1.092
Professional, scientific and technical activities 399 535 1.302
Administrative and support service activities 501 558 1.086
Public administration and defence, compulsory social security 153 3.125 1.469
Education 89 2.643 1.340
Human health and social work activities 124 2.492 1.661
Arts, entertainment and recreation 714 1.143 1.224
Other service activities 1.206 532 1.077
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2022

Unemployed

  Rate
Unemployment Rate 14,50%
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2021

Unemployed by Activity

Activity Number
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 94
Mining and quarrying 6
Manufacturing 307
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 3
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities 57
Construction 226
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 537
Transportation and storage 121
Accommodation and food service activities 694
Information and communication 29
Financial and insurance activities 30
Real estate activities 23
Professional, scientific and technical activities 95
Administrative and support service activities 169
Public administration and defence, compulsory social security 383
Education 106
Human health and social work activities 142
Arts, entertainment and recreation 115
Other service activities 353
Not classified 411
Total 3.901
Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2022

Registered unemployed by occupation

Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2022

Support Institutions Contacts

Name Contact Website
Public Institution Development Agency of Šibenik-Knin County rra@rra-sibenik.hr http://www.rra-sibenik.hr/
Podi Šibenik d.o.o. jakov.terzanovic@podi-sibenik.com http://www.podi-sibenik.com/
Public Institution Local Development Agency Matica igrcic@lra-matica.hr http://www.lra-matica.hr/