Varaždin County comprise the area between the Drava River to the north, the slopes of Slovenske Gorice and the Macelj hills to the west, and Kalnik and its slopes to the east and southeast. With an area of 1.261,2 km2, it is the third smallest county and accounts for 2.23% of the total land area of the Republic of Croatia.
According to the 2021. census, Varaždin County has 160,264 inhabitants, making it one of the most densely populated Croatian counties, with a population density of 126.9 /km2.
The County has six towns and 22 municipalities. Its transport geographic location is very favourable, at the intersection of European road and railway corridors, i.e., the transversal corridor connecting the central Podunavlje region with the northern Adriatic Sea, and the longitudinal corridor connecting the eastern Alps with the lower Podravina region.
The county centre is the City of Varaždin, situated in the north of the county. The City of Varaždin, mentioned for the first time in 1181, is one of the oldest cities in northern Croatia.
In Varaždin, as the main urban centre, textile, food, construction material and wood industries developed gradually. The Gross domestic product per capita was 12,112 EUR in 2019. Encouraging the development of entrepreneurship and constantly raising the level of education standards are becoming key segments on which the policy of building competitiveness and development of Varaždin County relies.
[Source: Public Institution for the Regional Development of the Varazdin County, July 2022]
Main Indicators
|
GDP
EUR
|
1.921.740.000 |
|
Population
|
159.487 |
|
Men |
77.549 |
|
Women |
81.938 |
|
Age 0-14 |
22.153 |
|
Age 15+ |
137.334 |
|
GDP Per Capita
EUR
|
11.622,00 |
|
Area Size
km²
|
1.262 |
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
|
45 |
|
Broadband Connections
number and density
|
34.424 / 62% |
|
Number of issued building permits
|
537 |
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
|
500 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2022
Foreign Direct Investment by Activitymil. EUR
| Activity |
Amount |
|
Clothing production
|
165,40 |
|
Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding
|
96,60 |
|
Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products
|
49,20 |
|
Warehousing and related activities in transport
|
47,90 |
|
Metal production
|
34,90 |
|
Other
|
105,60 |
Source: Croatian National Bank, 1993 - 2022
Foreign Direct Investment by Countrymil. EUR
| Country |
Amount |
|
Luxembourg
|
142,10 |
|
Germany
|
95,70 |
|
Austria
|
85,80 |
|
Italy
|
39,80 |
|
France
|
21,60 |
|
Other
|
114,50 |
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 |
124.282 |
| Machinery and equipment with fittings |
64.025 |
| Transport equipment |
20.108 |
| Cultivated biological resources |
4.504 |
| Intellectual property products |
2.451 |
|
Total
|
219.633
|
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
|
5.872 |
|
Basic Schools, Beginning of School Year
|
12.691 |
|
Upper Secondary Schools, Beginning of School Year
|
6.914 |
|
Students Enrolled on Professional and University Study, According to Place of Permanent Residence
|
5.327 |
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 |
|
Mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and metallurgy
|
5 |
763 |
|
Electrical engineering and computing
|
2 |
681 |
|
Economics, trade and business administration
|
4 |
625 |
|
Health and social work
|
2 |
549 |
|
Tourism and catering
|
4 |
420 |
|
Agriculture, food and veterinary
|
5 |
328 |
|
Construction and geodesy
|
1 |
301 |
|
Transport and logisitics
|
2 |
293 |
|
Personal, security and other services
|
1 |
263 |
|
Graphic technology and audio-visual design
|
1 |
241 |
|
Forestry and wood processing
|
3 |
165 |
|
Geology, mining, petroleum and chemical technology
|
1 |
131 |
|
Textiles and leather
|
1 |
123 |
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 |
|
Faculty of Organisation and Informatics, Varaždin and Departments
|
524 |
|
Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering Varaždin
|
67 |
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
|
181 |
264 |
1.138 |
|
Mining and quarrying
|
19 |
233 |
1.390 |
|
Manufacturing
|
1.063 |
21.560 |
1.158 |
|
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
|
100 |
509 |
1.719 |
|
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
|
42 |
1.053 |
1.178 |
|
Construction
|
1.148 |
4.066 |
1.119 |
|
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
|
1.539 |
5.984 |
1.135 |
|
Transportation and storage
|
371 |
2.736 |
1.110 |
|
Accommodation and food service activities
|
480 |
1.058 |
985 |
|
Information and communication
|
332 |
1.004 |
1.947 |
|
Financial and insurance activities
|
70 |
1.036 |
1.727 |
|
Real estate activities
|
172 |
134 |
1.101 |
|
Professional, scientific and technical activities
|
832 |
1.403 |
1.360 |
|
Administrative and support service activities
|
217 |
776 |
1.022 |
|
Public administration and defence, compulsory social security
|
125 |
2.813 |
1.606 |
|
Education
|
198 |
4.765 |
1.387 |
|
Human health and social work activities
|
182 |
3.861 |
1.491 |
|
Arts, entertainment and recreation
|
803 |
476 |
1.145 |
|
Other service activities
|
1.650 |
315 |
1.135 |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2022
Unemployed
| |
Rate |
|
Unemployment Rate
|
4,00% |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, data for 2021
Unemployed by Activity
| Activity |
Number |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing |
68 |
| Mining and quarrying |
3 |
| Manufacturing |
512 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply |
3 |
| Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities |
31 |
| Construction |
179 |
| Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
200 |
| Transportation and storage |
75 |
| Accommodation and food service activities |
103 |
| Information and communication |
23 |
| Financial and insurance activities |
16 |
| Real estate activities |
6 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities |
56 |
| Administrative and support service activities |
76 |
| Public administration and defence, compulsory social security |
138 |
| Education |
100 |
| Human health and social work activities |
99 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation |
21 |
| Other service activities |
89 |
| Not classified |
370 |
| Total |
2.168 |
Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2022
Registered unemployed by occupation
Source: Croatian Employment Service, data for 2022
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