First Release

Year: LXII.
Zagreb, 18 June 2025
OBR-2025-2-1
ISSN 1334-0557

BASIC SCHOOLS, END OF 2023/2024 SCHOOL YEAR AND BEGINNING OF 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR

1 BASIC SCHOOLS – end of 2023/2024 school year

At the end of the 2023/2024 school year, there were 891 active (self-contained) basic schools on the territory of the Republic of Croatia. They included 1 062 satellite schools and departments.

In order to present the number of teachers more accurately, the full-time equivalent (FTE) metric is applied, according to which the number of employed teachers is converted to the full-time equivalent (the share of teachers’ workload in legally set norm). The number of teachers presented in full-time equivalent would correspond the actual number of physical persons.

At the end of the 2023/2024 school year, the number of basic schools, the number of departments and the number of pupils did not significantly change compared to the end of the 2022/2023 school year. The share of female pupils was 48.7%. Although the number of pupils did not significantly change compared to the previous year, there was still a decrease that has lasted for a quarter of the century. There were 98.6% of state basic schools and 100% of private basic schools that provided school meals.

The teacher/pupil ratio in the regular education in the same school year was 1 : 8.0. The same ratio in the education of disabled children and youth was 1 : 2.0. The share of women in the total number of teachers in the regular education was 81.8%.

More than four thousand pupils attended classes conducted in languages of ethnic minorities

According to the methodology of statistical data collection, in 1 930 out of 1 953 school units classes were conducted in one language: in 1 890 of them in Croatian, in 11 of them in Italian, in five of them in Hungarian, in six of them in Czech and in 18 of them in Serbian. Besides in Croatian, classes in 23 schools were conducted in languages of ethnic minorities: in five of them in Hungarian, in one of them in Czech, in six of them in Italian, in one of them in German and in ten of them in Serbian. A total of 4 093 pupils attended classes conducted in languages of ethnic minorities: 328 in Czech, 1 816 in Italian, 194 in Hungarian, 149 in German and 1 606 in Serbian.

The coverage of reporting units providing basic adult education has increased by 50%. In addition, a significant increase in students re-enrolling in primary school in order to complete primary education and access the voucher system that co-finances all educational programs have been observed.

 

1.1 BASIC SCHOOLS, CLASS UNITS, SCHOOL MEALS, END OF 2023/2024 SCHOOL YEAR
        Schools1) Class units Schools providing school meals
Total Self-contained schools Satellite schools and departments Total Homogenous Combined Total Snack only Warm meal only Both
Basic schools – regular 1 953 891 1 062 17 998 16 516 1 482 1 926 584 552 790
State 1 926 864 1 062 17 770 16 297 1 473 1 899 583 546 770
Private 18 18 - 115 106 9 18 1 6 11
Of religious communities 9 9 - 113 113 - 9 - - 9
Basic schools for disabled children and youth 103 89 14 334 136 198 92 32 17 43
State 103 89 14 334 136 198 92 32 17 43

1) See Notes on Methodology.

1.2 PUPILS IN BASIC SCHOOLS, BY GRADES, SEX, COMPLETION AND SCHOOL MEALS, END OF 2023/2024 SCHOOL YEAR
       Total Female pupils Pupils who completed school Pupils taking school meals
All 1st  – 4th 
grade		 5th – 8th 
grade		 All 1st  – 4th 
grade		 5th – 8th 
grade		 All Female pupils Snacks Warm meal
Basic schools – total 300 407 144 350 156 057 146 086 70 196 75 890 41 922 20 412 215 419 162 472
Basic schools – regular 298 511 143 495 155 016 145 424 69 911 75 513 40 092 19 768 213 601 161 144
State 294 803 141 517 153 286 143 716 69 005 74 711 39 737 19 597 210 392 158 629
Private 1 569 792 777 692 337 355 184 88 1 156 1 283
Of religious communities 2 139 1 186 953 1 016 569 447 171 83 2 053 1 232
Basic schools for disabled children and youth 1 896 855 1 041 662 285 377 224 86 1 818 1328
State 1 896 855 1 041 662 285 377 224 86 1 818 1 328

1.3 PUPILS IN BASIC SCHOOLS, BY GRADES, ACHIEVEMENT AND SEX, END OF 2023/2024 SCHOOL YEAR
       Total In state schools In private schools In schools of religious communities
All Passed All Passed All Passed All Passed
Basic schools – total All 300 407 298 383 296 699 294 680 1 569 1 567 2 139 2 136
  Female pupils 146 086 145 531 144 378 143 825 1 569 1 567 2 139 2 136
Basic schools – regular All 298 511 296 553 294 803 292 850 1 569 1 567 2 139 2 136
  Female pupils 145 424 144 887 143 716 143 181 692 691 1 016 1 015
1st grade All 35 457 35 222 34 990 34 755 193 193 274 274
  Female pupils 17 374 17 316 17 150 17 092 86 86 138 138
2nd grade All 35 174 35 027 34 662 34 516 197 196 315 315
  Female pupils 17 206 17 184 16 975 16 953 70 70 161 161
3rd grade All 36 296 36 182 35 805 35 691 191 191 300 300
  Female pupils 17 644 17 609 17 417 17 382 87 87 140 140
4th grade All 36 568 36 426 36 060 35 918 211 211 297 297
  Female pupils 17 687 17 666 17 463 17 442 94 94 130 130
5th grade All 38 247 37 890 37 776 37 419 199 199 272 272
  Female pupils 18 425 18 338 18 216 18 129 86 86 123 123
6th grade All 37 584 37 281 37 100 36 798 205 205 279 278
  Female pupils 18 328 18 258 18 093 18 023 87 87 148 148
7th grade All 38 834 38 433 38 415 38 016 188 188 231 229
  Female pupils 18 848 18 748 18 662 18 563 93 93 93 92
8th grade All 40 351 40 092 39 995 39 737 185 184 171 171
  Female pupils 19 912 19 768 19 740 19 597 89 88 83 83
Basic schools for disabled children and youth All 1 896 1 830 1 896 1 830 - - - -
  Female pupils 662 644 662 644 - - - -
1st grade All 174 167 174 167 - - - -
  Female pupils 50 47 50 47 - - - -
2nd grade All 212 206 212 206 - - - -
  Female pupils 70 71 70 71 - - - -
3rd grade All 252 247 252 247 - - - -
  Female pupils 78 77 78 77 - - - -
4th grade All 217 209 217 209 - - - -
  Female pupils 87 84 87 84 - - - -
5th grade All 283 278 283 278 - - - -
  Female pupils 101 98 101 98 - - - -
6th grade All 287 275 287 275 - - - -
  Female pupils 101 99 101 99 - - - -
7th grade All 241 224 241 224 - - - -
  Female pupils 88 82 88 82 - - - -
8th grade All 230 224 230 224 - - - -
  Female pupils 87 86 87 86 - - - -

1.4 TEACHERS AND ASSISTANTS1) IN BASIC SCHOOLS, END OF 2023/2024 SCHOOL YEAR
      Teachers Teachers, FTE Teachers in Assistants, FTE
Total Women Full-time Part-time Lower grades Upper grades Lower and upper grades
Total Women Total Women Total Women Total Women
Basic schools – regular 37 423 30 612 28 226 24 164 9 197 6 448 31 724,19 26 649,77 13 731 17 410 6 282 2 727,71 2 513,99
State 36 806 30 132 27 850 23 851 8 956 6 281 31 283,60 26 291,56 13 508 17 149 6 149 2 686,14 2 475,44
Private 308 220 170 129 138 91 194,71 146,99 102 123 83 18,80 17,80
Of religious communities 309 260 206 184 103 76 245,88 211,22 121 138 50 22,77 20,75
Basic schools for disabled children and youth 965 821 813 705 152 116 861,76 741,53 260 330 375 342,62 314,22
State 965 821 813 705 152 116 861,76 741,53 260 330 375 342,62 314,22

1) See Notes on Methodology.

1.5 PUPILS LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES, BY GRADES AND TEACHERS TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES, END OF 2023/2024 SCHOOL YEAR
     Pupils by grades1) Teachers1)
Total I II III IV V VI VII VIII
Basic schools – regular 398 341 36 482 36 956 38 123 59 147 58 472 56 894 55 324 56 943 5 874
English 285 318 32 729 32 153 33 328 35 809 37 440 36 695 37 837 39 327 3 493
German 85 799 3 061 3 438 3 393 17 432 15 822 15 520 13 399 13 734 1 703
Italian 22 597 478 1 107 1 156 4 908 4 332 3 931 3 435 3 250 474
French 2 755 60 68 66 670 579 495 430 387 78
Hungarian 436 46 53 49 86 59 45 50 48 30
Slovak 205 23 39 20 30 21 24 21 27 15
Spanish 419 - - 3 102 96 84 58 76 11
Czech 194 18 28 25 24 44 33 13 9 17
Russian 73 14 5 6 11 8 7 13 9 7
Other languages 545 53 65 77 75 71 60 68 76 46
Basic schools for disabled children and youth 289 - - - 54 58 64 56 57 32
English 273 - - - 53 58 57 53 52 28
German 14 - - - - - 7 2 5 2
Italian 2 - - - 1 - - 1 - 2

1) See Notes on Methodology.

1.6 SPECIAL BASIC EDUCATION, SCHOOLS, PUPILS AND TEACHERS, END OF 2023/2024 SCHOOL YEAR
      Schools1) Pupils Graduated pupils Teachers1)
Total Self- contained Satellite Departments Total Female pupils Total Female pupils Total Women Full-time
All Women
Basic art schools 134 35 41 58 18 269 11 246 2 275 1 422 2 641 1 588 1 864 1 210
Music schools 129 33 41 55 17 875 10 860 2 191 1 338 2 498 1 482 1 762 1 134
State 123 28 41 54 17 400 10 576 2 137 1 306 2 403 1 435 1 742 1 122
Private 6 5 - 1 475 284 54 32 95 47 20 12
Dance schools 5 2 - 3 394 386 84 84 143 106 102 76
State 5 2 - 3 394 386 84 84 143 106 102 76
Basic education of adults 18 4 - 14 383 187 258 134 … … … …
At basic schools 1 1 - - 2 2 2 2 … … … …
At other institutions 17 3 - 14 381 185 256 132 139 85 36 24

1) See Notes on Methodology.

G-1 PUPILS IN REGULAR BASIC SCHOOLS, BY ACHIEVEMENT AND SEX, END OF 2023/2024 SCHOOL YEAR

2 BASIC SCHOOLS – beginning of the 2024/2025 school year

At the beginning of the 2024/2025 school year, the number of basic schools and pupils did not significantly change, as compared to the beginning of the 2023/2024 school year. The share of female pupils was 48.7%.

The teacher/pupil ratio in regular education was 1 : 8.0. Out of the total number of repeaters, the larger share, 62.6%, related to male pupils. Most repeaters attended upper grades, 70.1% of them, with the highest share in the seventh grade, 23.6%. Out of the total number of repeaters in the seventh grade, the larger share related to male pupils, 67.4%. The teacher/pupil ratio in the education of disabled children and youth was 1 : 1.8. The share of female teachers in the regular education was 82.2%.

Taking the pupils' age into account, it is noticeable that the percentage of pupils under seven years of age in regular schools amounted to just 2.3%. Similarly, the percentage of pupils aged 15 and over was only 0.9%. Of that, 90.7% attended the eighth grade.

 

2.1 SCHOOLS, CLASS UNITS AND TEACHERS IN BASIC SCHOOLS, BEGINNING OF 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR
        Schools1) Class units Teachers1) Teachers, FTE Teachers in
Total Women Full-time Part-time Total Women Lower grades Upper grades Lower and upper grades
Total Women Total Women
Basic schools – regular 1 945 18 122 36 773 30 211 27 739 23 864 9 034 6 347 31 284,69 26 391,12 13 600 17 089 6 084
State 1 918 17 871 36 131 29 711 27 328 23 527 8 803 6 184 30 807,47 26 001,98 13 373 16 811 5 947
Private 17 131 310 231 177 143 133 88 206,37 166,88 106 125 79
Of religious communities 10 120 332 269 234 194 98 75 270,85 222,26 121 153 58
Basic schools for disabled children and youth 102 342 1 053 904 887 773 166 131 935,52 810,75 276 405 372
State 102 342 1 053 904 887 773 166 131 935,52 810,75 276 405 372

1) See Notes on Methodology.

2.2 BASIC SCHOOLS BY COUNTIES, BEGINNING OF 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR

   Counties    Schools1) Class units Teachers1) Pupils
Total 1st – 4th grade 5th – 8th grade
Republic of Croatia 2 047 18 464 37 826 296 141 143 718 152 423
Zagreb 124 1 395 2 651 24 275 11 844 12 431
Krapina-Zagorje 80 626 1 190 8 753 4 176 4 577
Sisak-Moslavina 88 703 1 418 9 808 4 783 5 025
Karlovac 68 518 1 033 7 769 3 761 4 008
Varaždin 73 781 1 518 11 885 5 715 6 170
Koprivnica-Križevci 89 552 1 035 7 856 3 832 4 024
Bjelovar-Bilogora 95 547 1 160 7 602 3 657 3 945
Primorje-Gorski kotar 108 1 148 2 455 18 595 9 023 9 572
Lika-Senj 45 237 571 3 039 1 485 1 554
Virovitica-Podravina 77 405 704 5 258 2 462 2 796
Požega-Slavonia 58 321 634 4 756 2 313 2 443
Slavonski Brod-Posavina 110 676 1 295 9 663 4 630 5 033
Zadar 116 825 1 617 13 275 6 465 6 810
Osijek-Baranja 184 1 314 2 559 18 698 9 094 9 604
Šibenik-Knin 53 455 1 032 6 751 3 249 3 502
Vukovar-Srijem 88 827 1 750 10 617 5 089 5 528
Split-Dalmatia 207 2 027 4 254 33 983 16 289 17 694
Istria 103 901 2 104 14 800 7 123 7 677
Dubrovnik-Neretva 66 599 1 266 9 413 4 600 4 813
Međimurje 59 597 1 195 9 132 4 576 4 556
City of Zagreb 156 3 010 6 385 60 213 29 552 30 661

1) See Notes on Methodology.

2.3 PUPILS IN BASIC SCHOOLS, BY GRADES, SEX AND YEAR OF BIRTH, BEGINNING OF 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR
       By year of birth
Total 2018 and after 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 and before
Basic schools – regular All 294 227 6 662 33 244 35 667 35 511 36 347 37 029 38 334 37 735 30 981 2 717
  Female pupils 143 415 3 473 16 552 17 514 17 270 17 776 17 910 18 589 18 566 14 656 1 109
1st grade All 35 682 6 475 26 915 2 195 76 9 5 5 2 - -
  Female pupils 17 389 3 408 13 053 886 34 4 - 3 1 - -
2nd grade All 35 437 85 6 297 26 819 2 076 95 54 7 3 1 -
  Female pupils 17 400 15 3 487 13 025 812 30 26 4 1 - -
3rd grade All 35 291 15 24 6 580 26 468 2 006 174 11 7 6 -
  Female pupils 17 239 9 7 3 567 12 818 756 70 4 4 4 -
4th grade All 36 427 14 1 73 6 700 27 218 2 251 140 20 7 3
  Female pupils 17 697 7 1 36 3 518 13 211 865 52 7 - -
5th grade All 36 888 16 7 - 179 6 816 27 254 2 377 191 32 16
  Female pupils 17 908 10 4 - 81 3 670 13 053 992 80 12 6
6th grade All 38 218 13 - - 12 195 7 022 28 258 2 482 200 36
  Female pupils 18 450 5 - - 7 100 3 755 13 491 980 91 21
7th grade All 37 729 21 - - - 8 254 7 263 27 547 2 437 199
  Female pupils 18 517 12 - - - 5 131 3 915 13 394 990 70
8th grade All 38 555 23 - - - - 15 273 7 483 28 298 2 463
  Female pupils 18 815 7 - - - - 10 128 4 099 13 559 1 012
Basic schools for disabled children and youth All 1 914 11 85 167 186 209 243 275 240 255 243
  Female pupils 654 4 28 49 61 66 79 107 95 86 79
1st grade All 199 7 70 97 17 3 - 3 1 - 1
  Female pupils 57 1 22 30 2 1 - 1 - - -
2nd grade All 187 3 8 60 92 17 5 - 2 - -
  Female pupils 59 3 2 16 31 6 1 - - - -
3rd grade All 228 1 2 8 68 105 31 13 - - -
  Female pupils 79 - 1 2 27 32 11 6 - - -
4th grade All 267 - 5 2 7 72 122 33 14 12 -
  Female pupils 85 - 3 1 1 24 35 11 7 3 -
5th grade All 212 - - - 1 12 76 99 14 7 3
  Female pupils 85 - - - - 3 27 46 6 2 1
6th grade All 302 - - - 1 - 7 111 109 28 46
  Female pupils 104 - - - - - 4 37 44 6 13
7th grade All 267 - - - - - - 15 92 121 39
  Female pupils 97 - - - - - - 5 34 44 14
8th grade All 252 - - - - - 2 1 8 87 154
  Female pupils 88 - - - - - 1 1 4 31 51

G-2 PUPILS IN REGULAR BASIC SCHOOLS, BY SEX AND YEAR OF BIRTH, BEGINNING OF 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR

2.4 PUPILS IN BASIC SCHOOLS (INCLUDING REPEATERS), BY GRADES AND SEX, BEGINNING OF 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR
       Total Pupils in lower grades Pupils in upper grades
Total I II III IV Total V VI VII VIII
Basic schools – total 296 141 143 718 35 881 35 624 35 519 36 694 152 423 37 100 38 520 37 996 38 807
Female pupils 144 069 70 005 17 446 17 459 17 318 17 782 74 064 17 993 18 554 18 614 18 903
Repeaters 1 408 473 235 79 64 95 935 277 204 306 148
Female pupils 526 204 128 26 22 28 322 84 72 101 65
Basic schools – regular – total 294 227 142 837 35 682 35 437 35 291 36 427 151 390 36 888 38 218 37 729 38 555
Female pupils 143 415 69 725 17 389 17 400 17 239 17 697 73 690 17 908 18 450 18 517 18 815
Repeaters 1 180 353 207 47 38 61 827 251 173 279 124
Female pupils 441 163 117 13 14 19 278 70 59 91 58
State – total 290 270 140 825 35 164 34 959 34 779 35 923 149 445 36 341 37 730 37 243 38 131
Female pupils 141 613 68 796 17 158 17 167 17 005 17 466 72 817 17 665 18 239 18 286 18 627
Repeaters 1 169 353 207 47 38 61 816 251 173 279 113
Female pupils 432 163 117 13 14 19 269 70 59 91 49
Private – total 1 647 811 213 201 195 202 836 225 215 203 193
Female pupils 712 336 85 91 71 89 376 98 94 88 96
Repeaters 11 - - - - - 11 - - - 11
Female pupils 9 - - - - - 9 - - - 9
Of religious communities –  total 2 310 1 201 305 277 317 302 1 109 322 273 283 231
Female pupils 1 090 593 146 142 163 142 497 145 117 143 92
Repeaters - - - - - - - - - - -
Female pupils - - - - - - - - - - -
Basic schools for disabled children and youth – total 1 914 881 199 187 228 267 1 033 212 302 267 252
Female pupils 654 280 57 59 79 85 374 85 104 97 88
Repeaters 228 120 28 32 26 34 108 26 31 27 24
Female pupils 85 41 11 13 8 9 44 14 13 10 7
State – total 1 914 881 199 187 228 267 1 033 212 302 267 252
Female pupils 654 280 57 59 79 85 374 85 104 97 88
Repeaters 228 120 28 32 26 34 108 26 31 27 24
Female pupils 85 41 11 13 8 9 44 14 13 10 7

2.5 SPECIAL BASIC EDUCATION: SCHOOLS, PUPILS AND TEACHERS, BEGINNING OF 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR
       Schools1) Pupils Teachers1)
Total Self- contained Satellite schools Departments Total Female pupils Total Women Full-time
All Women
Basic art schools 133 34 41 58 18 063 11 145 2 695 1 622 1 852 1 201
Music schools 128 32 41 55 17 674 10 764 2 535 1 505 1 740 1 116
State 122 27 41 54 17 205 10 498 2 438 1 459 1 720 1 105
Private 6 5 - 1 469 266 97 46 20 11
Dance schools 5 2 - 3 389 381 160 117 112 85
State 5 2 - 3 389 381 160 117 112 85

1) See Notes on Methodology.

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Sources and methods of data collection

Data are the result of statistical data processing collected through annual reports filled in by basic schools at the beginning and the end of each school year.

Statistical sheet for basic schools (Š-O/KP form), Statistical sheet for basic schools for children and youth with developmental disabilities (Š-O-SP/KP form), Statistical sheet for basic art schools (Š-O-U/KP form) and Statistical sheet for basic schools for adults (Š-O-OD/K form) are filled in by basic schools, that is, educational institutions that provide basic education.

Coverage and comparability

Statistical survey covers basic schools on the territory of the Republic of Croatia. Data are comparable to the data from the previous school years.

Definitions and explanations

Considering purpose, basic education in the educational system in the Republic of Croatia is organised as regular education and special education.

Regular education is compulsory basic education conducted using regular educational programmes. Education of disabled children and youth is conducted using specialised programmes created to meet their special needs.

Special education includes basic music schools, dance schools and basic education of adults.

School is considered any group of pupils following classes of a particular type and stage according to a uniform education plan and programme at a particular location.

Basic education lasts for at least eight years and, as a rule, it is compulsory for all children between the ages of six and fifteen. Its purpose is to enable pupils to achieve knowledge, concepts, skills, attitudes and habits necessary for living and work or for further education. Aims and tasks of basic education are realised according to established educational plans and programmes.

Education of disabled children and youth is carried out in special schools and basic schools in special training-educational groups and class units within the school.

The number of basic schools for disabled children and youth equals the number of institutions for education of disabled children and youth enlarged by the number of schools comprising special departments for disabled pupils.

Basic music and dance schools prepare children for the continuation of education in secondary art schools of the same kind. The pupils are obliged to concurrently attend a regular basic school.

Adult education is aimed at providing education for adults who have not obtained an adequate education in the course of regular schooling.

Basic education of adults is carried out in basic schools and other competent institutions (public open universities).

This kind of education can be obtained by either regular attending of school or by taking exams.

Data on pupils learning foreign languages refer to all pupils learning language as 1st and 2nd foreign language and for that reason, the number is larger than the real number of pupils.  

For basic schools, the number of teachers working in one or more school units (satellite schools and departments) is given. The number of teachers and assistants shown through the full-time equivalent would correspond to the actual number of physical persons.

Data on teachers and assistants cover persons employed on contractual agreement, persons employed on working contract and persons employed on author’s contract.

Assistants are pedagogues, psychologists, librarians as well as education and rehabilitation experts.

Data by counties are presented according to the Act on the Territories of Counties, Towns and Municipalities in the Republic of Croatia (NN, Nos 86/06, 125/06, 16/07, 95/08, 46/10, 145/10, 37/13, 44/13, 45/13 and 110/15.), with the situation as on 31 December 2023.

The constitution and activity of basic schools is based on the Basic and Secondary Education Act (NN, Nos 87/08, 86/09, 92/10,105/10, 90/11, 5/12, 16/12, 86/12, 126/12, 94/13, 152/14, 7/17, 68/18, 98/19, 64/20, 151/22, 155/23 and 156/23).

Abbreviations  
   
NN Narodne novine, official gazette of the Republic of Croatia
   
Symbols  
   
- no occurrence
… no data available

 

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