KINDERGARTENS AND OTHER LEGAL ENTITIES IMPLEMENTING PRESCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMMES. BEGINNING OF 2025/2026 PEDAGOGIC YEAR

At the beginning of the 2025/2026 pedagogic year, according to the methodology of statistical data collection, there were 1 794 reporting units implementing preschool education and care programmes, of which 1 682 were kindergartens and 112 were other legal entities (basic schools, playrooms in libraries or other institutions or associations).

Kindergartens founded by local government and self-government units were attended by 82.0% of children.

The total number of children covered by any preschool education and care programmes was 158 685, out of which 76 880 were girls (48.4%). There were 146 656 children covered by a regular programme, 7 819 by a preschool programme and 4 210 by a shorter programme.

There were 83.0% of children who spent eight and more hours in a kindergarten.

Out of the total number of kindergartens, 392 were self-contained, that is, those without departments, while 306 of them included departments. The number of departments amounted to 984.

Out of the total number of persons in employment, 58.5% were kindergarten teachers and teachers.

In the 2024/2025 school year, the preschool programme covered 7 819 children who did not attend a regular preschool programme.

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Sources and methods of data collection

The data are the result of statistical data processing collected through the Annual Report on Kindergartens and Other Legal Entities Implementing Preschool Education Programmes (DV-PO form) from self-contained kindergartens, kindergartens with departments, departments and other legal entities (basic schools, playrooms in libraries and other health, social, sports and cultural institutions and associations implementing preschool education programmes) in the Republic of Croatia active in the 2025/2026 pedagogic year, and refer to 31 October 2025.

Coverage and comparability

The statistical survey covers kindergartens and other legal entities implementing preschool education and care programmes on the territory of the Republic of Croatia. The data are comparable to the data from previous years relating to kindergartens. The coverage for 2004/2005 has been expanded on other legal entities implementing preschool education programmes. Data on the preschool programme refer to the 2024/2025 school year.

Definitions

Preschool education and care programmes intended for preschool children are implemented in nursery and kindergarten groups in kindergartens, irrespective of the founder, and can be classified as follows: regular programmes, preschool programmes and shorter programmes.

Preschool education programmes (not kindergartens) in other legal entities are realised in basic schools, in health institutions caring for children with developmental difficulties, in social institutions caring for children with developmental difficulties; as playrooms in libraries, shorter programmes in sports institutions, shorter programmes in cultural institutions and shorter programmes organised by associations.

All preschool education and care programmes must be verified by the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth. They are established as constitutional units of the legal entities in question and must fulfil all conditions required for work with preschool children.

Kindergartens are public institutions that provide preschool education as a public service. A kindergarten can be established by the Republic of Croatia and local government units (state-owned kindergartens), religious communities (kindergartens established by religious communities) and other domestic legal entities and natural persons (private kindergartens).

Departments are dislocated parts of a central kindergarten, which include one or more education groups, established by kindergartens as required.

Preschool upbringing in kindergartens covers children from 6 months of age until school age.

Preschool education conducted in kindergartens and other legal entities for children over three years of age in the Republic of Croatia corresponds to the level 0 of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011).

Professional assistants are education professional, psychologist, special education teacher, foreign language teacher, music teacher, art teacher, dance teacher etc.

Preschool programme is conducted for children aged six who do not attend a regular preschool education programme as a preparation for school.

Shorter programmes include various contents (foreign languages, religious education, sports, dancing, musical or art classes etc.), which children attend for several hours per week or month.

The organisation and activity in kindergartens is based on the Act on Preschool Education and Care (NN, Nos 10/97, 107/07, 94/13, 98/19, 57/22, 101/23, 145/23, 145/24 and 146/25).

Territorial constitution

Data on counties are presented according to the Act on 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 on 31 December 2025.

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80
Phone: (+385 1) 48 06 111
Press corner: press@dzs.hr

Persons responsible:
Mario Vlajčević, Director of Demographic and Social Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Marija Gojević, Gordana Bralić and Ana Šojat 

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