First Release

Year: LXIII.
Zagreb, 18 June 2026
OBR-2026-2-1
ISSN 1334-0557

BASIC SCHOOLS, END OF 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR AND BEGINNING OF 2025/2026 SCHOOL YEAR

1 BASIC SCHOOLS – end of 2024/2025 school year

At the end of the 2024/2025 school year, there were 891 active (self-contained) basic schools on the territory of the Republic of Croatia. They included 1 052 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 2024/2025 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 2023/2024 school year. The share of female pupils was 48.6%. 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 a century. There were 99.8% of state basic schools and 100% of private basic schools that provided school meals.

The teacher/pupil ratio in regular education in the same school year was 1 : 7.7. The same ratio in the education of disabled children and youth was 1 : 1.7. The share of women in the total number of teachers in regular education was 81.7%.

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

According to the methodology of statistical data collection, in 1 920 out of 1 943 school units, classes were conducted only in one language: in 1 882 of them in Croatian, in 10 of them in Italian, in six of them in Hungarian, in six of them in Czech and in 16 of them in Serbian. Besides in Croatian, classes in 23 schools were also conducted in the languages of ethnic minorities: in four of them in Hungarian, in six of them in Italian, in one of them in German and in 12 of them in Serbian. A total of 3 527 pupils attended classes conducted in the languages of ethnic minorities: 332 in Czech, 1 459 in Italian, 212 in Hungarian, 151 in German and 1 373 in Serbian.

1.1 BASIC SCHOOLS, CLASS UNITS, SCHOOL MEALS, END OF 2024/2025 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 1 943 891 1 052 17 981 16 443 1 538 1 939 468 36 1 435
State 1 915 864 1 051 17 748 16 221 1 527 1 911 467 35 1 409
Private 18 18 - 114 103 11 18 1 1 16
Of religious communities 10 9 1 119 119 - 10 - - 10
Basic schools for disabled children and youth 100 92 7 385 170 215 96 33 21 42
State 100 92 7 385 170 215 96 33 21 42

1) See Notes on Methodology.

1.2 PUPILS IN BASIC SCHOOLS, BY GRADES, SEX, COMPLETION AND SCHOOL MEALS, END OF 2024/2025 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 295 674 143 739 151 935 143 605 69 982 73 623 38 523 18 613 277 383 170 578
Basic schools – regular 293 685 142 828 150 857 142 960 69 692 73 268 38 287 18 544 274 662 168 621
State 289 715 140 806 148 909 141 028 68 702 72 326 37 860 18 347 270 846 165 375
Private 1 653 814 839 839 407 432 198 105 1 510 1 459
Of religious communities 2 317 1 208 1 109 1 093 583 510 229 92 2 306 1 787
Basic schools for disabled children and youth 1 989 911 1 078 645 290 355 236 69 2 721 1 957
State 1 989 911 1 078 645 290 355 236 69 2 721 1 957

1.3 PUPILS IN BASIC SCHOOLS, BY GRADES, ACHIEVEMENT AND SEX, END OF 2024/2025 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 295 674 294 133 291 704 290 173 1 653 1 648 2 317 2 312
  Female pupils 143 605 143 091 141 673 141 161 839 838 1 093 1 092
Basic schools – regular All 293 685 292 175 289 715 288 215 1 653 1 648 2 317 2 312
  Female pupils 142 960 142 463 141 028 140 533 839 838 1 093 1 092
1st grade All 35 645 35 466 35 116 34 938 221 221 308 307
  Female pupils 17 250 17 194 16 997 16 942 103 103 150 149
2nd grade All 35 595 35 476 35 117 34 999 196 196 282 281
  Female pupils 17 484 17 464 17 241 17 221 105 105 138 138
3rd grade All 35 200 35 098 34 683 34 583 200 198 317 317
  Female pupils 17 244 17 219 16 993 16 969 93 92 158 158
4th grade All 36 388 36 277 35 890 35 780 197 197 301 300
  Female pupils 17 714 17 679 17 471 17 436 106 106 137 137
5th grade All 36 779 36 449 36 233 35 906 226 223 320 320
  Female pupils 17 821 17 736 17 556 17 471 119 119 146 146
6th grade All 38 016 37 784 37 525 37 294 211 211 280 279
  Female pupils 18 437 18 358 18 197 18 118 112 112 128 128
7th grade All 37 643 37 338 37 159 36 855 204 204 280 279
  Female pupils 18 409 18 269 18 169 18 029 96 96 144 144
8th grade All 38 419 38 287 37 992 37 860 198 198 229 229
  Female pupils 18 601 18 544 18 404 18 347 105 105 92 92
Basic schools for disabled children and youth All 1 989 1 958 1 989 1 958 - - - -
  Female pupils 645 628 645 628 - - - -
1st grade All 199 196 199 196 - - - -
  Female pupils 55 54 55 54 - - - -
2nd grade All 209 208 209 208 - - - -
  Female pupils 66 65 66 65 - - - -
3rd grade All 243 242 243 242 - - - -
  Female pupils 84 83 84 83 - - - -
4th grade All 260 254 260 254 - - - -
  Female pupils 85 84 85 84 - - - -
5th grade All 264 260 264 260 - - - -
  Female pupils 98 95 98 95 - - - -
6th grade All 302 299 302 299 - - - -
  Female pupils 93 92 93 92 - - - -
7th grade All 273 263 273 263 - - - -
  Female pupils 89 86 89 86 - - - -
8th grade All 239 236 239 236 - - - -
  Female pupils 75 69 75 69 - - - -

1.4 TEACHERS AND ASSISTANTS1) IN BASIC SCHOOLS, END OF 2024/2025 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 37 950 30 995 28 930 24 696 9 020 6 299 32 406,85 27 165,40 14 026 17 465 6 459 2 872,51 2 637,12
State 37 225 30 442 28 425 24 282 8 800 6 160 31 821,54 26 692,56 13 792 17 134 6 299 2 827,72 2 597,06
Private 356 251 231 181 125 70 262,30 204,42 104 177 75 20,01 18,78
Of religious communities 369 302 274 233 95 69 323,01 268,42 130 154 85 24,78 21,28
Basic schools for disabled children and youth 1 155 976 1 003 859 152 117 1 047,09 891,34 289 409 457 318,06 298,21
State 1 155 976 1 003 859 152 117 1 047,09 891,34 289 409 457 318,06 298,21

1) See Notes on Methodology.

1.5 PUPILS LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES, BY GRADES AND TEACHERS TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES, END OF 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR
  Pupils by grades1) Teachers1)
Total I II III IV V VI VII VIII
Basic schools – regular 389 496 36 552 37 190 36 931 58 180 56 718 56 407 54 017 53 501 6 031
English 280 712 32 917 32 729 32 076 35 718 35 907 37 234 36 795 37 336 3 606
German 82 309 3 011 3 152 3 485 16 765 15 596 14 613 13 258 12 429 1 726
Italian 21 888 409 1 034 1 095 4 815 4 356 3 754 3 345 3 080 488
French 2 413 56 62 67 556 507 446 365 354 76
Hungarian 462 2 4 2 114 126 91 62 61 15
Slovak 454 37 72 54 57 72 69 49 44 31
Spanish 218 17 20 28 23 29 31 38 32 12
Czech 217 22 20 25 24 21 45 33 27 19
Russian 84 7 16 6 12 14 11 4 14 9
Other languages 739 74 81 93 96 90 113 68 124 49
Basic schools for disabled children and youth 367 - - - 73 67 91 73 63 39
English 347 - - - 72 64 86 66 59 35
German 2 - - - - - 2 - - 1
Italian 18 - - - 1 3 3 7 4 3

1) See Notes on Methodology.

1.6 SPECIAL BASIC EDUCATION, SCHOOLS, PUPILS AND TEACHERS, END OF 2024/2025 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 143 35 47 61 18 488 11 440 2 346 1 455 2 542 1 582 1 905 1 254
Music schools 137 32 47 58 17 937 11 006 2 259 1 381 2 386 1 476 1 791 1 177
State 128 26 46 56 17 380 10 672 2 213 1 353 2 348 1 451 1 763 1 158
Private 9 6 1 2 557 334 46 28 38 25 28 19
Dance schools 6 3 - 3 551 434 87 74 156 106 114 77
State 6 3 - 3 551 434 87 74 156 106 114 77
Basic education of adults 17 3 - 14 647 258 314 139 … … … …
At basic schools - - - - - - - - … … … …
At other institutions 17 3 - 14 647 258 314 139 155 95 48 26

1) See Notes on Methodology.

G-1 PUPILS IN REGULAR BASIC SCHOOLS, BY ACHIEVEMENT AND SEX, END OF 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR

2 BASIC SCHOOLS – beginning of the 2025/2026 school year

At the beginning of the 2025/2026 school year, the number of basic schools and pupils did not significantly change, as compared to the beginning of the 2024/2025 school year. The share of female pupils was 48.5%.

The teacher/pupil ratio in regular education was 1 : 7.9. Out of the total number of repeaters, the larger share, 57.7%, related to male pupils. Most repeaters attended upper grades, 72.2% of them, with the highest share in the seventh grade, of 23.7%. Out of the total number of repeaters in the seventh grade, the larger share related to male pupils, 59.2%. The teacher/pupil ratio in the education of disabled children and youth was 1 : 1.6. The share of female teachers in regular education was 82.4%.

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 2.4%. Similarly, the percentage of pupils aged 15 and over was only 1.0%. Of that, 81.7% attended the eighth grade.

2.1 SCHOOLS, CLASS UNITS AND TEACHERS IN BASIC SCHOOLS, BEGINNING OF 2025/2026 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 1 925 18 696 37 053 30 542 28 134 24 258 8 919 6 284 31 618,07 26 742,43 13 776 17 258 6 019
State 1 895 18 423 36 389 30 032 27 694 23 895 8 695 6 137 31 097,11 26 320,07 13 522 16 974 5 893
Private 18 126 341 247 213 167 128 80 245,33 193,53 120 149 72
Of religious communities 12 147 323 263 227 196 96 67 275,63 228,83 134 135 54
Basic schools for disabled children and youth 100 384 1 244 1 068 1 092 952 152 116 1 143,21 991,50 316 452 476
State 100 384 1 244 1 068 1 092 952 152 116 1 143,21 991,50 316 452 476

1) See Notes on Methodology.

2.2 BASIC SCHOOLS BY COUNTIES, BEGINNING OF 2025/2026 SCHOOL YEAR

Counties Schools1) Class units Teachers1) Pupils
Total 1st – 4th grade 5th – 8th grade
Republic of Croatia 2 025 19 080 38 297 293 368 143 343 150 025
Zagreb 122 1 381 2 615 24 144 11 827 12 317
Krapina-Zagorje 80 588 1 124 8 614 4 174 4 440
Sisak-Moslavina 85 706 1 434 9 590 4 657 4 933
Karlovac 65 529 1 031 7 664 3 762 3 902
Varaždin 73 781 1 540 11 722 5 682 6 040
Koprivnica-Križevci 89 571 1 050 7 841 3 905 3 936
Bjelovar-Bilogora 92 601 1 146 7 563 3 667 3 896
Primorje-Gorski Kotar 106 1 196 2 557 18 429 9 019 9 410
Lika-Senj 43 280 583 3 013 1 512 1 501
Virovitica-Podravina 77 406 736 5 168 2 489 2 679
Požega-Slavonia 58 321 632 4 749 2 335 2 414
Slavonski Brod-Posavina 110 680 1 366 9 686 4 662 5 024
Zadar 116 898 1 670 13 143 6 441 6 702
Osijek-Baranja 186 1 467 2 661 18 714 9 027 9 687
Šibenik-Knin 49 454 939 6 602 3 171 3 431
Vukovar-Srijem 86 843 1 754 10 386 5 011 5 375
Split-Dalmatia 204 2 069 4 231 33 070 16 104 16 966
Istria 104 950 2 209 14 804 7 140 7 664
Dubrovnik-Neretva 65 656 1 283 9 313 4 567 4 746
Međimurje 60 584 1 242 9 076 4 595 4 481
City of Zagreb 155 3 119 6 494 60 077 29 596 30 481

1) See Notes on Methodology.

2.3 PUPILS IN BASIC SCHOOLS, BY GRADES, SEX AND YEAR OF BIRTH, BEGINNING OF 2025/2026 SCHOOL YEAR
  By year of birth
Total 2019 and after 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 and before
Basic schools – regular All 291 355 6 857 33 745 35 269 35 653 35 548 36 534 37 171 37 939 29 677 2 962
  Female pupils 141 648 3 603 16 636 17 156 17 483 17 318 17 740 18 079 18 259 14 178 1 196
1st grade All 35 919 6 483 27 257 2 028 128 10 6 3 4 - 0
  Female pupils 17 444 3 433 13 220 714 65 5 3 1 3 - 0
2nd grade All 35 627 64 6 409 26 843 2 102 172 13 17 3 3 1
  Female pupils 17 211 25 3 375 12 927 791 83 4 5 - 1 0
3rd grade All 35 573 48 78 6 355 26 746 2 021 288 25 7 3 2
  Female pupils 17 488 16 41 3 495 13 010 785 122 13 3 1 2
4th grade All 35 324 42 1 43 6 540 26 442 1 926 272 37 18 3
  Female pupils 17 252 16 - 20 3 568 12 788 719 119 13 8 1
5th grade All 36 591 50 - - 137 6 793 27 103 2 036 338 113 21
  Female pupils 17 759 22 - - 49 3 605 13 082 787 159 48 7
6th grade All 36 780 52 - - - 110 7 007 27 098 2 065 316 132
  Female pupils 17 849 28 - - - 52 3 717 13 055 791 142 64
7th grade All 38 170 67 - - - - 191 7 514 27 707 2 307 384
  Female pupils 18 375 33 - - - - 93 3 985 13 186 897 181
8th grade All 37 371 51 - - - - - 206 7 778 26 917 2 419
  Female pupils 18 270 30 - - - - - 114 4 104 13 081 941
Basic schools for disabled children and youth All 2 013 5 76 190 221 200 253 291 272 252 253
  Female pupils 662 3 19 65 77 62 80 100 99 86 71
1st grade All 192 5 68 99 16 2 - - 2 - -
  Female pupils 61 3 19 32 7 - - - - - -
2nd grade All 215 - 8 84 106 14 1 2 - - -
  Female pupils 62 - - 29 32 1 - - - - -
3rd grade All 227 - - 7 92 99 18 9 2 - -
  Female pupils 77 - - 4 34 29 5 3 2 - -
4th grade All 266 - - - 7 73 140 30 6 10 -
  Female pupils 84 - - - 4 27 40 10 2 1 -
5th grade All 270 - - - - 12 84 132 29 9 4
  Female pupils 90 - - - - 5 31 43 7 2 2
6th grade All 289 - - - - - 10 106 106 29 38
  Female pupils 110 - - - - - 4 39 46 9 12
7th grade All 307 - - - - - - 12 119 105 71
  Female pupils 97 - - - - - - 5 38 37 17
8th grade All 247 - - - - - - - 8 99 140
  Female pupils 81 - - - - - - - 4 37 40

G-2 PUPILS IN REGULAR BASIC SCHOOLS, BY SEX AND YEAR OF BIRTH, BEGINNING OF 2025/2026 SCHOOL YEAR

2.4 PUPILS IN BASIC SCHOOLS (INCLUDING REPEATERS), BY GRADES AND SEX, BEGINNING OF 2025/2026 SCHOOL YEAR
  Total Pupils in lower grades Pupils in upper grades
Total I II III IV Total V VI VII VIII
Basic schools – total 293 368 143 343 36 111 35 842 35 800 35 590 150 025 36 861 37 069 38 477 37 618
Female pupils 142 310 69 679 17 505 17 273 17 565 17 336 72 631 17 849 17 959 18 472 18 351
Repeaters 1 285 357 125 77 62 93 928 255 247 304 122
Female pupils 569 156 54 30 32 40 345 81 94 124 46
Basic schools – regular – total 291 355 142 443 35 919 35 627 35 573 35 324 148 912 36 591 36 780 38 170 37 371
Female pupils 141 648 69 395 17 444 17 211 17 488 17 252 72 253 17 759 17 849 18 375 18 270
Repeaters 1 222 332 119 75 58 80 890 243 234 296 117
Female pupils 484 150 52 30 32 36 334 77 90 121 46
State – total 287 217 140 372 35 385 35 086 35 091 34 810 146 845 36 063 36 224 37 674 36 884
Female pupils 139 750 68 453 17 192 16 971 17 260 17 030 71 297 17 521 17 588 18 155 18 033
Repeaters 1 220 332 119 75 58 80 888 242 233 296 117
Female pupils 484 150 52 30 32 36 334 77 90 121 46
Private – total 1 701 813 189 233 197 194 888 222 235 220 211
Female pupils 719 325 81 90 86 68 394 97 104 93 100
Repeaters 1 - - - - - 1 1 - - -
Female pupils - - - - - - - - - - -
Of religious communities –  total 2 437 1 258 345 308 285 320 1 179 306 321 276 276
Female pupils 1 179 617 171 150 142 154 562 141 157 127 137
Repeaters 1 - - - - - 1 - 1 - -
Female pupils - - - - - - - - - - -
Basic schools for disabled children and youth – total 2 013 900 192 215 227 266 1 113 270 289 307 247
Female pupils 662 284 61 62 77 84 378 90 110 97 81
Repeaters 63 25 6 2 4 13 38 12 13 8 5
Female pupils 85 6 2 - - 4 11 4 4 3 -
State – total 2 013 900 192 215 227 266 1 113 270 289 307 247
Female pupils 662 284 61 62 77 84 378 90 110 97 81
Repeaters 63 25 6 2 4 13 38 12 13 8 5
Female pupils 85 6 2 - - 4 11 4 4 3 -

2.5 SPECIAL BASIC EDUCATION: SCHOOLS, PUPILS AND TEACHERS, BEGINNING OF 2025/2026 SCHOOL YEAR
  Schools1) Pupils Teachers1)
Total Self- contained Satellite schools Departments Total Female pupils Total Women Full-time
All Women
Basic art schools 143 35 47 61 18 550 11 336 2 861 1 725 1 967 1 262
Music schools 137 32 47 58 17 948 10 863 2 690 1 607 1 852 1 182
State 128 26 46 56 17 394 10 533 2 556 1 532 1 818 1 160
Private 9 6 1 2 554 330 134 75 34 22
Dance schools 6 3 - 3 602 473 171 118 115 80
State 6 3 - 3 602 473 171 118 115 80

1) See Notes on Methodology.

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Sources and methods of data collection

The 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

The 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 acquire knowledge, concepts, skills, attitudes and habits necessary for living and work or for further education. The aims and tasks of basic education are realised according to established educational plans and programmes.

Basic 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 music and dance schools. The pupils are obliged to concurrently attend a regular basic school.

Basic education of adults is aimed at providing education for adults who have not obtained adequate basic education at the age 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 just by taking exams.

Data on pupils learning foreign languages refer to all pupils learning a language as their 1st or 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 basis, as well as persons employed on working contract basis and on author’s contract basis.

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 2024.

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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