This country profile presents the administrative data collected in Croatia during the 2023–2024 data collection exercise with the support of national data providers and national researchers.
The list of 13 indicators developed by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) for the purposes of this data collection exercise is presented in Annex 1.
The data collected in other countries and the methodological report are published in EIGE’s Gender Statistics Database.
Key findings of EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise
The figure below outlines the main findings from EIGE’s most recent administrative data collection exercise on intimate partner violence and domestic violence in Croatia.
Figure 1Main findings
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Victims of domestic violence and any violence
- Roughly 4 out of 5 victims of domestic violence are women (79 % in 2022)
- Psychological violence is the most common form of violence recorded by police on an annual basis.
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Femicide
- In 2022, 48 % of victims killed by any perpetrator were women (13 out of 27)
- In 2022, police recorded 12 women victims of domestic homicide, and 6 women victims of intimate partner homicide.
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Rape
- In 2022, police recorded 467 women victims of rape committed by any perpetrator.
- 95 % of victims of rape committed by any perpetrator are women (according to data from 2022).
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Protecting victims of domestic violence
- In 2022, 1,813 protection orders were granted to total victims of domestic violence (including both female and male victims).
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Perpetrators reported and convicted for violence
- In 2022, 3,861 men were reported for offences of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic domestic violence.
- In the same year, 6,115 men were prosecuted for the misdemeanour offence of domestic violence, 4,567 were sentenced, and 353 men were held in prison.
Women are disproportionately affected by domestic violence
EIGE’s police indicators mainly collect data on victims of intimate partner violence, domestic violence and violence in ‘any relationship’. EIGE defines a victim as ‘a natural person who has suffered harm, including physical, mental or emotional harm or economic loss which was directly caused by a criminal offence’.
Findings from EIGE’s latest data collection exercise shows that domestic violence has the greatest impact on women. Women in Croatia comprise 79 % of domestic violence victims recorded by police (based on data from 2022).
At the same time, women are less represented among victims of violence in a broader context. In 2022, 54 % of victims of violence in ‘any relationship’ recorded by police were women.
Figure 2 Proportion of female victims of domestic violence, and violence in any relationship (Indicator 1), 2022
Domestic violence
EIGE defines domestic violence as ‘all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit, irrespective of biological or legal family ties, or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence as the victim’.
In Croatia, Article 10 of the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence defines domestic violence as any act of physical, psychological, economic violence or neglect that violates a person’s dignity and causes distress, physical or mental suffering. According to Article 8, the law applies to current and former spouses and partners, persons who have a common child (and their children), persons living in a joint household, and a child who has not reached the age of eighteen.
According to the latest data, women represent most domestic violence victims in Croatia (79 %). In 2022, 5,706 women victims of domestic violence were recorded by police.
During the year, police recorded an even greater number of offences of domestic violence against women victims (6,205 offences).
Figure 3 Annual number of female and total victims of domestic violence (Indicator 1), 2014-2022
Between 2014 and 2022, the annual number of women victims of domestic violence recorded by police increased. These changes may be due to improvements in data collection systems and processes for identifying victims. Moreover, some victims that were recorded by police in later years may have reported incidents of violence that occurred in earlier years (e.g., in response to new awareness raising campaigns or improved access to support services).
The police data recorded in Croatia sheds light on the extent to which women suffer from domestic violence. Findings of the EU survey on gender-based violence (EU-GBV survey) also show that, during adulthood, 15 % of women in Croatia have experienced physical violence (including threats) or sexual violence by a domestic perpetrator.
Victims of specific forms of violence in any relationship
As part of EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise, national data providers in Croatia shared data on the annual number of victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic violence recorded by police (Indicators 4-7).
The data retrieved in Croatia is not disaggregated by the victim perpetrator relationship (i.e., the figures refer to victims of violence committed by any perpetrator).
Figure 4 Annual number of female and total victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic violence in any relationship (Indicators 4-7), 2014-2022
Femicide: Number of women killed
EIGE defines femicide as ‘killing of women and girls because of their gender’. It is the most severe manifestation of gender-based violence. EIGE’s femicide classification framework distinguishes between killings committed by intimate partners and family members and other forms of femicide, which are less common.
In Croatia, a legal definition of femicide was introduced through amendments to the Criminal Code in 2024. Article 111a outlines penalties for the murder of women based on acts of gender-based violence.
Women are evenly represented among victims of homicide
Women represent roughly half (48 %) of homicide victims committed by any perpetrator, based on data from 2022.
Figure 5 Proportion of female victims of any homicide (Indicator 9), 2022
Number of women victims of homicide
In 2022, 13 women victims of homicide were recorded by police (out of 27 total victims). In the same year, police recorded 12 women victims of domestic homicide, and 6 women victims of intimate partner homicide.
Figure 6 Annual number of female victims of intimate partner homicide, domestic homicide and homicide in any relationship (indicator 9), 2014–2022
Most femicide victims experience non-lethal forms of gender-based violence before they are killed. Femicide is often the culmination of a pattern of abuse.
According to the EU-GBV survey, women victims of intimate partner violence experience significant consequences to their mental and physical wellbeing. The data also shows that only about 1 in 5 victims of intimate partner violence in Croatia report to police (18 %). For these reasons, authorities should raise awareness on the ‘warning sings’ of femicide and enhance access to support services for victims.
Rape: Number of women victims
EIGE defines rape as ‘sexual penetration, whether vaginal, anal or oral, through the use of object or body parts, without consent, using force, coercion or by taking advantage of the vulnerability of the victim’.
In Croatia, rape is criminalised under the Criminal Code. Article 153 criminalises sexual intercourse with another person without their consent; forcing another person to have sexual intercourse with a third person without their consent; or having sexual intercourse with a third person without their consent.
EIGE’s findings show that almost all victims rape are women. In 2022, 467 women victims of rape committed by any perpetrator were recorded by police. Women represented almost all (95 %) of rape victims during the year (467 out of 493).
Figure 7 Annual number of female and total victims of rape in any relationship (Indicator 8), 2014-2022
In 2022, the police recorded even higher numbers of victims of sexual violence committed by any perpetrator (see the section ‘Victims of specific forms of violence in any relationship’). This is because sexual violence encompasses a wider range of offences, including rape and sexual assault.
Protecting victims of domestic violence
A protection order, in the context of violence against women, is defined as ‘a legal injunction that requires an offender to refrain from doing certain acts and to stay away from the victim’. Protection orders can be adopted under criminal or civil laws. They are fast legal remedies to protect people at risk of any form of violence by prohibiting or restraining certain behaviour by the perpetrators.
In 2022, 1,813 protection orders were granted to total victims of the misdemeanour offence of domestic violence.
From 2014 to 2022, the number of protection orders granted to victims of the offence gradually declined, dropping from 3,474 in 2014 to 1,813 in 2022. One reason for this decrease is the adoption of the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence, which took effect in January 2018. This law prescribed fewer protective measures that can be imposed on perpetrators compared to the previous law. However, the latest amendments to the law have increased fines for all forms of domestic violence, and imprisonment is now the exclusive penalty for violating protective measures. It is also important to note the reduction in the number of defendants over the same period, which contributed to the decrease in protective measures imposed. Additionally, the migration of data on misdemeanour cases to another information system after 2020 required some time for data consolidation.
Figure 8 Annual number of protection orders granted to total victims of the misdemeanour offence of domestic violence (Indicator 10), 2014-2022
Perpetrators of intimate partner and domestic violence
Perpetrators are defined as ‘persons brought into formal contact with the police and suspected/arrested or cautioned for a criminal offence of IPV [intimate partner violence]’.
Most of EIGE’s indicators collect data on all perpetrators (including male and female perpetrators). However, the data for indicators 3 and 11–13 (on perpetrators reported, prosecuted, sentenced and held in prison) refers strictly to male perpetrators.
Perpetrators reported for domestic violence
In 2022, 3,861 men were reported to police for domestic violence (against both female and male victims).
Between 2018 and 2019, the number of men reported for domestic violence increased significantly. This increase is due to changes in the types of offences recorded:
- In 2017, the data only relates to physical domestic violence.
- In 2018, the data relates to both physical and sexual domestic violence.
- In 2019-2022, the data relates to physical, psychological, sexual, and economic domestic violence.
Figure 9 Annual number of male perpetrators reported for domestic violence against total victims (Indicator 3), 2017-2022
Perpetrators prosecuted, sentenced, and held in prison for domestic violence
Data is also available in Croatia on the annual number of men prosecuted, sentenced, and held in prison for the misdemeanour offence of ‘domestic violence’. Findings from EIGE’s data collection exercise show, in 2022:
- 6,115 men were prosecuted for the misdemeanour offence of domestic violence against total victims.
- 4,567 men were sentenced for the misdemeanour offence of domestic violence against total victims.
- 353 men were held in prison for the misdemeanour offence of domestic violence against total victims.
Figure 10 Annual number of male perpetrators prosecuted, sentenced, and held in prison for the misdemeanour offence of domestic violence against total victims (Indicators 11-13), 2014-2022
Perpetrators sentenced for domestic violence against an intimate partner
In addition, data is also available in Croatia on the annual number of men sentenced for the misdemeanour offence of domestic violence, specifically against an intimate partner.
In 2022, 1,744 men were sentenced for domestic violence against an intimate partner. During the year, 99 % of men sentenced for this type of violence had committed their crimes against women (1,744 out of 1,763).
Figure 11 Annual number of male perpetrators sentenced for domestic violence against an intimate partner (Indicator 12), 2014-2022
Although the conviction of violent perpetrators is important to ensure justice for victims, the judicial process can be stressful and traumatic for those victimised. Findings from the EU-GBV survey reveal, while most women victims of violence in Croatia are aware of the existence of support services (86 %), less than half (48 %) are aware of the existence of free legal aid.
Free legal aid is vital for victims as it removes financial barriers and empowers them to take action. Legal representatives often coordinate with other services and help secure long-term solutions like custody arrangements and financial independence, reducing the risk of revictimization and aiding in the recovery process. Thus, it is crucial that victims have access to legal guidance during criminal proceedings.
Summary of data availability and next steps
Findings from EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise in Croatia underscore the persistent threat of violence to the safety and well-being of women and girls.
The collection of robust administrative data on intimate partner violence and domestic violence is essential to ensure effective policymaking, resource allocation, and the development of targeted interventions to support victims and prevent further violence.
EIGE’s research shows that, in Croatia, police data is available on victims, perpetrators and offences of domestic violence and violence in any relationship. However, data is not available on intimate partner violence.
Data is also available on female and total victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic violence, but these figures are not disaggregated by the victim-perpetrator relationship (i.e., they pertain to violence committed by any perpetrator more broadly).
Data is available on the annual number of female victims of homicide committed by intimate partners and domestic perpetrators. Data is also available on female and total victims of homicide committed by any perpetrator.
Regarding data on rape, EIGE managed to retrieve data on the annual number of female and total victims of rape committed by any perpetrator. However, these figures are not disaggregated by the victim-perpetrator relationship (i.e., they pertain to rape committed by any perpetrator more broadly).
Data is available on protection orders granted to total victims of domestic violence, but not for female victims specifically. Moreover, no data has been shared on protection orders for victims of intimate partner violence or violence in any relationship.
Finally, data has been shared on male perpetrators reported to police for physical, psychological, sexual, and economic domestic violence. EIGE also managed to retrieve data on men prosecuted, sentenced, and held in prison for the misdemeanour offence of domestic violence. However, most of the perpetrator data collected is not disaggregated by gender. This makes it challenging to explore the extent to which men are brought to justice for violence against women.
In May 2024, the EU adopted Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence. Article 44 establishes that Member States must work with EIGE to collect administrative data on these forms of violence and must adhere to common standards. EIGE remains committed to supporting Member States in their efforts to collect comprehensive, reliable data on violence against women and domestic violence.
Further details on the data collected during EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise are available in EIGE’s Gender Statistics Database and on its website.
Annexes
Annex 1: List of EIGE’s 13 indicators on intimate partner violence and domestic violence