The standard of living for Croatian citizens has slightly improved in 2023 and was approximately a fifth lower than the European Union average, according to estimates from the European statistical office.

Eurostat measures the standard by real individual consumption per capita, which shows how much goods and services individuals consume, whether they pay for them themselves or the costs are borne by governments or non-governmental organizations, note officials at the European statistical office.

Real individual consumption (RIC) per capita is expressed in purchasing power standards, an artificial currency that eliminates price differences between countries.

Luxembourg has rounded off ten years at the top of the list of member states with the highest standard expressed in real individual consumption per capita, 38% higher than the European average in 2022, which had decreased due to the crisis.

Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany follow with consumption about 17% above the Union average.

Romania leads the group of countries with a lag of 10 to 15%. Back in 2013, it lagged behind the average by as much as 44%.

Croatia is grouped with Estonia and Greece with real individual consumption per capita in 2023 being 22% lower than the EU average. In 2022, it was lower by 24%, and 10 years earlier, in 2013, it lagged behind the Union average by 36%.

Last year, according to real individual consumption indicators, Slovakia, Latvia, Bulgaria, and Hungary recorded the lowest standards, lagging behind the average by 25 to 30%.

Luxembourg also maintained its position as the country with the highest GDP per capita last year, approximately 2.4 times higher than the EU average.

Eurostat again notes the high share of foreign workers in the principality's workforce.

"Although these workers contribute to GDP, they are not included in the residential population used to calculate GDP per capita."

Luxembourg deviates significantly less from the EU average in the category of real individual consumption because foreign workers spend income in their home countries, statisticians explain.

Ireland confirmed second place with GDP per capita approximately twice the Union average, calculated by Eurostat. The Netherlands, Denmark, and Austria exceeded the average by 20 to 30%.

Malta, France, Italy, and Cyprus reported averages, while Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Spain lagged behind by about 10%.

Last year, Croatia ranked alongside Hungary with GDP per capita lower than the average by 24%. In 2022, it lagged behind the Union average by 27%, and in 2013 by 38%.

Greece and Bulgaria recorded the lowest GDP per capita last year, 33% and 36% lower than the Union average, according to Eurostat estimates.