In so many ways Dubrovnik holds a unique position in Croatia, not only is it geographically detached from the rest of the country but it also differs economically and culturally. Whereas the rest of the country is suffering from an exodus oy young, professional people to other European Union member states Dubrovnik is bucking the trend and is actually attracting more inhabitants.

The mass migration from Croatia had reached epidemic proportions and according to official figure just released by the Central Bureau of Statistic from 2013 to the end of 2017 a massive 150,000 Croatians left the country in search of a brighter future in Germany, Ireland, Sweden and further afield. This is roughly equivalent to Croatia losing 3 cities the size of Dubrovnik in just five years.

However, some cities, including Dubrovnik, have seen a growth in population over that period. Mainly due to the economic possibilities and tourism related industries coastal towns have seen workers and families relocating. Nine out the ten cities that have seen an increase in population are along the coast, with the only continental exception being Samobor.

And the Croatian city that has attracted the most new inhabitants is Dubrovnik. From 2011 to the end of 2017 the city saw a positive increase in the population by 1,545. The city has recently been voted as the Croatian city with the best quality of life and these figures would seem to confirm that Dubrovnik is a magnet not only for foreigners but also for Croatians.

Speaking to the media the Mayor of Dubrovnik, Mato Franković, commented that “Dubrovnik offers a wealth of opportunities for employment and the realization of personal plans for individuals and young families. The biggest challenge, however, is finding accommodation in the city and that is why the City of Dubrovnik has developed an original model of housing construction with a ten-year lease under favourable conditions and the possibility of redemption after the expiration of that deadline. The construction of the first 43 apartments on that model was recently started. Because of the strong labour force inflow, primarily in tourism, the biggest challenge for the future is their high quality accommodation.”