President Ivo Josipovic on Monday stated in response to data released from the latest population census that he was concerned that Croatia's population was ageing and depleting.
"This is one of the most serious political, economic and cultural issues that Croatia is facing", he said adding that he hoped the census would be a stimulus to think about this problem.
This isn't only about the population diminishing but also about the fact that the working-age population in the country is depleting while an ageing population faces issues relating to the pension and health systems and the future of the population in Croatia, Josipovic said on Croatia's radio broadcaster's programme "Coffee with the president".
He said that it was interesting that 90% of the population identified themselves as Catholic and that only 0.76% identified themselves as agnostics, as he is. This goes to show that Croatian society is open, tolerant and not exclusive, he said.
Josipovic commented on Croatia's credit rating being downgraded and forewarned that this would deteriorate business conditions and borrowing money would be more expensive.
Asked about his expectations for 2013, the president said that he hoped Croatia could show that it was stronger than the crisis, he said.
