In Croatia, active 70.6% of registered business entities

In June, Croatia recorded a total of 258,651 registered business entities, with 70.6 percent, equivalent to 182,724, being active, according to data released by the State Statistical Office (DZS). The figures reflect the current state of the country's business landscape as of the end of June this year. The majority of these registered entities were trading companies, numbering 178,104. Of these, 83.4 percent, or 148,473, were active. Other types of legal entities included institutions, bodies, associations, and organizations, totaling 78,604, of which 33,668 were active. Cooperatives accounted for 1,943 registered entities, with 583 being active. Additionally, there were 114,001 active businesses operating in trade and free professions. Data on the structure of business entities based on their activities show that half of all registered and active entities are concentrated in four main sectors. These include retail trade, which accounts for 11 percent of registered entities and 12.6 percent of active ones; manufacturing industry, representing 6.8 percent of registered and 8.5 percent of active entities; professional, scientific, and technical activities, making up 10.7 percent of registered and 13.2 percent of active entities; and other service activities, comprising 21.2 percent of registered and 13.6 percent of active entities. Profit-oriented businesses make up 81.6 percent of all active business entities. Their distribution across economic activities reveals that they are predominantly found in five key areas: retail trade (15.3 percent), professional, scientific, and technical activities (16.1 percent), manufacturing industry (10.4 percent), construction (15.3 percent), and accommodation and food services (8.7 percent). Private ownership is the most common form of business entity ownership, accounting for 80.8 percent of active entities, or 147,675. State-owned entities represent 0.8 percent, mixed ownership 0.3 percent, cooperative ownership 0.3 percent, and for 17.8 percent of legal entities, ownership status is unknown. Among active legal entities, the largest group consists of companies employing one to nine workers, making up 54.2 percent or 99,049 entities. A further 34.8 percent, or 63,575 entities, have no employees. Additionally, 15,516 entities employ between 10 and 49 workers, 3,952 employ between 50 and 249 workers, 350 entities employ between 250 and 499 workers, and 282 entities employ 500 or more workers. In the case of trading companies, the dominant legal structure is a limited liability company, with 74 percent of registered entities and 74.8 percent of active entities adopting this form. Simple limited liability companies follow, with 25 percent of registered and 24.3 percent of active entities falling into this category. Geographically, less than one-third of all registered business entities are located in the city of Zagreb. This highlights the uneven distribution of business activity across different regions within Croatia.