More than a third of Croats cannot afford even a week of annual leave

(Patria) - According to the latest Eurostat data for 2024, as many as 27 percent of EU residents cannot afford a week of annual leave away from home once a year.

Although this is the average for the European Union, differences among member states are significant, reports HRT.

The worst situation is in Romania, where as many as 58.6% of the population cannot afford annual leave. It is followed by Greece with 46%, Bulgaria with 41.4%, and Hungary with 39.3%.

Among the countries with the highest percentage is also Croatia, where 34.7% of citizens do not have the financial means for a week of vacation.

At the other end of the scale are the Netherlands (13%), Sweden (11.6%), and Luxembourg (8.9%).

The most popular period for taking annual leave is precisely the summer months, and a survey by the MojPosao portal showed that 79 percent of respondents plan to go on a summer holiday.

Every third resident of Croatia will spend between two and three weeks on summer vacation (33 percent of respondents in both cases), and psychologists also recommend this amount of annual leave as the optimal period for a break from work and "recharging batteries".

When it comes to destinations, citizens still plan to travel within Croatia (71 percent), while only a smaller number of respondents plan to travel outside Croatia's borders (20 percent).

Some, although a small portion - nine percent, will go on summer vacation both in Croatia and abroad.

Those traveling outside Croatia plan to spend more, on average 1,898 euros.

In comparison, respondents planning a summer vacation within Croatia plan to spend around 1,330 euros. However, these more expensive vacations often last shorter.