According to estimates from the European Central Bank, the average Croatian citizen had 512 euros in cash last year, and as much as 57 percent of bank deposits in the country were in euros.
However, according to a survey by the analytical company GfK, it seems that most Croatian citizens do not possess any foreign currency – as many as 62 percent – and only 35 percent have euros. Those who possess euros mostly keep them as some form of emergency reserve.
The possession of euros increases proportionally with educational attainment and personal monthly income, and citizens who have euros are primarily from Dalmatia, Zagreb, and Istria with the Coast. Citizens who do not possess any foreign currency are most prevalent in Lika, Kordun, Banovina, Slavonia, and Northern Croatia, and are more often older than 55 years (over 70 percent of them).
More than 50 percent of respondents support the stance of the Croatian National Bank that Croatia should switch to the euro as soon as possible. However, respondents are divided on the likelihood of Croatia’s imminent transition to the euro, with 45 percent believing that it will indeed happen soon, while two percent more are uncertain whether it is possible or believe that it certainly will not happen soon. (T. B.)
