The period 2007-2012, covered by the second European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS), was a critical time for Croatia, with EU integration on the horizon and the effects of the recession impacting all strands of the society. This report aimed to present trends and changes in the quality of life of the Croatian population from 2007 to 2012, by drawing from the relevant EQLS surveys. The key indices of quality of life include: perceived standards of living; material deprivation; housing; work and employment; work–life balance; quality of society in terms of trust in people and institutions; quality of public institutions; social tensions and social exclusion; physical and mental health; healthcare; and several indices of subjective well-being, such as life satisfaction, happiness and optimism.
Where appropriate, comparisons were also made between Croatia and the group of countries that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007. These data were analysed to reveal any differences in the socio-demographic characteristics of the Croatian population, such as age, gender, income, education, and type of settlement, which have been shown to affect quality of life in previous studies.
The publication Trends in quality of life Croatia: 2007-2012 has been published as part of this project.