Zagreb - State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour Ivan Vidiš said on Wednesday that, compared with 2023, last year saw an increase in the share of insured persons receiving a combined pension from the first and second pillars.
In 2023, only 21% of pensioners were on a combined pension, but by the end of 2025 the figure had risen to 33%, Vidiš told the parliament during a debate on amendments to two laws governing capitalised pension savings.
Citing data from December last year, he said mandatory pension funds had more than 2.4 million members and managed assets exceeding €26.4 billion.
Pension funds are not only important for individuals but have also become a key player in capital markets and an important driver of economic development, he stressed.
According to him, voluntary pension funds managed €1.6 billion in assets in December 2025, up €213 million year on year, with more than 495,000 members and steady growth. Vidiš added that government reforms are already delivering results.
In December 2025, the average total pension including the annual supplement stood at €706. From 1 January this year, disability pensions will rise by 10%, penalties for early retirement will be abolished at age 70, and full-time work alongside payment of half a pension will be allowed from age 65, he said.
While MPs raised few objections to the EU-aligned amendments, opposition members criticised some existing practices.