Data Centers in Croatia

Croatia – Strategic Digital Gateway to Southeast Europe

Executive Summary

Croatia is an emerging data center market positioned to serve as a digital bridge into Southeast Europe and the Balkans. For businesses targeting this developing region, Croatia offers a stable European Union operating environment with improving connectivity. This allows companies to establish a reliable digital presence for delivering low-latency services and applications to millions of consumers.

Croatia: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

Croatia's digital infrastructure is steadily maturing, providing a good foundation for regional operations. The market features a mix of local and international providers centered primarily around the capital, Zagreb.

Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: With over 15 network providers active as of September 2025, the market offers choice in connectivity. Carrier-neutral facilities provide access to this ecosystem, ensuring competitive pricing and redundancy.

Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no direct, in-country public cloud on-ramps from major providers as of September 2025. Businesses connect to cloud regions by using network extensions or private line services to major hubs like Vienna, Austria, or Milan, Italy.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The primary national peering point is the Croatian Internet eXchange (CIX). CIX facilitates the majority of local traffic exchange, reducing latency for domestic users and improving performance.

Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are available, primarily from European providers with a presence in the region. Providers such as IONOS offer dedicated server solutions suitable for performance-sensitive workloads.

Power Analysis

Power in Croatia is characterized by high renewable energy use, though costs are a significant factor for large-scale operations.

Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity is priced at approximately €0.28/kWh as of December 2023. This rate is above the European average and is a key consideration for calculating the total cost of ownership for data center operations.

Power Grid Reliability: The national power grid is reliable, especially in Zagreb and other major economic areas where data centers are located. The energy mix is favorable, with renewables making up 68% of generation as of December 2023, providing a strong green energy profile.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Croatia’s location and EU membership provide a stable and strategic base for accessing markets across the Adriatic and Balkan regions.

Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers are concentrated in and around Zagreb, the nation's capital and primary economic hub. This provides low-latency connectivity to the country's financial, government, and technology sectors.

Regional Market Reach: From Croatia, organizations can effectively serve Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and other nations in the Western Balkans. Its coastal position also makes it a potential connectivity point for subsea cable systems in the Adriatic Sea.

Tax Advantage For Data Centers: The country currently offers no specific tax incentives for data center investment or operations. The standard corporate tax structure applies, making the business environment straightforward but without financial breaks to offset capital expenditures.

Natural Disaster Risk

Croatia has a low overall risk profile, with an INFORM Risk score of 2.5 out of 10 as of September 2025. However, specific geological and hydrological hazards require consideration in facility planning and site selection.

Key risks include:

• River Flood: The highest individual risk factor, particularly in areas near the Sava, Drava, and Danube rivers.
• Earthquake: The region has moderate seismic activity, requiring adherence to specific building codes for critical infrastructure.
• Tsunami & Coastal Flood: While less frequent, coastal areas along the Adriatic Sea have a documented risk that warrants evaluation for any facilities located near the shore.