ZAGREB, 27 May (Hina) - Croatia will allow citizens to access a new central population register from 1 June and update or correct selected data until the end of October, officials said on Tuesday, adding that from 1 January 2027 the system will become the official basis for accessing social and other rights.

The Central Population Register was presented by Finance Minister Tomislav Ćorić, Tax Administration head Božidar Kutleša and Finance Ministry State Secretary Tereza Rogić-Lugarić.

Ćorić said the register would be available for citizens to review from 1 June, while from 2027 it would be used by all government bodies and by the government in shaping economic policy.

He said the system would significantly improve public administration efficiency and fiscal policymaking, allowing for more targeted state measures and benefits.

Officials said the register would comply with EU data protection rules and that access would be limited to authorised users with a clear legal basis.

The system is intended to reduce administrative burdens by allowing institutions and local authorities to draw data directly from a single database.

The introduction of the register will effectively replace traditional population censuses, which will be conducted continuously from 2027, Ćorić said.

The project cost €13.8 million, compared with around €23 million for the most recent census, said Kutleša.

The register will consolidate data from existing administrative sources, including personal identification numbers, names, residence, education, employment, insurance status, housing conditions and other official records, as well as voluntarily provided information such as cohabitation status, religion, language and nationality.

It will cover all Croatian citizens, foreign residents and Croatian citizens living abroad, or around 5.64 million people.