July the 30th, 2026 – Croatia’s greatest strength is the outstanding English skills of its population, according to a recently commissioned global outsourcing study.
Croatia’s strongest competitive advantage on the global outsourcing market is its exceptional command of the English language, according to the 2026 Global Talent Index for Outsourcing published by the U.S. consulting company Ataraxis. Katarina Kusec reports for Poslovni that the study assessed 193 UN-recognised countries using five key criteria: labour costs, English proficiency, talent availability, digital infrastructure and political stability.
The report highlights Croatia as one of the emerging success stories in Europe’s outsourcing industry, which is worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually and is no longer dominated solely by traditional outsourcing hubs such as India and the Philippines. Eastern European countries are becoming increasingly competitive, with Croatia standing out as a “hidden gem” in the European market.
croatia’s english skills see it receive 100 out of 100
According to the study, Croatia is one of only two countries in Eastern Europe, alongside Romania, to achieve a perfect score of 100 out of 100 for English proficiency. This places Croatia alongside native English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States and South Africa, giving it a significant advantage when competing for international business.
The report notes that strong English skills are only part of Croatia’s appeal. The country also scored 90 out of 100 for digital infrastructure and 84 out of 100 for labour costs, creating a balanced profile that is attractive to companies looking to outsource high-value work. Croatia is home to almost 70,000 technology professionals, providing a solid foundation for further growth in the sector.
500 new croatian ict companies are established yearly
The country’s technology industry is also expanding rapidly. According to HUP-ICT, around 500 new ICT companies are established in Croatia every year, making it one of the most dynamic parts of the national economy.
Croatia’s digital infrastructure also compares favourably with the rest of Europe. The country has 82.7% coverage of very high-capacity broadband networks, 77.9% fibre-to-the-premises coverage, and 97.8% 5G network coverage, placing it above the European average in several key categories. These factors strengthen Croatia’s position as an attractive destination for international companies seeking outsourcing partners.
The Ataraxis report concludes that Croatia’s combination of excellent English proficiency, competitive labour costs, strong digital infrastructure and a growing technology sector gives it a unique opportunity to attract more international outsourcing projects and strengthen its position in the global digital economy.
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