Who Is Zoran Milanović? Age, Biography and Wiki
Zoran Milanović was born on October 30, 1966, in Zagreb, Croatia. As of 2025, he is 58 years old. Graduating from the University of Zagreb with a degree in law, Milanović has built a distinguished political career. Initially a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), he served as Prime Minister of Croatia from 2011 to 2016, before being elected President in 2020. His tenure has been marked by a focus on national unity and international relations.
| Occupation | Prime Ministers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | October 30, 1966 |
| Age | 58 Years |
| Birth Place | Zagreb, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | Croatia |
Popularity
Zoran Milanović's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Zoran Milanović stands at an approximate height of 6 feet 0 inches (183 cm). While his weight is not publicly documented, his public appearances reflect a fit and healthy physique. As a public figure, his appearance complements his charismatic personality, which plays a crucial role in his leadership style.
In the Trial of Gotovina et al, following an initial guilty verdict in April 2011, Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markač were ultimately acquitted in November 2012. Milanović called the ruling "an important moment for Croatia", adding: "A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
I say thank you to them for surviving so long for the sake of Croatia." In September 2013 anti-Cyrillic protests started against the introduction of bilingual signs with Serbian Cyrillic alphabet in Vukovar.
Milanović condemned them as "chauvinist violence", saying he will not take down signs in Cyrillic in Vukovar as the "rule of law must prevail".
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Zoran Milanović is married to his long-time partner, however, details about a specific boyfriend have not been disclosed as he maintains a relatively private family life. He has two children from his marriage, but further information about his family is seldom revealed to the media. Milanović is known for his commitment to family values, which resonates well with his constituents.
His father, Stipe Milanović (1937–2019), was an economist, and his mother, Đurđica "Gina", a former teacher of English and German. His paternal family hails from the Sinj environs. He stated that his father's family roots going back a century or two are from Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
His paternal grandfather and paternal great-uncle, Ante and Ivan Milanović, respectively, from Glavice, joined the Yugoslav Partisans in 1942, taking part later in the liberation of Trieste. His maternal family Matasić is an old Senj bourgeois family, with some distant roots in Lika, Gacka valley.
His maternal grandmother and grandfather were Marija (Glavaš) and Stjepan Matasić, respectively. Stjepan Matasić was killed in 1943 when the Allies bombed German-occupied Senj.
Marija then moved with her children to Sušak, where she met Petar Plišić, a blacksmith from Ličko Lešće, whom she married and moved together with him to Zagreb, where they raised Đurđica and the rest of her siblings.
Plišić, was—as Milanović revealed in 2016—an Ustasha, a member of the paramilitary corps established by the Nazi-collaborationist government of the Independent State of Croatia. After World War II, he served two years in Stara Gradiška prison before being released.
Net Worth and Salary
Milanović's net worth in 2025 is estimated to be around $1 million, primarily accrued from his political career and previous positions in the public sector. His salary as President of Croatia is approximately $14,000 per month, which reflects the standard pay for the head of state in Croatia. Although not a billionaire, he has made a comfortable living through his roles in government and law.
The Milanović administration adopted a number of reforms in taxation in order to cope with the difficult economic situation. It raised the standard Value-added tax from 23% to 25% and introduced new VAT rates for goods and services that were not previously taxed. It also cut social insurance contributions and public-sector wages.
In October the Financial Operations and Pre-Bankruptcy Settlements Act was passed, which allowed firms that were unable to pay their bills to stay open during the bankruptcy proceedings and restructure their debts. Because of opposition by its coalition partner, HNS, property tax has not been expanded.
Career, Business and Investments
Zoran Milanović's political career spans over two decades. After serving as Prime Minister, he transitioned to the presidency, where he continues to influence Croatian politics. Besides politics, Milanović has interests in law and public policy. His investment portfolio remains largely undisclosed, further emphasizing his focus on public service rather than personal wealth accumulation.
The beginning of his prime ministership was marked by efforts to finalise the ratification process of Croatia's entry into the European Union and by the holding of the 2012 Croatian European Union membership referendum. His cabinet introduced changes to the tax code, passed a fiscalisation law and started several large infrastructure projects.
After the increase in the value of the Swiss franc, the government announced that all Swiss franc loans would be converted into euros. Milanović supported the expansion of same-sex couples' rights and introduced the Life Partnership Act.
After the inconclusive 2015 Croatian parliamentary election and more than two months of negotiations on forming a government, he was ultimately succeeded as prime minister by the nonpartisan technocrat Tihomir Orešković in January 2016.
After Orešković's government fell, Milanović led the four-party People's Coalition in the 2016 Croatian parliamentary election in September. In the election, his coalition suffered a surprise defeat to the centre-right Croatian Democratic Union and Milanović announced his withdrawal from politics.
He then entered the consulting business and worked as an advisor to Albanian prime minister Edi Rama.
Social Network
Milanović is an active figure on social media, where he engages with the public regarding national issues. He maintains profiles on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, where he shares updates about his work and insights into Croatian governance. His social media presence helps him connect with younger demographics, promoting transparency in his administration.
On 17 June 2019, Milanović announced that he would be running in the 2019–20 Croatian presidential election as the candidate of the SDP; he was officially nominated on 6 July.
He received the most votes (29.55%) in the first round of the election on 22 December 2019, ahead of incumbent president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović (26.65%), and was elected as the fifth president of Croatia in the runoff on 5 January 2020, with 52.66% of the vote.
He became the first presidential candidate in Croatian history to receive more votes than an incumbent officeholder in the first round of an election, the second person in Croatia to defeat an incumbent running for reelection and the first post-independence prime minister of Croatia to be elected head of state.
Education
Zoran Milanović graduated from the University of Zagreb, where he studied law. His education has played a fundamental role in shaping his approach to governance and lawmaking. Recognized for his articulate communication skills, Milanović often utilizes his educational background to address complex political issues effectively.
After graduating from the Zagreb Faculty of Law, Milanović started working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served as Advisor at the Croatian mission to the European Union and NATO in Brussels from 1996 to 1999. During the same year, he joined the SDP.
In 1998, he earned his master's degree in European Union law at the Free University Brussels and was an assistant to the Croatian foreign minister for political multilateral affairs in 2003. In June 2007, he was elected president of the SDP, following the death of the long-time party leader and former prime minister Ivica Račan.
Under Milanović's leadership the party finished in second place in the 2007 Croatian parliamentary election and was unable to form a majority government. Despite losing the election, he was reelected party leader in 2008. In 2011, Milanović initiated the formation of the Kukuriku Coalition, uniting four centre to centre-left political parties.
The coalition won an absolute majority in the 2011 Croatian parliamentary election, with the SDP itself becoming the largest party in the Croatian Parliament. Milanović became Prime Minister on 23 December 2011 after the Parliament approved his cabinet.
