The Croatian football league system is a series of connected leagues for club football in Croatia. This system has hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between leagues at different levels. Last revision of league system was made in 2022:
Men's league system Update: August 2026 TierLeagues1HNL10 clubs2Prva NL16 clubs3Druga NL16 clubs4Treća NL West16 clubsTreća NL Center16 clubsTreća NL North16 clubsTreća NL East16 clubsTreća NL South16 clubs5Četvrta NL Rijeka14 clubsČetvrta NL Središte Zagreb32 clubs (2 groups)without inter-county leaguewithout inter-county leagueMŽNL Osijek-Vinkovci16 clubsMŽNL Brod-Požega14 clubswithout inter-county league6Elite League of Istria County14 clubs First League of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County14 clubs League of Lika-Senj County7 clubsFirst League of Zagreb16 clubs Premier League of Zagreb County18 clubs First League of Sisak-Moslavina County14 clubs First League of Karlovac County8 clubs First League of Krapina-Zagorje County10 clubsPremier League of Međimurje County14 clubs Elite League of Varaždin County12 clubsFirst League of Bjelovar-Bilogora County14 clubs Elite League of Koprivnica-Križevci County14 clubs Premier League of Virovitica-Podravina County13 clubsFirst league of Osijek-Baranja County16 clubs First league of Vukovar-Syrmia County16 clubsFirst League of Brod-Posavina County14 clubs First League of Požega-Slavonia County12 clubsFirst League of Dubrovnik-Neretva County12 clubs First League of Split-Dalmatia County14 clubs First League of Šibenik-Knin County7 clubs First League of Zadar County14 clubs 7First League of Istria County12 clubs Second League of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County7 clubsSecond League of Zagreb13 clubs Unified First League of Zagreb County16 clubs Second League of Sisak-Moslavina County22 clubs(2 groups) Second League of Karlovac County13 clubs Second League of Krapina-Zagorje County10 clubsFirst League of Međimurje County14 clubs First League of Varaždin County12 clubsSecond League of Bjelovar-Bilogora County14 clubs First League of Koprivnica-Križevci County14 clubs First League of Virovitica-Podravina County14 clubsSecond league of Osijek-Baranja County71 clubs(6 groups) Second League of Vukovar-Syrmia County32 clubs(3 groups)Second League of Brod-Posavina County24 clubs(2 groups) Second League of Požega-Slavonia County11 clubsSecond League of Dubrovnik-Neretva County9 clubs Second League of Split-Dalmatia County10 clubs Second League of Zadar County9 clubs8Second League of Istria County19 clubs(2 groups)Second League of Zagreb County23 clubs(2 groups)Second League of Međimurje County14 clubs Second League of Varaždin County14 clubsThird League of Bjelovar-Bilogora County24 clubs(2 groups) Second League of Koprivnica-Križevci County14 clubs Second League of Virovitica-Podravina County19 clubs(2 groups)Third League of Osijek-Baranja County36 clubs(4 groups) Third League of Vinkovci10 clubs Third League of Brod-Posavina County22 clubs(2 groups)Championship of the island of Hvar9 clubs9Third League of Međimurje County16 clubs(2 groups) Third League of Varaždin County18 clubs(2 groups)Third League of Koprivnica-Križevci County12 clubs Third League of Virovitica-Podravina County14 clubs(2 groups) Evolution of the Croatian league system
Tier\Years 1992–95 1995–97 1997–2006 2006–12 2012–22 2022–present 1 Prva HNL Prva A HNL Prva HNL HNL 2 Druga HNL Prva B HNL Druga HNL Prva NL 3 Treća HNL Druga HNL Treća HNL Druga NL 4 Lower Treća HNL Lower Četvrta HNL Lower Treća NL 5 Lower Lower Lower 6 7 8
Women's league system Update: January 2024 TierLeagues1Prva HNLŽ8 clubs2Druga HNLŽ Group A8 clubsDruga HNLŽ Group B6 clubs Group A consist of counties in central, south and west Croatia. Group B consist of counties in east and north Croatia.
Futsal league system Update: January 2024 TierMen's leagues1HMNL10 clubs2Prva HMNL10 clubs3Druga HMNL Center8 clubsDruga HMNL East6 clubsDruga HMNL South12 clubs4League of Jastrebarsko10 clubsLeague of Dubrovnik-Neretva County11 clubsLeague of Split-Dalmatia County10 clubsLeague of Šibenik-Knin County12 clubs Prva HMNLŽ (women futsal league) has 8 clubs and at this moment is the only women's futsal league in Croatia.
External links League321.com – Croatian football league tables, records & statistics database. RSSSF.com – Croatian football league tables and results 2015–16.
References