Objectives: The aim of the study is to investigate the awareness and perceptions of the general population and nursing students in Sveta Nedelja regarding people with Down syndrome in order to identify differences that may affect their integration and quality of life. Study design: Comparative study. Respondents and methods: The study was conducted from March 14 to April 4, 2024, including the general population of Zagreb County and nursing students from Sveta Nedelja without specific selection criteria. The data was collected through an anonymous questionnaire distributed via digital channels and included socio-demographic data, awareness and perception of people with Down syndrome. Analysis was performed using frequencies, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, median and interquartile range, with Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests in SPSS. The research was conducted with informed consent, voluntary participation and confidentiality of the data, without the need for ethics committee approval. Results: The survey of 156 respondents shows a high level of awareness and a positive attitude towards people with Down syndrome. The majority of participants are women with higher education and an average age of 32, living in medium-sized cities. More than 75 % of respondents see people with Down syndrome as independent members of society and are in favour of their greater integration, equal educational opportunities and more social support for their families. In addition, 85.5 % feel comfortable interacting with them, while around 70 % emphasise the importance of social media in promoting Down syndrome awareness. The average overall score for awareness is 4.83, with no significant differences between groups. Conclusion: The research found that the general population and nursing students were similarly aware of the challenges of Down syndrome, acknowledging the importance of the media and social networks in raising awareness. Students emphasized the greater need for family support, better access to the job market and specific support in the education system.