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Population in China compared to Croatia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 3,866,200 people in Croatia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 3,812,193 in Croatia.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 368 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Croatia is the 129th.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.05% for Croatia.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs -0.82% in Croatia.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Croatia has declined from 4.31M to 3.81M (11.6% decline).

China vs Croatia: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Croatia
2100 633,320,628 2,137,465
2099 643,959,697 2,155,186
2098 654,691,595 2,173,108
2097 665,517,335 2,190,995
2096 676,438,150 2,209,326
2095 687,457,915 2,227,698
2094 698,589,897 2,246,224
2093 709,852,629 2,264,550
2092 721,251,520 2,283,068
2091 732,791,748 2,301,556
2090 744,501,355 2,319,851
2089 756,404,299 2,338,604
2088 768,478,316 2,357,581
2087 780,707,622 2,376,274
2086 793,081,006 2,395,139
2085 805,608,315 2,414,304
2084 818,268,277 2,433,813
2083 830,972,107 2,453,361
2082 843,721,746 2,473,204
2081 856,534,631 2,493,128
2080 869,351,919 2,513,378
2079 882,146,959 2,534,101
2078 894,889,246 2,554,982
2077 907,592,919 2,576,370
2076 920,280,380 2,597,887
2075 932,956,157 2,619,688
2074 945,631,173 2,641,342
2073 958,352,980 2,663,253
2072 971,115,895 2,685,714
2071 983,938,054 2,708,053
2070 996,853,418 2,730,187
2069 1,009,905,851 2,753,302
2068 1,023,081,790 2,776,996
2067 1,036,420,010 2,800,742
2066 1,049,887,382 2,824,811
2065 1,063,477,623 2,848,913
2064 1,077,206,695 2,872,881
2063 1,090,982,303 2,897,651
2062 1,104,833,556 2,922,653
2061 1,118,682,849 2,947,832
2060 1,132,504,136 2,973,162
2059 1,146,199,736 2,998,389
2058 1,159,714,746 3,023,822
2057 1,172,963,523 3,049,085
2056 1,185,938,083 3,074,796
2055 1,198,550,408 3,100,195
2054 1,210,749,681 3,125,459
2053 1,222,500,569 3,151,016
2052 1,233,808,926 3,176,316
2051 1,244,584,333 3,201,973
2050 1,254,824,040 3,227,869
2049 1,264,598,914 3,253,597
2048 1,273,885,471 3,279,316
2047 1,282,701,271 3,305,051
2046 1,291,133,690 3,330,260
2045 1,299,154,327 3,355,638
2044 1,306,805,350 3,381,196
2043 1,314,176,710 3,406,105
2042 1,321,319,298 3,430,854
2041 1,328,219,755 3,455,487
2040 1,334,857,481 3,479,631
2039 1,341,265,381 3,503,577
2038 1,347,407,165 3,527,583
2037 1,353,377,505 3,551,581
2036 1,359,133,287 3,574,520
2035 1,364,651,508 3,596,996
2034 1,369,940,557 3,620,363
2033 1,375,003,005 3,643,692
2032 1,379,784,204 3,667,478
2031 1,384,301,522 3,691,842
2030 1,388,520,533 3,715,373
2029 1,392,490,007 3,739,203
2028 1,396,163,778 3,762,505
2027 1,399,515,824 3,787,023
2026 1,402,578,808 3,812,193
2025 1,405,826,385 3,838,346
2024 1,408,975,000 3,866,200
2023 1,410,710,000 3,859,686
2022 1,412,175,000 3,855,641
2021 1,412,360,000 3,878,981
2020 1,411,100,000 3,914,206
2019 1,407,745,000 3,949,390
2018 1,402,760,000 3,988,775
2017 1,396,215,000 4,041,407
2016 1,387,790,000 4,106,867
2015 1,379,860,000 4,151,725
2014 1,371,860,000 4,201,598
2013 1,363,240,000 4,233,922
2012 1,354,190,000 4,260,368
2011 1,345,035,000 4,280,622
2010 1,337,705,000 4,295,427
2009 1,331,260,000 4,305,181
2008 1,324,655,000 4,309,705
2007 1,317,885,000 4,310,217
2006 1,311,020,000 4,311,159
2005 1,303,720,000 4,310,145
2004 1,296,075,000 4,304,600
2003 1,288,400,000 4,303,399
2002 1,280,400,000 4,302,174
2001 1,271,850,000 4,299,642
2000 1,262,645,000 4,468,302
1999 1,252,735,000 4,512,597
1998 1,241,935,000 4,532,135
1997 1,230,075,000 4,534,920
1996 1,217,550,000 4,557,097
1995 1,204,855,000 4,620,030
1994 1,191,835,000 4,652,024
1993 1,178,440,000 4,600,463
1992 1,164,970,000 4,575,818
1991 1,150,780,000 4,689,022
1990 1,135,185,000 4,777,368
1989 1,118,650,000 4,767,260
1988 1,101,630,000 4,755,207
1987 1,084,035,000 4,739,745
1986 1,066,790,000 4,721,446
1985 1,051,040,000 4,701,417
1984 1,036,825,000 4,680,285
1983 1,023,310,000 4,658,254
1982 1,008,630,000 4,634,234
1981 993,885,000 4,611,509
1980 981,235,000 4,599,782
1979 969,005,000 4,594,778
1978 956,165,000 4,581,085
1977 943,455,000 4,559,571
1976 930,685,000 4,535,934
1975 916,395,000 4,512,082
1974 900,350,000 4,490,660
1973 881,940,000 4,470,161
1972 862,030,000 4,450,564
1971 841,105,000 4,431,275
1970 818,315,000 4,412,252
1969 796,025,000 4,391,490
1968 774,510,000 4,365,628
1967 754,550,000 4,338,683
1966 735,400,000 4,310,701
1965 715,185,000 4,280,923
1964 698,355,000 4,252,876
1963 682,335,000 4,225,675
1962 665,770,000 4,196,712
1961 660,330,000 4,167,292
1960 667,070,000 4,140,181

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/china/croatia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Croatia lost 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Croatia's population decreased by 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Croatia was ranked 120th in 2006 and ranked 129th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Croatia will decrease by 15.3% to 3,227,869 people and rank change from 129th to 139th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 34.4% of the population in China and 31.9% in Croatia.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Croatia
2100 -1.65% -0.82%
2099 -1.64% -0.82%
2098 -1.63% -0.82%
2097 -1.61% -0.83%
2096 -1.6% -0.82%
2095 -1.59% -0.82%
2094 -1.59% -0.81%
2093 -1.58% -0.81%
2092 -1.57% -0.8%
2091 -1.57% -0.79%
2090 -1.57% -0.8%
2089 -1.57% -0.8%
2088 -1.57% -0.79%
2087 -1.56% -0.79%
2086 -1.56% -0.79%
2085 -1.55% -0.8%
2084 -1.53% -0.8%
2083 -1.51% -0.8%
2082 -1.5% -0.8%
2081 -1.47% -0.81%
2080 -1.45% -0.82%
2079 -1.42% -0.82%
2078 -1.4% -0.83%
2077 -1.38% -0.83%
2076 -1.36% -0.83%
2075 -1.34% -0.82%
2074 -1.33% -0.82%
2073 -1.31% -0.84%
2072 -1.3% -0.82%
2071 -1.3% -0.81%
2070 -1.29% -0.84%
2069 -1.29% -0.85%
2068 -1.29% -0.85%
2067 -1.28% -0.85%
2066 -1.28% -0.85%
2065 -1.27% -0.83%
2064 -1.26% -0.85%
2063 -1.25% -0.86%
2062 -1.24% -0.85%
2061 -1.22% -0.85%
2060 -1.19% -0.84%
2059 -1.17% -0.84%
2058 -1.13% -0.83%
2057 -1.09% -0.84%
2056 -1.05% -0.82%
2055 -1.01% -0.81%
2054 -0.96% -0.81%
2053 -0.92% -0.8%
2052 -0.87% -0.8%
2051 -0.82% -0.8%
2050 -0.77% -0.79%
2049 -0.73% -0.78%
2048 -0.69% -0.78%
2047 -0.65% -0.76%
2046 -0.62% -0.76%
2045 -0.59% -0.76%
2044 -0.56% -0.73%
2043 -0.54% -0.72%
2042 -0.52% -0.71%
2041 -0.5% -0.69%
2040 -0.48% -0.68%
2039 -0.46% -0.68%
2038 -0.44% -0.68%
2037 -0.42% -0.64%
2036 -0.4% -0.62%
2035 -0.39% -0.65%
2034 -0.37% -0.64%
2033 -0.35% -0.65%
2032 -0.33% -0.66%
2031 -0.3% -0.63%
2030 -0.29% -0.64%
2029 -0.26% -0.62%
2028 -0.24% -0.65%
2027 -0.22% -0.66%
2026 -0.23% -0.68%
2025 -0.22% -0.72%
2024 -0.12% 0.17%
2023 -0.1% 0.1%
2022 -0.01% -0.6%
2021 0.09% -0.9%
2020 0.24% -0.89%
2019 0.36% -0.99%
2018 0.47% -1.3%
2017 0.61% -1.59%
2016 0.57% -1.08%
2015 0.58% -1.19%
2014 0.63% -0.76%
2013 0.67% -0.62%
2012 0.68% -0.47%
2011 0.55% -0.34%
2010 0.48% -0.23%
2009 0.5% -0.1%
2008 0.51% -0.01%
2007 0.52% -0.02%
2006 0.56% 0.02%
2005 0.59% 0.13%
2004 0.6% 0.03%
2003 0.62% 0.03%
2002 0.67% 0.06%
2001 0.73% -3.77%
2000 0.79% -0.98%
1999 0.87% -0.43%
1998 0.96% -0.06%
1997 1.03% -0.49%
1996 1.05% -1.36%
1995 1.09% -0.69%
1994 1.14% 1.12%
1993 1.16% 0.54%
1992 1.23% -2.41%
1991 1.37% -1.85%
1990 1.48% 0.21%
1989 1.54% 0.25%
1988 1.62% 0.33%
1987 1.62% 0.39%
1986 1.5% 0.43%
1985 1.37% 0.45%
1984 1.32% 0.47%
1983 1.46% 0.52%
1982 1.48% 0.49%
1981 1.29% 0.25%
1980 1.26% 0.11%
1979 1.34% 0.3%
1978 1.35% 0.47%
1977 1.37% 0.52%
1976 1.56% 0.53%
1975 1.78% 0.48%
1974 2.09% 0.46%
1973 2.31% 0.44%
1972 2.49% 0.44%
1971 2.78% 0.43%
1970 2.8% 0.47%
1969 2.78% 0.59%
1968 2.65% 0.62%
1967 2.6% 0.65%
1966 2.83% 0.7%
1965 2.41% 0.66%
1964 2.35% 0.64%
1963 2.49% 0.69%
1962 0.82% 0.71%
1961 -1.01% 0.65%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/china/croatia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Croatia's population grew by 0.17%.

Live population counters

China Croatia
Current population
1402578808
3812193
Population rank 2/197 129/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.05%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
1.34 hours
One birth every
3.5 seconds
16.4 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
10.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +18
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +6,514
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +0.17%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 157/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
2.52 hours
Annual migration change -268,126 -3,481
Net migration rank 189/196 112/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 527,831
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 78/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 13.6%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 50/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Croatia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Croatia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -3,481
2024 - -318,992 - -5,186
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 -19,298 10,202
2022 -847,305 -293,846 -23,134 11,681
2021 480,203 -379,749 -26,377 -4,517
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 -20,354 -8,552
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 -15,008 -13,239
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 -15,557 -25,016
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 -16,570 -44,557
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 -13,553 -32,144
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 -16,607 -27,501
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 -11,345 -13,127
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 -10,162 -6,245
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 -9,799 -4,794
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 -9,846 -17,463
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 -8,591 -3,995
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 -7,319 1,358
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 -8,188 6,495
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 -10,335 8,893
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 -8,669 10,852
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 -9,022 10,629
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 -9,040 15,445
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 -12,480 12,556
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 -10,325 10,306
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 -8,599 19,298
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 -6,255 -47,629
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 -6,769 -47,418
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 -4,985 -47,931
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 3,175 -52,897
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 3,190 -53,688
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 0 -51,882
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 -930 -50,444
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 -2,301 -49,615
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 -4,576 -47,865
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 -2,813 -31,968
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 3,344 9,538
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 3,337 8,471
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 5,707 7,242
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 6,161 6,956
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 8,499 6,261
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 10,343 5,550
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 10,764 5,757
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 10,714 6,323
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 15,756 7,475
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 15,680 4,872
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 17,939 -5,486
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 21,136 -5,740
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 20,157 -7,329
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 22,798 -7,339
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 22,226 -7,400
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 21,658 -7,366
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 22,453 -8,076
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 21,904 -8,335
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 17,802 -7,277
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 19,941 -5,608
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 16,767 -2,359
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 16,688 -2,796
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 21,828 -2,799
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 26,032 -3,518
1966 19,282,187 4,165 33,192 -6,341
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 31,251 -5,253
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 25,942 -2,090
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 31,270 -1,289
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 30,216 -2,176
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 36,255 -6,567
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 34,778 -21,768

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/china/croatia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 people). In Croatia 54.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 177,803 people) and 45.2% is from migration (a loss of 146,770 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 527,831 people or 13.6% in Croatia.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
Croatia
City Population
Zagreb 767K
Split 161K
Rijeka 108K
Osijek 96.3K
Zadar 70.8K
Velika Gorica 61.1K
Pula 52.2K
Slavonski Brod 49.9K
Karlovac 49.4K
Sibenik 42.6K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/china/croatia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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