Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 3,876,200 people in Croatia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 3,849,788 in Croatia.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 365 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Croatia is the 130th.
  • The countries together account for 16.9% 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 +0.23% per year vs -0.73% in Croatia.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Croatia has declined from 4.31M to 3.85M (10.7% decline).

China vs Croatia: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Croatia
2100 633,662,382 2,158,545
2099 644,307,192 2,176,440
2098 655,044,881 2,194,539
2097 665,876,462 2,212,602
2096 676,803,171 2,231,114
2095 687,828,883 2,249,667
2094 698,966,872 2,268,376
2093 710,235,681 2,286,882
2092 721,640,723 2,305,583
2091 733,187,178 2,324,254
2090 744,903,105 2,342,729
2089 756,812,472 2,361,668
2088 768,893,004 2,380,831
2087 781,128,909 2,399,709
2086 793,508,970 2,418,760
2085 806,043,039 2,438,113
2084 818,709,832 2,457,815
2083 831,420,518 2,477,556
2082 844,177,036 2,497,595
2081 856,996,835 2,517,715
2080 869,821,040 2,538,164
2079 882,622,985 2,559,092
2078 895,372,147 2,580,179
2077 908,082,676 2,601,778
2076 920,776,984 2,623,507
2075 933,459,600 2,645,523
2074 946,141,456 2,667,391
2073 958,870,128 2,689,518
2072 971,639,931 2,712,201
2071 984,469,009 2,734,759
2070 997,391,342 2,757,112
2069 1,010,450,818 2,780,455
2068 1,023,633,867 2,804,383
2067 1,036,979,285 2,828,363
2066 1,050,453,924 2,852,669
2065 1,064,051,499 2,877,009
2064 1,077,787,979 2,901,213
2063 1,091,571,021 2,926,228
2062 1,105,429,748 2,951,475
2061 1,119,286,514 2,976,903
2060 1,133,115,260 3,002,483
2059 1,146,818,251 3,027,959
2058 1,160,340,554 3,053,643
2057 1,173,596,480 3,079,155
2056 1,186,578,041 3,105,119
2055 1,199,197,172 3,130,769
2054 1,211,403,028 3,156,282
2053 1,223,160,257 3,182,091
2052 1,234,474,716 3,207,640
2051 1,245,255,938 3,233,551
2050 1,255,501,171 3,259,702
2049 1,265,281,319 3,285,684
2048 1,274,572,888 3,311,657
2047 1,283,393,445 3,337,645
2046 1,291,830,414 3,363,102
2045 1,299,855,379 3,388,731
2044 1,307,510,531 3,414,541
2043 1,314,885,869 3,439,695
2042 1,322,032,311 3,464,688
2041 1,328,936,491 3,489,565
2040 1,335,577,799 3,513,946
2039 1,341,989,157 3,538,129
2038 1,348,134,255 3,562,371
2037 1,354,107,817 3,586,606
2036 1,359,866,705 3,609,771
2035 1,365,387,904 3,632,470
2034 1,370,679,807 3,656,066
2033 1,375,744,986 3,679,626
2032 1,380,528,766 3,703,646
2031 1,385,048,521 3,728,250
2030 1,389,269,809 3,752,014
2029 1,393,241,425 3,776,079
2028 1,396,917,178 3,799,610
2027 1,400,271,033 3,824,370
2026 1,403,335,670 3,849,788
2025 1,406,585,000 3,876,200
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Croatia's population decreased by 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Croatia was ranked 120th in 2006 and ranked 130th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Croatia will decrease by 15.3% to 3,259,702 people and rank change from 130th to 138th.

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 -0.17% 0.26%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Croatia's population grew by 0.26%.

Live population counters

China Croatia
Current population
1403335670
3849788
Population rank 2/197 130/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.05%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
52.7 minutes
One birth every
3.31 seconds
16.4 minutes
One death every
2.88 seconds
10.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +27
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +10,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +0.26%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 147/197
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 -1,394,886 -318,992 -18,944 -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 -21,137 -8,552
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 -15,798 -13,239
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 -15,556 -25,016
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 -16,974 -44,557
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 -14,374 -32,144
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 -17,022 -27,501
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 -11,344 -13,127
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 -10,585 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 90.3% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 people). In Croatia 57.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 188,614 people) and 42.4% is from migration (a loss of 138,829 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.