The current population of Croatia is 3,812,193 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 3,866,200 in 2024.
- Since 2006, population has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (-11.6% decline in 20 years).
- Croatia's population peaked in 1990 at 4.78M people and has been in decline since.
- For the last 20 years, Croatia has had an average decline rate of -0.58% per year.
- Croatia accounts for 0.05% of the world's population.
- Croatia is ranked 129/197 by population and was ranked 120th in 2006.
- The UN estimates that Croatia's population is going to decline by -15.3% to 3.23M people by 2050.
Croatia population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 2,137,465 | -0.82% |
| 2099 | 2,155,186 | -0.82% |
| 2098 | 2,173,108 | -0.82% |
| 2097 | 2,190,995 | -0.83% |
| 2096 | 2,209,326 | -0.82% |
| 2095 | 2,227,698 | -0.82% |
| 2094 | 2,246,224 | -0.81% |
| 2093 | 2,264,550 | -0.81% |
| 2092 | 2,283,068 | -0.8% |
| 2091 | 2,301,556 | -0.79% |
| 2090 | 2,319,851 | -0.8% |
| 2089 | 2,338,604 | -0.8% |
| 2088 | 2,357,581 | -0.79% |
| 2087 | 2,376,274 | -0.79% |
| 2086 | 2,395,139 | -0.79% |
| 2085 | 2,414,304 | -0.8% |
| 2084 | 2,433,813 | -0.8% |
| 2083 | 2,453,361 | -0.8% |
| 2082 | 2,473,204 | -0.8% |
| 2081 | 2,493,128 | -0.81% |
| 2080 | 2,513,378 | -0.82% |
| 2079 | 2,534,101 | -0.82% |
| 2078 | 2,554,982 | -0.83% |
| 2077 | 2,576,370 | -0.83% |
| 2076 | 2,597,887 | -0.83% |
| 2075 | 2,619,688 | -0.82% |
| 2074 | 2,641,342 | -0.82% |
| 2073 | 2,663,253 | -0.84% |
| 2072 | 2,685,714 | -0.82% |
| 2071 | 2,708,053 | -0.81% |
| 2070 | 2,730,187 | -0.84% |
| 2069 | 2,753,302 | -0.85% |
| 2068 | 2,776,996 | -0.85% |
| 2067 | 2,800,742 | -0.85% |
| 2066 | 2,824,811 | -0.85% |
| 2065 | 2,848,913 | -0.83% |
| 2064 | 2,872,881 | -0.85% |
| 2063 | 2,897,651 | -0.86% |
| 2062 | 2,922,653 | -0.85% |
| 2061 | 2,947,832 | -0.85% |
| 2060 | 2,973,162 | -0.84% |
| 2059 | 2,998,389 | -0.84% |
| 2058 | 3,023,822 | -0.83% |
| 2057 | 3,049,085 | -0.84% |
| 2056 | 3,074,796 | -0.82% |
| 2055 | 3,100,195 | -0.81% |
| 2054 | 3,125,459 | -0.81% |
| 2053 | 3,151,016 | -0.8% |
| 2052 | 3,176,316 | -0.8% |
| 2051 | 3,201,973 | -0.8% |
| 2050 | 3,227,869 | -0.79% |
| 2049 | 3,253,597 | -0.78% |
| 2048 | 3,279,316 | -0.78% |
| 2047 | 3,305,051 | -0.76% |
| 2046 | 3,330,260 | -0.76% |
| 2045 | 3,355,638 | -0.76% |
| 2044 | 3,381,196 | -0.73% |
| 2043 | 3,406,105 | -0.72% |
| 2042 | 3,430,854 | -0.71% |
| 2041 | 3,455,487 | -0.69% |
| 2040 | 3,479,631 | -0.68% |
| 2039 | 3,503,577 | -0.68% |
| 2038 | 3,527,583 | -0.68% |
| 2037 | 3,551,581 | -0.64% |
| 2036 | 3,574,520 | -0.62% |
| 2035 | 3,596,996 | -0.65% |
| 2034 | 3,620,363 | -0.64% |
| 2033 | 3,643,692 | -0.65% |
| 2032 | 3,667,478 | -0.66% |
| 2031 | 3,691,842 | -0.63% |
| 2030 | 3,715,373 | -0.64% |
| 2029 | 3,739,203 | -0.62% |
| 2028 | 3,762,505 | -0.65% |
| 2027 | 3,787,023 | -0.66% |
| 2026 | 3,812,193 | -0.68% |
| 2025 | 3,838,346 | -0.72% |
| 2024 | 3,866,200 | 0.17% |
| 2023 | 3,859,686 | 0.1% |
| 2022 | 3,855,641 | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 3,878,981 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 3,914,206 | -0.89% |
| 2019 | 3,949,390 | -0.99% |
| 2018 | 3,988,775 | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 4,041,407 | -1.59% |
| 2016 | 4,106,867 | -1.08% |
| 2015 | 4,151,725 | -1.19% |
| 2014 | 4,201,598 | -0.76% |
| 2013 | 4,233,922 | -0.62% |
| 2012 | 4,260,368 | -0.47% |
| 2011 | 4,280,622 | -0.34% |
| 2010 | 4,295,427 | -0.23% |
| 2009 | 4,305,181 | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 4,309,705 | -0.01% |
| 2007 | 4,310,217 | -0.02% |
| 2006 | 4,311,159 | 0.02% |
| 2005 | 4,310,145 | 0.13% |
| 2004 | 4,304,600 | 0.03% |
| 2003 | 4,303,399 | 0.03% |
| 2002 | 4,302,174 | 0.06% |
| 2001 | 4,299,642 | -3.77% |
| 2000 | 4,468,302 | -0.98% |
| 1999 | 4,512,597 | -0.43% |
| 1998 | 4,532,135 | -0.06% |
| 1997 | 4,534,920 | -0.49% |
| 1996 | 4,557,097 | -1.36% |
| 1995 | 4,620,030 | -0.69% |
| 1994 | 4,652,024 | 1.12% |
| 1993 | 4,600,463 | 0.54% |
| 1992 | 4,575,818 | -2.41% |
| 1991 | 4,689,022 | -1.85% |
| 1990 | 4,777,368 | 0.21% |
| 1989 | 4,767,260 | 0.25% |
| 1988 | 4,755,207 | 0.33% |
| 1987 | 4,739,745 | 0.39% |
| 1986 | 4,721,446 | 0.43% |
| 1985 | 4,701,417 | 0.45% |
| 1984 | 4,680,285 | 0.47% |
| 1983 | 4,658,254 | 0.52% |
| 1982 | 4,634,234 | 0.49% |
| 1981 | 4,611,509 | 0.25% |
| 1980 | 4,599,782 | 0.11% |
| 1979 | 4,594,778 | 0.3% |
| 1978 | 4,581,085 | 0.47% |
| 1977 | 4,559,571 | 0.52% |
| 1976 | 4,535,934 | 0.53% |
| 1975 | 4,512,082 | 0.48% |
| 1974 | 4,490,660 | 0.46% |
| 1973 | 4,470,161 | 0.44% |
| 1972 | 4,450,564 | 0.44% |
| 1971 | 4,431,275 | 0.43% |
| 1970 | 4,412,252 | 0.47% |
| 1969 | 4,391,490 | 0.59% |
| 1968 | 4,365,628 | 0.62% |
| 1967 | 4,338,683 | 0.65% |
| 1966 | 4,310,701 | 0.7% |
| 1965 | 4,280,923 | 0.66% |
| 1964 | 4,252,876 | 0.64% |
| 1963 | 4,225,675 | 0.69% |
| 1962 | 4,196,712 | 0.71% |
| 1961 | 4,167,292 | 0.65% |
| 1960 | 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/croatia | CC BY 
Croatia has a population of 3.81M as of 2026, compared to 4.11M in 2016, 4.31M in 2006, and 4.56M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to decrease by an average of 0.72% per year. Croatia is ranked 187th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) Croatia will have 3,330,260 people (-12.6% decline) with a rank change from 129th to 136th.
By the year 2100, Croatia's population is projected to decline by 43.9% from its current level to 2.14M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -3,481 |
| 2024 | - | - | -5,186 |
| 2023 | -9,096 | -19,298 | 10,202 |
| 2022 | -11,453 | -23,134 | 11,681 |
| 2021 | -30,894 | -26,377 | -4,517 |
| 2020 | -28,906 | -20,354 | -8,552 |
| 2019 | -28,247 | -15,008 | -13,239 |
| 2018 | -40,573 | -15,557 | -25,016 |
| 2017 | -61,127 | -16,570 | -44,557 |
| 2016 | -45,697 | -13,553 | -32,144 |
| 2015 | -44,108 | -16,607 | -27,501 |
| 2014 | -24,472 | -11,345 | -13,127 |
| 2013 | -16,407 | -10,162 | -6,245 |
| 2012 | -14,593 | -9,799 | -4,794 |
| 2011 | -27,309 | -9,846 | -17,463 |
| 2010 | -12,586 | -8,591 | -3,995 |
| 2009 | -5,961 | -7,319 | 1,358 |
| 2008 | -1,693 | -8,188 | 6,495 |
| 2007 | -1,442 | -10,335 | 8,893 |
| 2006 | 2,183 | -8,669 | 10,852 |
| 2005 | 1,607 | -9,022 | 10,629 |
| 2004 | 6,405 | -9,040 | 15,445 |
| 2003 | 76 | -12,480 | 12,556 |
| 2002 | -19 | -10,325 | 10,306 |
| 2001 | 10,699 | -8,599 | 19,298 |
| 2000 | -53,884 | -6,255 | -47,629 |
| 1999 | -54,187 | -6,769 | -47,418 |
| 1998 | -52,916 | -4,985 | -47,931 |
| 1997 | -49,722 | 3,175 | -52,897 |
| 1996 | -50,498 | 3,190 | -53,688 |
| 1995 | -51,882 | 0 | -51,882 |
| 1994 | -51,374 | -930 | -50,444 |
| 1993 | -51,916 | -2,301 | -49,615 |
| 1992 | -52,441 | -4,576 | -47,865 |
| 1991 | -34,781 | -2,813 | -31,968 |
| 1990 | 12,882 | 3,344 | 9,538 |
| 1989 | 11,808 | 3,337 | 8,471 |
| 1988 | 12,949 | 5,707 | 7,242 |
| 1987 | 13,117 | 6,161 | 6,956 |
| 1986 | 14,760 | 8,499 | 6,261 |
| 1985 | 15,893 | 10,343 | 5,550 |
| 1984 | 16,521 | 10,764 | 5,757 |
| 1983 | 17,037 | 10,714 | 6,323 |
| 1982 | 23,231 | 15,756 | 7,475 |
| 1981 | 20,552 | 15,680 | 4,872 |
| 1980 | 12,453 | 17,939 | -5,486 |
| 1979 | 15,396 | 21,136 | -5,740 |
| 1978 | 12,828 | 20,157 | -7,329 |
| 1977 | 15,459 | 22,798 | -7,339 |
| 1976 | 14,826 | 22,226 | -7,400 |
| 1975 | 14,292 | 21,658 | -7,366 |
| 1974 | 14,377 | 22,453 | -8,076 |
| 1973 | 13,569 | 21,904 | -8,335 |
| 1972 | 10,525 | 17,802 | -7,277 |
| 1971 | 14,333 | 19,941 | -5,608 |
| 1970 | 14,408 | 16,767 | -2,359 |
| 1969 | 13,892 | 16,688 | -2,796 |
| 1968 | 19,029 | 21,828 | -2,799 |
| 1967 | 22,514 | 26,032 | -3,518 |
| 1966 | 26,851 | 33,192 | -6,341 |
| 1965 | 25,998 | 31,251 | -5,253 |
| 1964 | 23,852 | 25,942 | -2,090 |
| 1963 | 29,981 | 31,270 | -1,289 |
| 1962 | 28,040 | 30,216 | -2,176 |
| 1961 | 29,688 | 36,255 | -6,567 |
| 1960 | 13,010 | 34,778 | -21,768 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/croatia | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 54.8% of the population change in Croatia 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, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 573,248 and 13.3% in 2010.
Croatia population clock
Croatia
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
3812193
|
129/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.05% | 129/197 |
| One net population change |
1.34 hours
|
135/197 |
| One birth every |
16.4 minutes
|
142/196 |
| One death every |
10.2 minutes
|
103/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +18 | 135/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +6,514 | 135/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.17% | 157/197 |
| One migration net change every |
2.52 hours
|
112/196 |
| Annual migration change | -3,481 | 112/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 527,831 | 78/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 13.6% | 50/195 |
Largest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Croatia population statistics
|
Croatia
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 79.1 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 44.6 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 46 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.2:51.8 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 176.4 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/croatia | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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