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Population in Croatia compared to El Salvador: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 6,338,193 people in El Salvador in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 6,399,793 in El Salvador.

Population statistics:

  • El Salvador's population is 1.68 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while El Salvador is the 111th.
  • The countries together account for 0.12% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.08% for El Salvador.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +0.29% in El Salvador.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while El Salvador has grown from 6M to 6.4M (6.62% growth).

Croatia vs El Salvador: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
El Salvador
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia El Salvador
2100 2,137,465 5,106,358
2099 2,155,186 5,150,403
2098 2,173,108 5,195,110
2097 2,190,995 5,240,164
2096 2,209,326 5,286,555
2095 2,227,698 5,333,357
2094 2,246,224 5,380,368
2093 2,264,550 5,427,291
2092 2,283,068 5,474,174
2091 2,301,556 5,521,257
2090 2,319,851 5,568,339
2089 2,338,604 5,615,550
2088 2,357,581 5,662,256
2087 2,376,274 5,709,072
2086 2,395,139 5,755,593
2085 2,414,304 5,801,778
2084 2,433,813 5,847,545
2083 2,453,361 5,891,829
2082 2,473,204 5,935,056
2081 2,493,128 5,977,631
2080 2,513,378 6,019,326
2079 2,534,101 6,059,817
2078 2,554,982 6,098,689
2077 2,576,370 6,136,133
2076 2,597,887 6,172,686
2075 2,619,688 6,206,865
2074 2,641,342 6,239,356
2073 2,663,253 6,272,337
2072 2,685,714 6,301,557
2071 2,708,053 6,330,086
2070 2,730,187 6,358,052
2069 2,753,302 6,384,863
2068 2,776,996 6,410,986
2067 2,800,742 6,435,437
2066 2,824,811 6,458,779
2065 2,848,913 6,481,938
2064 2,872,881 6,503,884
2063 2,897,651 6,524,373
2062 2,922,653 6,543,157
2061 2,947,832 6,560,419
2060 2,973,162 6,577,429
2059 2,998,389 6,592,662
2058 3,023,822 6,606,305
2057 3,049,085 6,620,473
2056 3,074,796 6,633,666
2055 3,100,195 6,645,594
2054 3,125,459 6,656,251
2053 3,151,016 6,664,115
2052 3,176,316 6,670,429
2051 3,201,973 6,676,658
2050 3,227,869 6,679,973
2049 3,253,597 6,683,494
2048 3,279,316 6,684,918
2047 3,305,051 6,684,723
2046 3,330,260 6,684,063
2045 3,355,638 6,681,948
2044 3,381,196 6,679,505
2043 3,406,105 6,674,197
2042 3,430,854 6,668,140
2041 3,455,487 6,660,323
2040 3,479,631 6,651,019
2039 3,503,577 6,641,112
2038 3,527,583 6,628,299
2037 3,551,581 6,615,428
2036 3,574,520 6,600,845
2035 3,596,996 6,585,074
2034 3,620,363 6,568,788
2033 3,643,692 6,549,941
2032 3,667,478 6,530,975
2031 3,691,842 6,511,064
2030 3,715,373 6,490,493
2029 3,739,203 6,467,381
2028 3,762,505 6,443,426
2027 3,787,023 6,418,289
2026 3,812,193 6,392,935
2025 3,838,346 6,366,672
2024 3,866,200 6,338,193
2023 3,859,686 6,309,624
2022 3,855,641 6,280,319
2021 3,878,981 6,255,782
2020 3,914,206 6,234,673
2019 3,949,390 6,222,318
2018 3,988,775 6,219,807
2017 4,041,407 6,213,533
2016 4,106,867 6,200,800
2015 4,151,725 6,183,676
2014 4,201,598 6,162,955
2013 4,233,922 6,138,839
2012 4,260,368 6,113,975
2011 4,280,622 6,090,127
2010 4,295,427 6,068,249
2009 4,305,181 6,048,279
2008 4,309,705 6,029,297
2007 4,310,217 6,009,824
2006 4,311,159 6,002,319
2005 4,310,145 6,005,578
2004 4,304,600 6,004,671
2003 4,303,399 5,998,599
2002 4,302,174 5,986,631
2001 4,299,642 5,968,060
2000 4,468,302 5,943,366
1999 4,512,597 5,913,900
1998 4,532,135 5,880,781
1997 4,534,920 5,844,578
1996 4,557,097 5,805,286
1995 4,620,030 5,762,131
1994 4,652,024 5,714,129
1993 4,600,463 5,659,957
1992 4,575,818 5,585,609
1991 4,689,022 5,495,077
1990 4,777,368 5,399,726
1989 4,767,260 5,298,979
1988 4,755,207 5,195,833
1987 4,739,745 5,092,441
1986 4,721,446 4,992,769
1985 4,701,417 4,894,706
1984 4,680,285 4,798,003
1983 4,658,254 4,707,367
1982 4,634,234 4,622,477
1981 4,611,509 4,570,599
1980 4,599,782 4,540,382
1979 4,594,778 4,480,388
1978 4,581,085 4,394,114
1977 4,559,571 4,301,256
1976 4,535,934 4,210,310
1975 4,512,082 4,120,449
1974 4,490,660 4,029,671
1973 4,470,161 3,938,068
1972 4,450,564 3,846,830
1971 4,431,275 3,757,523
1970 4,412,252 3,668,796
1969 4,391,490 3,576,485
1968 4,365,628 3,480,773
1967 4,338,683 3,385,184
1966 4,310,701 3,290,961
1965 4,280,923 3,199,466
1964 4,252,876 3,111,883
1963 4,225,675 3,028,679
1962 4,196,712 2,949,204
1961 4,167,292 2,870,016
1960 4,140,181 2,791,459

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/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while El Salvador gained 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while El Salvador's population increased by 198,993 people (a 3.21% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. El Salvador was ranked 103rd in 2006 and ranked 111th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Croatia's population will shrink by 15.3% to 3,227,869 people with a rank change from 129th to 139th. The population of El Salvador will increase by 4.38% to 6,679,973 people and rank change from 111th to 116th.

El Salvador is projected to reach its peak in 2048 at 6.68M people, while Croatia's population already peaked in 1990 at 4.78M people and is projected to decrease to 2.14M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
El Salvador
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia El Salvador
2100 -0.82% -0.86%
2099 -0.82% -0.86%
2098 -0.82% -0.86%
2097 -0.83% -0.88%
2096 -0.82% -0.88%
2095 -0.82% -0.87%
2094 -0.81% -0.86%
2093 -0.81% -0.86%
2092 -0.8% -0.85%
2091 -0.79% -0.85%
2090 -0.8% -0.84%
2089 -0.8% -0.82%
2088 -0.79% -0.82%
2087 -0.79% -0.81%
2086 -0.79% -0.8%
2085 -0.8% -0.78%
2084 -0.8% -0.75%
2083 -0.8% -0.73%
2082 -0.8% -0.71%
2081 -0.81% -0.69%
2080 -0.82% -0.67%
2079 -0.82% -0.64%
2078 -0.83% -0.61%
2077 -0.83% -0.59%
2076 -0.83% -0.55%
2075 -0.82% -0.52%
2074 -0.82% -0.53%
2073 -0.84% -0.46%
2072 -0.82% -0.45%
2071 -0.81% -0.44%
2070 -0.84% -0.42%
2069 -0.85% -0.41%
2068 -0.85% -0.38%
2067 -0.85% -0.36%
2066 -0.85% -0.36%
2065 -0.83% -0.34%
2064 -0.85% -0.31%
2063 -0.86% -0.29%
2062 -0.85% -0.26%
2061 -0.85% -0.26%
2060 -0.84% -0.23%
2059 -0.84% -0.21%
2058 -0.83% -0.21%
2057 -0.84% -0.2%
2056 -0.82% -0.18%
2055 -0.81% -0.16%
2054 -0.81% -0.12%
2053 -0.8% -0.09%
2052 -0.8% -0.09%
2051 -0.8% -0.05%
2050 -0.79% -0.05%
2049 -0.78% -0.02%
2048 -0.78% 0.003%
2047 -0.76% 0.01%
2046 -0.76% 0.03%
2045 -0.76% 0.04%
2044 -0.73% 0.08%
2043 -0.72% 0.09%
2042 -0.71% 0.12%
2041 -0.69% 0.14%
2040 -0.68% 0.15%
2039 -0.68% 0.19%
2038 -0.68% 0.19%
2037 -0.64% 0.22%
2036 -0.62% 0.24%
2035 -0.65% 0.25%
2034 -0.64% 0.29%
2033 -0.65% 0.29%
2032 -0.66% 0.31%
2031 -0.63% 0.32%
2030 -0.64% 0.36%
2029 -0.62% 0.37%
2028 -0.65% 0.39%
2027 -0.66% 0.4%
2026 -0.68% 0.41%
2025 -0.72% 0.45%
2024 0.17% 0.45%
2023 0.1% 0.47%
2022 -0.6% 0.39%
2021 -0.9% 0.34%
2020 -0.89% 0.2%
2019 -0.99% 0.04%
2018 -1.3% 0.1%
2017 -1.59% 0.21%
2016 -1.08% 0.28%
2015 -1.19% 0.34%
2014 -0.76% 0.39%
2013 -0.62% 0.41%
2012 -0.47% 0.39%
2011 -0.34% 0.36%
2010 -0.23% 0.33%
2009 -0.1% 0.31%
2008 -0.01% 0.32%
2007 -0.02% 0.13%
2006 0.02% -0.05%
2005 0.13% 0.02%
2004 0.03% 0.1%
2003 0.03% 0.2%
2002 0.06% 0.31%
2001 -3.77% 0.42%
2000 -0.98% 0.5%
1999 -0.43% 0.56%
1998 -0.06% 0.62%
1997 -0.49% 0.68%
1996 -1.36% 0.75%
1995 -0.69% 0.84%
1994 1.12% 0.96%
1993 0.54% 1.33%
1992 -2.41% 1.65%
1991 -1.85% 1.77%
1990 0.21% 1.9%
1989 0.25% 1.99%
1988 0.33% 2.03%
1987 0.39% 2%
1986 0.43% 2%
1985 0.45% 2.02%
1984 0.47% 1.93%
1983 0.52% 1.84%
1982 0.49% 1.14%
1981 0.25% 0.67%
1980 0.11% 1.34%
1979 0.3% 1.96%
1978 0.47% 2.16%
1977 0.52% 2.16%
1976 0.53% 2.18%
1975 0.48% 2.25%
1974 0.46% 2.33%
1973 0.44% 2.37%
1972 0.44% 2.38%
1971 0.43% 2.42%
1970 0.47% 2.58%
1969 0.59% 2.75%
1968 0.62% 2.82%
1967 0.65% 2.86%
1966 0.7% 2.86%
1965 0.66% 2.81%
1964 0.64% 2.75%
1963 0.69% 2.69%
1962 0.71% 2.76%
1961 0.65% 2.81%

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/croatia/el-salvador | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while El Salvador's population grew by 0.45%.

Live population counters

Croatia El Salvador
Current population
3812193
6399793
Population rank 129/197 111/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.08%
One net population change
1.34 hours
18.4 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
5.29 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
11.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +78
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +28,569
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +0.45%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 140/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
22 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 -23,934
Net migration rank 112/196 155/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 43,342
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 155/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 164/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
El Salvador
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia El Salvador
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -23,934
2024 - -5,186 - -23,102
2023 -19,298 10,202 51,985 -23,253
2022 -23,134 11,681 53,138 -23,255
2021 -26,377 -4,517 46,530 -27,343
2020 -20,354 -8,552 48,244 -25,213
2019 -15,008 -13,239 56,816 -55,144
2018 -15,557 -25,016 57,509 -54,163
2017 -16,570 -44,557 59,824 -50,608
2016 -13,553 -32,144 63,751 -47,491
2015 -16,607 -27,501 69,263 -51,278
2014 -11,345 -13,127 72,581 -49,126
2013 -10,162 -6,245 73,869 -49,087
2012 -9,799 -4,794 75,495 -50,546
2011 -9,846 -17,463 76,182 -53,433
2010 -8,591 -3,995 75,695 -54,688
2009 -7,319 1,358 74,908 -55,966
2008 -8,188 6,495 75,107 -56,086
2007 -10,335 8,893 76,776 -56,857
2006 -8,669 10,852 80,887 -85,789
2005 -9,022 10,629 84,883 -86,501
2004 -9,040 15,445 90,905 -87,466
2003 -12,480 12,556 97,849 -89,146
2002 -10,325 10,306 106,137 -90,908
2001 -8,599 19,298 114,313 -92,389
2000 -6,255 -47,629 122,315 -94,861
1999 -6,769 -47,418 128,947 -97,475
1998 -4,985 -47,931 134,065 -99,293
1997 3,175 -52,897 134,448 -96,820
1996 3,190 -53,688 136,929 -95,977
1995 0 -51,882 138,268 -92,912
1994 -930 -50,444 137,974 -87,318
1993 -2,301 -49,615 138,432 -80,736
1992 -4,576 -47,865 139,221 -48,232
1991 -2,813 -31,968 140,691 -50,622
1990 3,344 9,538 140,311 -39,689
1989 3,337 8,471 139,093 -38,211
1988 5,707 7,242 136,230 -30,806
1987 6,161 6,956 133,667 -32,308
1986 8,499 6,261 130,177 -32,181
1985 10,343 5,550 127,248 -29,111
1984 10,764 5,757 125,036 -29,767
1983 10,714 6,323 121,700 -35,694
1982 15,756 7,475 120,938 -37,159
1981 15,680 4,872 117,346 -97,365
1980 17,939 -5,486 111,771 -71,318
1979 21,136 -5,740 123,838 -44,302
1978 20,157 -7,329 124,468 -31,463
1977 22,798 -7,339 121,446 -28,742
1976 22,226 -7,400 120,511 -31,317
1975 21,658 -7,366 116,737 -26,198
1974 22,453 -8,076 113,846 -22,844
1973 21,904 -8,335 111,546 -19,347
1972 17,802 -7,277 107,604 -17,317
1971 19,941 -5,608 104,714 -16,389
1970 16,767 -2,359 100,499 -11,367
1969 16,688 -2,796 99,848 -4,355
1968 21,828 -2,799 98,851 -2,919
1967 26,032 -3,518 98,424 -3,192
1966 33,192 -6,341 97,156 -3,945
1965 31,251 -5,253 95,341 -5,560
1964 25,942 -2,090 93,328 -7,937
1963 31,270 -1,289 90,794 -9,774
1962 30,216 -2,176 88,237 -10,307
1961 36,255 -6,567 84,614 -4,159
1960 34,778 -21,768 81,544 -4,885

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/el-salvador | 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). In El Salvador 58.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 579,641 people) and 41.2% is from migration (a loss of 406,874 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 43,342 people or 0.7% in El Salvador.

Biggest cities by population

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
El Salvador
City Population
San Salvador 331K
Santa Ana 251K
San Miguel 233K
Soyapango 230K
Mejicanos 137K
Apopa 129K
Ahuachapan 127K
Santa Tecla 126K
Sonsonate 72.2K
Usulutan 66.1K

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/croatia/el-salvador | 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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