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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 1,366,475 people in Estonia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 1,347,027 in Estonia.

Population statistics:

  • Croatia's population is 2.86 times bigger than Estonia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Estonia is the 155th.
  • The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.02% for Estonia.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs +0.35% in Estonia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Estonia has grown from 1.35M to 1.35M (0.02% growth).

Croatia vs Estonia: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Estonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Estonia
2100 2,158,545 836,010
2099 2,176,440 841,611
2098 2,194,539 847,091
2097 2,212,602 852,580
2096 2,231,114 858,210
2095 2,249,667 863,813
2094 2,268,376 869,346
2093 2,286,882 874,966
2092 2,305,583 880,538
2091 2,324,254 886,175
2090 2,342,729 891,952
2089 2,361,668 897,814
2088 2,380,831 903,726
2087 2,399,709 909,938
2086 2,418,760 916,313
2085 2,438,113 922,817
2084 2,457,815 929,590
2083 2,477,556 936,429
2082 2,497,595 943,318
2081 2,517,715 950,224
2080 2,538,164 957,303
2079 2,559,092 964,518
2078 2,580,179 971,861
2077 2,601,778 979,290
2076 2,623,507 986,730
2075 2,645,523 994,224
2074 2,667,391 1,001,883
2073 2,689,518 1,009,652
2072 2,712,201 1,017,490
2071 2,734,759 1,025,441
2070 2,757,112 1,033,527
2069 2,780,455 1,041,579
2068 2,804,383 1,049,614
2067 2,828,363 1,057,732
2066 2,852,669 1,065,824
2065 2,877,009 1,073,994
2064 2,901,213 1,082,173
2063 2,926,228 1,090,322
2062 2,951,475 1,098,483
2061 2,976,903 1,106,624
2060 3,002,483 1,114,804
2059 3,027,959 1,122,732
2058 3,053,643 1,130,617
2057 3,079,155 1,138,317
2056 3,105,119 1,145,937
2055 3,130,769 1,153,485
2054 3,156,282 1,160,725
2053 3,182,091 1,167,900
2052 3,207,640 1,174,867
2051 3,233,551 1,181,816
2050 3,259,702 1,188,591
2049 3,285,684 1,195,231
2048 3,311,657 1,201,594
2047 3,337,645 1,207,963
2046 3,363,102 1,214,281
2045 3,388,731 1,220,553
2044 3,414,541 1,226,815
2043 3,439,695 1,232,969
2042 3,464,688 1,239,123
2041 3,489,565 1,245,261
2040 3,513,946 1,251,349
2039 3,538,129 1,257,523
2038 3,562,371 1,263,757
2037 3,586,606 1,270,161
2036 3,609,771 1,276,749
2035 3,632,470 1,283,416
2034 3,656,066 1,290,282
2033 3,679,626 1,297,198
2032 3,703,646 1,304,236
2031 3,728,250 1,311,342
2030 3,752,014 1,318,468
2029 3,776,079 1,325,543
2028 3,799,610 1,332,712
2027 3,824,370 1,339,889
2026 3,849,788 1,347,027
2025 3,876,200 1,366,475
2024 3,866,200 1,372,341
2023 3,859,686 1,370,286
2022 3,855,641 1,348,840
2021 3,878,981 1,330,932
2020 3,914,206 1,329,522
2019 3,949,390 1,326,898
2018 3,988,775 1,321,977
2017 4,041,407 1,317,384
2016 4,106,867 1,315,790
2015 4,151,725 1,315,407
2014 4,201,598 1,314,545
2013 4,233,922 1,317,997
2012 4,260,368 1,322,696
2011 4,280,622 1,327,439
2010 4,295,427 1,331,475
2009 4,305,181 1,334,515
2008 4,309,705 1,337,090
2007 4,310,217 1,340,680
2006 4,311,159 1,346,810
2005 4,310,145 1,354,775
2004 4,304,600 1,362,550
2003 4,303,399 1,370,720
2002 4,302,174 1,379,350
2001 4,299,642 1,388,115
2000 4,468,302 1,396,985
1999 4,512,597 1,390,244
1998 4,532,135 1,386,156
1997 4,534,920 1,399,535
1996 4,557,097 1,415,594
1995 4,620,030 1,436,634
1994 4,652,024 1,462,514
1993 4,600,463 1,494,128
1992 4,575,818 1,533,091
1991 4,689,022 1,561,314
1990 4,777,368 1,569,174
1989 4,767,260 1,568,131
1988 4,755,207 1,561,900
1987 4,739,745 1,552,221
1986 4,721,446 1,540,190
1985 4,701,417 1,528,781
1984 4,680,285 1,518,617
1983 4,658,254 1,508,745
1982 4,634,234 1,498,414
1981 4,611,509 1,487,666
1980 4,599,782 1,477,219
1979 4,594,778 1,468,333
1978 4,581,085 1,460,188
1977 4,559,571 1,450,211
1976 4,535,934 1,439,576
1975 4,512,082 1,429,352
1974 4,490,660 1,418,169
1973 4,470,161 1,405,951
1972 4,450,564 1,392,518
1971 4,431,275 1,376,955
1970 4,412,252 1,360,076
1969 4,391,490 1,345,249
1968 4,365,628 1,331,214
1967 4,338,683 1,318,946
1966 4,310,701 1,308,597
1965 4,280,923 1,294,566
1964 4,252,876 1,277,086
1963 4,225,675 1,258,857
1962 4,196,712 1,241,623
1961 4,167,292 1,225,077
1960 4,140,181 1,211,537

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/croatia/estonia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Estonia lost 31,020 people (a 2.3% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Estonia's population increased by 31,237 people (a 2.37% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Estonia was ranked 149th in 2006 and ranked 155th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Croatia's population will shrink by 15.3% to 3,259,702 people with a rank change from 130th to 138th. The population of Estonia will decrease by 11.8% to 1,188,591 people and rank change from 155th to 159th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.9% of the population in Croatia and 26.7% in Estonia.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Estonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Estonia
2100 -0.82% -0.67%
2099 -0.82% -0.65%
2098 -0.82% -0.64%
2097 -0.83% -0.66%
2096 -0.82% -0.65%
2095 -0.82% -0.64%
2094 -0.81% -0.64%
2093 -0.81% -0.63%
2092 -0.8% -0.64%
2091 -0.79% -0.65%
2090 -0.8% -0.65%
2089 -0.8% -0.65%
2088 -0.79% -0.68%
2087 -0.79% -0.7%
2086 -0.79% -0.7%
2085 -0.8% -0.73%
2084 -0.8% -0.73%
2083 -0.8% -0.73%
2082 -0.8% -0.73%
2081 -0.81% -0.74%
2080 -0.82% -0.75%
2079 -0.82% -0.76%
2078 -0.83% -0.76%
2077 -0.83% -0.75%
2076 -0.83% -0.75%
2075 -0.82% -0.76%
2074 -0.82% -0.77%
2073 -0.84% -0.77%
2072 -0.82% -0.78%
2071 -0.81% -0.78%
2070 -0.84% -0.77%
2069 -0.85% -0.77%
2068 -0.85% -0.77%
2067 -0.85% -0.76%
2066 -0.85% -0.76%
2065 -0.83% -0.76%
2064 -0.85% -0.75%
2063 -0.86% -0.74%
2062 -0.85% -0.74%
2061 -0.85% -0.73%
2060 -0.84% -0.71%
2059 -0.84% -0.7%
2058 -0.83% -0.68%
2057 -0.84% -0.66%
2056 -0.82% -0.65%
2055 -0.81% -0.62%
2054 -0.81% -0.61%
2053 -0.8% -0.59%
2052 -0.8% -0.59%
2051 -0.8% -0.57%
2050 -0.79% -0.56%
2049 -0.78% -0.53%
2048 -0.78% -0.53%
2047 -0.76% -0.52%
2046 -0.76% -0.51%
2045 -0.76% -0.51%
2044 -0.73% -0.5%
2043 -0.72% -0.5%
2042 -0.71% -0.49%
2041 -0.69% -0.49%
2040 -0.68% -0.49%
2039 -0.68% -0.49%
2038 -0.68% -0.5%
2037 -0.64% -0.52%
2036 -0.62% -0.52%
2035 -0.65% -0.53%
2034 -0.64% -0.53%
2033 -0.65% -0.54%
2032 -0.66% -0.54%
2031 -0.63% -0.54%
2030 -0.64% -0.53%
2029 -0.62% -0.54%
2028 -0.65% -0.54%
2027 -0.66% -0.53%
2026 -0.68% -1.42%
2025 0.26% -0.43%
2024 0.17% 0.15%
2023 0.1% 1.59%
2022 -0.6% 1.35%
2021 -0.9% 0.11%
2020 -0.89% 0.2%
2019 -0.99% 0.37%
2018 -1.3% 0.35%
2017 -1.59% 0.12%
2016 -1.08% 0.03%
2015 -1.19% 0.07%
2014 -0.76% -0.26%
2013 -0.62% -0.36%
2012 -0.47% -0.36%
2011 -0.34% -0.3%
2010 -0.23% -0.23%
2009 -0.1% -0.19%
2008 -0.01% -0.27%
2007 -0.02% -0.46%
2006 0.02% -0.59%
2005 0.13% -0.57%
2004 0.03% -0.6%
2003 0.03% -0.63%
2002 0.06% -0.63%
2001 -3.77% -0.63%
2000 -0.98% 0.48%
1999 -0.43% 0.29%
1998 -0.06% -0.96%
1997 -0.49% -1.13%
1996 -1.36% -1.46%
1995 -0.69% -1.77%
1994 1.12% -2.12%
1993 0.54% -2.54%
1992 -2.41% -1.81%
1991 -1.85% -0.5%
1990 0.21% 0.07%
1989 0.25% 0.4%
1988 0.33% 0.62%
1987 0.39% 0.78%
1986 0.43% 0.75%
1985 0.45% 0.67%
1984 0.47% 0.65%
1983 0.52% 0.69%
1982 0.49% 0.72%
1981 0.25% 0.71%
1980 0.11% 0.61%
1979 0.3% 0.56%
1978 0.47% 0.69%
1977 0.52% 0.74%
1976 0.53% 0.72%
1975 0.48% 0.79%
1974 0.46% 0.87%
1973 0.44% 0.96%
1972 0.44% 1.13%
1971 0.43% 1.24%
1970 0.47% 1.1%
1969 0.59% 1.05%
1968 0.62% 0.93%
1967 0.65% 0.79%
1966 0.7% 1.08%
1965 0.66% 1.37%
1964 0.64% 1.45%
1963 0.69% 1.39%
1962 0.71% 1.35%
1961 0.65% 1.12%

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/croatia/estonia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Estonia's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Croatia Estonia
Current population
3849788
1347027
Population rank 130/197 155/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.02%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
1.5 hours
One birth every
16.4 minutes
53.9 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
33.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 -16
Annual growth/decline +10,000 -5,866
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 182/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
39.5 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 -13,350
Net migration rank 112/196 141/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 203,046
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 110/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 14.9%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 43/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Estonia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Estonia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -13,350
2024 -18,944 -5,186 -6,038 -7,742
2023 -19,298 10,202 -5,070 5,717
2022 -23,134 11,681 -5,665 39,754
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -5,324 7,043
2020 -21,137 -8,552 -2,659 3,694
2019 -15,798 -13,239 -1,327 5,386
2018 -15,556 -25,016 -1,322 7,089
2017 -16,974 -44,557 -1,713 5,202
2016 -14,374 -32,144 -1,316 1,081
2015 -17,022 -27,501 -1,315 4,261
2014 -11,344 -13,127 -1,972 -674
2013 -10,585 -6,245 -1,713 -2,688
2012 -9,799 -4,794 -1,455 -3,674
2011 -9,846 -17,463 -531 -3,941
2010 -8,591 -3,995 0 -3,781
2009 -7,319 1,358 -400 -2,089
2008 -8,188 6,495 -668 -2,034
2007 -10,335 8,893 -1,608 -2,941
2006 -8,669 10,852 -2,559 -5,351
2005 -9,022 10,629 -2,981 -5,208
2004 -9,040 15,445 -3,679 -3,681
2003 -12,480 12,556 -5,072 -3,705
2002 -10,325 10,306 -5,380 -2,889
2001 -8,599 19,298 -5,830 -3,280
2000 -6,255 -47,629 -5,309 -3,083
1999 -6,769 -47,418 -6,117 1,419
1998 -4,985 -47,931 -7,208 -3,296
1997 3,175 -52,897 -6,018 -4,066
1996 3,190 -53,688 -5,662 -10,540
1995 0 -51,882 -7,327 -12,655
1994 -930 -50,444 -8,044 -17,984
1993 -2,301 -49,615 -5,976 -25,501
1992 -4,576 -47,865 -1,993 -38,391
1991 -2,813 -31,968 -312 -9,712
1990 3,344 9,538 2,825 -2,660
1989 3,337 8,471 5,803 -368
1988 5,707 7,242 6,404 5,256
1987 6,161 6,956 6,829 5,389
1986 8,499 6,261 6,160 5,260
1985 10,343 5,550 4,281 5,097
1984 10,764 5,757 5,163 5,006
1983 10,714 6,323 5,884 4,986
1982 15,756 7,475 5,244 4,832
1981 15,680 4,872 4,612 4,789
1980 17,939 -5,486 3,989 4,619
1979 21,136 -5,740 3,818 4,521
1978 20,157 -7,329 4,088 7,234
1977 22,798 -7,339 4,931 7,189
1976 22,226 -7,400 4,319 6,942
1975 21,658 -7,366 4,717 6,737
1974 22,453 -8,076 5,956 6,594
1973 21,904 -8,335 5,623 6,488
1972 17,802 -7,277 6,267 6,432
1971 19,941 -5,608 7,160 6,392
1970 16,767 -2,359 6,257 6,158
1969 16,688 -2,796 5,515 8,650
1968 21,828 -2,799 5,592 9,403
1967 26,032 -3,518 5,012 9,115
1966 33,192 -6,341 4,842 8,998
1965 31,251 -5,253 5,437 8,851
1964 25,942 -2,090 6,897 8,734
1963 31,270 -1,289 6,043 8,410
1962 30,216 -2,176 6,457 8,248
1961 36,255 -6,567 7,228 7,991
1960 34,778 -21,768 7,511 7,762

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 57.6% of the population change in Croatia is from natural causes (a loss of 188,614 people) and 42.4% is from migration (a loss of 138,829 people). In Estonia 30.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 31,749 people) and 69.2% is from migration (a gain of 71,485 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 203,046 people or 14.9% in Estonia.

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
Estonia
City Population
Tallinn 458K
Tartu 97.8K
Narva 53.4K
Parnu 41.5K
Kohtla-Jarve 33.4K
Viljandi 17.3K
Maardu 17K
Rakvere 15.7K
Kuressaare 13.2K
Sillamae 12.4K

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/croatia/estonia | CC BY

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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)

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