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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 83,516,593 people in Germany in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 82,575,542 in Germany.

Population statistics:

  • Germany's population is 21.7 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Germany is the 19th.
  • The countries together account for 1.04% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 1% for Germany.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +0.32% in Germany.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Germany has grown from 82.4M to 82.6M (0.24% growth).

Croatia vs Germany: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Germany
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Germany
2100 2,137,465 69,929,981
2099 2,155,186 69,956,854
2098 2,173,108 69,973,838
2097 2,190,995 70,015,834
2096 2,209,326 70,046,713
2095 2,227,698 70,067,131
2094 2,246,224 70,085,911
2093 2,264,550 70,106,718
2092 2,283,068 70,132,132
2091 2,301,556 70,178,440
2090 2,319,851 70,240,137
2089 2,338,604 70,294,005
2088 2,357,581 70,352,443
2087 2,376,274 70,434,814
2086 2,395,139 70,532,124
2085 2,414,304 70,627,602
2084 2,433,813 70,722,960
2083 2,453,361 70,829,392
2082 2,473,204 70,932,273
2081 2,493,128 71,045,881
2080 2,513,378 71,171,519
2079 2,534,101 71,305,544
2078 2,554,982 71,445,484
2077 2,576,370 71,601,117
2076 2,597,887 71,757,525
2075 2,619,688 71,891,567
2074 2,641,342 72,046,795
2073 2,663,253 72,206,145
2072 2,685,714 72,356,324
2071 2,708,053 72,517,749
2070 2,730,187 72,664,462
2069 2,753,302 72,828,330
2068 2,776,996 72,993,859
2067 2,800,742 73,178,408
2066 2,824,811 73,370,207
2065 2,848,913 73,561,648
2064 2,872,881 73,762,096
2063 2,897,651 73,971,537
2062 2,922,653 74,198,775
2061 2,947,832 74,426,082
2060 2,973,162 74,678,280
2059 2,998,389 74,932,496
2058 3,023,822 75,206,278
2057 3,049,085 75,482,742
2056 3,074,796 75,756,281
2055 3,100,195 76,041,477
2054 3,125,459 76,325,196
2053 3,151,016 76,595,801
2052 3,176,316 76,839,962
2051 3,201,973 77,084,029
2050 3,227,869 77,325,459
2049 3,253,597 77,569,721
2048 3,279,316 77,818,888
2047 3,305,051 78,049,343
2046 3,330,260 78,272,834
2045 3,355,638 78,497,690
2044 3,381,196 78,722,126
2043 3,406,105 78,936,540
2042 3,430,854 79,130,312
2041 3,455,487 79,324,161
2040 3,479,631 79,536,735
2039 3,503,577 79,754,631
2038 3,527,583 79,978,474
2037 3,551,581 80,194,225
2036 3,574,520 80,425,162
2035 3,596,996 80,640,951
2034 3,620,363 80,844,719
2033 3,643,692 81,069,119
2032 3,667,478 81,286,326
2031 3,691,842 81,520,272
2030 3,715,373 81,736,996
2029 3,739,203 81,963,002
2028 3,762,505 82,178,048
2027 3,787,023 82,384,302
2026 3,812,193 82,575,542
2025 3,838,346 83,233,941
2024 3,866,200 83,516,593
2023 3,859,686 83,287,273
2022 3,855,641 83,177,813
2021 3,878,981 83,196,078
2020 3,914,206 83,160,871
2019 3,949,390 83,092,962
2018 3,988,775 82,905,782
2017 4,041,407 82,657,002
2016 4,106,867 82,348,669
2015 4,151,725 81,686,611
2014 4,201,598 80,982,500
2013 4,233,922 80,645,605
2012 4,260,368 80,425,823
2011 4,280,622 80,274,983
2010 4,295,427 81,776,930
2009 4,305,181 81,902,307
2008 4,309,705 82,110,097
2007 4,310,217 82,266,372
2006 4,311,159 82,376,451
2005 4,310,145 82,469,422
2004 4,304,600 82,516,260
2003 4,303,399 82,534,176
2002 4,302,174 82,488,495
2001 4,299,642 82,349,925
2000 4,468,302 82,211,508
1999 4,512,597 82,100,243
1998 4,532,135 82,047,195
1997 4,534,920 82,034,771
1996 4,557,097 81,914,831
1995 4,620,030 81,678,051
1994 4,652,024 81,438,348
1993 4,600,463 81,156,363
1992 4,575,818 80,624,598
1991 4,689,022 80,013,896
1990 4,777,368 79,433,029
1989 4,767,260 78,751,283
1988 4,755,207 78,144,619
1987 4,739,745 77,839,920
1986 4,721,446 77,720,436
1985 4,701,417 77,684,873
1984 4,680,285 77,858,685
1983 4,658,254 78,128,282
1982 4,634,234 78,333,366
1981 4,611,509 78,407,907
1980 4,599,782 78,288,576
1979 4,594,778 78,126,350
1978 4,581,085 78,091,820
1977 4,559,571 78,159,814
1976 4,535,934 78,336,950
1975 4,512,082 78,673,554
1974 4,490,660 78,967,433
1973 4,470,161 78,936,666
1972 4,450,564 78,688,452
1971 4,431,275 78,312,842
1970 4,412,252 78,169,289
1969 4,391,490 77,909,682
1968 4,365,628 77,294,314
1967 4,338,683 76,951,336
1966 4,310,701 76,600,311
1965 4,280,923 75,963,695
1964 4,252,876 75,318,337
1963 4,225,675 74,714,353
1962 4,196,712 74,025,784
1961 4,167,292 73,377,632
1960 4,140,181 72,814,900

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/germany | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Germany lost 27,782 people (a 0.03% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Germany's population increased by 226,873 people (a 0.28% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Germany was ranked 14th in 2006 and ranked 19th 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 Germany will decrease by 6.36% to 77,325,459 people and rank change from 19th to 25th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.9% of the population in Croatia and 13.1% in Germany.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Germany
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Germany
2100 -0.82% -0.04%
2099 -0.82% -0.02%
2098 -0.82% -0.06%
2097 -0.83% -0.04%
2096 -0.82% -0.03%
2095 -0.82% -0.03%
2094 -0.81% -0.03%
2093 -0.81% -0.04%
2092 -0.8% -0.07%
2091 -0.79% -0.09%
2090 -0.8% -0.08%
2089 -0.8% -0.08%
2088 -0.79% -0.12%
2087 -0.79% -0.14%
2086 -0.79% -0.14%
2085 -0.8% -0.13%
2084 -0.8% -0.15%
2083 -0.8% -0.15%
2082 -0.8% -0.16%
2081 -0.81% -0.18%
2080 -0.82% -0.19%
2079 -0.82% -0.2%
2078 -0.83% -0.22%
2077 -0.83% -0.22%
2076 -0.83% -0.19%
2075 -0.82% -0.22%
2074 -0.82% -0.22%
2073 -0.84% -0.21%
2072 -0.82% -0.22%
2071 -0.81% -0.2%
2070 -0.84% -0.23%
2069 -0.85% -0.23%
2068 -0.85% -0.25%
2067 -0.85% -0.26%
2066 -0.85% -0.26%
2065 -0.83% -0.27%
2064 -0.85% -0.28%
2063 -0.86% -0.31%
2062 -0.85% -0.31%
2061 -0.85% -0.34%
2060 -0.84% -0.34%
2059 -0.84% -0.36%
2058 -0.83% -0.37%
2057 -0.84% -0.36%
2056 -0.82% -0.38%
2055 -0.81% -0.37%
2054 -0.81% -0.35%
2053 -0.8% -0.32%
2052 -0.8% -0.32%
2051 -0.8% -0.31%
2050 -0.79% -0.31%
2049 -0.78% -0.32%
2048 -0.78% -0.3%
2047 -0.76% -0.29%
2046 -0.76% -0.29%
2045 -0.76% -0.29%
2044 -0.73% -0.27%
2043 -0.72% -0.24%
2042 -0.71% -0.24%
2041 -0.69% -0.27%
2040 -0.68% -0.27%
2039 -0.68% -0.28%
2038 -0.68% -0.27%
2037 -0.64% -0.29%
2036 -0.62% -0.27%
2035 -0.65% -0.25%
2034 -0.64% -0.28%
2033 -0.65% -0.27%
2032 -0.66% -0.29%
2031 -0.63% -0.27%
2030 -0.64% -0.28%
2029 -0.62% -0.26%
2028 -0.65% -0.25%
2027 -0.66% -0.23%
2026 -0.68% -0.79%
2025 -0.72% -0.34%
2024 0.17% 0.28%
2023 0.1% 0.13%
2022 -0.6% -0.02%
2021 -0.9% 0.04%
2020 -0.89% 0.08%
2019 -0.99% 0.23%
2018 -1.3% 0.3%
2017 -1.59% 0.37%
2016 -1.08% 0.81%
2015 -1.19% 0.87%
2014 -0.76% 0.42%
2013 -0.62% 0.27%
2012 -0.47% 0.19%
2011 -0.34% -1.84%
2010 -0.23% -0.15%
2009 -0.1% -0.25%
2008 -0.01% -0.19%
2007 -0.02% -0.13%
2006 0.02% -0.11%
2005 0.13% -0.06%
2004 0.03% -0.02%
2003 0.03% 0.06%
2002 0.06% 0.17%
2001 -3.77% 0.17%
2000 -0.98% 0.14%
1999 -0.43% 0.06%
1998 -0.06% 0.02%
1997 -0.49% 0.15%
1996 -1.36% 0.29%
1995 -0.69% 0.29%
1994 1.12% 0.35%
1993 0.54% 0.66%
1992 -2.41% 0.76%
1991 -1.85% 0.73%
1990 0.21% 0.87%
1989 0.25% 0.78%
1988 0.33% 0.39%
1987 0.39% 0.15%
1986 0.43% 0.05%
1985 0.45% -0.22%
1984 0.47% -0.35%
1983 0.52% -0.26%
1982 0.49% -0.1%
1981 0.25% 0.15%
1980 0.11% 0.21%
1979 0.3% 0.04%
1978 0.47% -0.09%
1977 0.52% -0.23%
1976 0.53% -0.43%
1975 0.48% -0.37%
1974 0.46% 0.04%
1973 0.44% 0.32%
1972 0.44% 0.48%
1971 0.43% 0.18%
1970 0.47% 0.33%
1969 0.59% 0.8%
1968 0.62% 0.45%
1967 0.65% 0.46%
1966 0.7% 0.84%
1965 0.66% 0.86%
1964 0.64% 0.81%
1963 0.69% 0.93%
1962 0.71% 0.88%
1961 0.65% 0.77%

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/germany | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Germany's population grew by 0.28%.

Live population counters

Croatia Germany
Current population
3812193
82575542
Population rank 129/197 19/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 1%
One net population change
1.34 hours
2.29 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
45.6 seconds
One death every
10.2 minutes
30.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +18 +628
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +229,320
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +0.28%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 151/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
1.58 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 -334,072
Net migration rank 112/196 192/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 16,750,084
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 2/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 19.8%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 31/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Germany
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Germany
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -334,072
2024 - -5,186 - 36,954
2023 -19,298 10,202 -333,149 609,553
2022 -23,134 11,681 -324,394 981,552
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -224,629 310,264
2020 -20,354 -8,552 -216,218 203,468
2019 -15,008 -13,239 -157,877 319,082
2018 -15,557 -25,016 -165,812 403,908
2017 -16,570 -44,557 -148,783 452,988
2016 -13,553 -32,144 -123,523 517,480
2015 -16,607 -27,501 -187,879 1,175,283
2014 -11,345 -13,127 -153,866 592,338
2013 -10,162 -6,245 -209,679 462,384
2012 -9,799 -4,794 -193,022 199,143
2011 -9,846 -17,463 -184,632 295,282
2010 -8,591 -3,995 -179,909 130,116
2009 -7,319 1,358 -188,375 46,533
2008 -8,188 6,495 -164,220 -23,341
2007 -10,335 8,893 -148,080 -24,772
2006 -8,669 10,852 -148,278 -489,056
2005 -9,022 10,629 -148,445 81,351
2004 -9,040 15,445 -107,271 81,735
2003 -12,480 12,556 -140,309 142,009
2002 -10,325 10,306 -123,733 218,795
2001 -8,599 19,298 -98,820 272,875
2000 -6,255 -47,629 -73,990 174,594
1999 -6,769 -47,418 -73,890 219,280
1998 -4,985 -47,931 -65,637 -754,469
1997 3,175 -52,897 -49,221 93,281
1996 3,190 -53,688 -90,107 281,280
1995 0 -51,882 -114,349 398,077
1994 -930 -50,444 -114,013 315,585
1993 -2,301 -49,615 -105,503 462,096
1992 -4,576 -47,865 -80,625 811,606
1991 -2,813 -31,968 -80,014 602,638
1990 3,344 9,538 -15,887 679,702
1989 3,337 8,471 -23,625 761,002
1988 5,707 7,242 -7,815 515,962
1987 6,161 6,956 -31,136 174,272
1986 8,499 6,261 -77,721 212,822
1985 10,343 5,550 -116,527 103,556
1984 10,764 5,757 -109,002 -150,771
1983 10,714 6,323 -109,380 -81,349
1982 15,756 7,475 -78,333 -58,121
1981 15,680 4,872 -94,090 130,713
1980 17,939 -5,486 -86,117 324,203
1979 21,136 -5,740 -125,002 237,705
1978 20,157 -7,329 -140,566 117,167
1977 22,798 -7,339 -125,055 33,881
1976 22,226 -7,400 -164,508 -79,761
1975 21,658 -7,366 -212,418 -207,740
1974 22,453 -8,076 -150,038 -15,126
1973 21,904 -8,335 -149,980 386,881
1972 17,802 -7,277 -62,950 336,015
1971 19,941 -5,608 46,988 450,328
1970 16,767 -2,359 70,352 -273,498
1969 16,688 -2,796 155,820 584,017
1968 21,828 -2,799 239,612 293,307
1967 26,032 -3,518 353,977 -174,155
1966 33,192 -6,341 405,982 134,107
1965 31,251 -5,253 410,204 338,258
1964 25,942 -2,090 482,038 69,825
1963 31,270 -1,289 455,757 205,976
1962 30,216 -2,176 436,752 276,505
1961 36,255 -6,567 462,279 27,534
1960 34,778 -21,768 385,919 212,666

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/germany | 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 Germany 26.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,036,130 people) and 73.2% is from migration (a gain of 5,565,916 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 16,750,084 people or 19.8% in Germany.

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
Germany
City Population
Berlin 3.78M
Hamburg 1.91M
Munich 1.51M
Cologne 1.09M
Frankfurt 776K
Stuttgart 633K
Dusseldorf 631K
Leipzig 620K
Dortmund 595K
Essen 587K

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/germany | 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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