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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 47,020,774 people in Iraq in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 48,531,417 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 12.6 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.63% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs +2.32% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.5M (69.6% growth).

Croatia vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Iraq
2100 2,158,545 101,633,126
2099 2,176,440 101,421,797
2098 2,194,539 101,213,066
2097 2,212,602 100,981,364
2096 2,231,114 100,724,968
2095 2,249,667 100,465,117
2094 2,268,376 100,194,566
2093 2,286,882 99,876,697
2092 2,305,583 99,532,563
2091 2,324,254 99,204,350
2090 2,342,729 98,887,474
2089 2,361,668 98,513,541
2088 2,380,831 98,144,553
2087 2,399,709 97,768,049
2086 2,418,760 97,325,536
2085 2,438,113 96,873,514
2084 2,457,815 96,449,107
2083 2,477,556 95,991,669
2082 2,497,595 95,510,163
2081 2,517,715 95,009,824
2080 2,538,164 94,507,711
2079 2,559,092 93,960,720
2078 2,580,179 93,417,874
2077 2,601,778 92,904,470
2076 2,623,507 92,360,076
2075 2,645,523 91,825,735
2074 2,667,391 91,229,744
2073 2,689,518 90,571,495
2072 2,712,201 89,918,845
2071 2,734,759 89,266,016
2070 2,757,112 88,596,956
2069 2,780,455 87,909,934
2068 2,804,383 87,220,950
2067 2,828,363 86,514,449
2066 2,852,669 85,734,979
2065 2,877,009 84,972,344
2064 2,901,213 84,191,791
2063 2,926,228 83,388,388
2062 2,951,475 82,605,010
2061 2,976,903 81,801,066
2060 3,002,483 80,951,432
2059 3,027,959 80,142,288
2058 3,053,643 79,319,959
2057 3,079,155 78,477,750
2056 3,105,119 77,609,609
2055 3,130,769 76,740,326
2054 3,156,282 75,857,522
2053 3,182,091 74,953,340
2052 3,207,640 74,072,968
2051 3,233,551 73,150,617
2050 3,259,702 72,236,317
2049 3,285,684 71,272,496
2048 3,311,657 70,317,228
2047 3,337,645 69,348,186
2046 3,363,102 68,401,022
2045 3,388,731 67,436,306
2044 3,414,541 66,447,658
2043 3,439,695 65,453,908
2042 3,464,688 64,434,168
2041 3,489,565 63,409,041
2040 3,513,946 62,360,444
2039 3,538,129 61,289,676
2038 3,562,371 60,253,388
2037 3,586,606 59,221,968
2036 3,609,771 58,156,294
2035 3,632,470 57,128,298
2034 3,656,066 56,087,988
2033 3,679,626 55,051,428
2032 3,703,646 54,002,572
2031 3,728,250 52,991,720
2030 3,752,014 51,987,045
2029 3,776,079 50,982,830
2028 3,799,610 50,001,395
2027 3,824,370 49,015,079
2026 3,849,788 48,020,585
2025 3,876,200 47,020,774
2024 3,866,200 46,042,015
2023 3,859,686 45,074,049
2022 3,855,641 44,070,551
2021 3,878,981 43,071,211
2020 3,914,206 42,116,605
2019 3,949,390 41,192,171
2018 3,988,775 40,265,624
2017 4,041,407 39,337,353
2016 4,106,867 38,469,627
2015 4,151,725 37,560,535
2014 4,201,598 36,550,059
2013 4,233,922 35,281,989
2012 4,260,368 33,654,842
2011 4,280,622 32,161,424
2010 4,295,427 31,045,366
2009 4,305,181 30,058,206
2008 4,309,705 28,971,036
2007 4,310,217 28,391,607
2006 4,311,159 28,616,515
2005 4,310,145 28,407,448
2004 4,304,600 27,577,878
2003 4,303,399 26,802,659
2002 4,302,174 26,006,559
2001 4,299,642 25,197,840
2000 4,468,302 24,424,056
1999 4,512,597 23,636,527
1998 4,532,135 22,884,399
1997 4,534,920 22,176,593
1996 4,557,097 21,501,321
1995 4,620,030 20,825,860
1994 4,652,024 20,139,807
1993 4,600,463 19,201,195
1992 4,575,818 18,300,845
1991 4,689,022 17,767,253
1990 4,777,368 17,581,206
1989 4,767,260 17,364,542
1988 4,755,207 16,908,819
1987 4,739,745 16,521,049
1986 4,721,446 16,074,145
1985 4,701,417 15,683,430
1984 4,680,285 15,310,733
1983 4,658,254 14,840,555
1982 4,634,234 14,406,083
1981 4,611,509 14,006,381
1980 4,599,782 13,591,992
1979 4,594,778 13,170,365
1978 4,581,085 12,753,355
1977 4,559,571 12,331,046
1976 4,535,934 11,927,651
1975 4,512,082 11,543,639
1974 4,490,660 11,167,761
1973 4,470,161 10,795,869
1972 4,450,564 10,430,164
1971 4,431,275 10,077,809
1970 4,412,252 9,735,611
1969 4,391,490 9,403,356
1968 4,365,628 9,085,016
1967 4,338,683 8,778,869
1966 4,310,701 8,485,104
1965 4,280,923 8,202,140
1964 4,252,876 7,929,566
1963 4,225,675 7,667,928
1962 4,196,712 7,413,875
1961 4,167,292 7,194,553
1960 4,140,181 7,022,052

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/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Iraq's population increased by 10,061,790 people (a 26.2% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd 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 Iraq will increase by 48.8% to 72,236,317 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people, while Croatia's population already peaked in 1990 at 4.78M people and is projected to decrease to 2.16M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Iraq
2100 -0.82% 0.21%
2099 -0.82% 0.21%
2098 -0.82% 0.23%
2097 -0.83% 0.25%
2096 -0.82% 0.26%
2095 -0.82% 0.27%
2094 -0.81% 0.32%
2093 -0.81% 0.35%
2092 -0.8% 0.33%
2091 -0.79% 0.32%
2090 -0.8% 0.38%
2089 -0.8% 0.38%
2088 -0.79% 0.39%
2087 -0.79% 0.45%
2086 -0.79% 0.47%
2085 -0.8% 0.44%
2084 -0.8% 0.48%
2083 -0.8% 0.5%
2082 -0.8% 0.53%
2081 -0.81% 0.53%
2080 -0.82% 0.58%
2079 -0.82% 0.58%
2078 -0.83% 0.55%
2077 -0.83% 0.59%
2076 -0.83% 0.58%
2075 -0.82% 0.65%
2074 -0.82% 0.73%
2073 -0.84% 0.73%
2072 -0.82% 0.73%
2071 -0.81% 0.76%
2070 -0.84% 0.78%
2069 -0.85% 0.79%
2068 -0.85% 0.82%
2067 -0.85% 0.91%
2066 -0.85% 0.9%
2065 -0.83% 0.93%
2064 -0.85% 0.96%
2063 -0.86% 0.95%
2062 -0.85% 0.98%
2061 -0.85% 1.05%
2060 -0.84% 1.01%
2059 -0.84% 1.04%
2058 -0.83% 1.07%
2057 -0.84% 1.12%
2056 -0.82% 1.13%
2055 -0.81% 1.16%
2054 -0.81% 1.21%
2053 -0.8% 1.19%
2052 -0.8% 1.26%
2051 -0.8% 1.27%
2050 -0.79% 1.35%
2049 -0.78% 1.36%
2048 -0.78% 1.4%
2047 -0.76% 1.38%
2046 -0.76% 1.43%
2045 -0.76% 1.49%
2044 -0.73% 1.52%
2043 -0.72% 1.58%
2042 -0.71% 1.62%
2041 -0.69% 1.68%
2040 -0.68% 1.75%
2039 -0.68% 1.72%
2038 -0.68% 1.74%
2037 -0.64% 1.83%
2036 -0.62% 1.8%
2035 -0.65% 1.85%
2034 -0.64% 1.88%
2033 -0.65% 1.94%
2032 -0.66% 1.91%
2031 -0.63% 1.93%
2030 -0.64% 1.97%
2029 -0.62% 1.96%
2028 -0.65% 2.01%
2027 -0.66% 2.07%
2026 -0.68% 2.13%
2025 0.26% 2.13%
2024 0.17% 2.15%
2023 0.1% 2.28%
2022 -0.6% 2.32%
2021 -0.9% 2.27%
2020 -0.89% 2.24%
2019 -0.99% 2.3%
2018 -1.3% 2.36%
2017 -1.59% 2.26%
2016 -1.08% 2.42%
2015 -1.19% 2.76%
2014 -0.76% 3.59%
2013 -0.62% 4.83%
2012 -0.47% 4.64%
2011 -0.34% 3.59%
2010 -0.23% 3.28%
2009 -0.1% 3.75%
2008 -0.01% 2.04%
2007 -0.02% -0.79%
2006 0.02% 0.74%
2005 0.13% 3.01%
2004 0.03% 2.89%
2003 0.03% 3.06%
2002 0.06% 3.21%
2001 -3.77% 3.17%
2000 -0.98% 3.33%
1999 -0.43% 3.29%
1998 -0.06% 3.19%
1997 -0.49% 3.14%
1996 -1.36% 3.24%
1995 -0.69% 3.41%
1994 1.12% 4.89%
1993 0.54% 4.92%
1992 -2.41% 3%
1991 -1.85% 1.06%
1990 0.21% 1.25%
1989 0.25% 2.7%
1988 0.33% 2.35%
1987 0.39% 2.78%
1986 0.43% 2.49%
1985 0.45% 2.43%
1984 0.47% 3.17%
1983 0.52% 3.02%
1982 0.49% 2.85%
1981 0.25% 3.05%
1980 0.11% 3.2%
1979 0.3% 3.27%
1978 0.47% 3.42%
1977 0.52% 3.38%
1976 0.53% 3.33%
1975 0.48% 3.37%
1974 0.46% 3.44%
1973 0.44% 3.51%
1972 0.44% 3.5%
1971 0.43% 3.51%
1970 0.47% 3.53%
1969 0.59% 3.5%
1968 0.62% 3.49%
1967 0.65% 3.46%
1966 0.7% 3.45%
1965 0.66% 3.44%
1964 0.64% 3.41%
1963 0.69% 3.43%
1962 0.71% 3.05%
1961 0.65% 2.46%

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/iraq | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.13%.

Live population counters

Croatia Iraq
Current population
3849788
48531417
Population rank 130/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.58%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
32.3 seconds
One birth every
16.4 minutes
26.8 seconds
One death every
10.3 minutes
2.74 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 +2,682
Annual growth/decline +10,000 +978,759
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% +2.13%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 43/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
8.26 hours
Annual migration change -3,481 -1,064
Net migration rank 112/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -1,064
2024 -18,944 -5,186 985,943 -17,735
2023 -19,298 10,202 973,420 -5,710
2022 -23,134 11,681 962,501 76,821
2021 -26,377 -4,517 941,924 17,474
2020 -21,137 -8,552 919,953 29,858
2019 -15,798 -13,239 942,972 -43,919
2018 -15,556 -25,016 938,310 15,775
2017 -16,974 -44,557 924,507 -21,998
2016 -14,374 -32,144 946,968 -113,980
2015 -17,022 -27,501 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 -11,344 -13,127 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 -10,585 -6,245 1,026,036 474,379
2012 -9,799 -4,794 999,987 753,907
2011 -9,846 -17,463 971,082 261,880
2010 -8,591 -3,995 906,369 92,779
2009 -7,319 1,358 855,096 120,092
2008 -8,188 6,495 802,382 396,792
2007 -10,335 8,893 784,119 -824,428
2006 -8,669 10,852 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 -9,022 10,629 776,603 51,019
2004 -9,040 15,445 761,563 69,948
2003 -12,480 12,556 746,159 -27,236
2002 -10,325 10,306 739,419 133,839
2001 -8,599 19,298 729,704 14,451
2000 -6,255 -47,629 715,771 87,624
1999 -6,769 -47,418 702,170 69,491
1998 -4,985 -47,931 684,152 48,446
1997 3,175 -52,897 667,582 15,429
1996 3,190 -53,688 652,866 14,652
1995 0 -51,882 642,977 40,424
1994 -930 -50,444 634,344 54,355
1993 -2,301 -49,615 606,700 581,818
1992 -4,576 -47,865 591,886 20,292
1991 -2,813 -31,968 550,146 -95,155
1990 3,344 9,538 518,575 -601,469
1989 3,337 8,471 496,852 19,392
1988 5,707 7,242 476,778 -81,562
1987 6,161 6,956 488,742 -108,426
1986 8,499 6,261 474,348 39,136
1985 10,343 5,550 467,445 -199,505
1984 10,764 5,757 455,740 21,709
1983 10,714 6,323 439,800 23,115
1982 15,756 7,475 428,336 -22,302
1981 15,680 4,872 416,998 -23,640
1980 17,939 -5,486 419,653 15,757
1979 21,136 -5,740 428,458 -20,617
1978 20,157 -7,329 418,756 7,434
1977 22,798 -7,339 410,229 8,204
1976 22,226 -7,400 402,260 -13,915
1975 21,658 -7,366 385,916 -6,237
1974 22,453 -8,076 376,197 -4,090
1973 21,904 -8,335 373,191 -1,507
1972 17,802 -7,277 362,334 -2,600
1971 19,941 -5,608 351,464 -6,479
1970 16,767 -2,359 338,030 1,377
1969 16,688 -2,796 324,792 312
1968 21,828 -2,799 310,644 928
1967 26,032 -3,518 298,192 2,531
1966 33,192 -6,341 285,507 1,298
1965 31,251 -5,253 274,551 4,555
1964 25,942 -2,090 262,825 3,224
1963 31,270 -1,289 254,046 3,197
1962 30,216 -2,176 247,520 3,343
1961 36,255 -6,567 184,792 2,981
1960 34,778 -21,768 155,651 1,573

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,544,059 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a loss of 85,752 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

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
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

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/iraq | 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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