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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 46,042,015 people in Iraq in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 48,289,334 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 12.7 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th 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 -0.82% per year vs +2.45% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.3M (68.7% growth).

Croatia vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Iraq
2100 2,137,465 101,632,594
2099 2,155,186 101,421,266
2098 2,173,108 101,212,536
2097 2,190,995 100,980,835
2096 2,209,326 100,724,441
2095 2,227,698 100,464,590
2094 2,246,224 100,194,041
2093 2,264,550 99,876,174
2092 2,283,068 99,532,041
2091 2,301,556 99,203,830
2090 2,319,851 98,886,956
2089 2,338,604 98,513,025
2088 2,357,581 98,144,039
2087 2,376,274 97,767,537
2086 2,395,139 97,325,026
2085 2,414,304 96,873,007
2084 2,433,813 96,448,602
2083 2,453,361 95,991,166
2082 2,473,204 95,509,663
2081 2,493,128 95,009,326
2080 2,513,378 94,507,216
2079 2,534,101 93,960,228
2078 2,554,982 93,417,384
2077 2,576,370 92,903,983
2076 2,597,887 92,359,592
2075 2,619,688 91,825,254
2074 2,641,342 91,229,266
2073 2,663,253 90,571,021
2072 2,685,714 89,918,374
2071 2,708,053 89,265,548
2070 2,730,187 88,596,492
2069 2,753,302 87,909,474
2068 2,776,996 87,220,494
2067 2,800,742 86,513,996
2066 2,824,811 85,734,530
2065 2,848,913 84,971,898
2064 2,872,881 84,191,350
2063 2,897,651 83,387,951
2062 2,922,653 82,604,577
2061 2,947,832 81,800,637
2060 2,973,162 80,951,008
2059 2,998,389 80,141,868
2058 3,023,822 79,319,543
2057 3,049,085 78,477,339
2056 3,074,796 77,609,202
2055 3,100,195 76,739,924
2054 3,125,459 75,857,125
2053 3,151,016 74,952,948
2052 3,176,316 74,072,580
2051 3,201,973 73,150,234
2050 3,227,869 72,235,938
2049 3,253,597 71,272,122
2048 3,279,316 70,316,860
2047 3,305,051 69,347,823
2046 3,330,260 68,400,664
2045 3,355,638 67,435,953
2044 3,381,196 66,447,309
2043 3,406,105 65,453,565
2042 3,430,854 64,433,831
2041 3,455,487 63,408,709
2040 3,479,631 62,360,117
2039 3,503,577 61,289,355
2038 3,527,583 60,253,073
2037 3,551,581 59,221,658
2036 3,574,520 58,155,990
2035 3,596,996 57,127,999
2034 3,620,363 56,087,695
2033 3,643,692 55,051,140
2032 3,667,478 54,002,289
2031 3,691,842 52,991,443
2030 3,715,373 51,986,773
2029 3,739,203 50,982,563
2028 3,762,505 50,001,133
2027 3,787,023 49,014,822
2026 3,812,193 48,020,334
2025 3,838,346 47,020,527
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Iraq's population increased by 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th 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 3,227,869 people with a rank change from 129th to 139th. The population of Iraq will increase by 49.6% to 72,235,938 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 2.14M 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 -0.72% 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Croatia Iraq
Current population
3812193
48289334
Population rank 129/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.58%
One net population change
1.34 hours
32.6 seconds
One birth every
16.4 minutes
27.2 seconds
One death every
10.2 minutes
2.82 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +2,652
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +967,966
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 46/197
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 - -5,186 - -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 -20,354 -8,552 919,953 29,858
2019 -15,008 -13,239 942,972 -43,919
2018 -15,557 -25,016 938,310 15,775
2017 -16,570 -44,557 924,507 -21,998
2016 -13,553 -32,144 946,968 -113,980
2015 -16,607 -27,501 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 -11,345 -13,127 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 -10,162 -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 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 (1960–2024, 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/iraq | 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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