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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 5,484,367 people in Ireland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 5,562,212 in Ireland.

Population statistics:

  • Ireland's population is 1.44 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Ireland is the 122nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.07% for Ireland.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs +1.5% in Ireland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Ireland has grown from 4.27M to 5.56M (30.2% growth).

Croatia vs Ireland: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Ireland
2100 2,158,545 5,500,499
2099 2,176,440 5,525,011
2098 2,194,539 5,548,986
2097 2,212,602 5,572,279
2096 2,231,114 5,595,064
2095 2,249,667 5,615,877
2094 2,268,376 5,636,027
2093 2,286,882 5,655,870
2092 2,305,583 5,675,151
2091 2,324,254 5,694,092
2090 2,342,729 5,713,009
2089 2,361,668 5,730,546
2088 2,380,831 5,747,238
2087 2,399,709 5,762,650
2086 2,418,760 5,776,705
2085 2,438,113 5,791,049
2084 2,457,815 5,805,074
2083 2,477,556 5,818,867
2082 2,497,595 5,831,653
2081 2,517,715 5,842,944
2080 2,538,164 5,855,351
2079 2,559,092 5,870,572
2078 2,580,179 5,885,866
2077 2,601,778 5,901,647
2076 2,623,507 5,917,991
2075 2,645,523 5,934,408
2074 2,667,391 5,951,970
2073 2,689,518 5,969,385
2072 2,712,201 5,986,721
2071 2,734,759 6,003,888
2070 2,757,112 6,021,481
2069 2,780,455 6,038,378
2068 2,804,383 6,054,840
2067 2,828,363 6,070,805
2066 2,852,669 6,086,691
2065 2,877,009 6,101,966
2064 2,901,213 6,116,867
2063 2,926,228 6,129,790
2062 2,951,475 6,141,729
2061 2,976,903 6,154,062
2060 3,002,483 6,167,032
2059 3,027,959 6,179,602
2058 3,053,643 6,189,124
2057 3,079,155 6,196,781
2056 3,105,119 6,199,786
2055 3,130,769 6,204,376
2054 3,156,282 6,205,225
2053 3,182,091 6,205,444
2052 3,207,640 6,203,350
2051 3,233,551 6,200,637
2050 3,259,702 6,195,469
2049 3,285,684 6,187,289
2048 3,311,657 6,175,872
2047 3,337,645 6,163,776
2046 3,363,102 6,150,911
2045 3,388,731 6,134,927
2044 3,414,541 6,116,643
2043 3,439,695 6,097,627
2042 3,464,688 6,076,713
2041 3,489,565 6,052,462
2040 3,513,946 6,027,054
2039 3,538,129 6,002,204
2038 3,562,371 5,974,917
2037 3,586,606 5,946,606
2036 3,609,771 5,918,275
2035 3,632,470 5,889,854
2034 3,656,066 5,858,952
2033 3,679,626 5,826,337
2032 3,703,646 5,791,225
2031 3,728,250 5,754,845
2030 3,752,014 5,717,377
2029 3,776,079 5,676,731
2028 3,799,610 5,632,552
2027 3,824,370 5,585,925
2026 3,849,788 5,537,167
2025 3,876,200 5,484,367
2024 3,866,200 5,395,790
2023 3,859,686 5,311,538
2022 3,855,641 5,212,836
2021 3,878,981 5,110,585
2020 3,914,206 5,039,747
2019 3,949,390 4,976,456
2018 3,988,775 4,898,022
2017 4,041,407 4,827,445
2016 4,106,867 4,762,722
2015 4,151,725 4,701,957
2014 4,201,598 4,657,740
2013 4,233,922 4,623,816
2012 4,260,368 4,599,533
2011 4,280,622 4,580,084
2010 4,295,427 4,560,155
2009 4,305,181 4,535,375
2008 4,309,705 4,489,544
2007 4,310,217 4,398,942
2006 4,311,159 4,273,591
2005 4,310,145 4,159,914
2004 4,304,600 4,070,262
2003 4,303,399 3,996,521
2002 4,302,174 3,931,947
2001 4,299,642 3,866,243
2000 4,468,302 3,805,174
1999 4,512,597 3,754,786
1998 4,532,135 3,712,696
1997 4,534,920 3,674,171
1996 4,557,097 3,637,510
1995 4,620,030 3,608,841
1994 4,652,024 3,590,386
1993 4,600,463 3,576,261
1992 4,575,818 3,558,430
1991 4,689,022 3,534,235
1990 4,777,368 3,513,974
1989 4,767,260 3,511,009
1988 4,755,207 3,524,949
1987 4,739,745 3,540,057
1986 4,721,446 3,539,690
1985 4,701,417 3,538,082
1984 4,680,285 3,532,423
1983 4,658,254 3,510,600
1982 4,634,234 3,485,800
1981 4,611,509 3,453,000
1980 4,599,782 3,412,800
1979 4,594,778 3,373,750
1978 4,581,085 3,329,100
1977 4,559,571 3,282,200
1976 4,535,934 3,238,050
1975 4,512,082 3,189,550
1974 4,490,660 3,137,500
1973 4,470,161 3,085,950
1972 4,450,564 3,036,850
1971 4,431,275 2,992,050
1970 4,412,252 2,957,250
1969 4,391,490 2,932,650
1968 4,365,628 2,915,550
1967 4,338,683 2,902,450
1966 4,310,701 2,888,800
1965 4,280,923 2,877,300
1964 4,252,876 2,866,550
1963 4,225,675 2,852,650
1962 4,196,712 2,836,050
1961 4,167,292 2,824,400
1960 4,140,181 2,828,600

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/ireland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Ireland gained 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Ireland's population increased by 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Ireland was ranked 121st in 2006 and ranked 122nd 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 Ireland will increase by 11.4% to 6,195,469 people and rank change from 122nd to 118th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M 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
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Ireland
2100 -0.82% -0.44%
2099 -0.82% -0.43%
2098 -0.82% -0.42%
2097 -0.83% -0.41%
2096 -0.82% -0.37%
2095 -0.82% -0.36%
2094 -0.81% -0.35%
2093 -0.81% -0.34%
2092 -0.8% -0.33%
2091 -0.79% -0.33%
2090 -0.8% -0.31%
2089 -0.8% -0.29%
2088 -0.79% -0.27%
2087 -0.79% -0.24%
2086 -0.79% -0.25%
2085 -0.8% -0.24%
2084 -0.8% -0.24%
2083 -0.8% -0.22%
2082 -0.8% -0.19%
2081 -0.81% -0.21%
2080 -0.82% -0.26%
2079 -0.82% -0.26%
2078 -0.83% -0.27%
2077 -0.83% -0.28%
2076 -0.83% -0.28%
2075 -0.82% -0.3%
2074 -0.82% -0.29%
2073 -0.84% -0.29%
2072 -0.82% -0.29%
2071 -0.81% -0.29%
2070 -0.84% -0.28%
2069 -0.85% -0.27%
2068 -0.85% -0.26%
2067 -0.85% -0.26%
2066 -0.85% -0.25%
2065 -0.83% -0.24%
2064 -0.85% -0.21%
2063 -0.86% -0.19%
2062 -0.85% -0.2%
2061 -0.85% -0.21%
2060 -0.84% -0.2%
2059 -0.84% -0.15%
2058 -0.83% -0.12%
2057 -0.84% -0.05%
2056 -0.82% -0.07%
2055 -0.81% -0.01%
2054 -0.81% -0.004%
2053 -0.8% 0.03%
2052 -0.8% 0.04%
2051 -0.8% 0.08%
2050 -0.79% 0.13%
2049 -0.78% 0.18%
2048 -0.78% 0.2%
2047 -0.76% 0.21%
2046 -0.76% 0.26%
2045 -0.76% 0.3%
2044 -0.73% 0.31%
2043 -0.72% 0.34%
2042 -0.71% 0.4%
2041 -0.69% 0.42%
2040 -0.68% 0.41%
2039 -0.68% 0.46%
2038 -0.68% 0.48%
2037 -0.64% 0.48%
2036 -0.62% 0.48%
2035 -0.65% 0.53%
2034 -0.64% 0.56%
2033 -0.65% 0.61%
2032 -0.66% 0.63%
2031 -0.63% 0.66%
2030 -0.64% 0.72%
2029 -0.62% 0.78%
2028 -0.65% 0.83%
2027 -0.66% 0.88%
2026 -0.68% 0.96%
2025 0.26% 1.64%
2024 0.17% 1.59%
2023 0.1% 1.89%
2022 -0.6% 2%
2021 -0.9% 1.41%
2020 -0.89% 1.27%
2019 -0.99% 1.6%
2018 -1.3% 1.46%
2017 -1.59% 1.36%
2016 -1.08% 1.29%
2015 -1.19% 0.95%
2014 -0.76% 0.73%
2013 -0.62% 0.53%
2012 -0.47% 0.42%
2011 -0.34% 0.44%
2010 -0.23% 0.55%
2009 -0.1% 1.02%
2008 -0.01% 2.06%
2007 -0.02% 2.93%
2006 0.02% 2.73%
2005 0.13% 2.2%
2004 0.03% 1.85%
2003 0.03% 1.64%
2002 0.06% 1.7%
2001 -3.77% 1.6%
2000 -0.98% 1.34%
1999 -0.43% 1.13%
1998 -0.06% 1.05%
1997 -0.49% 1.01%
1996 -1.36% 0.79%
1995 -0.69% 0.51%
1994 1.12% 0.39%
1993 0.54% 0.5%
1992 -2.41% 0.68%
1991 -1.85% 0.58%
1990 0.21% 0.08%
1989 0.25% -0.4%
1988 0.33% -0.43%
1987 0.39% 0.01%
1986 0.43% 0.05%
1985 0.45% 0.16%
1984 0.47% 0.62%
1983 0.52% 0.71%
1982 0.49% 0.95%
1981 0.25% 1.18%
1980 0.11% 1.16%
1979 0.3% 1.34%
1978 0.47% 1.43%
1977 0.52% 1.36%
1976 0.53% 1.52%
1975 0.48% 1.66%
1974 0.46% 1.67%
1973 0.44% 1.62%
1972 0.44% 1.5%
1971 0.43% 1.18%
1970 0.47% 0.84%
1969 0.59% 0.59%
1968 0.62% 0.45%
1967 0.65% 0.47%
1966 0.7% 0.4%
1965 0.66% 0.38%
1964 0.64% 0.49%
1963 0.69% 0.59%
1962 0.71% 0.41%
1961 0.65% -0.15%

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/ireland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Ireland's population grew by 1.64%.

Live population counters

Croatia Ireland
Current population
3849788
5562212
Population rank 130/197 122/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.07%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
5.95 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
9.74 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
15 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 +243
Annual growth/decline +10,000 +88,577
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% +1.64%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 64/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
14.9 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 +35,417
Net migration rank 112/196 27/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 1,216,237
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 52/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 23.1%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 25/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Ireland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Ireland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 35,417
2024 -18,944 -5,186 18,885 39,059
2023 -19,298 10,202 19,652 43,873
2022 -23,134 11,681 19,287 93,535
2021 -26,377 -4,517 26,064 27,419
2020 -21,137 -8,552 23,687 15,746
2019 -15,798 -13,239 28,365 29,663
2018 -15,556 -25,016 29,878 33,387
2017 -16,974 -44,557 31,379 28,883
2016 -14,374 -32,144 33,339 18,967
2015 -17,022 -27,501 35,265 13,376
2014 -11,344 -13,127 37,728 448
2013 -10,585 -6,245 39,302 -12,309
2012 -9,799 -4,794 42,775 -22,411
2011 -9,846 -17,463 45,801 -26,529
2010 -8,591 -3,995 47,426 -26,974
2009 -7,319 1,358 47,168 -18,524
2008 -8,188 6,495 46,691 18,979
2007 -10,335 8,893 43,109 76,465
2006 -8,669 10,852 36,752 94,513
2005 -9,022 10,629 33,279 63,983
2004 -9,040 15,445 33,376 49,102
2003 -12,480 12,556 32,372 32,220
2002 -10,325 10,306 31,062 34,286
2001 -8,599 19,298 27,837 39,220
2000 -6,255 -47,629 23,592 31,298
1999 -6,769 -47,418 21,402 23,592
1998 -4,985 -47,931 22,277 16,615
1997 3,175 -52,897 21,311 17,425
1996 3,190 -53,688 18,915 9,959
1995 0 -51,882 16,601 10,019
1994 -930 -50,444 17,234 -3,118
1993 -2,301 -49,615 17,166 -3,762
1992 -4,576 -47,865 20,283 1,335
1991 -2,813 -31,968 21,206 4,944
1990 3,344 9,538 21,787 -8,203
1989 3,337 8,471 20,012 -28,752
1988 5,707 7,242 22,912 -44,020
1987 6,161 6,956 26,904 -38,426
1986 8,499 6,261 27,963 -21,139
1985 10,343 5,550 29,013 -16,178
1984 10,764 5,757 31,791 -15,549
1983 10,714 6,323 34,053 -15,043
1982 15,756 7,475 38,344 -14,464
1981 15,680 4,872 39,364 -10,834
1980 17,939 -5,486 40,612 -2,876
1979 21,136 -5,740 38,798 1,486
1978 20,157 -7,329 36,288 15,543
1977 22,798 -7,339 35,448 14,505
1976 22,226 -7,400 33,676 14,200
1975 21,658 -7,366 34,128 13,828
1974 22,453 -8,076 34,199 13,482
1973 21,904 -8,335 34,562 13,164
1972 17,802 -7,277 34,316 12,858
1971 19,941 -5,608 35,606 5,851
1970 16,767 -2,359 30,756 -8,892
1969 16,688 -2,796 29,326 -10,250
1968 21,828 -2,799 27,697 -11,132
1967 26,032 -3,518 29,895 -11,708
1966 33,192 -6,341 26,866 -11,858
1965 31,251 -5,253 30,500 -14,016
1964 25,942 -2,090 31,532 -15,640
1963 31,270 -1,289 29,667 -16,615
1962 30,216 -2,176 28,077 -17,438
1961 36,255 -6,567 25,137 -22,237
1960 34,778 -21,768 28,286 -38,492

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/ireland | 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 Ireland 43.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 265,801 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 343,908 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 1,216,237 people or 23.1% in Ireland.

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
Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
Waterford 48.4K
Drogheda 41K
Swords 40.8K
Dundalk 39K
Tralee 26.1K
Kilkenny 22.2K

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/ireland | 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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