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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 5,395,790 people in Ireland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 5,518,360 in Ireland.

Population statistics:

  • Ireland's population is 1.45 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Ireland is the 121st.
  • 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 -0.82% per year vs +1.41% in Ireland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Ireland has grown from 4.27M to 5.52M (29.1% growth).

Croatia vs Ireland: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Ireland
2100 2,137,465 5,468,791
2099 2,155,186 5,493,162
2098 2,173,108 5,516,999
2097 2,190,995 5,540,157
2096 2,209,326 5,562,811
2095 2,227,698 5,583,505
2094 2,246,224 5,603,538
2093 2,264,550 5,623,266
2092 2,283,068 5,642,437
2091 2,301,556 5,661,268
2090 2,319,851 5,680,076
2089 2,338,604 5,697,512
2088 2,357,581 5,714,108
2087 2,376,274 5,729,431
2086 2,395,139 5,743,405
2085 2,414,304 5,757,666
2084 2,433,813 5,771,610
2083 2,453,361 5,785,324
2082 2,473,204 5,798,037
2081 2,493,128 5,809,262
2080 2,513,378 5,821,598
2079 2,534,101 5,836,731
2078 2,554,982 5,851,937
2077 2,576,370 5,867,627
2076 2,597,887 5,883,876
2075 2,619,688 5,900,200
2074 2,641,342 5,917,659
2073 2,663,253 5,934,975
2072 2,685,714 5,952,211
2071 2,708,053 5,969,279
2070 2,730,187 5,986,770
2069 2,753,302 6,003,570
2068 2,776,996 6,019,937
2067 2,800,742 6,035,810
2066 2,824,811 6,051,604
2065 2,848,913 6,066,791
2064 2,872,881 6,081,606
2063 2,897,651 6,094,455
2062 2,922,653 6,106,325
2061 2,947,832 6,118,587
2060 2,973,162 6,131,482
2059 2,998,389 6,143,979
2058 3,023,822 6,153,447
2057 3,049,085 6,161,059
2056 3,074,796 6,164,047
2055 3,100,195 6,168,611
2054 3,125,459 6,169,455
2053 3,151,016 6,169,673
2052 3,176,316 6,167,591
2051 3,201,973 6,164,894
2050 3,227,869 6,159,756
2049 3,253,597 6,151,623
2048 3,279,316 6,140,272
2047 3,305,051 6,128,245
2046 3,330,260 6,115,454
2045 3,355,638 6,099,562
2044 3,381,196 6,081,384
2043 3,406,105 6,062,477
2042 3,430,854 6,041,683
2041 3,455,487 6,017,573
2040 3,479,631 5,992,311
2039 3,503,577 5,967,604
2038 3,527,583 5,940,474
2037 3,551,581 5,912,327
2036 3,574,520 5,884,159
2035 3,596,996 5,855,902
2034 3,620,363 5,825,178
2033 3,643,692 5,792,751
2032 3,667,478 5,757,842
2031 3,691,842 5,721,671
2030 3,715,373 5,684,420
2029 3,739,203 5,644,008
2028 3,762,505 5,600,083
2027 3,787,023 5,553,725
2026 3,812,193 5,505,248
2025 3,838,346 5,452,752
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Ireland's population increased by 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Ireland was ranked 121st in 2006 and still ranked 121st 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 Ireland will increase by 11.6% to 6,159,756 people and rank change from 121st to 119th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M 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
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 -0.72% 1.06%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Ireland's population grew by 1.59%.

Live population counters

Croatia Ireland
Current population
3812193
5518360
Population rank 129/197 121/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.07%
One net population change
1.34 hours
6.24 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
9.61 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
15 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +231
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +84,252
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +1.59%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 68/197
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 - -5,186 - 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 -20,354 -8,552 23,687 15,746
2019 -15,008 -13,239 28,365 29,663
2018 -15,557 -25,016 29,878 33,387
2017 -16,570 -44,557 31,379 28,883
2016 -13,553 -32,144 33,339 18,967
2015 -16,607 -27,501 35,265 13,376
2014 -11,345 -13,127 37,728 448
2013 -10,162 -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/ireland | 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 Ireland 48.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 284,644 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 305,297 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 (1960–2024, 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/ireland | 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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