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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 123,366,734 people in Japan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 122,704,252 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 31.9 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.52% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs -0.28% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.03% decline).

Croatia vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Japan
2100 2,158,545 76,995,942
2099 2,176,440 77,380,486
2098 2,194,539 77,759,557
2097 2,212,602 78,135,569
2096 2,231,114 78,515,892
2095 2,249,667 78,892,606
2094 2,268,376 79,267,768
2093 2,286,882 79,645,584
2092 2,305,583 80,025,578
2091 2,324,254 80,401,222
2090 2,342,729 80,778,500
2089 2,361,668 81,158,413
2088 2,380,831 81,539,639
2087 2,399,709 81,926,401
2086 2,418,760 82,322,612
2085 2,438,113 82,727,738
2084 2,457,815 83,141,354
2083 2,477,556 83,562,394
2082 2,497,595 83,998,809
2081 2,517,715 84,447,888
2080 2,538,164 84,918,455
2079 2,559,092 85,406,042
2078 2,580,179 85,916,840
2077 2,601,778 86,453,316
2076 2,623,507 87,012,155
2075 2,645,523 87,597,053
2074 2,667,391 88,209,803
2073 2,689,518 88,854,316
2072 2,712,201 89,519,055
2071 2,734,759 90,204,314
2070 2,757,112 90,919,143
2069 2,780,455 91,645,589
2068 2,804,383 92,388,299
2067 2,828,363 93,133,993
2066 2,852,669 93,889,902
2065 2,877,009 94,654,259
2064 2,901,213 95,412,429
2063 2,926,228 96,169,244
2062 2,951,475 96,924,236
2061 2,976,903 97,675,525
2060 3,002,483 98,422,553
2059 3,027,959 99,166,038
2058 3,053,643 99,890,950
2057 3,079,155 100,607,740
2056 3,105,119 101,318,164
2055 3,130,769 102,012,184
2054 3,156,282 102,706,063
2053 3,182,091 103,381,833
2052 3,207,640 104,059,800
2051 3,233,551 104,729,745
2050 3,259,702 105,400,477
2049 3,285,684 106,076,354
2048 3,311,657 106,754,699
2047 3,337,645 107,442,881
2046 3,363,102 108,139,155
2045 3,388,731 108,844,934
2044 3,414,541 109,553,441
2043 3,439,695 110,269,851
2042 3,464,688 110,992,599
2041 3,489,565 111,729,216
2040 3,513,946 112,463,507
2039 3,538,129 113,200,859
2038 3,562,371 113,940,856
2037 3,586,606 114,687,611
2036 3,609,771 115,436,359
2035 3,632,470 116,187,949
2034 3,656,066 116,936,734
2033 3,679,626 117,678,572
2032 3,703,646 118,419,247
2031 3,728,250 119,153,646
2030 3,752,014 119,882,512
2029 3,776,079 120,600,781
2028 3,799,610 121,314,239
2027 3,824,370 122,015,984
2026 3,849,788 122,704,252
2025 3,876,200 123,366,734
2024 3,866,200 123,975,371
2023 3,859,686 124,516,650
2022 3,855,641 125,124,989
2021 3,878,981 125,681,593
2020 3,914,206 126,261,000
2019 3,949,390 126,633,000
2018 3,988,775 126,811,000
2017 4,041,407 126,972,000
2016 4,106,867 127,076,000
2015 4,151,725 127,141,000
2014 4,201,598 127,276,000
2013 4,233,922 127,445,000
2012 4,260,368 127,629,000
2011 4,280,622 127,833,000
2010 4,295,427 128,070,000
2009 4,305,181 128,047,000
2008 4,309,705 128,063,000
2007 4,310,217 128,001,000
2006 4,311,159 127,854,000
2005 4,310,145 127,773,000
2004 4,304,600 127,761,000
2003 4,303,399 127,718,000
2002 4,302,174 127,445,000
2001 4,299,642 127,149,000
2000 4,468,302 126,843,000
1999 4,512,597 126,631,000
1998 4,532,135 126,400,000
1997 4,534,920 126,057,000
1996 4,557,097 125,757,000
1995 4,620,030 125,472,000
1994 4,652,024 125,178,000
1993 4,600,463 124,829,000
1992 4,575,818 124,425,000
1991 4,689,022 123,964,000
1990 4,777,368 123,478,000
1989 4,767,260 123,069,000
1988 4,755,207 122,578,000
1987 4,739,745 122,069,000
1986 4,721,446 121,482,000
1985 4,701,417 120,837,000
1984 4,680,285 120,083,000
1983 4,658,254 119,307,000
1982 4,634,234 118,480,000
1981 4,611,509 117,661,000
1980 4,599,782 116,807,000
1979 4,594,778 115,890,000
1978 4,581,085 114,913,000
1977 4,559,571 113,872,000
1976 4,535,934 112,775,000
1975 4,512,082 111,573,000
1974 4,490,660 110,162,000
1973 4,470,161 108,707,000
1972 4,450,564 107,188,000
1971 4,431,275 105,697,000
1970 4,412,252 103,403,000
1969 4,391,490 102,219,000
1968 4,365,628 101,011,000
1967 4,338,683 99,879,000
1966 4,310,701 98,851,000
1965 4,280,923 97,952,000
1964 4,252,876 96,903,000
1963 4,225,675 95,900,000
1962 4,196,712 94,933,000
1961 4,167,292 94,055,000
1960 4,140,181 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Japan's population decreased by 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,400,477 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.9% of the population in Croatia and 29.1% in Japan.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Japan
2100 -0.82% -0.5%
2099 -0.82% -0.49%
2098 -0.82% -0.48%
2097 -0.83% -0.48%
2096 -0.82% -0.48%
2095 -0.82% -0.47%
2094 -0.81% -0.47%
2093 -0.81% -0.47%
2092 -0.8% -0.47%
2091 -0.79% -0.47%
2090 -0.8% -0.47%
2089 -0.8% -0.47%
2088 -0.79% -0.47%
2087 -0.79% -0.48%
2086 -0.79% -0.49%
2085 -0.8% -0.5%
2084 -0.8% -0.5%
2083 -0.8% -0.52%
2082 -0.8% -0.53%
2081 -0.81% -0.55%
2080 -0.82% -0.57%
2079 -0.82% -0.59%
2078 -0.83% -0.62%
2077 -0.83% -0.64%
2076 -0.83% -0.67%
2075 -0.82% -0.69%
2074 -0.82% -0.73%
2073 -0.84% -0.74%
2072 -0.82% -0.76%
2071 -0.81% -0.79%
2070 -0.84% -0.79%
2069 -0.85% -0.8%
2068 -0.85% -0.8%
2067 -0.85% -0.81%
2066 -0.85% -0.81%
2065 -0.83% -0.79%
2064 -0.85% -0.79%
2063 -0.86% -0.78%
2062 -0.85% -0.77%
2061 -0.85% -0.76%
2060 -0.84% -0.75%
2059 -0.84% -0.73%
2058 -0.83% -0.71%
2057 -0.84% -0.7%
2056 -0.82% -0.68%
2055 -0.81% -0.68%
2054 -0.81% -0.65%
2053 -0.8% -0.65%
2052 -0.8% -0.64%
2051 -0.8% -0.64%
2050 -0.79% -0.64%
2049 -0.78% -0.64%
2048 -0.78% -0.64%
2047 -0.76% -0.64%
2046 -0.76% -0.65%
2045 -0.76% -0.65%
2044 -0.73% -0.65%
2043 -0.72% -0.65%
2042 -0.71% -0.66%
2041 -0.69% -0.65%
2040 -0.68% -0.65%
2039 -0.68% -0.65%
2038 -0.68% -0.65%
2037 -0.64% -0.65%
2036 -0.62% -0.65%
2035 -0.65% -0.64%
2034 -0.64% -0.63%
2033 -0.65% -0.63%
2032 -0.66% -0.62%
2031 -0.63% -0.61%
2030 -0.64% -0.6%
2029 -0.62% -0.59%
2028 -0.65% -0.58%
2027 -0.66% -0.56%
2026 -0.68% -0.54%
2025 0.26% -0.49%
2024 0.17% -0.43%
2023 0.1% -0.49%
2022 -0.6% -0.44%
2021 -0.9% -0.46%
2020 -0.89% -0.29%
2019 -0.99% -0.14%
2018 -1.3% -0.13%
2017 -1.59% -0.08%
2016 -1.08% -0.05%
2015 -1.19% -0.11%
2014 -0.76% -0.13%
2013 -0.62% -0.14%
2012 -0.47% -0.16%
2011 -0.34% -0.19%
2010 -0.23% 0.02%
2009 -0.1% -0.01%
2008 -0.01% 0.05%
2007 -0.02% 0.11%
2006 0.02% 0.06%
2005 0.13% 0.009%
2004 0.03% 0.03%
2003 0.03% 0.21%
2002 0.06% 0.23%
2001 -3.77% 0.24%
2000 -0.98% 0.17%
1999 -0.43% 0.18%
1998 -0.06% 0.27%
1997 -0.49% 0.24%
1996 -1.36% 0.23%
1995 -0.69% 0.23%
1994 1.12% 0.28%
1993 0.54% 0.32%
1992 -2.41% 0.37%
1991 -1.85% 0.39%
1990 0.21% 0.33%
1989 0.25% 0.4%
1988 0.33% 0.42%
1987 0.39% 0.48%
1986 0.43% 0.53%
1985 0.45% 0.63%
1984 0.47% 0.65%
1983 0.52% 0.7%
1982 0.49% 0.7%
1981 0.25% 0.73%
1980 0.11% 0.79%
1979 0.3% 0.85%
1978 0.47% 0.91%
1977 0.52% 0.97%
1976 0.53% 1.08%
1975 0.48% 1.28%
1974 0.46% 1.34%
1973 0.44% 1.42%
1972 0.44% 1.41%
1971 0.43% 2.22%
1970 0.47% 1.16%
1969 0.59% 1.2%
1968 0.62% 1.13%
1967 0.65% 1.04%
1966 0.7% 0.92%
1965 0.66% 1.08%
1964 0.64% 1.05%
1963 0.69% 1.02%
1962 0.71% 0.93%
1961 0.65% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Japan's population declined by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Croatia Japan
Current population
3849788
122704252
Population rank 130/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 1.48%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
52 seconds
One birth every
16.4 minutes
44.6 seconds
One death every
10.3 minutes
19.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +27 -1,667
Annual growth/decline +10,000 -608,637
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% -0.49%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 183/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 +140,579
Net migration rank 112/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 140,579
2024 -18,944 -5,186 -942,213 153,357
2023 -19,298 10,202 -871,617 175,003
2022 -23,134 11,681 -825,825 175,003
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -640,976 -34,996
2020 -21,137 -8,552 -542,923 42,001
2019 -15,798 -13,239 -531,858 318,190
2018 -15,556 -25,016 -456,520 320,601
2017 -16,974 -44,557 -406,310 322,564
2016 -14,374 -32,144 -343,106 314,732
2015 -17,022 -27,501 -292,424 168,896
2014 -11,344 -13,127 -267,279 58,109
2013 -10,585 -6,245 -242,146 66,449
2012 -9,799 -4,794 -229,733 67,904
2011 -9,846 -17,463 -204,533 97,720
2010 -8,591 -3,995 -128,070 131,860
2009 -7,319 1,358 -76,828 125,450
2008 -8,188 6,495 -51,225 142,605
2007 -10,335 8,893 -25,600 138,024
2006 -8,669 10,852 12,785 130,065
2005 -9,022 10,629 -25,554 113,017
2004 -9,040 15,445 76,656 69,014
2003 -12,480 12,556 114,946 74,875
2002 -10,325 10,306 178,423 60,864
2001 -8,599 19,298 203,438 59,563
2000 -6,255 -47,629 228,317 23,468
1999 -6,769 -47,418 202,610 56,901
1998 -4,985 -47,931 265,440 45,912
1997 3,175 -52,897 277,325 43,366
1996 3,190 -53,688 314,392 25,030
1995 0 -51,882 276,039 87,714
1994 -930 -50,444 363,017 154,214
1993 -2,301 -49,615 312,073 168,836
1992 -4,576 -47,865 360,833 170,878
1991 -2,813 -31,968 396,685 161,331
1990 3,344 9,538 407,478 124,582
1989 3,337 8,471 467,662 31,202
1988 5,707 7,242 527,085 51,154
1987 6,161 6,956 598,138 28,001
1986 8,499 6,261 631,706 27,987
1985 10,343 5,550 676,687 -141,323
1984 10,764 5,757 756,523 -273,686
1983 10,714 6,323 775,495 -269,755
1982 15,756 7,475 805,664 -288,550
1981 15,680 4,872 811,861 -278,525
1980 17,939 -5,486 864,372 -92,314
1979 21,136 -5,740 950,298 -57,692
1978 20,157 -7,329 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 22,798 -7,339 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 22,226 -7,400 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 21,658 -7,366 1,204,989 107
1974 22,453 -8,076 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 21,904 -8,335 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 17,802 -7,277 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 19,941 -5,608 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 16,767 -2,359 1,230,496 33,731
1969 16,688 -2,796 1,195,962 49,447
1968 21,828 -2,799 1,191,930 43,593
1967 26,032 -3,518 1,258,475 29,632
1966 33,192 -6,341 682,072 68,934
1965 31,251 -5,253 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 25,942 -2,090 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 31,270 -1,289 987,770 -100,742
1962 30,216 -2,176 901,864 -57,075
1961 36,255 -6,567 893,522 -58,882
1960 34,778 -21,768 894,874 -150,371

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/japan | 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 Japan 75% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

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
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | 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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