Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Croatia's population is 1.59 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Croatia vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Lesotho
2100 2,137,465 3,280,784
2099 2,155,186 3,286,697
2098 2,173,108 3,292,498
2097 2,190,995 3,298,102
2096 2,209,326 3,303,027
2095 2,227,698 3,307,947
2094 2,246,224 3,312,002
2093 2,264,550 3,315,757
2092 2,283,068 3,319,661
2091 2,301,556 3,322,573
2090 2,319,851 3,324,769
2089 2,338,604 3,326,847
2088 2,357,581 3,328,480
2087 2,376,274 3,329,964
2086 2,395,139 3,330,456
2085 2,414,304 3,331,259
2084 2,433,813 3,331,485
2083 2,453,361 3,331,492
2082 2,473,204 3,331,234
2081 2,493,128 3,330,412
2080 2,513,378 3,329,267
2079 2,534,101 3,327,166
2078 2,554,982 3,324,646
2077 2,576,370 3,321,422
2076 2,597,887 3,317,850
2075 2,619,688 3,314,237
2074 2,641,342 3,309,174
2073 2,663,253 3,303,860
2072 2,685,714 3,298,181
2071 2,708,053 3,291,492
2070 2,730,187 3,283,654
2069 2,753,302 3,275,244
2068 2,776,996 3,266,152
2067 2,800,742 3,256,626
2066 2,824,811 3,246,903
2065 2,848,913 3,237,153
2064 2,872,881 3,226,489
2063 2,897,651 3,215,103
2062 2,922,653 3,202,287
2061 2,947,832 3,188,933
2060 2,973,162 3,174,998
2059 2,998,389 3,160,204
2058 3,023,822 3,145,053
2057 3,049,085 3,129,261
2056 3,074,796 3,113,129
2055 3,100,195 3,095,904
2054 3,125,459 3,078,567
2053 3,151,016 3,060,152
2052 3,176,316 3,040,649
2051 3,201,973 3,020,109
2050 3,227,869 2,999,457
2049 3,253,597 2,978,037
2048 3,279,316 2,955,727
2047 3,305,051 2,932,688
2046 3,330,260 2,909,307
2045 3,355,638 2,885,537
2044 3,381,196 2,861,372
2043 3,406,105 2,836,777
2042 3,430,854 2,811,663
2041 3,455,487 2,786,147
2040 3,479,631 2,760,391
2039 3,503,577 2,734,400
2038 3,527,583 2,708,216
2037 3,551,581 2,681,863
2036 3,574,520 2,654,755
2035 3,596,996 2,627,701
2034 3,620,363 2,600,880
2033 3,643,692 2,574,065
2032 3,667,478 2,547,344
2031 3,691,842 2,520,831
2030 3,715,373 2,494,646
2029 3,739,203 2,468,268
2028 3,762,505 2,441,871
2027 3,787,023 2,415,830
2026 3,812,193 2,389,516
2025 3,838,346 2,363,516
2024 3,866,200 2,337,423
2023 3,859,686 2,311,472
2022 3,855,641 2,286,110
2021 3,878,981 2,261,542
2020 3,914,206 2,235,727
2019 3,949,390 2,209,405
2018 3,988,775 2,183,603
2017 4,041,407 2,157,110
2016 4,106,867 2,130,422
2015 4,151,725 2,104,611
2014 4,201,598 2,080,089
2013 4,233,922 2,056,504
2012 4,260,368 2,034,354
2011 4,280,622 2,014,009
2010 4,295,427 1,996,251
2009 4,305,181 1,980,883
2008 4,309,705 1,966,541
2007 4,310,217 1,953,268
2006 4,311,159 1,945,063
2005 4,310,145 1,953,076
2004 4,304,600 1,971,129
2003 4,303,399 1,985,059
2002 4,302,174 1,994,679
2001 4,299,642 2,000,853
2000 4,468,302 2,003,913
1999 4,512,597 2,003,234
1998 4,532,135 1,998,049
1997 4,534,920 1,988,130
1996 4,557,097 1,972,418
1995 4,620,030 1,951,437
1994 4,652,024 1,927,707
1993 4,600,463 1,901,793
1992 4,575,818 1,873,274
1991 4,689,022 1,842,379
1990 4,777,368 1,809,696
1989 4,767,260 1,775,436
1988 4,755,207 1,739,841
1987 4,739,745 1,703,390
1986 4,721,446 1,666,138
1985 4,701,417 1,624,379
1984 4,680,285 1,578,986
1983 4,658,254 1,534,413
1982 4,634,234 1,490,732
1981 4,611,509 1,448,069
1980 4,599,782 1,406,521
1979 4,594,778 1,366,169
1978 4,581,085 1,327,240
1977 4,559,571 1,289,967
1976 4,535,934 1,253,214
1975 4,512,082 1,213,643
1974 4,490,660 1,172,420
1973 4,470,161 1,132,697
1972 4,450,564 1,094,063
1971 4,431,275 1,056,246
1970 4,412,252 1,019,273
1969 4,391,490 983,202
1968 4,365,628 948,105
1967 4,338,683 913,982
1966 4,310,701 881,870
1965 4,280,923 854,090
1964 4,252,876 829,437
1963 4,225,675 805,373
1962 4,196,712 781,814
1961 4,167,292 758,824
1960 4,140,181 736,500

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/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd 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 Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M 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
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Lesotho
2100 -0.82% -0.18%
2099 -0.82% -0.18%
2098 -0.82% -0.17%
2097 -0.83% -0.15%
2096 -0.82% -0.15%
2095 -0.82% -0.12%
2094 -0.81% -0.11%
2093 -0.81% -0.12%
2092 -0.8% -0.09%
2091 -0.79% -0.07%
2090 -0.8% -0.06%
2089 -0.8% -0.05%
2088 -0.79% -0.04%
2087 -0.79% -0.01%
2086 -0.79% -0.02%
2085 -0.8% -0.007%
2084 -0.8% -0%
2083 -0.8% 0.008%
2082 -0.8% 0.02%
2081 -0.81% 0.03%
2080 -0.82% 0.06%
2079 -0.82% 0.08%
2078 -0.83% 0.1%
2077 -0.83% 0.11%
2076 -0.83% 0.11%
2075 -0.82% 0.15%
2074 -0.82% 0.16%
2073 -0.84% 0.17%
2072 -0.82% 0.2%
2071 -0.81% 0.24%
2070 -0.84% 0.26%
2069 -0.85% 0.28%
2068 -0.85% 0.29%
2067 -0.85% 0.3%
2066 -0.85% 0.3%
2065 -0.83% 0.33%
2064 -0.85% 0.35%
2063 -0.86% 0.4%
2062 -0.85% 0.42%
2061 -0.85% 0.44%
2060 -0.84% 0.47%
2059 -0.84% 0.48%
2058 -0.83% 0.5%
2057 -0.84% 0.52%
2056 -0.82% 0.56%
2055 -0.81% 0.56%
2054 -0.81% 0.6%
2053 -0.8% 0.64%
2052 -0.8% 0.68%
2051 -0.8% 0.69%
2050 -0.79% 0.72%
2049 -0.78% 0.75%
2048 -0.78% 0.79%
2047 -0.76% 0.8%
2046 -0.76% 0.82%
2045 -0.76% 0.84%
2044 -0.73% 0.87%
2043 -0.72% 0.89%
2042 -0.71% 0.92%
2041 -0.69% 0.93%
2040 -0.68% 0.95%
2039 -0.68% 0.97%
2038 -0.68% 0.98%
2037 -0.64% 1.02%
2036 -0.62% 1.03%
2035 -0.65% 1.03%
2034 -0.64% 1.04%
2033 -0.65% 1.05%
2032 -0.66% 1.05%
2031 -0.63% 1.05%
2030 -0.64% 1.07%
2029 -0.62% 1.08%
2028 -0.65% 1.08%
2027 -0.66% 1.1%
2026 -0.68% 1.1%
2025 -0.72% 1.12%
2024 0.17% 1.12%
2023 0.1% 1.11%
2022 -0.6% 1.09%
2021 -0.9% 1.15%
2020 -0.89% 1.19%
2019 -0.99% 1.18%
2018 -1.3% 1.23%
2017 -1.59% 1.25%
2016 -1.08% 1.23%
2015 -1.19% 1.18%
2014 -0.76% 1.15%
2013 -0.62% 1.09%
2012 -0.47% 1.01%
2011 -0.34% 0.89%
2010 -0.23% 0.78%
2009 -0.1% 0.73%
2008 -0.01% 0.68%
2007 -0.02% 0.42%
2006 0.02% -0.41%
2005 0.13% -0.92%
2004 0.03% -0.7%
2003 0.03% -0.48%
2002 0.06% -0.31%
2001 -3.77% -0.15%
2000 -0.98% 0.03%
1999 -0.43% 0.26%
1998 -0.06% 0.5%
1997 -0.49% 0.8%
1996 -1.36% 1.08%
1995 -0.69% 1.23%
1994 1.12% 1.36%
1993 0.54% 1.52%
1992 -2.41% 1.68%
1991 -1.85% 1.81%
1990 0.21% 1.93%
1989 0.25% 2.05%
1988 0.33% 2.14%
1987 0.39% 2.24%
1986 0.43% 2.57%
1985 0.45% 2.87%
1984 0.47% 2.9%
1983 0.52% 2.93%
1982 0.49% 2.95%
1981 0.25% 2.95%
1980 0.11% 2.95%
1979 0.3% 2.93%
1978 0.47% 2.89%
1977 0.52% 2.93%
1976 0.53% 3.26%
1975 0.48% 3.52%
1974 0.46% 3.51%
1973 0.44% 3.53%
1972 0.44% 3.58%
1971 0.43% 3.63%
1970 0.47% 3.67%
1969 0.59% 3.7%
1968 0.62% 3.73%
1967 0.65% 3.64%
1966 0.7% 3.25%
1965 0.66% 2.97%
1964 0.64% 2.99%
1963 0.69% 3.01%
1962 0.71% 3.03%
1961 0.65% 3.03%

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/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Croatia Lesotho
Current population
3812193
2396633
Population rank 129/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.03%
One net population change
1.34 hours
20.3 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
9.43 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +71
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 93/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -3,481 -5,192
Net migration rank 112/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -5,192
2024 - -5,186 - -5,107
2023 -19,298 10,202 31,115 -5,168
2022 -23,134 11,681 30,803 -6,023
2021 -26,377 -4,517 27,806 -3,449
2020 -20,354 -8,552 30,721 -3,449
2019 -15,008 -13,239 32,279 -6,896
2018 -15,557 -25,016 33,112 -6,892
2017 -16,570 -44,557 33,601 -6,850
2016 -13,553 -32,144 33,390 -6,766
2015 -16,607 -27,501 32,087 -7,087
2014 -11,345 -13,127 30,922 -6,877
2013 -10,162 -6,245 29,789 -6,659
2012 -9,799 -4,794 27,592 -6,425
2011 -9,846 -17,463 25,647 -6,118
2010 -8,591 -3,995 21,877 -5,886
2009 -7,319 1,358 20,335 -5,599
2008 -8,188 6,495 19,349 -5,392
2007 -10,335 8,893 17,763 -5,179
2006 -8,669 10,852 15,234 -11,416
2005 -9,022 10,629 15,831 -35,679
2004 -9,040 15,445 17,271 -33,530
2003 -12,480 12,556 20,133 -31,723
2002 -10,325 10,306 22,274 -29,924
2001 -8,599 19,298 23,190 -27,874
2000 -6,255 -47,629 24,786 -26,220
1999 -6,769 -47,418 27,393 -24,610
1998 -4,985 -47,931 30,889 -23,299
1997 3,175 -52,897 34,637 -22,396
1996 3,190 -53,688 36,228 -17,042
1995 0 -51,882 37,370 -14,588
1994 -930 -50,444 38,629 -13,953
1993 -2,301 -49,615 40,505 -13,347
1992 -4,576 -47,865 42,579 -12,707
1991 -2,813 -31,968 44,026 -12,114
1990 3,344 9,538 45,060 -11,598
1989 3,337 8,471 46,264 -11,207
1988 5,707 7,242 47,158 -11,028
1987 6,161 6,956 47,718 -10,946
1986 8,499 6,261 45,232 -7,501
1985 10,343 5,550 44,575 1,222
1984 10,764 5,757 43,785 1,199
1983 10,714 6,323 42,899 1,253
1982 15,756 7,475 41,941 1,281
1981 15,680 4,872 40,808 1,307
1980 17,939 -5,486 39,617 1,361
1979 21,136 -5,740 38,440 1,285
1978 20,157 -7,329 37,084 1,047
1977 22,798 -7,339 35,654 746
1976 22,226 -7,400 34,117 2,986
1975 21,658 -7,366 32,311 9,723
1974 22,453 -8,076 30,444 9,972
1973 21,904 -8,335 28,859 10,183
1972 17,802 -7,277 27,841 10,386
1971 19,941 -5,608 26,838 10,563
1970 16,767 -2,359 25,935 10,605
1969 16,688 -2,796 25,137 10,465
1968 21,828 -2,799 24,490 10,108
1967 26,032 -3,518 23,911 9,734
1966 33,192 -6,341 23,326 7,248
1965 31,251 -5,253 22,755 2,239
1964 25,942 -2,090 22,116 2,198
1963 31,270 -1,289 21,585 2,220
1962 30,216 -2,176 21,132 2,172
1961 36,255 -6,567 20,581 2,100
1960 34,778 -21,768 19,981 1,989

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

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
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K

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/lesotho | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.