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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 9.58 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.49% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Croatia vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Malaysia
2100 2,137,465 44,353,615
2099 2,155,186 44,467,475
2098 2,173,108 44,579,971
2097 2,190,995 44,695,979
2096 2,209,326 44,814,885
2095 2,227,698 44,932,404
2094 2,246,224 45,047,479
2093 2,264,550 45,165,126
2092 2,283,068 45,278,674
2091 2,301,556 45,390,002
2090 2,319,851 45,501,495
2089 2,338,604 45,610,046
2088 2,357,581 45,717,882
2087 2,376,274 45,823,085
2086 2,395,139 45,926,712
2085 2,414,304 46,020,742
2084 2,433,813 46,111,490
2083 2,453,361 46,202,286
2082 2,473,204 46,284,929
2081 2,493,128 46,359,700
2080 2,513,378 46,435,482
2079 2,534,101 46,496,102
2078 2,554,982 46,549,167
2077 2,576,370 46,594,188
2076 2,597,887 46,619,045
2075 2,619,688 46,643,115
2074 2,641,342 46,658,350
2073 2,663,253 46,670,848
2072 2,685,714 46,670,426
2071 2,708,053 46,660,436
2070 2,730,187 46,645,623
2069 2,753,302 46,623,238
2068 2,776,996 46,600,060
2067 2,800,742 46,569,264
2066 2,824,811 46,530,377
2065 2,848,913 46,481,890
2064 2,872,881 46,417,369
2063 2,897,651 46,350,674
2062 2,922,653 46,272,105
2061 2,947,832 46,178,092
2060 2,973,162 46,075,877
2059 2,998,389 45,958,718
2058 3,023,822 45,837,407
2057 3,049,085 45,707,213
2056 3,074,796 45,566,357
2055 3,100,195 45,418,953
2054 3,125,459 45,252,995
2053 3,151,016 45,069,089
2052 3,176,316 44,873,927
2051 3,201,973 44,668,767
2050 3,227,869 44,445,677
2049 3,253,597 44,217,593
2048 3,279,316 43,974,925
2047 3,305,051 43,712,325
2046 3,330,260 43,438,283
2045 3,355,638 43,157,909
2044 3,381,196 42,866,716
2043 3,406,105 42,557,941
2042 3,430,854 42,239,980
2041 3,455,487 41,922,379
2040 3,479,631 41,598,231
2039 3,503,577 41,270,953
2038 3,527,583 40,929,067
2037 3,551,581 40,584,773
2036 3,574,520 40,234,128
2035 3,596,996 39,876,375
2034 3,620,363 39,515,857
2033 3,643,692 39,152,086
2032 3,667,478 38,772,414
2031 3,691,842 38,386,293
2030 3,715,373 37,995,617
2029 3,739,203 37,606,753
2028 3,762,505 37,207,852
2027 3,787,023 36,806,585
2026 3,812,193 36,403,076
2025 3,838,346 35,987,113
2024 3,866,200 35,557,673
2023 3,859,686 35,126,298
2022 3,855,641 34,695,493
2021 3,878,981 34,282,399
2020 3,914,206 33,889,558
2019 3,949,390 33,440,596
2018 3,988,775 32,910,967
2017 4,041,407 32,355,644
2016 4,106,867 31,789,685
2015 4,151,725 31,232,798
2014 4,201,598 30,696,137
2013 4,233,922 30,174,265
2012 4,260,368 29,662,831
2011 4,280,622 29,162,039
2010 4,295,427 28,655,776
2009 4,305,181 28,124,778
2008 4,309,705 27,570,059
2007 4,310,217 26,998,389
2006 4,311,159 26,417,909
2005 4,310,145 25,836,071
2004 4,304,600 25,256,772
2003 4,303,399 24,679,602
2002 4,302,174 24,102,477
2001 4,299,642 23,526,538
2000 4,468,302 22,967,816
1999 4,512,597 22,435,531
1998 4,532,135 21,906,713
1997 4,534,920 21,375,218
1996 4,557,097 20,850,087
1995 4,620,030 20,330,599
1994 4,652,024 19,820,446
1993 4,600,463 19,322,664
1992 4,575,818 18,834,572
1991 4,689,022 18,342,464
1990 4,777,368 17,833,171
1989 4,767,260 17,314,997
1988 4,755,207 16,796,605
1987 4,739,745 16,276,737
1986 4,721,446 15,760,419
1985 4,701,417 15,252,258
1984 4,680,285 14,759,009
1983 4,658,254 14,285,907
1982 4,634,234 13,832,798
1981 4,611,509 13,399,203
1980 4,599,782 12,983,363
1979 4,594,778 12,627,862
1978 4,581,085 12,328,157
1977 4,559,571 12,035,713
1976 4,535,934 11,750,097
1975 4,512,082 11,471,914
1974 4,490,660 11,200,906
1973 4,470,161 10,935,621
1972 4,450,564 10,676,835
1971 4,431,275 10,423,453
1970 4,412,252 10,178,802
1969 4,391,490 9,947,597
1968 4,365,628 9,725,281
1967 4,338,683 9,507,099
1966 4,310,701 9,284,688
1965 4,280,923 9,056,408
1964 4,252,876 8,828,406
1963 4,225,675 8,602,160
1962 4,196,712 8,380,172
1961 4,167,292 8,164,443
1960 4,140,181 7,956,197

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/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th 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 Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M 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
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Malaysia
2100 -0.82% -0.26%
2099 -0.82% -0.25%
2098 -0.82% -0.26%
2097 -0.83% -0.27%
2096 -0.82% -0.26%
2095 -0.82% -0.26%
2094 -0.81% -0.26%
2093 -0.81% -0.25%
2092 -0.8% -0.25%
2091 -0.79% -0.25%
2090 -0.8% -0.24%
2089 -0.8% -0.24%
2088 -0.79% -0.23%
2087 -0.79% -0.23%
2086 -0.79% -0.2%
2085 -0.8% -0.2%
2084 -0.8% -0.2%
2083 -0.8% -0.18%
2082 -0.8% -0.16%
2081 -0.81% -0.16%
2080 -0.82% -0.13%
2079 -0.82% -0.11%
2078 -0.83% -0.1%
2077 -0.83% -0.05%
2076 -0.83% -0.05%
2075 -0.82% -0.03%
2074 -0.82% -0.03%
2073 -0.84% 0.001%
2072 -0.82% 0.02%
2071 -0.81% 0.03%
2070 -0.84% 0.05%
2069 -0.85% 0.05%
2068 -0.85% 0.07%
2067 -0.85% 0.08%
2066 -0.85% 0.1%
2065 -0.83% 0.14%
2064 -0.85% 0.14%
2063 -0.86% 0.17%
2062 -0.85% 0.2%
2061 -0.85% 0.22%
2060 -0.84% 0.25%
2059 -0.84% 0.26%
2058 -0.83% 0.28%
2057 -0.84% 0.31%
2056 -0.82% 0.32%
2055 -0.81% 0.37%
2054 -0.81% 0.41%
2053 -0.8% 0.43%
2052 -0.8% 0.46%
2051 -0.8% 0.5%
2050 -0.79% 0.52%
2049 -0.78% 0.55%
2048 -0.78% 0.6%
2047 -0.76% 0.63%
2046 -0.76% 0.65%
2045 -0.76% 0.68%
2044 -0.73% 0.73%
2043 -0.72% 0.75%
2042 -0.71% 0.76%
2041 -0.69% 0.78%
2040 -0.68% 0.79%
2039 -0.68% 0.84%
2038 -0.68% 0.85%
2037 -0.64% 0.87%
2036 -0.62% 0.9%
2035 -0.65% 0.91%
2034 -0.64% 0.93%
2033 -0.65% 0.98%
2032 -0.66% 1.01%
2031 -0.63% 1.03%
2030 -0.64% 1.03%
2029 -0.62% 1.07%
2028 -0.65% 1.09%
2027 -0.66% 1.11%
2026 -0.68% 1.16%
2025 -0.72% 1.21%
2024 0.17% 1.23%
2023 0.1% 1.24%
2022 -0.6% 1.2%
2021 -0.9% 1.16%
2020 -0.89% 1.34%
2019 -0.99% 1.61%
2018 -1.3% 1.72%
2017 -1.59% 1.78%
2016 -1.08% 1.78%
2015 -1.19% 1.75%
2014 -0.76% 1.73%
2013 -0.62% 1.72%
2012 -0.47% 1.72%
2011 -0.34% 1.77%
2010 -0.23% 1.89%
2009 -0.1% 2.01%
2008 -0.01% 2.12%
2007 -0.02% 2.2%
2006 0.02% 2.25%
2005 0.13% 2.29%
2004 0.03% 2.34%
2003 0.03% 2.39%
2002 0.06% 2.45%
2001 -3.77% 2.43%
2000 -0.98% 2.37%
1999 -0.43% 2.41%
1998 -0.06% 2.49%
1997 -0.49% 2.52%
1996 -1.36% 2.56%
1995 -0.69% 2.57%
1994 1.12% 2.58%
1993 0.54% 2.59%
1992 -2.41% 2.68%
1991 -1.85% 2.86%
1990 0.21% 2.99%
1989 0.25% 3.09%
1988 0.33% 3.19%
1987 0.39% 3.28%
1986 0.43% 3.33%
1985 0.45% 3.34%
1984 0.47% 3.31%
1983 0.52% 3.28%
1982 0.49% 3.24%
1981 0.25% 3.2%
1980 0.11% 2.82%
1979 0.3% 2.43%
1978 0.47% 2.43%
1977 0.52% 2.43%
1976 0.53% 2.42%
1975 0.48% 2.42%
1974 0.46% 2.43%
1973 0.44% 2.42%
1972 0.44% 2.43%
1971 0.43% 2.4%
1970 0.47% 2.32%
1969 0.59% 2.29%
1968 0.62% 2.29%
1967 0.65% 2.4%
1966 0.7% 2.52%
1965 0.66% 2.58%
1964 0.64% 2.63%
1963 0.69% 2.65%
1962 0.71% 2.64%
1961 0.65% 2.62%

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/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Croatia Malaysia
Current population
3812193
36512221
Population rank 129/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.44%
One net population change
1.34 hours
1.22 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
1.21 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 89/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 +166,615
Net migration rank 112/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 166,615
2024 - -5,186 - 174,770
2023 -19,298 10,202 254,806 181,071
2022 -23,134 11,681 237,560 188,154
2021 -26,377 -4,517 212,002 188,506
2020 -20,354 -8,552 283,282 101,907
2019 -15,008 -13,239 309,426 203,284
2018 -15,557 -25,016 324,568 221,965
2017 -16,570 -44,557 336,434 227,677
2016 -13,553 -32,144 345,681 222,141
2015 -16,607 -27,501 358,302 187,663
2014 -11,345 -13,127 367,587 159,791
2013 -10,162 -6,245 366,738 149,637
2012 -9,799 -4,794 371,497 134,975
2011 -9,846 -17,463 372,836 122,269
2010 -8,591 -3,995 360,260 157,164
2009 -7,319 1,358 366,157 178,410
2008 -8,188 6,495 362,380 202,481
2007 -10,335 8,893 348,711 229,784
2006 -8,669 10,852 349,509 232,971
2005 -9,022 10,629 355,324 225,864
2004 -9,040 15,445 365,138 212,278
2003 -12,480 12,556 377,425 199,510
2002 -10,325 10,306 381,084 196,227
2001 -8,599 19,298 400,939 173,613
2000 -6,255 -47,629 417,371 125,499
1999 -6,769 -47,418 432,355 89,335
1998 -4,985 -47,931 436,316 99,639
1997 3,175 -52,897 447,768 79,266
1996 3,190 -53,688 450,174 73,040
1995 0 -51,882 443,349 72,393
1994 -930 -50,444 437,873 66,685
1993 -2,301 -49,615 429,910 61,079
1992 -4,576 -47,865 418,900 66,286
1991 -2,813 -31,968 401,938 97,111
1990 3,344 9,538 384,518 135,020
1989 3,337 8,471 373,277 143,544
1988 5,707 7,242 386,507 133,478
1987 6,161 6,956 381,999 137,759
1986 8,499 6,261 385,799 127,081
1985 10,343 5,550 383,243 120,215
1984 10,764 5,757 376,797 106,248
1983 10,714 6,323 365,290 97,862
1982 15,756 7,475 353,138 89,942
1981 15,680 4,872 339,991 84,142
1980 17,939 -5,486 326,947 80,617
1979 21,136 -5,740 317,439 -13,980
1978 20,157 -7,329 311,027 -15,059
1977 22,798 -7,339 305,515 -16,601
1976 22,226 -7,400 300,615 -18,316
1975 21,658 -7,366 294,541 -20,480
1974 22,453 -8,076 289,880 -21,919
1973 21,904 -8,335 284,611 -21,995
1972 17,802 -7,277 276,263 -21,305
1971 19,941 -5,608 272,323 -20,535
1970 16,767 -2,359 269,341 -31,839
1969 16,688 -2,796 264,327 -39,420
1968 21,828 -2,799 260,705 -40,996
1967 26,032 -3,518 258,764 -42,108
1966 33,192 -6,341 262,162 -33,993
1965 31,251 -5,253 264,836 -36,456
1964 25,942 -2,090 266,406 -38,785
1963 31,270 -1,289 265,815 -40,952
1962 30,216 -2,176 262,140 -43,033
1961 36,255 -6,567 257,270 -44,916
1960 34,778 -21,768 251,090 -46,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

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
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/malaysia | 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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