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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 35,977,838 people in Malaysia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 36,600,906 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 9.51 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th 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 -0.73% per year vs +1.45% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.6M (38.5% growth).

Croatia vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Malaysia
2100 2,158,545 44,342,183
2099 2,176,440 44,456,013
2098 2,194,539 44,568,480
2097 2,212,602 44,684,459
2096 2,231,114 44,803,334
2095 2,249,667 44,920,823
2094 2,268,376 45,035,868
2093 2,286,882 45,153,485
2092 2,305,583 45,267,003
2091 2,324,254 45,378,303
2090 2,342,729 45,489,767
2089 2,361,668 45,598,290
2088 2,380,831 45,706,098
2087 2,399,709 45,811,274
2086 2,418,760 45,914,874
2085 2,438,113 46,008,880
2084 2,457,815 46,099,604
2083 2,477,556 46,190,377
2082 2,497,595 46,272,999
2081 2,517,715 46,347,751
2080 2,538,164 46,423,514
2079 2,559,092 46,484,118
2078 2,580,179 46,537,169
2077 2,601,778 46,582,178
2076 2,623,507 46,607,029
2075 2,645,523 46,631,092
2074 2,667,391 46,646,324
2073 2,689,518 46,658,819
2072 2,712,201 46,658,396
2071 2,734,759 46,648,409
2070 2,757,112 46,633,600
2069 2,780,455 46,611,221
2068 2,804,383 46,588,049
2067 2,828,363 46,557,261
2066 2,852,669 46,518,384
2065 2,877,009 46,469,909
2064 2,901,213 46,405,405
2063 2,926,228 46,338,727
2062 2,951,475 46,260,178
2061 2,976,903 46,166,190
2060 3,002,483 46,064,001
2059 3,027,959 45,946,872
2058 3,053,643 45,825,593
2057 3,079,155 45,695,432
2056 3,105,119 45,554,612
2055 3,130,769 45,407,246
2054 3,156,282 45,241,331
2053 3,182,091 45,057,472
2052 3,207,640 44,862,361
2051 3,233,551 44,657,253
2050 3,259,702 44,434,221
2049 3,285,684 44,206,196
2048 3,311,657 43,963,591
2047 3,337,645 43,701,058
2046 3,363,102 43,427,087
2045 3,388,731 43,146,785
2044 3,414,541 42,855,667
2043 3,439,695 42,546,972
2042 3,464,688 42,229,093
2041 3,489,565 41,911,573
2040 3,513,946 41,587,509
2039 3,538,129 41,260,315
2038 3,562,371 40,918,517
2037 3,586,606 40,574,312
2036 3,609,771 40,223,758
2035 3,632,470 39,866,097
2034 3,656,066 39,505,672
2033 3,679,626 39,141,994
2032 3,703,646 38,762,420
2031 3,728,250 38,376,399
2030 3,752,014 37,985,824
2029 3,776,079 37,597,060
2028 3,799,610 37,198,261
2027 3,824,370 36,797,098
2026 3,849,788 36,393,693
2025 3,876,200 35,977,838
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 3,259,702 people with a rank change from 130th to 138th. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.4% to 44,434,221 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 2.16M 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 0.26% 1.18%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.18%.

Live population counters

Croatia Malaysia
Current population
3849788
36600906
Population rank 130/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.44%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
1.25 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
1.2 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
2.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 +1,151
Annual growth/decline +10,000 +420,165
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% +1.18%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 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 -18,944 -5,186 252,068 174,770
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 -21,137 -8,552 283,282 101,907
2019 -15,798 -13,239 309,426 203,284
2018 -15,556 -25,016 324,568 221,965
2017 -16,974 -44,557 336,434 227,677
2016 -14,374 -32,144 345,681 222,141
2015 -17,022 -27,501 358,302 187,663
2014 -11,344 -13,127 367,587 159,791
2013 -10,585 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 60.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,914,129 people) and 39.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,897,138 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 (1960–2025, 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/malaysia | 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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