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Population in Croatia compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 18,087,633 people in the Netherlands in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 18,243,998 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 4.74 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.27% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs +0.64% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.2M (11.6% growth).

Croatia vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Netherlands
2100 2,158,545 17,329,352
2099 2,176,440 17,362,626
2098 2,194,539 17,395,665
2097 2,212,602 17,429,925
2096 2,231,114 17,465,162
2095 2,249,667 17,502,567
2094 2,268,376 17,540,959
2093 2,286,882 17,580,632
2092 2,305,583 17,619,384
2091 2,324,254 17,658,238
2090 2,342,729 17,700,204
2089 2,361,668 17,739,947
2088 2,380,831 17,779,324
2087 2,399,709 17,815,257
2086 2,418,760 17,854,371
2085 2,438,113 17,890,610
2084 2,457,815 17,926,885
2083 2,477,556 17,963,416
2082 2,497,595 17,998,527
2081 2,517,715 18,032,297
2080 2,538,164 18,062,716
2079 2,559,092 18,093,254
2078 2,580,179 18,121,649
2077 2,601,778 18,150,234
2076 2,623,507 18,175,683
2075 2,645,523 18,196,574
2074 2,667,391 18,214,405
2073 2,689,518 18,232,486
2072 2,712,201 18,249,136
2071 2,734,759 18,264,367
2070 2,757,112 18,279,781
2069 2,780,455 18,295,123
2068 2,804,383 18,310,300
2067 2,828,363 18,325,333
2066 2,852,669 18,343,435
2065 2,877,009 18,364,513
2064 2,901,213 18,386,352
2063 2,926,228 18,409,851
2062 2,951,475 18,433,299
2061 2,976,903 18,460,766
2060 3,002,483 18,488,598
2059 3,027,959 18,517,020
2058 3,053,643 18,545,884
2057 3,079,155 18,576,502
2056 3,105,119 18,606,997
2055 3,130,769 18,634,546
2054 3,156,282 18,660,585
2053 3,182,091 18,686,212
2052 3,207,640 18,709,643
2051 3,233,551 18,736,166
2050 3,259,702 18,757,302
2049 3,285,684 18,777,673
2048 3,311,657 18,795,411
2047 3,337,645 18,812,362
2046 3,363,102 18,823,628
2045 3,388,731 18,834,974
2044 3,414,541 18,844,772
2043 3,439,695 18,850,396
2042 3,464,688 18,853,495
2041 3,489,565 18,852,912
2040 3,513,946 18,847,238
2039 3,538,129 18,837,931
2038 3,562,371 18,823,220
2037 3,586,606 18,804,912
2036 3,609,771 18,779,656
2035 3,632,470 18,751,144
2034 3,656,066 18,718,013
2033 3,679,626 18,676,061
2032 3,703,646 18,630,094
2031 3,728,250 18,577,582
2030 3,752,014 18,517,866
2029 3,776,079 18,449,618
2028 3,799,610 18,372,676
2027 3,824,370 18,289,268
2026 3,849,788 18,196,186
2025 3,876,200 18,087,633
2024 3,866,200 17,993,485
2023 3,859,686 17,877,117
2022 3,855,641 17,700,982
2021 3,878,981 17,533,044
2020 3,914,206 17,441,500
2019 3,949,390 17,344,874
2018 3,988,775 17,231,624
2017 4,041,407 17,131,296
2016 4,106,867 17,030,314
2015 4,151,725 16,939,923
2014 4,201,598 16,865,008
2013 4,233,922 16,804,432
2012 4,260,368 16,754,962
2011 4,280,622 16,693,074
2010 4,295,427 16,615,394
2009 4,305,181 16,530,388
2008 4,309,705 16,445,593
2007 4,310,217 16,381,696
2006 4,311,159 16,346,101
2005 4,310,145 16,319,868
2004 4,304,600 16,281,779
2003 4,303,399 16,225,302
2002 4,302,174 16,148,929
2001 4,299,642 16,046,180
2000 4,468,302 15,925,513
1999 4,512,597 15,812,088
1998 4,532,135 15,707,209
1997 4,534,920 15,610,650
1996 4,557,097 15,530,498
1995 4,620,030 15,459,006
1994 4,652,024 15,382,838
1993 4,600,463 15,290,368
1992 4,575,818 15,184,166
1991 4,689,022 15,069,798
1990 4,777,368 14,951,510
1989 4,767,260 14,848,907
1988 4,755,207 14,760,094
1987 4,739,745 14,665,037
1986 4,721,446 14,572,278
1985 4,701,417 14,491,632
1984 4,680,285 14,424,211
1983 4,658,254 14,367,070
1982 4,634,234 14,312,690
1981 4,611,509 14,247,208
1980 4,599,782 14,149,800
1979 4,594,778 14,038,270
1978 4,581,085 13,941,700
1977 4,559,571 13,856,185
1976 4,535,934 13,774,037
1975 4,512,082 13,666,335
1974 4,490,660 13,545,056
1973 4,470,161 13,439,322
1972 4,450,564 13,328,593
1971 4,431,275 13,194,497
1970 4,412,252 13,038,526
1969 4,391,490 12,877,984
1968 4,365,628 12,729,721
1967 4,338,683 12,598,201
1966 4,310,701 12,456,251
1965 4,280,923 12,294,732
1964 4,252,876 12,127,120
1963 4,225,675 11,965,966
1962 4,196,712 11,805,689
1961 4,167,292 11,638,712
1960 4,140,181 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,213,684 people (a 7.13% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.81% to 18,757,302 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M 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
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Netherlands
2100 -0.82% -0.19%
2099 -0.82% -0.19%
2098 -0.82% -0.2%
2097 -0.83% -0.2%
2096 -0.82% -0.21%
2095 -0.82% -0.22%
2094 -0.81% -0.23%
2093 -0.81% -0.22%
2092 -0.8% -0.22%
2091 -0.79% -0.24%
2090 -0.8% -0.22%
2089 -0.8% -0.22%
2088 -0.79% -0.2%
2087 -0.79% -0.22%
2086 -0.79% -0.2%
2085 -0.8% -0.2%
2084 -0.8% -0.2%
2083 -0.8% -0.2%
2082 -0.8% -0.19%
2081 -0.81% -0.17%
2080 -0.82% -0.17%
2079 -0.82% -0.16%
2078 -0.83% -0.16%
2077 -0.83% -0.14%
2076 -0.83% -0.11%
2075 -0.82% -0.1%
2074 -0.82% -0.1%
2073 -0.84% -0.09%
2072 -0.82% -0.08%
2071 -0.81% -0.08%
2070 -0.84% -0.08%
2069 -0.85% -0.08%
2068 -0.85% -0.08%
2067 -0.85% -0.1%
2066 -0.85% -0.11%
2065 -0.83% -0.12%
2064 -0.85% -0.13%
2063 -0.86% -0.13%
2062 -0.85% -0.15%
2061 -0.85% -0.15%
2060 -0.84% -0.15%
2059 -0.84% -0.16%
2058 -0.83% -0.16%
2057 -0.84% -0.16%
2056 -0.82% -0.15%
2055 -0.81% -0.14%
2054 -0.81% -0.14%
2053 -0.8% -0.13%
2052 -0.8% -0.14%
2051 -0.8% -0.11%
2050 -0.79% -0.11%
2049 -0.78% -0.09%
2048 -0.78% -0.09%
2047 -0.76% -0.06%
2046 -0.76% -0.06%
2045 -0.76% -0.05%
2044 -0.73% -0.03%
2043 -0.72% -0.02%
2042 -0.71% 0.003%
2041 -0.69% 0.03%
2040 -0.68% 0.05%
2039 -0.68% 0.08%
2038 -0.68% 0.1%
2037 -0.64% 0.13%
2036 -0.62% 0.15%
2035 -0.65% 0.18%
2034 -0.64% 0.22%
2033 -0.65% 0.25%
2032 -0.66% 0.28%
2031 -0.63% 0.32%
2030 -0.64% 0.37%
2029 -0.62% 0.42%
2028 -0.65% 0.46%
2027 -0.66% 0.51%
2026 -0.68% 0.6%
2025 0.26% 0.52%
2024 0.17% 0.65%
2023 0.1% 1%
2022 -0.6% 0.96%
2021 -0.9% 0.52%
2020 -0.89% 0.56%
2019 -0.99% 0.66%
2018 -1.3% 0.59%
2017 -1.59% 0.59%
2016 -1.08% 0.53%
2015 -1.19% 0.44%
2014 -0.76% 0.36%
2013 -0.62% 0.3%
2012 -0.47% 0.37%
2011 -0.34% 0.47%
2010 -0.23% 0.51%
2009 -0.1% 0.52%
2008 -0.01% 0.39%
2007 -0.02% 0.22%
2006 0.02% 0.16%
2005 0.13% 0.23%
2004 0.03% 0.35%
2003 0.03% 0.47%
2002 0.06% 0.64%
2001 -3.77% 0.76%
2000 -0.98% 0.72%
1999 -0.43% 0.67%
1998 -0.06% 0.62%
1997 -0.49% 0.52%
1996 -1.36% 0.46%
1995 -0.69% 0.5%
1994 1.12% 0.6%
1993 0.54% 0.7%
1992 -2.41% 0.76%
1991 -1.85% 0.79%
1990 0.21% 0.69%
1989 0.25% 0.6%
1988 0.33% 0.65%
1987 0.39% 0.64%
1986 0.43% 0.56%
1985 0.45% 0.47%
1984 0.47% 0.4%
1983 0.52% 0.38%
1982 0.49% 0.46%
1981 0.25% 0.69%
1980 0.11% 0.79%
1979 0.3% 0.69%
1978 0.47% 0.62%
1977 0.52% 0.6%
1976 0.53% 0.79%
1975 0.48% 0.9%
1974 0.46% 0.79%
1973 0.44% 0.83%
1972 0.44% 1.02%
1971 0.43% 1.2%
1970 0.47% 1.25%
1969 0.59% 1.16%
1968 0.62% 1.04%
1967 0.65% 1.14%
1966 0.7% 1.31%
1965 0.66% 1.38%
1964 0.64% 1.35%
1963 0.69% 1.36%
1962 0.71% 1.43%
1961 0.65% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.52%.

Live population counters

Croatia Netherlands
Current population
3849788
18243998
Population rank 130/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.22%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
5.6 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
3.18 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
3.04 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 +258
Annual growth/decline +10,000 +94,148
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% +0.52%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 127/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 +104,681
Net migration rank 112/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 104,681
2024 -18,944 -5,186 -7,197 121,628
2023 -19,298 10,202 -5,363 144,558
2022 -23,134 11,681 -1,770 224,472
2021 -26,377 -4,517 7,014 106,416
2020 -21,137 -8,552 0 67,598
2019 -15,798 -13,239 17,345 109,003
2018 -15,556 -25,016 15,508 87,197
2017 -16,974 -44,557 18,844 86,332
2016 -14,374 -32,144 23,843 88,743
2015 -17,022 -27,501 23,716 55,585
2014 -11,344 -13,127 35,417 36,591
2013 -10,585 -6,245 30,248 19,973
2012 -9,799 -4,794 35,186 14,861
2011 -9,846 -17,463 45,072 31,224
2010 -8,591 -3,995 48,184 33,703
2009 -7,319 1,358 51,244 39,832
2008 -8,188 6,495 49,337 32,406
2007 -10,335 8,893 49,145 -304
2006 -8,669 10,852 49,038 -25,401
2005 -9,022 10,629 50,592 -22,496
2004 -9,040 15,445 56,987 -9,230
2003 -12,480 12,556 58,411 7,937
2002 -10,325 10,306 59,751 28,824
2001 -8,599 19,298 62,580 56,096
2000 -6,255 -47,629 66,887 59,308
1999 -6,769 -47,418 60,086 47,179
1998 -4,985 -47,931 61,258 52,058
1997 3,175 -52,897 56,198 31,302
1996 3,190 -53,688 51,251 21,792
1995 0 -51,882 54,106 15,056
1994 -930 -50,444 61,532 20,193
1993 -2,301 -49,615 58,103 44,514
1992 -4,576 -47,865 66,811 50,148
1991 -2,813 -31,968 69,321 51,670
1990 3,344 9,538 68,777 53,564
1989 3,337 8,471 59,396 31,165
1988 5,707 7,242 61,993 31,026
1987 6,161 6,956 64,526 39,559
1986 8,499 6,261 59,746 30,380
1985 10,343 5,550 55,069 27,356
1984 10,764 5,757 54,812 12,902
1983 10,714 6,323 51,722 11,007
1982 15,756 7,475 54,388 7,644
1981 15,680 4,872 62,688 17,643
1980 17,939 -5,486 66,504 54,010
1979 21,136 -5,740 63,172 42,772
1978 20,157 -7,329 61,344 26,639
1977 22,798 -7,339 63,739 19,809
1976 22,226 -7,400 63,361 18,774
1975 21,658 -7,366 64,232 68,569
1974 22,453 -8,076 75,853 31,645
1973 21,904 -8,335 84,668 18,705
1972 17,802 -7,277 101,297 17,470
1971 19,941 -5,608 116,112 32,756
1970 16,767 -2,359 129,082 32,438
1969 16,688 -2,796 139,082 21,850
1968 21,828 -2,799 132,389 7,243
1967 26,032 -3,518 138,580 -10,673
1966 33,192 -6,341 138,265 20,740
1965 31,251 -5,253 146,308 19,444
1964 25,942 -2,090 157,653 15,014
1963 31,270 -1,289 154,361 -21
1962 30,216 -2,176 153,474 18,024
1961 36,255 -6,567 159,450 8,258
1960 34,778 -21,768 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 7.77% is from natural causes (a gain of 91,940 people) and 92.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,091,532 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

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
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | 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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