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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 4.79 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th 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 -0.82% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Croatia vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Netherlands
2100 2,137,465 17,359,081
2099 2,155,186 17,392,412
2098 2,173,108 17,425,508
2097 2,190,995 17,459,827
2096 2,209,326 17,495,124
2095 2,227,698 17,532,593
2094 2,246,224 17,571,051
2093 2,264,550 17,610,792
2092 2,283,068 17,649,611
2091 2,301,556 17,688,532
2090 2,319,851 17,730,570
2089 2,338,604 17,770,380
2088 2,357,581 17,809,825
2087 2,376,274 17,845,820
2086 2,395,139 17,885,001
2085 2,414,304 17,921,302
2084 2,433,813 17,957,639
2083 2,453,361 17,994,232
2082 2,473,204 18,029,404
2081 2,493,128 18,063,233
2080 2,513,378 18,093,703
2079 2,534,101 18,124,294
2078 2,554,982 18,152,738
2077 2,576,370 18,181,372
2076 2,597,887 18,206,864
2075 2,619,688 18,227,791
2074 2,641,342 18,245,652
2073 2,663,253 18,263,765
2072 2,685,714 18,280,443
2071 2,708,053 18,295,700
2070 2,730,187 18,311,141
2069 2,753,302 18,326,509
2068 2,776,996 18,341,711
2067 2,800,742 18,356,770
2066 2,824,811 18,374,904
2065 2,848,913 18,396,018
2064 2,872,881 18,417,894
2063 2,897,651 18,441,434
2062 2,922,653 18,464,922
2061 2,947,832 18,492,436
2060 2,973,162 18,520,315
2059 2,998,389 18,548,786
2058 3,023,822 18,577,700
2057 3,049,085 18,608,370
2056 3,074,796 18,638,918
2055 3,100,195 18,666,514
2054 3,125,459 18,692,598
2053 3,151,016 18,718,268
2052 3,176,316 18,741,740
2051 3,201,973 18,768,309
2050 3,227,869 18,789,481
2049 3,253,597 18,809,886
2048 3,279,316 18,827,655
2047 3,305,051 18,844,635
2046 3,330,260 18,855,920
2045 3,355,638 18,867,286
2044 3,381,196 18,877,101
2043 3,406,105 18,882,735
2042 3,430,854 18,885,839
2041 3,455,487 18,885,255
2040 3,479,631 18,879,571
2039 3,503,577 18,870,248
2038 3,527,583 18,855,512
2037 3,551,581 18,837,172
2036 3,574,520 18,811,873
2035 3,596,996 18,783,312
2034 3,620,363 18,750,125
2033 3,643,692 18,708,101
2032 3,667,478 18,662,054
2031 3,691,842 18,609,452
2030 3,715,373 18,549,634
2029 3,739,203 18,481,269
2028 3,762,505 18,404,195
2027 3,787,023 18,320,644
2026 3,812,193 18,227,403
2025 3,838,346 18,118,662
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th 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 3,227,869 people with a rank change from 129th to 139th. The population of the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 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 2.14M 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 -0.72% 0.7%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Croatia Netherlands
Current population
3812193
18252623
Population rank 129/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.22%
One net population change
1.34 hours
4.52 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
3.2 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +319
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 121/197
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 - -5,186 - 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 -20,354 -8,552 0 67,598
2019 -15,008 -13,239 17,345 109,003
2018 -15,557 -25,016 15,508 87,197
2017 -16,570 -44,557 18,844 86,332
2016 -13,553 -32,144 23,843 88,743
2015 -16,607 -27,501 23,716 55,585
2014 -11,345 -13,127 35,417 36,591
2013 -10,162 -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 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 (1960–2024, 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/netherlands | 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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