Skip to content

Population in Croatia compared to New Zealand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • New Zealand's population is 1.41 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).

Croatia vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia New Zealand
2100 2,137,465 5,918,837
2099 2,155,186 5,923,132
2098 2,173,108 5,927,206
2097 2,190,995 5,930,263
2096 2,209,326 5,932,907
2095 2,227,698 5,934,847
2094 2,246,224 5,936,183
2093 2,264,550 5,938,804
2092 2,283,068 5,939,085
2091 2,301,556 5,940,665
2090 2,319,851 5,941,752
2089 2,338,604 5,944,871
2088 2,357,581 5,945,635
2087 2,376,274 5,948,586
2086 2,395,139 5,951,745
2085 2,414,304 5,955,275
2084 2,433,813 5,959,115
2083 2,453,361 5,963,613
2082 2,473,204 5,966,943
2081 2,493,128 5,968,511
2080 2,513,378 5,971,082
2079 2,534,101 5,972,331
2078 2,554,982 5,972,928
2077 2,576,370 5,971,804
2076 2,597,887 5,971,386
2075 2,619,688 5,970,985
2074 2,641,342 5,969,834
2073 2,663,253 5,968,506
2072 2,685,714 5,964,548
2071 2,708,053 5,964,493
2070 2,730,187 5,963,811
2069 2,753,302 5,962,551
2068 2,776,996 5,960,918
2067 2,800,742 5,958,438
2066 2,824,811 5,954,539
2065 2,848,913 5,950,378
2064 2,872,881 5,946,851
2063 2,897,651 5,944,910
2062 2,922,653 5,940,838
2061 2,947,832 5,939,601
2060 2,973,162 5,936,094
2059 2,998,389 5,931,426
2058 3,023,822 5,925,816
2057 3,049,085 5,919,823
2056 3,074,796 5,913,287
2055 3,100,195 5,904,352
2054 3,125,459 5,894,795
2053 3,151,016 5,884,875
2052 3,176,316 5,876,162
2051 3,201,973 5,864,176
2050 3,227,869 5,852,896
2049 3,253,597 5,844,165
2048 3,279,316 5,833,178
2047 3,305,051 5,822,035
2046 3,330,260 5,809,860
2045 3,355,638 5,795,785
2044 3,381,196 5,780,884
2043 3,406,105 5,764,579
2042 3,430,854 5,746,528
2041 3,455,487 5,727,253
2040 3,479,631 5,708,874
2039 3,503,577 5,690,018
2038 3,527,583 5,669,959
2037 3,551,581 5,650,253
2036 3,574,520 5,630,126
2035 3,596,996 5,609,155
2034 3,620,363 5,588,315
2033 3,643,692 5,565,507
2032 3,667,478 5,542,488
2031 3,691,842 5,517,391
2030 3,715,373 5,491,320
2029 3,739,203 5,462,926
2028 3,762,505 5,432,752
2027 3,787,023 5,399,898
2026 3,812,193 5,364,771
2025 3,838,346 5,327,462
2024 3,866,200 5,287,500
2023 3,859,686 5,200,000
2022 3,855,641 5,081,700
2021 3,878,981 5,084,600
2020 3,914,206 5,072,400
2019 3,949,390 4,970,300
2018 3,988,775 4,900,600
2017 4,041,407 4,813,600
2016 4,106,867 4,714,100
2015 4,151,725 4,609,400
2014 4,201,598 4,516,500
2013 4,233,922 4,442,100
2012 4,260,368 4,408,100
2011 4,280,622 4,384,000
2010 4,295,427 4,350,700
2009 4,305,181 4,302,600
2008 4,309,705 4,259,800
2007 4,310,217 4,223,800
2006 4,311,159 4,184,600
2005 4,310,145 4,133,900
2004 4,304,600 4,087,500
2003 4,303,399 4,027,200
2002 4,302,174 3,948,500
2001 4,299,642 3,880,500
2000 4,468,302 3,857,700
1999 4,512,597 3,835,100
1998 4,532,135 3,815,000
1997 4,534,920 3,781,300
1996 4,557,097 3,732,000
1995 4,620,030 3,673,400
1994 4,652,024 3,620,000
1993 4,600,463 3,572,200
1992 4,575,818 3,531,700
1991 4,689,022 3,495,100
1990 4,777,368 3,329,800
1989 4,767,260 3,299,200
1988 4,755,207 3,283,400
1987 4,739,745 3,274,400
1986 4,721,446 3,246,300
1985 4,701,417 3,247,100
1984 4,680,285 3,227,100
1983 4,658,254 3,199,300
1982 4,634,234 3,156,100
1981 4,611,509 3,124,900
1980 4,599,782 3,112,900
1979 4,594,778 3,109,000
1978 4,581,085 3,121,200
1977 4,559,571 3,120,200
1976 4,535,934 3,110,500
1975 4,512,082 3,083,100
1974 4,490,660 3,023,700
1973 4,470,161 2,961,300
1972 4,450,564 2,903,900
1971 4,431,275 2,853,000
1970 4,412,252 2,810,700
1969 4,391,490 2,772,800
1968 4,365,628 2,748,100
1967 4,338,683 2,724,100
1966 4,310,701 2,675,900
1965 4,280,923 2,628,400
1964 4,252,876 2,585,400
1963 4,225,675 2,531,800
1962 4,196,712 2,482,000
1961 4,167,292 2,419,700
1960 4,140,181 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M 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
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia New Zealand
2100 -0.82% -0.07%
2099 -0.82% -0.07%
2098 -0.82% -0.05%
2097 -0.83% -0.04%
2096 -0.82% -0.03%
2095 -0.82% -0.02%
2094 -0.81% -0.04%
2093 -0.81% -0.005%
2092 -0.8% -0.03%
2091 -0.79% -0.02%
2090 -0.8% -0.05%
2089 -0.8% -0.01%
2088 -0.79% -0.05%
2087 -0.79% -0.05%
2086 -0.79% -0.06%
2085 -0.8% -0.06%
2084 -0.8% -0.08%
2083 -0.8% -0.06%
2082 -0.8% -0.03%
2081 -0.81% -0.04%
2080 -0.82% -0.02%
2079 -0.82% -0.01%
2078 -0.83% 0.02%
2077 -0.83% 0.007%
2076 -0.83% 0.007%
2075 -0.82% 0.02%
2074 -0.82% 0.02%
2073 -0.84% 0.07%
2072 -0.82% 0.001%
2071 -0.81% 0.01%
2070 -0.84% 0.02%
2069 -0.85% 0.03%
2068 -0.85% 0.04%
2067 -0.85% 0.07%
2066 -0.85% 0.07%
2065 -0.83% 0.06%
2064 -0.85% 0.03%
2063 -0.86% 0.07%
2062 -0.85% 0.02%
2061 -0.85% 0.06%
2060 -0.84% 0.08%
2059 -0.84% 0.09%
2058 -0.83% 0.1%
2057 -0.84% 0.11%
2056 -0.82% 0.15%
2055 -0.81% 0.16%
2054 -0.81% 0.17%
2053 -0.8% 0.15%
2052 -0.8% 0.2%
2051 -0.8% 0.19%
2050 -0.79% 0.15%
2049 -0.78% 0.19%
2048 -0.78% 0.19%
2047 -0.76% 0.21%
2046 -0.76% 0.24%
2045 -0.76% 0.26%
2044 -0.73% 0.28%
2043 -0.72% 0.31%
2042 -0.71% 0.34%
2041 -0.69% 0.32%
2040 -0.68% 0.33%
2039 -0.68% 0.35%
2038 -0.68% 0.35%
2037 -0.64% 0.36%
2036 -0.62% 0.37%
2035 -0.65% 0.37%
2034 -0.64% 0.41%
2033 -0.65% 0.42%
2032 -0.66% 0.45%
2031 -0.63% 0.47%
2030 -0.64% 0.52%
2029 -0.62% 0.56%
2028 -0.65% 0.61%
2027 -0.66% 0.65%
2026 -0.68% 0.7%
2025 -0.72% 0.76%
2024 0.17% 1.68%
2023 0.1% 2.33%
2022 -0.6% -0.06%
2021 -0.9% 0.24%
2020 -0.89% 2.05%
2019 -0.99% 1.42%
2018 -1.3% 1.81%
2017 -1.59% 2.11%
2016 -1.08% 2.27%
2015 -1.19% 2.06%
2014 -0.76% 1.67%
2013 -0.62% 0.77%
2012 -0.47% 0.55%
2011 -0.34% 0.77%
2010 -0.23% 1.12%
2009 -0.1% 1%
2008 -0.01% 0.85%
2007 -0.02% 0.94%
2006 0.02% 1.23%
2005 0.13% 1.14%
2004 0.03% 1.5%
2003 0.03% 1.99%
2002 0.06% 1.75%
2001 -3.77% 0.59%
2000 -0.98% 0.59%
1999 -0.43% 0.53%
1998 -0.06% 0.89%
1997 -0.49% 1.32%
1996 -1.36% 1.6%
1995 -0.69% 1.48%
1994 1.12% 1.34%
1993 0.54% 1.15%
1992 -2.41% 1.05%
1991 -1.85% 4.96%
1990 0.21% 0.93%
1989 0.25% 0.48%
1988 0.33% 0.27%
1987 0.39% 0.87%
1986 0.43% -0.02%
1985 0.45% 0.62%
1984 0.47% 0.87%
1983 0.52% 1.37%
1982 0.49% 1%
1981 0.25% 0.39%
1980 0.11% 0.13%
1979 0.3% -0.39%
1978 0.47% 0.03%
1977 0.52% 0.31%
1976 0.53% 0.89%
1975 0.48% 1.96%
1974 0.46% 2.11%
1973 0.44% 1.98%
1972 0.44% 1.78%
1971 0.43% 1.5%
1970 0.47% 1.37%
1969 0.59% 0.9%
1968 0.62% 0.88%
1967 0.65% 1.8%
1966 0.7% 1.81%
1965 0.66% 1.66%
1964 0.64% 2.12%
1963 0.69% 2.01%
1962 0.71% 2.57%
1961 0.65% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.

Live population counters

Croatia New Zealand
Current population
3812193
5374272
Population rank 129/197 124/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.06%
One net population change
1.34 hours
6.01 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
9.31 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
14 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +240
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +87,500
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +1.68%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 65/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 +17,403
Net migration rank 112/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 17,403
2024 - -5,186 - 18,766
2023 -19,298 10,202 18,876 21,404
2022 -23,134 11,681 20,123 21,404
2021 -26,377 -4,517 23,644 -14,944
2020 -20,354 -8,552 24,905 42,124
2019 -15,008 -13,239 25,299 69,770
2018 -15,557 -25,016 24,797 59,139
2017 -16,570 -44,557 26,282 68,349
2016 -13,553 -32,144 28,237 75,512
2015 -16,607 -27,501 29,408 70,870
2014 -11,345 -13,127 26,196 57,974
2013 -10,162 -6,245 29,096 26,385
2012 -9,799 -4,794 31,077 -1,015
2011 -9,846 -17,463 31,302 -2,196
2010 -8,591 -3,995 35,458 6,722
2009 -7,319 1,358 33,560 12,700
2008 -8,188 6,495 35,143 4,804
2007 -10,335 8,893 35,480 3,053
2006 -8,669 10,852 30,924 14,542
2005 -9,022 10,629 30,674 19,212
2004 -9,040 15,445 29,634 24,521
2003 -12,480 12,556 28,150 42,456
2002 -10,325 10,306 25,941 48,195
2001 -8,599 19,298 27,939 17,793
2000 -6,255 -47,629 29,897 -6,604
1999 -6,769 -47,418 28,916 -7,634
1998 -4,985 -47,931 29,146 -1,387
1997 3,175 -52,897 30,137 12,040
1996 3,190 -53,688 28,997 25,169
1995 0 -51,882 29,828 26,743
1994 -930 -50,444 30,372 20,420
1993 -2,301 -49,615 31,685 12,638
1992 -4,576 -47,865 32,067 6,460
1991 -2,813 -31,968 33,518 31,156
1990 3,344 9,538 33,298 70,432
1989 3,337 8,471 30,749 -8,818
1988 5,707 7,242 29,846 -17,005
1987 6,161 6,956 27,603 -7,631
1986 8,499 6,261 25,549 -10,234
1985 10,343 5,550 24,126 -13,462
1984 10,764 5,757 26,043 -901
1983 10,714 6,323 24,315 11,464
1982 15,756 7,475 24,207 7,982
1981 15,680 4,872 25,374 -7,606
1980 17,939 -5,486 23,658 -15,423
1979 21,136 -5,740 26,675 -26,694
1978 20,157 -7,329 26,156 -28,783
1977 22,798 -7,339 28,020 -22,697
1976 22,226 -7,400 29,456 -9,138
1975 21,658 -7,366 31,355 13,196
1974 22,453 -8,076 33,896 27,580
1973 21,904 -8,335 35,239 28,261
1972 17,802 -7,277 38,244 17,779
1971 19,941 -5,608 40,000 7,547
1970 16,767 -2,359 37,101 4,511
1969 16,688 -2,796 38,098 -5,212
1968 21,828 -2,799 37,594 -11,853
1967 26,032 -3,518 37,974 -2,289
1966 33,192 -6,341 36,151 9,161
1965 31,251 -5,253 36,982 9,245
1964 25,942 -2,090 39,375 9,806
1963 31,270 -1,289 42,027 10,226
1962 30,216 -2,176 42,865 12,697
1961 36,255 -6,567 43,482 10,689
1960 34,778 -21,768 41,791 3,846

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

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
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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

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.