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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 5,324,700 people in New Zealand in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 5,380,024 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • New Zealand's population is 1.4 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th 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 -0.73% per year vs +1.51% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.38M (28.6% growth).

Croatia vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia New Zealand
2100 2,158,545 5,915,768
2099 2,176,440 5,920,061
2098 2,194,539 5,924,133
2097 2,212,602 5,927,189
2096 2,231,114 5,929,831
2095 2,249,667 5,931,770
2094 2,268,376 5,933,105
2093 2,286,882 5,935,725
2092 2,305,583 5,936,005
2091 2,324,254 5,937,584
2090 2,342,729 5,938,671
2089 2,361,668 5,941,788
2088 2,380,831 5,942,552
2087 2,399,709 5,945,502
2086 2,418,760 5,948,659
2085 2,438,113 5,952,187
2084 2,457,815 5,956,025
2083 2,477,556 5,960,521
2082 2,497,595 5,963,849
2081 2,517,715 5,965,417
2080 2,538,164 5,967,986
2079 2,559,092 5,969,234
2078 2,580,179 5,969,831
2077 2,601,778 5,968,708
2076 2,623,507 5,968,290
2075 2,645,523 5,967,889
2074 2,667,391 5,966,738
2073 2,689,518 5,965,412
2072 2,712,201 5,961,455
2071 2,734,759 5,961,400
2070 2,757,112 5,960,718
2069 2,780,455 5,959,460
2068 2,804,383 5,957,827
2067 2,828,363 5,955,348
2066 2,852,669 5,951,452
2065 2,877,009 5,947,293
2064 2,901,213 5,943,767
2063 2,926,228 5,941,828
2062 2,951,475 5,937,757
2061 2,976,903 5,936,521
2060 3,002,483 5,933,016
2059 3,027,959 5,928,350
2058 3,053,643 5,922,743
2057 3,079,155 5,916,754
2056 3,105,119 5,910,221
2055 3,130,769 5,901,290
2054 3,156,282 5,891,739
2053 3,182,091 5,881,824
2052 3,207,640 5,873,115
2051 3,233,551 5,861,135
2050 3,259,702 5,849,861
2049 3,285,684 5,841,135
2048 3,311,657 5,830,154
2047 3,337,645 5,819,016
2046 3,363,102 5,806,848
2045 3,388,731 5,792,780
2044 3,414,541 5,777,886
2043 3,439,695 5,761,590
2042 3,464,688 5,743,549
2041 3,489,565 5,724,283
2040 3,513,946 5,705,914
2039 3,538,129 5,687,068
2038 3,562,371 5,667,019
2037 3,586,606 5,647,323
2036 3,609,771 5,627,207
2035 3,632,470 5,606,247
2034 3,656,066 5,585,417
2033 3,679,626 5,562,621
2032 3,703,646 5,539,615
2031 3,728,250 5,514,530
2030 3,752,014 5,488,472
2029 3,776,079 5,460,094
2028 3,799,610 5,429,936
2027 3,824,370 5,397,099
2026 3,849,788 5,361,990
2025 3,876,200 5,324,700
2024 3,866,200 5,290,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while New Zealand's population increased by 665,924 people (a 14.1% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 3,259,702 people with a rank change from 130th to 138th. The population of New Zealand will increase by 8.73% to 5,849,861 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 2.16M 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 0.26% 0.66%
2024 0.17% 1.73%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while New Zealand's population grew by 0.66%.

Live population counters

Croatia New Zealand
Current population
3849788
5380024
Population rank 130/197 124/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.06%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
15.2 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
9.01 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
13.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 +95
Annual growth/decline +10,000 +34,700
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% +0.66%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 118/197
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 -18,944 -5,186 20,631 18,766
2023 -19,298 10,202 19,031 21,404
2022 -23,134 11,681 20,276 21,404
2021 -26,377 -4,517 23,745 -14,944
2020 -21,137 -8,552 25,007 42,124
2019 -15,798 -13,239 25,349 69,770
2018 -15,556 -25,016 24,797 59,139
2017 -16,974 -44,557 26,282 68,349
2016 -14,374 -32,144 28,237 75,512
2015 -17,022 -27,501 29,408 70,870
2014 -11,344 -13,127 26,196 57,974
2013 -10,585 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 36% is from natural causes (a gain of 242,763 people) and 64% is from migration (a gain of 432,394 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 (1960–2025, 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/new-zealand | 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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