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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 6,916,140 people in Nicaragua in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 7,124,343 in Nicaragua.

Population statistics:

  • Nicaragua's population is 1.87 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Nicaragua is the 107th.
  • The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.09% for Nicaragua.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +1.33% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.12M (31.5% growth).

Croatia vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Nicaragua
2100 2,137,465 8,688,116
2099 2,155,186 8,724,538
2098 2,173,108 8,760,232
2097 2,190,995 8,794,755
2096 2,209,326 8,828,433
2095 2,227,698 8,861,157
2094 2,246,224 8,892,755
2093 2,264,550 8,924,287
2092 2,283,068 8,954,488
2091 2,301,556 8,984,026
2090 2,319,851 9,012,075
2089 2,338,604 9,039,709
2088 2,357,581 9,065,862
2087 2,376,274 9,090,942
2086 2,395,139 9,115,336
2085 2,414,304 9,138,363
2084 2,433,813 9,160,205
2083 2,453,361 9,180,483
2082 2,473,204 9,199,639
2081 2,493,128 9,217,574
2080 2,513,378 9,233,677
2079 2,534,101 9,247,995
2078 2,554,982 9,260,269
2077 2,576,370 9,271,296
2076 2,597,887 9,280,355
2075 2,619,688 9,287,263
2074 2,641,342 9,293,340
2073 2,663,253 9,297,217
2072 2,685,714 9,298,930
2071 2,708,053 9,298,548
2070 2,730,187 9,296,541
2069 2,753,302 9,292,245
2068 2,776,996 9,285,519
2067 2,800,742 9,277,073
2066 2,824,811 9,266,063
2065 2,848,913 9,253,359
2064 2,872,881 9,238,451
2063 2,897,651 9,221,261
2062 2,922,653 9,201,687
2061 2,947,832 9,180,231
2060 2,973,162 9,156,164
2059 2,998,389 9,129,485
2058 3,023,822 9,100,437
2057 3,049,085 9,069,770
2056 3,074,796 9,037,076
2055 3,100,195 9,002,004
2054 3,125,459 8,964,646
2053 3,151,016 8,925,248
2052 3,176,316 8,883,323
2051 3,201,973 8,838,651
2050 3,227,869 8,791,647
2049 3,253,597 8,743,003
2048 3,279,316 8,691,701
2047 3,305,051 8,638,293
2046 3,330,260 8,583,244
2045 3,355,638 8,525,953
2044 3,381,196 8,466,669
2043 3,406,105 8,405,733
2042 3,430,854 8,342,871
2041 3,455,487 8,278,159
2040 3,479,631 8,211,510
2039 3,503,577 8,143,346
2038 3,527,583 8,072,943
2037 3,551,581 8,000,701
2036 3,574,520 7,926,969
2035 3,596,996 7,851,540
2034 3,620,363 7,774,327
2033 3,643,692 7,695,506
2032 3,667,478 7,615,273
2031 3,691,842 7,533,169
2030 3,715,373 7,449,842
2029 3,739,203 7,364,850
2028 3,762,505 7,278,061
2027 3,787,023 7,189,755
2026 3,812,193 7,100,090
2025 3,838,346 7,008,896
2024 3,866,200 6,916,140
2023 3,859,686 6,823,613
2022 3,855,641 6,730,654
2021 3,878,981 6,644,741
2020 3,914,206 6,565,267
2019 3,949,390 6,483,657
2018 3,988,775 6,400,080
2017 4,041,407 6,316,231
2016 4,106,867 6,232,666
2015 4,151,725 6,149,417
2014 4,201,598 6,066,492
2013 4,233,922 5,983,845
2012 4,260,368 5,901,287
2011 4,280,622 5,819,051
2010 4,295,427 5,737,450
2009 4,305,181 5,656,601
2008 4,309,705 5,576,593
2007 4,310,217 5,497,243
2006 4,311,159 5,418,855
2005 4,310,145 5,342,105
2004 4,304,600 5,272,912
2003 4,303,399 5,210,963
2002 4,302,174 5,149,909
2001 4,299,642 5,087,825
2000 4,468,302 5,022,633
1999 4,512,597 4,954,018
1998 4,532,135 4,883,655
1997 4,534,920 4,809,573
1996 4,557,097 4,729,974
1995 4,620,030 4,642,931
1994 4,652,024 4,549,316
1993 4,600,463 4,453,732
1992 4,575,818 4,357,026
1991 4,689,022 4,259,637
1990 4,777,368 4,162,559
1989 4,767,260 4,066,476
1988 4,755,207 3,972,320
1987 4,739,745 3,882,164
1986 4,721,446 3,794,157
1985 4,701,417 3,706,479
1984 4,680,285 3,619,104
1983 4,658,254 3,530,282
1982 4,634,234 3,438,745
1981 4,611,509 3,345,674
1980 4,599,782 3,252,403
1979 4,594,778 3,164,525
1978 4,581,085 3,080,314
1977 4,559,571 2,992,534
1976 4,535,934 2,903,851
1975 4,512,082 2,816,943
1974 4,490,660 2,732,075
1973 4,470,161 2,649,278
1972 4,450,564 2,573,578
1971 4,431,275 2,499,825
1970 4,412,252 2,423,065
1969 4,391,490 2,348,398
1968 4,365,628 2,275,836
1967 4,338,683 2,205,567
1966 4,310,701 2,137,820
1965 4,280,923 2,072,681
1964 4,252,876 2,010,176
1963 4,225,675 1,950,159
1962 4,196,712 1,892,320
1961 4,167,292 1,836,451
1960 4,140,181 1,782,370

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/nicaragua | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Nicaragua gained 813,811 people (a 15% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Nicaragua's population increased by 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Nicaragua was ranked 109th in 2006 and ranked 107th 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 Nicaragua will increase by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people and rank change from 107th to 108th.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M 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
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Nicaragua
2100 -0.82% -0.42%
2099 -0.82% -0.41%
2098 -0.82% -0.39%
2097 -0.83% -0.38%
2096 -0.82% -0.37%
2095 -0.82% -0.36%
2094 -0.81% -0.35%
2093 -0.81% -0.34%
2092 -0.8% -0.33%
2091 -0.79% -0.31%
2090 -0.8% -0.31%
2089 -0.8% -0.29%
2088 -0.79% -0.28%
2087 -0.79% -0.27%
2086 -0.79% -0.25%
2085 -0.8% -0.24%
2084 -0.8% -0.22%
2083 -0.8% -0.21%
2082 -0.8% -0.19%
2081 -0.81% -0.17%
2080 -0.82% -0.15%
2079 -0.82% -0.13%
2078 -0.83% -0.12%
2077 -0.83% -0.1%
2076 -0.83% -0.07%
2075 -0.82% -0.07%
2074 -0.82% -0.04%
2073 -0.84% -0.02%
2072 -0.82% 0.004%
2071 -0.81% 0.02%
2070 -0.84% 0.05%
2069 -0.85% 0.07%
2068 -0.85% 0.09%
2067 -0.85% 0.12%
2066 -0.85% 0.14%
2065 -0.83% 0.16%
2064 -0.85% 0.19%
2063 -0.86% 0.21%
2062 -0.85% 0.23%
2061 -0.85% 0.26%
2060 -0.84% 0.29%
2059 -0.84% 0.32%
2058 -0.83% 0.34%
2057 -0.84% 0.36%
2056 -0.82% 0.39%
2055 -0.81% 0.42%
2054 -0.81% 0.44%
2053 -0.8% 0.47%
2052 -0.8% 0.51%
2051 -0.8% 0.53%
2050 -0.79% 0.56%
2049 -0.78% 0.59%
2048 -0.78% 0.62%
2047 -0.76% 0.64%
2046 -0.76% 0.67%
2045 -0.76% 0.7%
2044 -0.73% 0.72%
2043 -0.72% 0.75%
2042 -0.71% 0.78%
2041 -0.69% 0.81%
2040 -0.68% 0.84%
2039 -0.68% 0.87%
2038 -0.68% 0.9%
2037 -0.64% 0.93%
2036 -0.62% 0.96%
2035 -0.65% 0.99%
2034 -0.64% 1.02%
2033 -0.65% 1.05%
2032 -0.66% 1.09%
2031 -0.63% 1.12%
2030 -0.64% 1.15%
2029 -0.62% 1.19%
2028 -0.65% 1.23%
2027 -0.66% 1.26%
2026 -0.68% 1.3%
2025 -0.72% 1.34%
2024 0.17% 1.36%
2023 0.1% 1.38%
2022 -0.6% 1.29%
2021 -0.9% 1.21%
2020 -0.89% 1.26%
2019 -0.99% 1.31%
2018 -1.3% 1.33%
2017 -1.59% 1.34%
2016 -1.08% 1.35%
2015 -1.19% 1.37%
2014 -0.76% 1.38%
2013 -0.62% 1.4%
2012 -0.47% 1.41%
2011 -0.34% 1.42%
2010 -0.23% 1.43%
2009 -0.1% 1.43%
2008 -0.01% 1.44%
2007 -0.02% 1.45%
2006 0.02% 1.44%
2005 0.13% 1.31%
2004 0.03% 1.19%
2003 0.03% 1.19%
2002 0.06% 1.22%
2001 -3.77% 1.3%
2000 -0.98% 1.39%
1999 -0.43% 1.44%
1998 -0.06% 1.54%
1997 -0.49% 1.68%
1996 -1.36% 1.87%
1995 -0.69% 2.06%
1994 1.12% 2.15%
1993 0.54% 2.22%
1992 -2.41% 2.29%
1991 -1.85% 2.33%
1990 0.21% 2.36%
1989 0.25% 2.37%
1988 0.33% 2.32%
1987 0.39% 2.32%
1986 0.43% 2.37%
1985 0.45% 2.41%
1984 0.47% 2.52%
1983 0.52% 2.66%
1982 0.49% 2.78%
1981 0.25% 2.87%
1980 0.11% 2.78%
1979 0.3% 2.73%
1978 0.47% 2.93%
1977 0.52% 3.05%
1976 0.53% 3.09%
1975 0.48% 3.11%
1974 0.46% 3.13%
1973 0.44% 2.94%
1972 0.44% 2.95%
1971 0.43% 3.17%
1970 0.47% 3.18%
1969 0.59% 3.19%
1968 0.62% 3.19%
1967 0.65% 3.17%
1966 0.7% 3.14%
1965 0.66% 3.11%
1964 0.64% 3.08%
1963 0.69% 3.06%
1962 0.71% 3.04%
1961 0.65% 3.03%

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/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.36%.

Live population counters

Croatia Nicaragua
Current population
3812193
7124343
Population rank 129/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.09%
One net population change
1.34 hours
5.68 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
3.98 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
16.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +253
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +92,527
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +1.36%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 78/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
1.05 hours
Annual migration change -3,481 -8,371
Net migration rank 112/196 129/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 43,757
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 154/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 172/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Nicaragua
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -8,371
2024 - -5,186 - -8,189
2023 -19,298 10,202 100,921 -7,996
2022 -23,134 11,681 100,987 -7,996
2021 -26,377 -4,517 89,213 -10,383
2020 -20,354 -8,552 90,515 -10,383
2019 -15,008 -13,239 102,817 -19,730
2018 -15,557 -25,016 104,814 -20,742
2017 -16,570 -44,557 105,468 -21,849
2016 -13,553 -32,144 106,585 -23,076
2015 -16,607 -27,501 107,344 -24,353
2014 -11,345 -13,127 108,420 -25,570
2013 -10,162 -6,245 109,032 -26,587
2012 -9,799 -4,794 110,065 -27,389
2011 -9,846 -17,463 110,026 -28,221
2010 -8,591 -3,995 110,475 -29,081
2009 -7,319 1,358 110,213 -29,913
2008 -8,188 6,495 110,395 -30,675
2007 -10,335 8,893 110,341 -31,357
2006 -8,669 10,852 110,073 -32,274
2005 -9,022 10,629 108,984 -33,280
2004 -9,040 15,445 106,904 -44,222
2003 -12,480 12,556 106,142 -44,931
2002 -10,325 10,306 105,805 -44,906
2001 -8,599 19,298 107,109 -43,837
2000 -6,255 -47,629 109,192 -42,087
1999 -6,769 -47,418 110,217 -40,095
1998 -4,985 -47,931 108,862 -38,260
1997 3,175 -52,897 114,415 -36,851
1996 3,190 -53,688 116,849 -35,208
1995 0 -51,882 118,325 -25,889
1994 -930 -50,444 119,565 -24,773
1993 -2,301 -49,615 120,469 -24,091
1992 -4,576 -47,865 121,204 -24,171
1991 -2,813 -31,968 121,787 -24,028
1990 3,344 9,538 120,677 -24,280
1989 3,337 8,471 120,128 -24,364
1988 5,707 7,242 117,299 -24,753
1987 6,161 6,956 112,885 -25,127
1986 8,499 6,261 113,054 -24,805
1985 10,343 5,550 110,949 -23,840
1984 10,764 5,757 110,133 -22,493
1983 10,714 6,323 110,618 -20,620
1982 15,756 7,475 112,468 -19,395
1981 15,680 4,872 110,421 -17,353
1980 17,939 -5,486 108,604 -15,130
1979 21,136 -5,740 96,429 -14,152
1978 20,157 -7,329 98,419 -12,273
1977 22,798 -7,339 100,498 -11,082
1976 22,226 -7,400 98,100 -10,155
1975 21,658 -7,366 95,230 -9,349
1974 22,453 -8,076 92,505 -8,639
1973 21,904 -8,335 89,662 -7,947
1972 17,802 -7,277 76,906 -7,219
1971 19,941 -5,608 84,139 -6,328
1970 16,767 -2,359 81,127 -5,423
1969 16,688 -2,796 78,237 -4,592
1968 21,828 -2,799 75,458 -3,979
1967 26,032 -3,518 72,722 -3,666
1966 33,192 -6,341 69,883 -3,443
1965 31,251 -5,253 67,056 -3,231
1964 25,942 -2,090 64,227 -3,043
1963 31,270 -1,289 61,738 -2,881
1962 30,216 -2,176 59,547 -2,727
1961 36,255 -6,567 57,499 -2,579
1960 34,778 -21,768 55,664 -2,418

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/nicaragua | 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 Nicaragua 85.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 43,757 people or 0.6% in Nicaragua.

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
Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K

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/nicaragua | 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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