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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 63.6 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 2.99% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Croatia vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Nigeria
2100 2,158,545 481,640,156
2099 2,176,440 481,456,918
2098 2,194,539 481,181,892
2097 2,212,602 480,838,161
2096 2,231,114 480,422,467
2095 2,249,667 479,938,579
2094 2,268,376 479,395,022
2093 2,286,882 478,769,369
2092 2,305,583 478,059,864
2091 2,324,254 477,236,907
2090 2,342,729 476,329,495
2089 2,361,668 475,326,347
2088 2,380,831 474,231,442
2087 2,399,709 473,035,563
2086 2,418,760 471,732,001
2085 2,438,113 470,328,175
2084 2,457,815 468,806,172
2083 2,477,556 467,187,453
2082 2,497,595 465,472,417
2081 2,517,715 463,643,190
2080 2,538,164 461,705,493
2079 2,559,092 459,644,523
2078 2,580,179 457,477,264
2077 2,601,778 455,218,871
2076 2,623,507 452,849,991
2075 2,645,523 450,367,356
2074 2,667,391 447,789,885
2073 2,689,518 445,117,028
2072 2,712,201 442,340,440
2071 2,734,759 439,464,323
2070 2,757,112 436,505,329
2069 2,780,455 433,437,998
2068 2,804,383 430,286,232
2067 2,828,363 427,032,499
2066 2,852,669 423,702,640
2065 2,877,009 420,285,359
2064 2,901,213 416,778,394
2063 2,926,228 413,198,800
2062 2,951,475 409,551,159
2061 2,976,903 405,827,482
2060 3,002,483 402,041,765
2059 3,027,959 398,197,311
2058 3,053,643 394,284,767
2057 3,079,155 390,311,065
2056 3,105,119 386,267,580
2055 3,130,769 382,162,992
2054 3,156,282 378,000,511
2053 3,182,091 373,769,779
2052 3,207,640 369,472,476
2051 3,233,551 365,120,741
2050 3,259,702 360,706,317
2049 3,285,684 356,243,287
2048 3,311,657 351,724,743
2047 3,337,645 347,142,279
2046 3,363,102 342,505,549
2045 3,388,731 337,807,869
2044 3,414,541 333,050,132
2043 3,439,695 328,230,652
2042 3,464,688 323,363,366
2041 3,489,565 318,443,989
2040 3,513,946 313,468,061
2039 3,538,129 308,450,008
2038 3,562,371 303,399,842
2037 3,586,606 298,327,800
2036 3,609,771 293,227,654
2035 3,632,470 288,115,630
2034 3,656,066 282,995,818
2033 3,679,626 277,875,880
2032 3,703,646 272,747,599
2031 3,728,250 267,645,657
2030 3,752,014 262,562,767
2029 3,776,079 257,484,616
2028 3,799,610 252,445,821
2027 3,824,370 247,437,680
2026 3,849,788 242,458,365
2025 3,876,200 237,527,782
2024 3,866,200 232,679,478
2023 3,859,686 227,882,945
2022 3,855,641 223,150,896
2021 3,878,981 218,529,286
2020 3,914,206 213,996,181
2019 3,949,390 209,485,641
2018 3,988,775 204,938,755
2017 4,041,407 200,254,579
2016 4,106,867 195,443,700
2015 4,151,725 190,671,878
2014 4,201,598 185,896,915
2013 4,233,922 181,049,443
2012 4,260,368 176,200,625
2011 4,280,622 171,379,598
2010 4,295,427 166,642,886
2009 4,305,181 162,049,464
2008 4,309,705 157,595,014
2007 4,310,217 153,267,261
2006 4,311,159 149,077,334
2005 4,310,145 145,017,253
2004 4,304,600 141,057,045
2003 4,303,399 137,202,644
2002 4,302,174 133,471,989
2001 4,299,642 129,862,595
2000 4,468,302 126,382,494
1999 4,512,597 123,047,320
1998 4,532,135 119,846,254
1997 4,534,920 116,754,792
1996 4,557,097 113,754,779
1995 4,620,030 110,819,428
1994 4,652,024 107,935,714
1993 4,600,463 105,122,069
1992 4,575,818 102,372,770
1991 4,689,022 99,720,162
1990 4,777,368 97,120,925
1989 4,767,260 94,531,014
1988 4,755,207 92,020,090
1987 4,739,745 89,591,716
1986 4,721,446 87,235,953
1985 4,701,417 84,897,973
1984 4,680,285 82,526,443
1983 4,658,254 80,438,260
1982 4,634,234 78,378,701
1981 4,611,509 76,068,103
1980 4,599,782 73,764,641
1979 4,594,778 71,498,242
1978 4,581,085 69,326,532
1977 4,559,571 67,234,590
1976 4,535,934 65,258,009
1975 4,512,082 63,410,815
1974 4,490,660 61,679,144
1973 4,470,161 60,082,139
1972 4,450,564 58,601,748
1971 4,431,275 57,214,684
1970 4,412,252 55,893,838
1969 4,391,490 54,631,914
1968 4,365,628 53,432,783
1967 4,338,683 52,293,065
1966 4,310,701 51,188,234
1965 4,280,923 50,086,764
1964 4,252,876 49,012,016
1963 4,225,675 47,973,575
1962 4,196,712 46,965,292
1961 4,167,292 45,989,310
1960 4,140,181 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M 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
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Nigeria
2100 -0.82% 0.04%
2099 -0.82% 0.06%
2098 -0.82% 0.07%
2097 -0.83% 0.09%
2096 -0.82% 0.1%
2095 -0.82% 0.11%
2094 -0.81% 0.13%
2093 -0.81% 0.15%
2092 -0.8% 0.17%
2091 -0.79% 0.19%
2090 -0.8% 0.21%
2089 -0.8% 0.23%
2088 -0.79% 0.25%
2087 -0.79% 0.28%
2086 -0.79% 0.3%
2085 -0.8% 0.32%
2084 -0.8% 0.35%
2083 -0.8% 0.37%
2082 -0.8% 0.39%
2081 -0.81% 0.42%
2080 -0.82% 0.45%
2079 -0.82% 0.47%
2078 -0.83% 0.5%
2077 -0.83% 0.52%
2076 -0.83% 0.55%
2075 -0.82% 0.58%
2074 -0.82% 0.6%
2073 -0.84% 0.63%
2072 -0.82% 0.65%
2071 -0.81% 0.68%
2070 -0.84% 0.71%
2069 -0.85% 0.73%
2068 -0.85% 0.76%
2067 -0.85% 0.79%
2066 -0.85% 0.81%
2065 -0.83% 0.84%
2064 -0.85% 0.87%
2063 -0.86% 0.89%
2062 -0.85% 0.92%
2061 -0.85% 0.94%
2060 -0.84% 0.97%
2059 -0.84% 0.99%
2058 -0.83% 1.02%
2057 -0.84% 1.05%
2056 -0.82% 1.07%
2055 -0.81% 1.1%
2054 -0.81% 1.13%
2053 -0.8% 1.16%
2052 -0.8% 1.19%
2051 -0.8% 1.22%
2050 -0.79% 1.25%
2049 -0.78% 1.28%
2048 -0.78% 1.32%
2047 -0.76% 1.35%
2046 -0.76% 1.39%
2045 -0.76% 1.43%
2044 -0.73% 1.47%
2043 -0.72% 1.51%
2042 -0.71% 1.54%
2041 -0.69% 1.59%
2040 -0.68% 1.63%
2039 -0.68% 1.66%
2038 -0.68% 1.7%
2037 -0.64% 1.74%
2036 -0.62% 1.77%
2035 -0.65% 1.81%
2034 -0.64% 1.84%
2033 -0.65% 1.88%
2032 -0.66% 1.91%
2031 -0.63% 1.94%
2030 -0.64% 1.97%
2029 -0.62% 2%
2028 -0.65% 2.02%
2027 -0.66% 2.05%
2026 -0.68% 2.08%
2025 0.26% 2.08%
2024 0.17% 2.1%
2023 0.1% 2.12%
2022 -0.6% 2.11%
2021 -0.9% 2.12%
2020 -0.89% 2.15%
2019 -0.99% 2.22%
2018 -1.3% 2.34%
2017 -1.59% 2.46%
2016 -1.08% 2.5%
2015 -1.19% 2.57%
2014 -0.76% 2.68%
2013 -0.62% 2.75%
2012 -0.47% 2.81%
2011 -0.34% 2.84%
2010 -0.23% 2.83%
2009 -0.1% 2.83%
2008 -0.01% 2.82%
2007 -0.02% 2.81%
2006 0.02% 2.8%
2005 0.13% 2.81%
2004 0.03% 2.81%
2003 0.03% 2.8%
2002 0.06% 2.78%
2001 -3.77% 2.75%
2000 -0.98% 2.71%
1999 -0.43% 2.67%
1998 -0.06% 2.65%
1997 -0.49% 2.64%
1996 -1.36% 2.65%
1995 -0.69% 2.67%
1994 1.12% 2.68%
1993 0.54% 2.69%
1992 -2.41% 2.66%
1991 -1.85% 2.68%
1990 0.21% 2.74%
1989 0.25% 2.73%
1988 0.33% 2.71%
1987 0.39% 2.7%
1986 0.43% 2.75%
1985 0.45% 2.87%
1984 0.47% 2.6%
1983 0.52% 2.63%
1982 0.49% 3.04%
1981 0.25% 3.12%
1980 0.11% 3.17%
1979 0.3% 3.13%
1978 0.47% 3.11%
1977 0.52% 3.03%
1976 0.53% 2.91%
1975 0.48% 2.81%
1974 0.46% 2.66%
1973 0.44% 2.53%
1972 0.44% 2.42%
1971 0.43% 2.36%
1970 0.47% 2.31%
1969 0.59% 2.24%
1968 0.62% 2.18%
1967 0.65% 2.16%
1966 0.7% 2.2%
1965 0.66% 2.19%
1964 0.64% 2.16%
1963 0.69% 2.15%
1962 0.71% 2.12%
1961 0.65% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Croatia Nigeria
Current population
3849788
245016045
Population rank 130/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 2.95%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
6.52 seconds
One birth every
16.4 minutes
4.17 seconds
One death every
10.3 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +27 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +10,000 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 45/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 -15,258
Net migration rank 112/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -15,258
2024 -18,944 -5,186 4,851,833 -35,202
2023 -19,298 10,202 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 -23,134 11,681 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 -26,377 -4,517 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 -21,137 -8,552 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 -15,798 -13,239 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 -15,556 -25,016 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 -16,974 -44,557 4,706,183 78,685
2016 -14,374 -32,144 4,761,594 75,265
2015 -17,022 -27,501 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 -11,344 -13,127 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 -10,585 -6,245 4,811,751 40,201
2012 -9,799 -4,794 4,774,508 71,138
2011 -9,846 -17,463 4,728,363 67,808
2010 -8,591 -3,995 4,629,173 47,966
2009 -7,319 1,358 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 -8,188 6,495 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 -10,335 8,893 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 -8,669 10,852 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 -9,022 10,629 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 -9,040 15,445 3,877,376 46,370
2003 -12,480 12,556 3,751,120 33,857
2002 -10,325 10,306 3,606,814 69,594
2001 -8,599 19,298 3,478,370 64,163
2000 -6,255 -47,629 3,343,196 74,535
1999 -6,769 -47,418 3,155,425 97,195
1998 -4,985 -47,931 3,003,946 145,575
1997 3,175 -52,897 2,936,500 96,885
1996 3,190 -53,688 2,882,205 84,448
1995 0 -51,882 2,830,771 73,243
1994 -930 -50,444 2,735,198 128,134
1993 -2,301 -49,615 2,673,675 90,200
1992 -4,576 -47,865 2,596,173 138,412
1991 -2,813 -31,968 2,527,807 42,760
1990 3,344 9,538 2,491,928 135,959
1989 3,337 8,471 2,452,324 99,588
1988 5,707 7,242 2,376,419 93,510
1987 6,161 6,956 2,322,397 64,418
1986 8,499 6,261 2,295,003 29,682
1985 10,343 5,550 2,289,784 61,514
1984 10,764 5,757 2,278,060 113,758
1983 10,714 6,323 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 15,756 7,475 2,233,401 101,116
1981 15,680 4,872 2,179,884 106,723
1980 17,939 -5,486 2,121,618 198,672
1979 21,136 -5,740 2,074,807 137,721
1978 20,157 -7,329 2,019,621 111,258
1977 22,798 -7,339 1,923,917 129,075
1976 22,226 -7,400 1,827,289 72,889
1975 21,658 -7,366 1,718,623 75,603
1974 22,453 -8,076 1,624,813 44,281
1973 21,904 -8,335 1,525,485 -618
1972 17,802 -7,277 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 19,941 -5,608 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 16,767 -2,359 1,295,507 7,953
1969 16,688 -2,796 1,213,484 6,912
1968 21,828 -2,799 1,168,254 9,615
1967 26,032 -3,518 1,082,884 18,683
1966 33,192 -6,341 1,095,582 12,513
1965 31,251 -5,253 1,061,840 32,988
1964 25,942 -2,090 1,028,272 26,411
1963 31,270 -1,289 995,116 27,115
1962 30,216 -2,176 966,452 27,906
1961 36,255 -6,567 932,111 25,515
1960 34,778 -21,768 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

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/nigeria | 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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