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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 64 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th 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 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Croatia vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Nigeria
2100 2,137,465 481,678,166
2099 2,155,186 481,494,914
2098 2,173,108 481,219,866
2097 2,190,995 480,876,108
2096 2,209,326 480,460,381
2095 2,227,698 479,976,454
2094 2,246,224 479,432,855
2093 2,264,550 478,807,152
2092 2,283,068 478,097,591
2091 2,301,556 477,274,569
2090 2,319,851 476,367,086
2089 2,338,604 475,363,859
2088 2,357,581 474,268,867
2087 2,376,274 473,072,894
2086 2,395,139 471,769,229
2085 2,414,304 470,365,292
2084 2,433,813 468,843,169
2083 2,453,361 467,224,322
2082 2,473,204 465,509,151
2081 2,493,128 463,679,779
2080 2,513,378 461,741,930
2079 2,534,101 459,680,797
2078 2,554,982 457,513,367
2077 2,576,370 455,254,796
2076 2,597,887 452,885,729
2075 2,619,688 450,402,898
2074 2,641,342 447,825,224
2073 2,663,253 445,152,156
2072 2,685,714 442,375,349
2071 2,708,053 439,499,004
2070 2,730,187 436,539,777
2069 2,753,302 433,472,204
2068 2,776,996 430,320,190
2067 2,800,742 427,066,199
2066 2,824,811 423,736,078
2065 2,848,913 420,318,527
2064 2,872,881 416,811,285
2063 2,897,651 413,231,409
2062 2,922,653 409,583,480
2061 2,947,832 405,859,509
2060 2,973,162 402,073,494
2059 2,998,389 398,228,736
2058 3,023,822 394,315,883
2057 3,049,085 390,341,867
2056 3,074,796 386,298,064
2055 3,100,195 382,193,151
2054 3,125,459 378,030,342
2053 3,151,016 373,799,276
2052 3,176,316 369,501,634
2051 3,201,973 365,149,555
2050 3,227,869 360,734,783
2049 3,253,597 356,271,401
2048 3,279,316 351,752,501
2047 3,305,051 347,169,674
2046 3,330,260 342,532,578
2045 3,355,638 337,834,528
2044 3,381,196 333,076,416
2043 3,406,105 328,256,555
2042 3,430,854 323,388,886
2041 3,455,487 318,469,120
2040 3,479,631 313,492,800
2039 3,503,577 308,474,350
2038 3,527,583 303,423,786
2037 3,551,581 298,351,344
2036 3,574,520 293,250,795
2035 3,596,996 288,138,368
2034 3,620,363 283,018,151
2033 3,643,692 277,897,810
2032 3,667,478 272,769,123
2031 3,691,842 267,666,779
2030 3,715,373 262,583,487
2029 3,739,203 257,504,936
2028 3,762,505 252,465,743
2027 3,787,023 247,457,208
2026 3,812,193 242,477,499
2025 3,838,346 237,546,527
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th 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 3,227,869 people with a rank change from 129th to 139th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 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 2.14M 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 -0.72% 2.09%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Croatia Nigeria
Current population
3812193
243824469
Population rank 129/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 2.94%
One net population change
1.34 hours
6.58 seconds
One birth every
16.4 minutes
4.2 seconds
One death every
10.2 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +18 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 48/197
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 - -5,186 - -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 -20,354 -8,552 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 -15,008 -13,239 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 -15,557 -25,016 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 -16,570 -44,557 4,706,183 78,685
2016 -13,553 -32,144 4,761,594 75,265
2015 -16,607 -27,501 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 -11,345 -13,127 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 -10,162 -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 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 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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