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Population in Croatia compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 6.99 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.37% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Croatia vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia North Korea
2100 2,137,465 19,604,631
2099 2,155,186 19,733,548
2098 2,173,108 19,862,949
2097 2,190,995 19,993,288
2096 2,209,326 20,124,518
2095 2,227,698 20,256,401
2094 2,246,224 20,388,156
2093 2,264,550 20,520,253
2092 2,283,068 20,652,961
2091 2,301,556 20,785,785
2090 2,319,851 20,918,305
2089 2,338,604 21,050,580
2088 2,357,581 21,182,325
2087 2,376,274 21,314,047
2086 2,395,139 21,445,329
2085 2,414,304 21,575,835
2084 2,433,813 21,705,777
2083 2,453,361 21,835,029
2082 2,473,204 21,964,199
2081 2,493,128 22,092,862
2080 2,513,378 22,220,948
2079 2,534,101 22,348,577
2078 2,554,982 22,475,755
2077 2,576,370 22,602,817
2076 2,597,887 22,729,499
2075 2,619,688 22,856,369
2074 2,641,342 22,983,784
2073 2,663,253 23,111,441
2072 2,685,714 23,239,261
2071 2,708,053 23,367,583
2070 2,730,187 23,496,136
2069 2,753,302 23,625,538
2068 2,776,996 23,755,136
2067 2,800,742 23,884,879
2066 2,824,811 24,015,027
2065 2,848,913 24,144,985
2064 2,872,881 24,274,257
2063 2,897,651 24,402,439
2062 2,922,653 24,529,941
2061 2,947,832 24,656,350
2060 2,973,162 24,780,911
2059 2,998,389 24,903,037
2058 3,023,822 25,023,260
2057 3,049,085 25,140,523
2056 3,074,796 25,255,342
2055 3,100,195 25,366,397
2054 3,125,459 25,474,292
2053 3,151,016 25,578,870
2052 3,176,316 25,679,963
2051 3,201,973 25,777,639
2050 3,227,869 25,871,673
2049 3,253,597 25,962,167
2048 3,279,316 26,048,593
2047 3,305,051 26,131,429
2046 3,330,260 26,210,487
2045 3,355,638 26,286,208
2044 3,381,196 26,358,331
2043 3,406,105 26,427,062
2042 3,430,854 26,491,482
2041 3,455,487 26,552,564
2040 3,479,631 26,609,557
2039 3,503,577 26,661,815
2038 3,527,583 26,708,400
2037 3,551,581 26,749,134
2036 3,574,520 26,783,304
2035 3,596,996 26,810,026
2034 3,620,363 26,828,912
2033 3,643,692 26,839,229
2032 3,667,478 26,840,944
2031 3,691,842 26,832,957
2030 3,715,373 26,814,812
2029 3,739,203 26,787,117
2028 3,762,505 26,749,227
2027 3,787,023 26,701,444
2026 3,812,193 26,643,460
2025 3,838,346 26,575,953
2024 3,866,200 26,498,823
2023 3,859,686 26,418,204
2022 3,855,641 26,328,845
2021 3,878,981 26,232,534
2020 3,914,206 26,136,312
2019 3,949,390 26,037,632
2018 3,988,775 25,931,147
2017 4,041,407 25,817,709
2016 4,106,867 25,698,326
2015 4,151,725 25,575,350
2014 4,201,598 25,451,262
2013 4,233,922 25,329,451
2012 4,260,368 25,211,728
2011 4,280,622 25,097,874
2010 4,295,427 24,987,258
2009 4,305,181 24,878,332
2008 4,309,705 24,764,618
2007 4,310,217 24,646,383
2006 4,311,159 24,524,507
2005 4,310,145 24,396,433
2004 4,304,600 24,254,943
2003 4,303,399 24,090,380
2002 4,302,174 23,943,973
2001 4,299,642 23,815,358
2000 4,468,302 23,665,910
1999 4,512,597 23,497,599
1998 4,532,135 23,311,564
1997 4,534,920 23,110,830
1996 4,557,097 22,895,746
1995 4,620,030 22,669,304
1994 4,652,024 22,393,975
1993 4,600,463 22,073,352
1992 4,575,818 21,750,911
1991 4,689,022 21,428,638
1990 4,777,368 21,112,137
1989 4,767,260 20,804,367
1988 4,755,207 20,503,161
1987 4,739,745 20,205,483
1986 4,721,446 19,910,855
1985 4,701,417 19,620,388
1984 4,680,285 19,335,043
1983 4,658,254 19,054,034
1982 4,634,234 18,776,357
1981 4,611,509 18,501,295
1980 4,599,782 18,236,786
1979 4,594,778 17,983,470
1978 4,581,085 17,735,995
1977 4,559,571 17,492,798
1976 4,535,934 17,243,450
1975 4,512,082 16,971,055
1974 4,490,660 16,673,121
1973 4,470,161 16,350,367
1972 4,450,564 15,975,069
1971 4,431,275 15,572,457
1970 4,412,252 15,172,775
1969 4,391,490 14,767,615
1968 4,365,628 14,365,596
1967 4,338,683 13,958,350
1966 4,310,701 13,569,094
1965 4,280,923 13,219,369
1964 4,252,876 12,889,770
1963 4,225,675 12,567,057
1962 4,196,712 12,262,882
1961 4,167,292 11,990,713
1960 4,140,181 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M 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
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia North Korea
2100 -0.82% -0.65%
2099 -0.82% -0.65%
2098 -0.82% -0.65%
2097 -0.83% -0.65%
2096 -0.82% -0.65%
2095 -0.82% -0.65%
2094 -0.81% -0.64%
2093 -0.81% -0.64%
2092 -0.8% -0.64%
2091 -0.79% -0.63%
2090 -0.8% -0.63%
2089 -0.8% -0.62%
2088 -0.79% -0.62%
2087 -0.79% -0.61%
2086 -0.79% -0.6%
2085 -0.8% -0.6%
2084 -0.8% -0.59%
2083 -0.8% -0.59%
2082 -0.8% -0.58%
2081 -0.81% -0.58%
2080 -0.82% -0.57%
2079 -0.82% -0.57%
2078 -0.83% -0.56%
2077 -0.83% -0.56%
2076 -0.83% -0.56%
2075 -0.82% -0.55%
2074 -0.82% -0.55%
2073 -0.84% -0.55%
2072 -0.82% -0.55%
2071 -0.81% -0.55%
2070 -0.84% -0.55%
2069 -0.85% -0.55%
2068 -0.85% -0.54%
2067 -0.85% -0.54%
2066 -0.85% -0.54%
2065 -0.83% -0.53%
2064 -0.85% -0.53%
2063 -0.86% -0.52%
2062 -0.85% -0.51%
2061 -0.85% -0.5%
2060 -0.84% -0.49%
2059 -0.84% -0.48%
2058 -0.83% -0.47%
2057 -0.84% -0.45%
2056 -0.82% -0.44%
2055 -0.81% -0.42%
2054 -0.81% -0.41%
2053 -0.8% -0.39%
2052 -0.8% -0.38%
2051 -0.8% -0.36%
2050 -0.79% -0.35%
2049 -0.78% -0.33%
2048 -0.78% -0.32%
2047 -0.76% -0.3%
2046 -0.76% -0.29%
2045 -0.76% -0.27%
2044 -0.73% -0.26%
2043 -0.72% -0.24%
2042 -0.71% -0.23%
2041 -0.69% -0.21%
2040 -0.68% -0.2%
2039 -0.68% -0.17%
2038 -0.68% -0.15%
2037 -0.64% -0.13%
2036 -0.62% -0.1%
2035 -0.65% -0.07%
2034 -0.64% -0.04%
2033 -0.65% -0.006%
2032 -0.66% 0.03%
2031 -0.63% 0.07%
2030 -0.64% 0.1%
2029 -0.62% 0.14%
2028 -0.65% 0.18%
2027 -0.66% 0.22%
2026 -0.68% 0.25%
2025 -0.72% 0.29%
2024 0.17% 0.31%
2023 0.1% 0.34%
2022 -0.6% 0.37%
2021 -0.9% 0.37%
2020 -0.89% 0.38%
2019 -0.99% 0.41%
2018 -1.3% 0.44%
2017 -1.59% 0.46%
2016 -1.08% 0.48%
2015 -1.19% 0.49%
2014 -0.76% 0.48%
2013 -0.62% 0.47%
2012 -0.47% 0.45%
2011 -0.34% 0.44%
2010 -0.23% 0.44%
2009 -0.1% 0.46%
2008 -0.01% 0.48%
2007 -0.02% 0.5%
2006 0.02% 0.52%
2005 0.13% 0.58%
2004 0.03% 0.68%
2003 0.03% 0.61%
2002 0.06% 0.54%
2001 -3.77% 0.63%
2000 -0.98% 0.72%
1999 -0.43% 0.8%
1998 -0.06% 0.87%
1997 -0.49% 0.94%
1996 -1.36% 1%
1995 -0.69% 1.23%
1994 1.12% 1.45%
1993 0.54% 1.48%
1992 -2.41% 1.5%
1991 -1.85% 1.5%
1990 0.21% 1.48%
1989 0.25% 1.47%
1988 0.33% 1.47%
1987 0.39% 1.48%
1986 0.43% 1.48%
1985 0.45% 1.48%
1984 0.47% 1.47%
1983 0.52% 1.48%
1982 0.49% 1.49%
1981 0.25% 1.45%
1980 0.11% 1.41%
1979 0.3% 1.4%
1978 0.47% 1.39%
1977 0.52% 1.45%
1976 0.53% 1.61%
1975 0.48% 1.79%
1974 0.46% 1.97%
1973 0.44% 2.35%
1972 0.44% 2.59%
1971 0.43% 2.63%
1970 0.47% 2.74%
1969 0.59% 2.8%
1968 0.62% 2.92%
1967 0.65% 2.87%
1966 0.7% 2.65%
1965 0.66% 2.56%
1964 0.64% 2.57%
1963 0.69% 2.48%
1962 0.71% 2.27%
1961 0.65% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Croatia North Korea
Current population
3812193
26659144
Population rank 129/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.32%
One net population change
1.34 hours
6.52 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +221
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 150/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -3,481 -2,787
Net migration rank 112/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -2,787
2024 - -5,186 - -2,473
2023 -19,298 10,202 86,203 -1,997
2022 -23,134 11,681 96,495 -1,997
2021 -26,377 -4,517 99,710 -1,585
2020 -20,354 -8,552 95,920 -1,585
2019 -15,008 -13,239 106,208 -3,142
2018 -15,557 -25,016 113,164 -3,225
2017 -16,570 -44,557 120,181 -3,224
2016 -13,553 -32,144 125,048 -3,222
2015 -16,607 -27,501 127,365 -3,208
2014 -11,345 -13,127 127,078 -3,042
2013 -10,162 -6,245 122,519 -2,933
2012 -9,799 -4,794 118,773 -2,919
2011 -9,846 -17,463 114,798 -2,957
2010 -8,591 -3,995 112,443 -3,053
2009 -7,319 1,358 111,530 -3,058
2008 -8,188 6,495 122,015 -3,051
2007 -10,335 8,893 120,521 -3,021
2006 -8,669 10,852 129,171 -2,948
2005 -9,022 10,629 132,765 -2,861
2004 -9,040 15,445 155,838 -2,758
2003 -12,480 12,556 178,775 -2,717
2002 -10,325 10,306 119,504 -2,763
2001 -8,599 19,298 143,321 -2,884
2000 -6,255 -47,629 161,591 -3,142
1999 -6,769 -47,418 181,613 -3,443
1998 -4,985 -47,931 197,589 -3,706
1997 3,175 -52,897 211,325 -3,745
1996 3,190 -53,688 226,095 -3,512
1995 0 -51,882 233,381 -3,094
1994 -930 -50,444 320,861 -517
1993 -2,301 -49,615 320,880 0
1992 -4,576 -47,865 324,002 0
1991 -2,813 -31,968 320,551 0
1990 3,344 9,538 312,460 0
1989 3,337 8,471 303,078 0
1988 5,707 7,242 299,305 0
1987 6,161 6,956 296,030 0
1986 8,499 6,261 293,227 0
1985 10,343 5,550 287,714 0
1984 10,764 5,757 282,987 0
1983 10,714 6,323 279,046 0
1982 15,756 7,475 276,332 0
1981 15,680 4,872 273,800 0
1980 17,939 -5,486 255,206 0
1979 21,136 -5,740 251,409 0
1978 20,157 -7,329 243,533 0
1977 22,798 -7,339 242,870 0
1976 22,226 -7,400 255,841 0
1975 21,658 -7,366 288,966 0
1974 22,453 -8,076 306,902 0
1973 21,904 -8,335 338,600 0
1972 17,802 -7,277 411,997 0
1971 19,941 -5,608 393,220 0
1970 16,767 -2,359 406,129 0
1969 16,688 -2,796 404,189 0
1968 21,828 -2,799 399,837 0
1967 26,032 -3,518 414,632 0
1966 33,192 -6,341 363,882 0
1965 31,251 -5,253 335,587 0
1964 25,942 -2,090 323,623 0
1963 31,270 -1,289 321,805 0
1962 30,216 -2,176 286,534 0
1961 36,255 -6,567 257,788 0
1960 34,778 -21,768 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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