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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 17,663 people in Palau in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 17,620 in Palau.

Population statistics:

  • Croatia's population is 218.5 times bigger than Palau's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
  • The countries together account for 0.05% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.0002% for Palau.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs -0.03% in Palau.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10.1% decline).

Croatia vs Palau: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Palau
2100 2,158,545 11,146
2099 2,176,440 11,210
2098 2,194,539 11,275
2097 2,212,602 11,346
2096 2,231,114 11,411
2095 2,249,667 11,479
2094 2,268,376 11,543
2093 2,286,882 11,610
2092 2,305,583 11,676
2091 2,324,254 11,747
2090 2,342,729 11,823
2089 2,361,668 11,901
2088 2,380,831 11,962
2087 2,399,709 12,034
2086 2,418,760 12,103
2085 2,438,113 12,165
2084 2,457,815 12,245
2083 2,477,556 12,310
2082 2,497,595 12,376
2081 2,517,715 12,451
2080 2,538,164 12,531
2079 2,559,092 12,602
2078 2,580,179 12,674
2077 2,601,778 12,751
2076 2,623,507 12,831
2075 2,645,523 12,907
2074 2,667,391 13,000
2073 2,689,518 13,084
2072 2,712,201 13,154
2071 2,734,759 13,245
2070 2,757,112 13,332
2069 2,780,455 13,424
2068 2,804,383 13,518
2067 2,828,363 13,614
2066 2,852,669 13,716
2065 2,877,009 13,811
2064 2,901,213 13,913
2063 2,926,228 14,018
2062 2,951,475 14,129
2061 2,976,903 14,244
2060 3,002,483 14,350
2059 3,027,959 14,471
2058 3,053,643 14,581
2057 3,079,155 14,710
2056 3,105,119 14,830
2055 3,130,769 14,954
2054 3,156,282 15,077
2053 3,182,091 15,198
2052 3,207,640 15,324
2051 3,233,551 15,445
2050 3,259,702 15,554
2049 3,285,684 15,674
2048 3,311,657 15,789
2047 3,337,645 15,904
2046 3,363,102 16,015
2045 3,388,731 16,123
2044 3,414,541 16,237
2043 3,439,695 16,331
2042 3,464,688 16,437
2041 3,489,565 16,541
2040 3,513,946 16,623
2039 3,538,129 16,719
2038 3,562,371 16,797
2037 3,586,606 16,886
2036 3,609,771 16,955
2035 3,632,470 17,033
2034 3,656,066 17,109
2033 3,679,626 17,181
2032 3,703,646 17,241
2031 3,728,250 17,321
2030 3,752,014 17,389
2029 3,776,079 17,448
2028 3,799,610 17,518
2027 3,824,370 17,567
2026 3,849,788 17,620
2025 3,876,200 17,663
2024 3,866,200 17,695
2023 3,859,686 17,727
2022 3,855,641 17,759
2021 3,878,981 17,783
2020 3,914,206 17,792
2019 3,949,390 17,798
2018 3,988,775 17,814
2017 4,041,407 17,812
2016 4,106,867 17,797
2015 4,151,725 17,770
2014 4,201,598 17,715
2013 4,233,922 17,648
2012 4,260,368 17,765
2011 4,280,622 18,078
2010 4,295,427 18,396
2009 4,305,181 18,709
2008 4,309,705 19,009
2007 4,310,217 19,302
2006 4,311,159 19,593
2005 4,310,145 19,819
2004 4,304,600 19,820
2003 4,303,399 19,659
2002 4,302,174 19,503
2001 4,299,642 19,352
2000 4,468,302 19,178
1999 4,512,597 18,901
1998 4,532,135 18,524
1997 4,534,920 18,108
1996 4,557,097 17,654
1995 4,620,030 17,195
1994 4,652,024 16,770
1993 4,600,463 16,372
1992 4,575,818 15,989
1991 4,689,022 15,614
1990 4,777,368 15,259
1989 4,767,260 14,945
1988 4,755,207 14,645
1987 4,739,745 14,334
1986 4,721,446 14,024
1985 4,701,417 13,688
1984 4,680,285 13,337
1983 4,658,254 13,006
1982 4,634,234 12,694
1981 4,611,509 12,402
1980 4,599,782 12,271
1979 4,594,778 12,337
1978 4,581,085 12,440
1977 4,559,571 12,525
1976 4,535,934 12,598
1975 4,512,082 12,655
1974 4,490,660 12,687
1973 4,470,161 12,552
1972 4,450,564 12,194
1971 4,431,275 11,759
1970 4,412,252 11,368
1969 4,391,490 11,159
1968 4,365,628 11,080
1967 4,338,683 10,988
1966 4,310,701 10,805
1965 4,280,923 10,547
1964 4,252,876 10,292
1963 4,225,675 10,037
1962 4,196,712 9,793
1961 4,167,292 9,555
1960 4,140,181 9,328

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/palau | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Palau's population decreased by 177 people (a 0.99% decline).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th 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 Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,554 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.9% of the population in Croatia and 27.2% in Palau.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Palau
2100 -0.82% -0.57%
2099 -0.82% -0.58%
2098 -0.82% -0.62%
2097 -0.83% -0.57%
2096 -0.82% -0.59%
2095 -0.82% -0.55%
2094 -0.81% -0.58%
2093 -0.81% -0.56%
2092 -0.8% -0.6%
2091 -0.79% -0.65%
2090 -0.8% -0.65%
2089 -0.8% -0.51%
2088 -0.79% -0.6%
2087 -0.79% -0.57%
2086 -0.79% -0.51%
2085 -0.8% -0.65%
2084 -0.8% -0.53%
2083 -0.8% -0.53%
2082 -0.8% -0.6%
2081 -0.81% -0.64%
2080 -0.82% -0.56%
2079 -0.82% -0.58%
2078 -0.83% -0.6%
2077 -0.83% -0.62%
2076 -0.83% -0.59%
2075 -0.82% -0.71%
2074 -0.82% -0.64%
2073 -0.84% -0.53%
2072 -0.82% -0.69%
2071 -0.81% -0.65%
2070 -0.84% -0.68%
2069 -0.85% -0.7%
2068 -0.85% -0.7%
2067 -0.85% -0.74%
2066 -0.85% -0.69%
2065 -0.83% -0.73%
2064 -0.85% -0.75%
2063 -0.86% -0.78%
2062 -0.85% -0.81%
2061 -0.85% -0.74%
2060 -0.84% -0.84%
2059 -0.84% -0.75%
2058 -0.83% -0.88%
2057 -0.84% -0.81%
2056 -0.82% -0.83%
2055 -0.81% -0.81%
2054 -0.81% -0.8%
2053 -0.8% -0.82%
2052 -0.8% -0.78%
2051 -0.8% -0.7%
2050 -0.79% -0.76%
2049 -0.78% -0.73%
2048 -0.78% -0.72%
2047 -0.76% -0.7%
2046 -0.76% -0.67%
2045 -0.76% -0.7%
2044 -0.73% -0.57%
2043 -0.72% -0.64%
2042 -0.71% -0.63%
2041 -0.69% -0.49%
2040 -0.68% -0.57%
2039 -0.68% -0.46%
2038 -0.68% -0.53%
2037 -0.64% -0.41%
2036 -0.62% -0.46%
2035 -0.65% -0.44%
2034 -0.64% -0.42%
2033 -0.65% -0.35%
2032 -0.66% -0.46%
2031 -0.63% -0.39%
2030 -0.64% -0.34%
2029 -0.62% -0.4%
2028 -0.65% -0.28%
2027 -0.66% -0.3%
2026 -0.68% -0.24%
2025 0.26% -0.18%
2024 0.17% -0.18%
2023 0.1% -0.18%
2022 -0.6% -0.13%
2021 -0.9% -0.05%
2020 -0.89% -0.03%
2019 -0.99% -0.09%
2018 -1.3% 0.01%
2017 -1.59% 0.08%
2016 -1.08% 0.15%
2015 -1.19% 0.31%
2014 -0.76% 0.38%
2013 -0.62% -0.66%
2012 -0.47% -1.73%
2011 -0.34% -1.73%
2010 -0.23% -1.67%
2009 -0.1% -1.58%
2008 -0.01% -1.52%
2007 -0.02% -1.49%
2006 0.02% -1.14%
2005 0.13% -0.005%
2004 0.03% 0.82%
2003 0.03% 0.8%
2002 0.06% 0.78%
2001 -3.77% 0.91%
2000 -0.98% 1.47%
1999 -0.43% 2.04%
1998 -0.06% 2.3%
1997 -0.49% 2.57%
1996 -1.36% 2.67%
1995 -0.69% 2.53%
1994 1.12% 2.43%
1993 0.54% 2.4%
1992 -2.41% 2.4%
1991 -1.85% 2.33%
1990 0.21% 2.1%
1989 0.25% 2.05%
1988 0.33% 2.17%
1987 0.39% 2.21%
1986 0.43% 2.45%
1985 0.45% 2.63%
1984 0.47% 2.54%
1983 0.52% 2.46%
1982 0.49% 2.35%
1981 0.25% 1.07%
1980 0.11% -0.53%
1979 0.3% -0.83%
1978 0.47% -0.68%
1977 0.52% -0.58%
1976 0.53% -0.45%
1975 0.48% -0.25%
1974 0.46% 1.08%
1973 0.44% 2.94%
1972 0.44% 3.7%
1971 0.43% 3.44%
1970 0.47% 1.87%
1969 0.59% 0.71%
1968 0.62% 0.84%
1967 0.65% 1.69%
1966 0.7% 2.45%
1965 0.66% 2.48%
1964 0.64% 2.54%
1963 0.69% 2.49%
1962 0.71% 2.49%
1961 0.65% 2.43%

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/palau | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.

Live population counters

Croatia Palau
Current population
3849788
17620
Population rank 130/197 194/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.0002%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
1.63 weeks
One birth every
16.4 minutes
1.93 days
One death every
10.3 minutes
1.76 days
Daily growth/decline +27 +0
Annual growth/decline +10,000 -32
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% -0.18%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 175/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
3.27 weeks
Annual migration change -3,481 -16
Net migration rank 112/196 78/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 5,212
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 184/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 29.5%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 19/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Palau
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Palau
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -16
2024 -18,944 -5,186 -18 -14
2023 -19,298 10,202 -10 -19
2022 -23,134 11,681 -7 -20
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -3 -21
2020 -21,137 -8,552 8 0
2019 -15,798 -13,239 23 -46
2018 -15,556 -25,016 29 -35
2017 -16,974 -44,557 43 -33
2016 -14,374 -32,144 53 -35
2015 -17,022 -27,501 55 -11
2014 -11,344 -13,127 73 -7
2013 -10,585 -6,245 88 -28
2012 -9,799 -4,794 86 -387
2011 -9,846 -17,463 83 -405
2010 -8,591 -3,995 81 -392
2009 -7,319 1,358 81 -382
2008 -8,188 6,495 79 -378
2007 -10,335 8,893 80 -372
2006 -8,669 10,852 79 -365
2005 -9,022 10,629 80 -250
2004 -9,040 15,445 83 79
2003 -12,480 12,556 86 71
2002 -10,325 10,306 88 67
2001 -8,599 19,298 88 65
2000 -6,255 -47,629 85 120
1999 -6,769 -47,418 100 243
1998 -4,985 -47,931 116 280
1997 3,175 -52,897 140 297
1996 3,190 -53,688 166 312
1995 0 -51,882 186 258
1994 -930 -50,444 195 211
1993 -2,301 -49,615 196 193
1992 -4,576 -47,865 183 193
1991 -2,813 -31,968 175 193
1990 3,344 9,538 181 156
1989 3,337 8,471 185 113
1988 5,707 7,242 183 126
1987 6,161 6,956 182 125
1986 8,499 6,261 182 135
1985 10,343 5,550 181 179
1984 10,764 5,757 181 157
1983 10,714 6,323 176 144
1982 15,756 7,475 170 132
1981 15,680 4,872 161 120
1980 17,939 -5,486 165 -179
1979 21,136 -5,740 176 -291
1978 20,157 -7,329 193 -285
1977 22,798 -7,339 213 -292
1976 22,226 -7,400 236 -296
1975 21,658 -7,366 249 -296
1974 22,453 -8,076 256 -282
1973 21,904 -8,335 268 22
1972 17,802 -7,277 280 147
1971 19,941 -5,608 287 156
1970 16,767 -2,359 286 54
1969 16,688 -2,796 283 -209
1968 21,828 -2,799 275 -194
1967 26,032 -3,518 266 -150
1966 33,192 -6,341 268 -18
1965 31,251 -5,253 275 -16
1964 25,942 -2,090 284 -27
1963 31,270 -1,289 291 -41
1962 30,216 -2,176 296 -54
1961 36,255 -6,567 298 -65
1960 34,778 -21,768 296 -70

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/palau | 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 Palau 42.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 173 people) and 57.5% is from migration (a loss of 234 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.

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
Palau
City Population
Ngerulmud 318
Melekeok 299

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/palau | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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