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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 17,695 people in Palau in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 17,629 in Palau.

Population statistics:

  • Croatia's population is 216.2 times bigger than Palau's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th 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 -0.82% per year vs +0.02% in Palau.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10% decline).

Croatia vs Palau: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Palau
2100 2,137,465 11,152
2099 2,155,186 11,216
2098 2,173,108 11,281
2097 2,190,995 11,352
2096 2,209,326 11,417
2095 2,227,698 11,485
2094 2,246,224 11,549
2093 2,264,550 11,616
2092 2,283,068 11,682
2091 2,301,556 11,753
2090 2,319,851 11,829
2089 2,338,604 11,907
2088 2,357,581 11,968
2087 2,376,274 12,040
2086 2,395,139 12,109
2085 2,414,304 12,171
2084 2,433,813 12,251
2083 2,453,361 12,316
2082 2,473,204 12,382
2081 2,493,128 12,457
2080 2,513,378 12,537
2079 2,534,101 12,608
2078 2,554,982 12,681
2077 2,576,370 12,758
2076 2,597,887 12,838
2075 2,619,688 12,914
2074 2,641,342 13,007
2073 2,663,253 13,091
2072 2,685,714 13,161
2071 2,708,053 13,252
2070 2,730,187 13,338
2069 2,753,302 13,430
2068 2,776,996 13,525
2067 2,800,742 13,621
2066 2,824,811 13,723
2065 2,848,913 13,818
2064 2,872,881 13,920
2063 2,897,651 14,025
2062 2,922,653 14,136
2061 2,947,832 14,251
2060 2,973,162 14,358
2059 2,998,389 14,479
2058 3,023,822 14,589
2057 3,049,085 14,718
2056 3,074,796 14,837
2055 3,100,195 14,961
2054 3,125,459 15,084
2053 3,151,016 15,206
2052 3,176,316 15,332
2051 3,201,973 15,453
2050 3,227,869 15,562
2049 3,253,597 15,682
2048 3,279,316 15,797
2047 3,305,051 15,912
2046 3,330,260 16,024
2045 3,355,638 16,132
2044 3,381,196 16,245
2043 3,406,105 16,339
2042 3,430,854 16,445
2041 3,455,487 16,549
2040 3,479,631 16,631
2039 3,503,577 16,727
2038 3,527,583 16,805
2037 3,551,581 16,895
2036 3,574,520 16,964
2035 3,596,996 17,042
2034 3,620,363 17,118
2033 3,643,692 17,190
2032 3,667,478 17,250
2031 3,691,842 17,330
2030 3,715,373 17,398
2029 3,739,203 17,457
2028 3,762,505 17,527
2027 3,787,023 17,576
2026 3,812,193 17,629
2025 3,838,346 17,672
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Palau's population decreased by 168 people (a 0.94% decline).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th 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 3,227,869 people with a rank change from 129th to 139th. The population of Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,562 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 -0.72% -0.13%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.

Live population counters

Croatia Palau
Current population
3812193
17629
Population rank 129/197 194/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.0002%
One net population change
1.34 hours
1.63 weeks
One birth every
16.4 minutes
1.89 days
One death every
10.2 minutes
1.8 days
Daily growth/decline +18 +0
Annual growth/decline +6,514 -32
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% -0.18%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 175/197
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 - -5,186 - -14
2023 -19,298 10,202 -10 -19
2022 -23,134 11,681 -7 -20
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -3 -21
2020 -20,354 -8,552 8 0
2019 -15,008 -13,239 23 -46
2018 -15,557 -25,016 29 -35
2017 -16,570 -44,557 43 -33
2016 -13,553 -32,144 53 -35
2015 -16,607 -27,501 55 -11
2014 -11,345 -13,127 73 -7
2013 -10,162 -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/palau | 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 Palau 53.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 264 people) and 46.2% is from migration (a loss of 227 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 (1960–2024, 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/palau | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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