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Population in Croatia compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 2.89 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Croatia vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Papua New Guinea
2100 2,137,465 18,802,138
2099 2,155,186 18,790,040
2098 2,173,108 18,776,265
2097 2,190,995 18,758,897
2096 2,209,326 18,737,707
2095 2,227,698 18,714,219
2094 2,246,224 18,687,257
2093 2,264,550 18,658,233
2092 2,283,068 18,625,772
2091 2,301,556 18,590,001
2090 2,319,851 18,549,501
2089 2,338,604 18,510,463
2088 2,357,581 18,468,827
2087 2,376,274 18,424,378
2086 2,395,139 18,376,043
2085 2,414,304 18,325,641
2084 2,433,813 18,274,394
2083 2,453,361 18,218,709
2082 2,473,204 18,163,177
2081 2,493,128 18,104,285
2080 2,513,378 18,039,008
2079 2,534,101 17,975,778
2078 2,554,982 17,908,670
2077 2,576,370 17,840,781
2076 2,597,887 17,771,791
2075 2,619,688 17,699,428
2074 2,641,342 17,625,044
2073 2,663,253 17,548,128
2072 2,685,714 17,466,649
2071 2,708,053 17,381,598
2070 2,730,187 17,295,105
2069 2,753,302 17,205,503
2068 2,776,996 17,112,154
2067 2,800,742 17,015,090
2066 2,824,811 16,915,436
2065 2,848,913 16,812,946
2064 2,872,881 16,708,669
2063 2,897,651 16,604,296
2062 2,922,653 16,497,292
2061 2,947,832 16,386,905
2060 2,973,162 16,270,535
2059 2,998,389 16,152,614
2058 3,023,822 16,032,684
2057 3,049,085 15,909,649
2056 3,074,796 15,784,519
2055 3,100,195 15,656,542
2054 3,125,459 15,523,143
2053 3,151,016 15,389,244
2052 3,176,316 15,250,715
2051 3,201,973 15,110,389
2050 3,227,869 14,968,530
2049 3,253,597 14,821,865
2048 3,279,316 14,673,459
2047 3,305,051 14,522,926
2046 3,330,260 14,370,120
2045 3,355,638 14,213,585
2044 3,381,196 14,056,036
2043 3,406,105 13,897,765
2042 3,430,854 13,738,690
2041 3,455,487 13,577,382
2040 3,479,631 13,413,396
2039 3,503,577 13,247,486
2038 3,527,583 13,079,352
2037 3,551,581 12,909,735
2036 3,574,520 12,738,223
2035 3,596,996 12,566,543
2034 3,620,363 12,392,476
2033 3,643,692 12,218,246
2032 3,667,478 12,042,345
2031 3,691,842 11,865,316
2030 3,715,373 11,685,599
2029 3,739,203 11,504,890
2028 3,762,505 11,322,573
2027 3,787,023 11,138,409
2026 3,812,193 10,952,454
2025 3,838,346 10,765,048
2024 3,866,200 10,576,502
2023 3,859,686 10,389,635
2022 3,855,641 10,203,169
2021 3,878,981 10,012,896
2020 3,914,206 9,815,746
2019 3,949,390 9,609,010
2018 3,988,775 9,394,513
2017 4,041,407 9,178,714
2016 4,106,867 8,961,718
2015 4,151,725 8,743,246
2014 4,201,598 8,523,441
2013 4,233,922 8,302,698
2012 4,260,368 8,081,390
2011 4,280,622 7,859,346
2010 4,295,427 7,633,523
2009 4,305,181 7,406,438
2008 4,309,705 7,183,002
2007 4,310,217 6,963,345
2006 4,311,159 6,747,720
2005 4,310,145 6,535,905
2004 4,304,600 6,328,041
2003 4,303,399 6,123,997
2002 4,302,174 5,924,003
2001 4,299,642 5,728,435
2000 4,468,302 5,537,064
1999 4,512,597 5,349,333
1998 4,532,135 5,166,390
1997 4,534,920 4,987,883
1996 4,557,097 4,813,361
1995 4,620,030 4,644,278
1994 4,652,024 4,480,208
1993 4,600,463 4,320,872
1992 4,575,818 4,166,699
1991 4,689,022 4,021,837
1990 4,777,368 3,896,481
1989 4,767,260 3,796,078
1988 4,755,207 3,711,880
1987 4,739,745 3,632,543
1986 4,721,446 3,554,793
1985 4,701,417 3,478,936
1984 4,680,285 3,405,198
1983 4,658,254 3,333,633
1982 4,634,234 3,264,291
1981 4,611,509 3,197,019
1980 4,599,782 3,131,512
1979 4,594,778 3,067,341
1978 4,581,085 3,003,714
1977 4,559,571 2,940,327
1976 4,535,934 2,877,327
1975 4,512,082 2,814,820
1974 4,490,660 2,752,671
1973 4,470,161 2,690,629
1972 4,450,564 2,628,432
1971 4,431,275 2,566,421
1970 4,412,252 2,505,628
1969 4,391,490 2,446,927
1968 4,365,628 2,390,803
1967 4,338,683 2,337,532
1966 4,310,701 2,285,774
1965 4,280,923 2,235,820
1964 4,252,876 2,188,325
1963 4,225,675 2,141,376
1962 4,196,712 2,093,919
1961 4,167,292 2,046,127
1960 4,140,181 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M 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
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.82% 0.06%
2099 -0.82% 0.07%
2098 -0.82% 0.09%
2097 -0.83% 0.11%
2096 -0.82% 0.13%
2095 -0.82% 0.14%
2094 -0.81% 0.16%
2093 -0.81% 0.17%
2092 -0.8% 0.19%
2091 -0.79% 0.22%
2090 -0.8% 0.21%
2089 -0.8% 0.23%
2088 -0.79% 0.24%
2087 -0.79% 0.26%
2086 -0.79% 0.28%
2085 -0.8% 0.28%
2084 -0.8% 0.31%
2083 -0.8% 0.31%
2082 -0.8% 0.33%
2081 -0.81% 0.36%
2080 -0.82% 0.35%
2079 -0.82% 0.37%
2078 -0.83% 0.38%
2077 -0.83% 0.39%
2076 -0.83% 0.41%
2075 -0.82% 0.42%
2074 -0.82% 0.44%
2073 -0.84% 0.47%
2072 -0.82% 0.49%
2071 -0.81% 0.5%
2070 -0.84% 0.52%
2069 -0.85% 0.55%
2068 -0.85% 0.57%
2067 -0.85% 0.59%
2066 -0.85% 0.61%
2065 -0.83% 0.62%
2064 -0.85% 0.63%
2063 -0.86% 0.65%
2062 -0.85% 0.67%
2061 -0.85% 0.72%
2060 -0.84% 0.73%
2059 -0.84% 0.75%
2058 -0.83% 0.77%
2057 -0.84% 0.79%
2056 -0.82% 0.82%
2055 -0.81% 0.86%
2054 -0.81% 0.87%
2053 -0.8% 0.91%
2052 -0.8% 0.93%
2051 -0.8% 0.95%
2050 -0.79% 0.99%
2049 -0.78% 1.01%
2048 -0.78% 1.04%
2047 -0.76% 1.06%
2046 -0.76% 1.1%
2045 -0.76% 1.12%
2044 -0.73% 1.14%
2043 -0.72% 1.16%
2042 -0.71% 1.19%
2041 -0.69% 1.22%
2040 -0.68% 1.25%
2039 -0.68% 1.29%
2038 -0.68% 1.31%
2037 -0.64% 1.35%
2036 -0.62% 1.37%
2035 -0.65% 1.4%
2034 -0.64% 1.43%
2033 -0.65% 1.46%
2032 -0.66% 1.49%
2031 -0.63% 1.54%
2030 -0.64% 1.57%
2029 -0.62% 1.61%
2028 -0.65% 1.65%
2027 -0.66% 1.7%
2026 -0.68% 1.74%
2025 -0.72% 1.78%
2024 0.17% 1.8%
2023 0.1% 1.83%
2022 -0.6% 1.9%
2021 -0.9% 2.01%
2020 -0.89% 2.15%
2019 -0.99% 2.28%
2018 -1.3% 2.35%
2017 -1.59% 2.42%
2016 -1.08% 2.5%
2015 -1.19% 2.58%
2014 -0.76% 2.66%
2013 -0.62% 2.74%
2012 -0.47% 2.83%
2011 -0.34% 2.96%
2010 -0.23% 3.07%
2009 -0.1% 3.11%
2008 -0.01% 3.15%
2007 -0.02% 3.2%
2006 0.02% 3.24%
2005 0.13% 3.28%
2004 0.03% 3.33%
2003 0.03% 3.38%
2002 0.06% 3.41%
2001 -3.77% 3.46%
2000 -0.98% 3.51%
1999 -0.43% 3.54%
1998 -0.06% 3.58%
1997 -0.49% 3.63%
1996 -1.36% 3.64%
1995 -0.69% 3.66%
1994 1.12% 3.69%
1993 0.54% 3.7%
1992 -2.41% 3.6%
1991 -1.85% 3.22%
1990 0.21% 2.64%
1989 0.25% 2.27%
1988 0.33% 2.18%
1987 0.39% 2.19%
1986 0.43% 2.18%
1985 0.45% 2.17%
1984 0.47% 2.15%
1983 0.52% 2.12%
1982 0.49% 2.1%
1981 0.25% 2.09%
1980 0.11% 2.09%
1979 0.3% 2.12%
1978 0.47% 2.16%
1977 0.52% 2.19%
1976 0.53% 2.22%
1975 0.48% 2.26%
1974 0.46% 2.31%
1973 0.44% 2.37%
1972 0.44% 2.42%
1971 0.43% 2.43%
1970 0.47% 2.4%
1969 0.59% 2.35%
1968 0.62% 2.28%
1967 0.65% 2.26%
1966 0.7% 2.23%
1965 0.66% 2.17%
1964 0.64% 2.19%
1963 0.69% 2.27%
1962 0.71% 2.34%
1961 0.65% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Croatia Papua New Guinea
Current population
3812193
11002753
Population rank 129/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.13%
One net population change
1.34 hours
2.81 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +512
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 59/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change -3,481 -284
Net migration rank 112/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -284
2024 - -5,186 - -707
2023 -19,298 10,202 187,637 -787
2022 -23,134 11,681 186,861 -787
2021 -26,377 -4,517 183,766 10,703
2020 -20,354 -8,552 189,130 10,703
2019 -15,008 -13,239 190,662 22,978
2018 -15,557 -25,016 190,662 24,684
2017 -16,570 -44,557 189,715 26,513
2016 -13,553 -32,144 189,281 28,473
2015 -16,607 -27,501 188,600 30,580
2014 -11,345 -13,127 187,592 32,840
2013 -10,162 -6,245 185,790 35,280
2012 -9,799 -4,794 183,658 37,893
2011 -9,846 -17,463 181,842 40,690
2010 -8,591 -3,995 178,998 50,106
2009 -7,319 1,358 175,421 49,647
2008 -8,188 6,495 172,823 48,985
2007 -10,335 8,893 169,306 48,203
2006 -8,669 10,852 166,540 47,191
2005 -9,022 10,629 163,888 46,014
2004 -9,040 15,445 161,023 44,811
2003 -12,480 12,556 158,611 43,639
2002 -10,325 10,306 155,091 42,657
2001 -8,599 19,298 151,431 41,962
2000 -6,255 -47,629 147,496 41,855
1999 -6,769 -47,418 143,592 42,519
1998 -4,985 -47,931 136,677 43,091
1997 3,175 -52,897 134,458 42,787
1996 3,190 -53,688 129,802 41,994
1995 0 -51,882 125,410 40,962
1994 -930 -50,444 122,113 39,669
1993 -2,301 -49,615 118,668 38,220
1992 -4,576 -47,865 114,818 36,622
1991 -2,813 -31,968 111,453 26,830
1990 3,344 9,538 110,033 2,398
1989 3,337 8,471 108,199 -19,824
1988 5,707 7,242 106,256 -26,232
1987 6,161 6,956 104,367 -25,720
1986 8,499 6,261 102,346 -25,495
1985 10,343 5,550 100,333 -25,470
1984 10,764 5,757 98,103 -25,487
1983 10,714 6,323 95,982 -25,465
1982 15,756 7,475 93,522 -25,355
1981 15,680 4,872 91,767 -25,383
1980 17,939 -5,486 90,266 -25,638
1979 21,136 -5,740 89,330 -25,618
1978 20,157 -7,329 88,747 -25,208
1977 22,798 -7,339 87,954 -24,722
1976 22,226 -7,400 86,965 -24,198
1975 21,658 -7,366 85,809 -23,562
1974 22,453 -8,076 84,829 -22,771
1973 21,904 -8,335 83,821 -21,803
1972 17,802 -7,277 82,672 -20,303
1971 19,941 -5,608 80,599 -18,945
1970 16,767 -2,359 78,712 -18,773
1969 16,688 -2,796 76,454 -18,994
1968 21,828 -2,799 73,983 -19,188
1967 26,032 -3,518 71,519 -19,767
1966 33,192 -6,341 69,206 -17,454
1965 31,251 -5,253 66,693 -18,532
1964 25,942 -2,090 64,558 -17,730
1963 31,270 -1,289 62,260 -15,189
1962 30,216 -2,176 59,974 -12,141
1961 36,255 -6,567 58,151 -10,409
1960 34,778 -21,768 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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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