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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 2.87 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th 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 -0.73% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% 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 2,158,545 18,798,240
2099 2,176,440 18,786,145
2098 2,194,539 18,772,372
2097 2,212,602 18,755,008
2096 2,231,114 18,733,822
2095 2,249,667 18,710,340
2094 2,268,376 18,683,383
2093 2,286,882 18,654,365
2092 2,305,583 18,621,911
2091 2,324,254 18,586,147
2090 2,342,729 18,545,656
2089 2,361,668 18,506,626
2088 2,380,831 18,464,999
2087 2,399,709 18,420,558
2086 2,418,760 18,372,233
2085 2,438,113 18,321,842
2084 2,457,815 18,270,605
2083 2,477,556 18,214,932
2082 2,497,595 18,159,412
2081 2,517,715 18,100,531
2080 2,538,164 18,035,268
2079 2,559,092 17,972,052
2078 2,580,179 17,904,957
2077 2,601,778 17,837,082
2076 2,623,507 17,768,107
2075 2,645,523 17,695,759
2074 2,667,391 17,621,390
2073 2,689,518 17,544,490
2072 2,712,201 17,463,028
2071 2,734,759 17,377,995
2070 2,757,112 17,291,519
2069 2,780,455 17,201,936
2068 2,804,383 17,108,606
2067 2,828,363 17,011,562
2066 2,852,669 16,911,929
2065 2,877,009 16,809,460
2064 2,901,213 16,705,205
2063 2,926,228 16,600,853
2062 2,951,475 16,493,872
2061 2,976,903 16,383,508
2060 3,002,483 16,267,162
2059 3,027,959 16,149,265
2058 3,053,643 16,029,360
2057 3,079,155 15,906,350
2056 3,105,119 15,781,247
2055 3,130,769 15,653,296
2054 3,156,282 15,519,925
2053 3,182,091 15,386,054
2052 3,207,640 15,247,553
2051 3,233,551 15,107,257
2050 3,259,702 14,965,427
2049 3,285,684 14,818,793
2048 3,311,657 14,670,417
2047 3,337,645 14,519,915
2046 3,363,102 14,367,141
2045 3,388,731 14,210,639
2044 3,414,541 14,053,122
2043 3,439,695 13,894,884
2042 3,464,688 13,735,841
2041 3,489,565 13,574,567
2040 3,513,946 13,410,615
2039 3,538,129 13,244,740
2038 3,562,371 13,076,640
2037 3,586,606 12,907,059
2036 3,609,771 12,735,582
2035 3,632,470 12,563,938
2034 3,656,066 12,389,907
2033 3,679,626 12,215,713
2032 3,703,646 12,039,848
2031 3,728,250 11,862,856
2030 3,752,014 11,683,177
2029 3,776,079 11,502,504
2028 3,799,610 11,320,226
2027 3,824,370 11,136,100
2026 3,849,788 10,950,183
2025 3,876,200 10,762,817
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 3,259,702 people with a rank change from 130th to 138th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

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 2.16M 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 0.26% 1.76%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Croatia Papua New Guinea
Current population
3849788
11045681
Population rank 130/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.13%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
2.83 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
2.05 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 +510
Annual growth/decline +10,000 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 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 -18,944 -5,186 187,595 -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 -21,137 -8,552 189,130 10,703
2019 -15,798 -13,239 190,662 22,978
2018 -15,556 -25,016 190,662 24,684
2017 -16,974 -44,557 189,715 26,513
2016 -14,374 -32,144 189,281 28,473
2015 -17,022 -27,501 188,600 30,580
2014 -11,344 -13,127 187,592 32,840
2013 -10,585 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 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 (1960–2025, 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/papua-new-guinea | 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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