Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 36,435,861 people in Poland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 36,007,074 in Poland.

Population statistics:

  • Poland's population is 9.35 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Poland is the 47th.
  • The countries together account for 0.48% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.43% for Poland.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs -0.38% in Poland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Poland has declined from 38.1M to 36M (5.6% decline).

Croatia vs Poland: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Poland
2100 2,158,545 18,452,579
2099 2,176,440 18,644,857
2098 2,194,539 18,838,707
2097 2,212,602 19,033,962
2096 2,231,114 19,231,896
2095 2,249,667 19,431,204
2094 2,268,376 19,634,214
2093 2,286,882 19,840,304
2092 2,305,583 20,049,969
2091 2,324,254 20,263,764
2090 2,342,729 20,482,150
2089 2,361,668 20,705,051
2088 2,380,831 20,933,750
2087 2,399,709 21,167,790
2086 2,418,760 21,407,163
2085 2,438,113 21,652,018
2084 2,457,815 21,902,736
2083 2,477,556 22,159,983
2082 2,497,595 22,423,109
2081 2,517,715 22,691,495
2080 2,538,164 22,964,515
2079 2,559,092 23,242,960
2078 2,580,179 23,524,184
2077 2,601,778 23,811,918
2076 2,623,507 24,102,012
2075 2,645,523 24,395,355
2074 2,667,391 24,691,719
2073 2,689,518 24,990,908
2072 2,712,201 25,290,453
2071 2,734,759 25,590,102
2070 2,757,112 25,889,034
2069 2,780,455 26,187,633
2068 2,804,383 26,485,171
2067 2,828,363 26,780,961
2066 2,852,669 27,074,124
2065 2,877,009 27,364,039
2064 2,901,213 27,650,950
2063 2,926,228 27,934,132
2062 2,951,475 28,212,240
2061 2,976,903 28,487,283
2060 3,002,483 28,757,525
2059 3,027,959 29,025,705
2058 3,053,643 29,288,751
2057 3,079,155 29,548,996
2056 3,105,119 29,806,770
2055 3,130,769 30,060,951
2054 3,156,282 30,311,416
2053 3,182,091 30,559,065
2052 3,207,640 30,801,964
2051 3,233,551 31,043,690
2050 3,259,702 31,281,762
2049 3,285,684 31,516,893
2048 3,311,657 31,748,736
2047 3,337,645 31,978,608
2046 3,363,102 32,205,877
2045 3,388,731 32,431,013
2044 3,414,541 32,653,012
2043 3,439,695 32,873,136
2042 3,464,688 33,090,733
2041 3,489,565 33,303,578
2040 3,513,946 33,514,705
2039 3,538,129 33,722,530
2038 3,562,371 33,926,660
2037 3,586,606 34,126,585
2036 3,609,771 34,323,967
2035 3,632,470 34,515,669
2034 3,656,066 34,704,048
2033 3,679,626 34,887,791
2032 3,703,646 35,067,502
2031 3,728,250 35,242,658
2030 3,752,014 35,410,392
2029 3,776,079 35,572,635
2028 3,799,610 35,725,650
2027 3,824,370 35,870,384
2026 3,849,788 36,007,074
2025 3,876,200 36,435,861
2024 3,866,200 36,559,233
2023 3,859,686 36,687,353
2022 3,855,641 36,821,749
2021 3,878,981 36,981,559
2020 3,914,206 37,515,748
2019 3,949,390 37,965,475
2018 3,988,775 37,974,750
2017 4,041,407 37,974,826
2016 4,106,867 37,970,087
2015 4,151,725 37,986,412
2014 4,201,598 38,011,735
2013 4,233,922 38,040,196
2012 4,260,368 38,063,164
2011 4,280,622 38,063,255
2010 4,295,427 38,042,794
2009 4,305,181 38,151,603
2008 4,309,705 38,125,759
2007 4,310,217 38,120,560
2006 4,311,159 38,141,267
2005 4,310,145 38,165,445
2004 4,304,600 38,182,222
2003 4,303,399 38,204,570
2002 4,302,174 38,230,364
2001 4,299,642 38,248,076
2000 4,468,302 38,258,629
1999 4,512,597 38,660,271
1998 4,532,135 38,663,481
1997 4,534,920 38,649,660
1996 4,557,097 38,624,370
1995 4,620,030 38,594,998
1994 4,652,024 38,542,652
1993 4,600,463 38,461,408
1992 4,575,818 38,363,667
1991 4,689,022 38,246,193
1990 4,777,368 38,110,782
1989 4,767,260 37,961,529
1988 4,755,207 37,824,487
1987 4,739,745 37,668,045
1986 4,721,446 37,456,119
1985 4,701,417 37,201,885
1984 4,680,285 36,904,134
1983 4,658,254 36,571,808
1982 4,634,234 36,230,481
1981 4,611,509 35,898,587
1980 4,599,782 35,574,150
1979 4,594,778 35,247,217
1978 4,581,085 34,965,600
1977 4,559,571 34,689,050
1976 4,535,934 34,356,300
1975 4,512,082 34,015,199
1974 4,490,660 33,678,899
1973 4,470,161 33,357,200
1972 4,450,564 33,055,650
1971 4,431,275 32,783,500
1970 4,412,252 32,664,300
1969 4,391,490 32,548,300
1968 4,365,628 32,294,655
1967 4,338,683 31,987,155
1966 4,310,701 31,681,000
1965 4,280,923 31,444,950
1964 4,252,876 31,139,450
1963 4,225,675 30,712,000
1962 4,196,712 30,308,500
1961 4,167,292 29,964,000
1960 4,140,181 29,637,450

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/poland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Poland lost 171,180 people (a 0.45% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Poland's population decreased by 1,963,013 people (a 5.17% decline).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Poland was ranked 32nd in 2006 and ranked 47th 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 Poland will decrease by 13.1% to 31,281,762 people and rank change from 47th to 61st.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.9% of the population in Croatia and 33.1% in Poland.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Poland
2100 -0.82% -1.03%
2099 -0.82% -1.03%
2098 -0.82% -1.03%
2097 -0.83% -1.03%
2096 -0.82% -1.03%
2095 -0.82% -1.03%
2094 -0.81% -1.04%
2093 -0.81% -1.05%
2092 -0.8% -1.06%
2091 -0.79% -1.07%
2090 -0.8% -1.08%
2089 -0.8% -1.09%
2088 -0.79% -1.11%
2087 -0.79% -1.12%
2086 -0.79% -1.13%
2085 -0.8% -1.14%
2084 -0.8% -1.16%
2083 -0.8% -1.17%
2082 -0.8% -1.18%
2081 -0.81% -1.19%
2080 -0.82% -1.2%
2079 -0.82% -1.2%
2078 -0.83% -1.21%
2077 -0.83% -1.2%
2076 -0.83% -1.2%
2075 -0.82% -1.2%
2074 -0.82% -1.2%
2073 -0.84% -1.18%
2072 -0.82% -1.17%
2071 -0.81% -1.15%
2070 -0.84% -1.14%
2069 -0.85% -1.12%
2068 -0.85% -1.1%
2067 -0.85% -1.08%
2066 -0.85% -1.06%
2065 -0.83% -1.04%
2064 -0.85% -1.01%
2063 -0.86% -0.99%
2062 -0.85% -0.97%
2061 -0.85% -0.94%
2060 -0.84% -0.92%
2059 -0.84% -0.9%
2058 -0.83% -0.88%
2057 -0.84% -0.86%
2056 -0.82% -0.85%
2055 -0.81% -0.83%
2054 -0.81% -0.81%
2053 -0.8% -0.79%
2052 -0.8% -0.78%
2051 -0.8% -0.76%
2050 -0.79% -0.75%
2049 -0.78% -0.73%
2048 -0.78% -0.72%
2047 -0.76% -0.71%
2046 -0.76% -0.69%
2045 -0.76% -0.68%
2044 -0.73% -0.67%
2043 -0.72% -0.66%
2042 -0.71% -0.64%
2041 -0.69% -0.63%
2040 -0.68% -0.62%
2039 -0.68% -0.6%
2038 -0.68% -0.59%
2037 -0.64% -0.58%
2036 -0.62% -0.56%
2035 -0.65% -0.54%
2034 -0.64% -0.53%
2033 -0.65% -0.51%
2032 -0.66% -0.5%
2031 -0.63% -0.47%
2030 -0.64% -0.46%
2029 -0.62% -0.43%
2028 -0.65% -0.4%
2027 -0.66% -0.38%
2026 -0.68% -1.18%
2025 0.26% -0.34%
2024 0.17% -0.35%
2023 0.1% -0.36%
2022 -0.6% -0.43%
2021 -0.9% -1.42%
2020 -0.89% -1.18%
2019 -0.99% -0.02%
2018 -1.3% -0%
2017 -1.59% 0.01%
2016 -1.08% -0.04%
2015 -1.19% -0.07%
2014 -0.76% -0.07%
2013 -0.62% -0.06%
2012 -0.47% -0%
2011 -0.34% 0.05%
2010 -0.23% -0.29%
2009 -0.1% 0.07%
2008 -0.01% 0.01%
2007 -0.02% -0.05%
2006 0.02% -0.06%
2005 0.13% -0.04%
2004 0.03% -0.06%
2003 0.03% -0.07%
2002 0.06% -0.05%
2001 -3.77% -0.03%
2000 -0.98% -1.04%
1999 -0.43% -0.008%
1998 -0.06% 0.04%
1997 -0.49% 0.07%
1996 -1.36% 0.08%
1995 -0.69% 0.14%
1994 1.12% 0.21%
1993 0.54% 0.25%
1992 -2.41% 0.31%
1991 -1.85% 0.36%
1990 0.21% 0.39%
1989 0.25% 0.36%
1988 0.33% 0.42%
1987 0.39% 0.57%
1986 0.43% 0.68%
1985 0.45% 0.81%
1984 0.47% 0.91%
1983 0.52% 0.94%
1982 0.49% 0.92%
1981 0.25% 0.91%
1980 0.11% 0.93%
1979 0.3% 0.81%
1978 0.47% 0.8%
1977 0.52% 0.97%
1976 0.53% 1%
1975 0.48% 1%
1974 0.46% 0.96%
1973 0.44% 0.91%
1972 0.44% 0.83%
1971 0.43% 0.36%
1970 0.47% 0.36%
1969 0.59% 0.79%
1968 0.62% 0.96%
1967 0.65% 0.97%
1966 0.7% 0.75%
1965 0.66% 0.98%
1964 0.64% 1.39%
1963 0.69% 1.33%
1962 0.71% 1.15%
1961 0.65% 1.1%

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/poland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Poland's population declined by 0.34%.

Live population counters

Croatia Poland
Current population
3849788
36007074
Population rank 130/197 47/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.43%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
4.27 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
2.08 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
1.28 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 -338
Annual growth/decline +10,000 -123,372
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% -0.34%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 179/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
1.59 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 -330,820
Net migration rank 112/196 191/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 1,739,901
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 41/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 4.5%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 97/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Poland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Poland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -330,820
2024 -18,944 -5,186 -157,205 -238,062
2023 -19,298 10,202 -135,743 -7,824
2022 -23,134 11,681 -143,605 967,744
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -184,907 2,251
2020 -21,137 -8,552 -120,050 3,920
2019 -15,798 -13,239 -34,169 7,696
2018 -15,556 -25,016 -26,582 -223
2017 -16,974 -44,557 0 -21,535
2016 -14,374 -32,144 -3,797 -5,675
2015 -17,022 -27,501 -26,590 3,887
2014 -11,344 -13,127 0 5,525
2013 -10,585 -6,245 -19,020 12,402
2012 -9,799 -4,794 0 4,635
2011 -9,846 -17,463 11,419 45,951
2010 -8,591 -3,995 38,043 119,623
2009 -7,319 1,358 30,521 -8,283
2008 -8,188 6,495 34,313 -42,288
2007 -10,335 8,893 11,436 -51,235
2006 -8,669 10,852 3,814 -68,882
2005 -9,022 10,629 -3,817 -41,942
2004 -9,040 15,445 -7,637 -38,216
2003 -12,480 12,556 -15,281 -19,039
2002 -10,325 10,306 -3,823 -16,462
2001 -8,599 19,298 3,825 -16,648
2000 -6,255 -47,629 11,478 -15,921
1999 -6,769 -47,418 0 -53,035
1998 -4,985 -47,931 19,332 -39,509
1997 3,175 -52,897 34,785 -44,230
1996 3,190 -53,688 42,487 -45,349
1995 0 -51,882 46,314 -52,989
1994 -930 -50,444 96,357 -41,845
1993 -2,301 -49,615 103,846 -48,805
1992 -4,576 -47,865 118,928 -46,893
1991 -2,813 -31,968 141,511 -55,342
1990 3,344 9,538 160,066 -50,339
1989 3,337 8,471 182,215 -49,192
1988 5,707 7,242 215,599 -101,671
1987 6,161 6,956 226,008 -32,310
1986 8,499 6,261 258,448 -22,520
1985 10,343 5,550 297,615 -27,277
1984 10,764 5,757 332,137 -18,402
1983 10,714 6,323 373,032 -26,724
1982 15,756 7,475 369,551 -34,980
1981 15,680 4,872 351,806 -16,155
1980 17,939 -5,486 348,627 -42,420
1979 21,136 -5,740 366,571 -22,162
1978 20,157 -7,329 339,166 -62,936
1977 22,798 -7,339 353,828 -33,496
1976 22,226 -7,400 367,612 -25,716
1975 21,658 -7,366 350,356 -31,346
1974 22,453 -8,076 346,893 -18,273
1973 21,904 -8,335 320,229 -29,335
1972 17,802 -7,277 314,028 -15,004
1971 19,941 -5,608 278,660 -31,767
1970 16,767 -2,359 280,913 -66,859
1969 16,688 -2,796 270,151 -26,744
1968 21,828 -2,799 280,963 -11,905
1967 26,032 -3,518 275,089 -25,479
1966 33,192 -6,341 297,801 -17,158
1965 31,251 -5,253 314,450 -21,658
1964 25,942 -2,090 326,965 -23,273
1963 31,270 -1,289 359,330 -13,770
1962 30,216 -2,176 360,671 -31,021
1961 36,255 -6,567 398,521 -20,044
1960 34,778 -21,768 444,562 -6,306

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/poland | 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 Poland 53.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 832,648 people) and 46.1% is from migration (a gain of 712,179 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 1,739,901 people or 4.5% in Poland.

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
Poland
City Population
Warsaw 1.86M
Krakow 804K
Wroclaw 674K
Lodz 649K
Poznan 547K
Gdansk 488K
Szczecin 388K
Lublin 335K
Bydgoszcz 325K
Bialystok 290K

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/poland | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.