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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 36,559,233 people in Poland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 35,806,942 in Poland.

Population statistics:

  • Poland's population is 9.39 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th 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 -0.82% per year vs -0.36% in Poland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Poland has declined from 38.1M to 35.8M (6.12% decline).

Croatia vs Poland: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Poland
2100 2,137,465 18,350,017
2099 2,155,186 18,541,227
2098 2,173,108 18,733,999
2097 2,190,995 18,928,169
2096 2,209,326 19,125,003
2095 2,227,698 19,323,203
2094 2,246,224 19,525,085
2093 2,264,550 19,730,030
2092 2,283,068 19,938,529
2091 2,301,556 20,151,135
2090 2,319,851 20,368,308
2089 2,338,604 20,589,970
2088 2,357,581 20,817,398
2087 2,376,274 21,050,137
2086 2,395,139 21,288,179
2085 2,414,304 21,531,674
2084 2,433,813 21,780,998
2083 2,453,361 22,036,816
2082 2,473,204 22,298,479
2081 2,493,128 22,565,373
2080 2,513,378 22,836,875
2079 2,534,101 23,113,773
2078 2,554,982 23,393,434
2077 2,576,370 23,679,569
2076 2,597,887 23,968,050
2075 2,619,688 24,259,763
2074 2,641,342 24,554,480
2073 2,663,253 24,852,006
2072 2,685,714 25,149,886
2071 2,708,053 25,447,869
2070 2,730,187 25,745,140
2069 2,753,302 26,042,079
2068 2,776,996 26,337,963
2067 2,800,742 26,632,110
2066 2,824,811 26,923,643
2065 2,848,913 27,211,946
2064 2,872,881 27,497,263
2063 2,897,651 27,778,871
2062 2,922,653 28,055,433
2061 2,947,832 28,328,948
2060 2,973,162 28,597,687
2059 2,998,389 28,864,377
2058 3,023,822 29,125,961
2057 3,049,085 29,384,759
2056 3,074,796 29,641,101
2055 3,100,195 29,893,868
2054 3,125,459 30,142,942
2053 3,151,016 30,389,214
2052 3,176,316 30,630,763
2051 3,201,973 30,871,146
2050 3,227,869 31,107,894
2049 3,253,597 31,341,718
2048 3,279,316 31,572,273
2047 3,305,051 31,800,868
2046 3,330,260 32,026,873
2045 3,355,638 32,250,757
2044 3,381,196 32,471,522
2043 3,406,105 32,690,423
2042 3,430,854 32,906,811
2041 3,455,487 33,118,473
2040 3,479,631 33,328,426
2039 3,503,577 33,535,096
2038 3,527,583 33,738,091
2037 3,551,581 33,936,906
2036 3,574,520 34,133,190
2035 3,596,996 34,323,827
2034 3,620,363 34,511,159
2033 3,643,692 34,693,880
2032 3,667,478 34,872,593
2031 3,691,842 35,046,775
2030 3,715,373 35,213,577
2029 3,739,203 35,374,919
2028 3,762,505 35,527,083
2027 3,787,023 35,671,012
2026 3,812,193 35,806,942
2025 3,838,346 36,233,346
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Poland's population decreased by 2,163,145 people (a 5.7% decline).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th 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 3,227,869 people with a rank change from 129th to 139th. The population of Poland will decrease by 13.1% to 31,107,894 people and rank change from 47th to 62nd.

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 -0.72% -0.89%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Poland's population declined by 0.35%.

Live population counters

Croatia Poland
Current population
3812193
35806942
Population rank 129/197 47/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.43%
One net population change
1.34 hours
4.1 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
1.94 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
1.29 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 -351
Annual growth/decline +6,514 -128,120
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% -0.35%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 181/197
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 - -5,186 - -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 -20,354 -8,552 -120,050 3,920
2019 -15,008 -13,239 -34,169 7,696
2018 -15,557 -25,016 -26,582 -223
2017 -16,570 -44,557 0 -21,535
2016 -13,553 -32,144 -3,797 -5,675
2015 -16,607 -27,501 -26,590 3,887
2014 -11,345 -13,127 0 5,525
2013 -10,162 -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/poland | 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 Poland 41.4% is from natural causes (a loss of 675,443 people) and 58.6% is from migration (a gain of 955,766 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 (1960–2024, 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/poland | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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