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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 10,804,871 people in Portugal in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 10,788,071 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Portugal's population is 2.8 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 91st.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs +0.35% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.8M (2.53% growth).

Croatia vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Portugal
2100 2,158,545 9,079,610
2099 2,176,440 9,084,930
2098 2,194,539 9,089,064
2097 2,212,602 9,094,546
2096 2,231,114 9,100,755
2095 2,249,667 9,108,548
2094 2,268,376 9,113,366
2093 2,286,882 9,118,286
2092 2,305,583 9,123,579
2091 2,324,254 9,127,714
2090 2,342,729 9,132,140
2089 2,361,668 9,136,870
2088 2,380,831 9,141,647
2087 2,399,709 9,147,996
2086 2,418,760 9,152,804
2085 2,438,113 9,158,263
2084 2,457,815 9,165,158
2083 2,477,556 9,171,574
2082 2,497,595 9,179,958
2081 2,517,715 9,190,466
2080 2,538,164 9,201,621
2079 2,559,092 9,214,398
2078 2,580,179 9,228,555
2077 2,601,778 9,243,708
2076 2,623,507 9,262,542
2075 2,645,523 9,282,392
2074 2,667,391 9,305,608
2073 2,689,518 9,330,117
2072 2,712,201 9,353,771
2071 2,734,759 9,380,991
2070 2,757,112 9,409,668
2069 2,780,455 9,440,299
2068 2,804,383 9,473,457
2067 2,828,363 9,506,001
2066 2,852,669 9,539,597
2065 2,877,009 9,574,237
2064 2,901,213 9,611,738
2063 2,926,228 9,649,045
2062 2,951,475 9,686,737
2061 2,976,903 9,723,601
2060 3,002,483 9,762,379
2059 3,027,959 9,801,072
2058 3,053,643 9,841,936
2057 3,079,155 9,880,092
2056 3,105,119 9,918,643
2055 3,130,769 9,958,971
2054 3,156,282 9,997,570
2053 3,182,091 10,037,385
2052 3,207,640 10,076,095
2051 3,233,551 10,112,788
2050 3,259,702 10,149,626
2049 3,285,684 10,187,172
2048 3,311,657 10,221,034
2047 3,337,645 10,255,340
2046 3,363,102 10,289,266
2045 3,388,731 10,321,807
2044 3,414,541 10,353,338
2043 3,439,695 10,384,554
2042 3,464,688 10,412,950
2041 3,489,565 10,440,054
2040 3,513,946 10,469,380
2039 3,538,129 10,497,556
2038 3,562,371 10,523,869
2037 3,586,606 10,548,445
2036 3,609,771 10,573,361
2035 3,632,470 10,597,352
2034 3,656,066 10,621,955
2033 3,679,626 10,645,024
2032 3,703,646 10,668,384
2031 3,728,250 10,689,372
2030 3,752,014 10,708,819
2029 3,776,079 10,729,893
2028 3,799,610 10,752,023
2027 3,824,370 10,770,712
2026 3,849,788 10,788,071
2025 3,876,200 10,804,871
2024 3,866,200 10,694,681
2023 3,859,686 10,578,174
2022 3,855,641 10,434,332
2021 3,878,981 10,361,831
2020 3,914,206 10,297,081
2019 3,949,390 10,286,263
2018 3,988,775 10,283,822
2017 4,041,407 10,300,300
2016 4,106,867 10,325,452
2015 4,151,725 10,358,076
2014 4,201,598 10,401,062
2013 4,233,922 10,457,295
2012 4,260,368 10,514,844
2011 4,280,622 10,557,560
2010 4,295,427 10,573,100
2009 4,305,181 10,568,247
2008 4,309,705 10,558,177
2007 4,310,217 10,542,964
2006 4,311,159 10,522,288
2005 4,310,145 10,503,330
2004 4,304,600 10,483,861
2003 4,303,399 10,458,821
2002 4,302,174 10,419,631
2001 4,299,642 10,362,722
2000 4,468,302 10,289,898
1999 4,512,597 10,217,828
1998 4,532,135 10,160,196
1997 4,534,920 10,108,977
1996 4,557,097 10,063,945
1995 4,620,030 10,026,176
1994 4,652,024 9,991,525
1993 4,600,463 9,964,675
1992 4,575,818 9,952,494
1991 4,689,022 9,960,235
1990 4,777,368 9,983,218
1989 4,767,260 10,005,000
1988 4,755,207 10,019,610
1987 4,739,745 10,030,031
1986 4,721,446 10,032,734
1985 4,701,417 10,023,613
1984 4,680,285 9,996,232
1983 4,658,254 9,957,865
1982 4,634,234 9,911,771
1981 4,611,509 9,851,362
1980 4,599,782 9,766,312
1979 4,594,778 9,661,265
1978 4,581,085 9,558,250
1977 4,559,571 9,455,675
1976 4,535,934 9,355,810
1975 4,512,082 9,093,470
1974 4,490,660 8,754,365
1973 4,470,161 8,633,100
1972 4,450,564 8,630,430
1971 4,431,275 8,643,756
1970 4,412,252 8,680,431
1969 4,391,490 8,757,705
1968 4,365,628 8,836,650
1967 4,338,683 8,874,520
1966 4,310,701 8,930,990
1965 4,280,923 8,998,595
1964 4,252,876 9,035,365
1963 4,225,675 9,030,355
1962 4,196,712 8,993,985
1961 4,167,292 8,929,316
1960 4,140,181 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Portugal's population increased by 462,619 people (a 4.48% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,149,626 people and rank change from 91st to 97th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.9% of the population in Croatia and 14.1% in Portugal.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Portugal
2100 -0.82% -0.06%
2099 -0.82% -0.05%
2098 -0.82% -0.06%
2097 -0.83% -0.07%
2096 -0.82% -0.09%
2095 -0.82% -0.05%
2094 -0.81% -0.05%
2093 -0.81% -0.06%
2092 -0.8% -0.05%
2091 -0.79% -0.05%
2090 -0.8% -0.05%
2089 -0.8% -0.05%
2088 -0.79% -0.07%
2087 -0.79% -0.05%
2086 -0.79% -0.06%
2085 -0.8% -0.08%
2084 -0.8% -0.07%
2083 -0.8% -0.09%
2082 -0.8% -0.11%
2081 -0.81% -0.12%
2080 -0.82% -0.14%
2079 -0.82% -0.15%
2078 -0.83% -0.16%
2077 -0.83% -0.2%
2076 -0.83% -0.21%
2075 -0.82% -0.25%
2074 -0.82% -0.26%
2073 -0.84% -0.25%
2072 -0.82% -0.29%
2071 -0.81% -0.3%
2070 -0.84% -0.32%
2069 -0.85% -0.35%
2068 -0.85% -0.34%
2067 -0.85% -0.35%
2066 -0.85% -0.36%
2065 -0.83% -0.39%
2064 -0.85% -0.39%
2063 -0.86% -0.39%
2062 -0.85% -0.38%
2061 -0.85% -0.4%
2060 -0.84% -0.39%
2059 -0.84% -0.42%
2058 -0.83% -0.39%
2057 -0.84% -0.39%
2056 -0.82% -0.4%
2055 -0.81% -0.39%
2054 -0.81% -0.4%
2053 -0.8% -0.38%
2052 -0.8% -0.36%
2051 -0.8% -0.36%
2050 -0.79% -0.37%
2049 -0.78% -0.33%
2048 -0.78% -0.33%
2047 -0.76% -0.33%
2046 -0.76% -0.32%
2045 -0.76% -0.3%
2044 -0.73% -0.3%
2043 -0.72% -0.27%
2042 -0.71% -0.26%
2041 -0.69% -0.28%
2040 -0.68% -0.27%
2039 -0.68% -0.25%
2038 -0.68% -0.23%
2037 -0.64% -0.24%
2036 -0.62% -0.23%
2035 -0.65% -0.23%
2034 -0.64% -0.22%
2033 -0.65% -0.22%
2032 -0.66% -0.2%
2031 -0.63% -0.18%
2030 -0.64% -0.2%
2029 -0.62% -0.21%
2028 -0.65% -0.17%
2027 -0.66% -0.16%
2026 -0.68% -0.16%
2025 0.26% 1.03%
2024 0.17% 1.1%
2023 0.1% 1.38%
2022 -0.6% 0.7%
2021 -0.9% 0.63%
2020 -0.89% 0.11%
2019 -0.99% 0.02%
2018 -1.3% -0.16%
2017 -1.59% -0.24%
2016 -1.08% -0.31%
2015 -1.19% -0.41%
2014 -0.76% -0.54%
2013 -0.62% -0.55%
2012 -0.47% -0.4%
2011 -0.34% -0.15%
2010 -0.23% 0.05%
2009 -0.1% 0.1%
2008 -0.01% 0.14%
2007 -0.02% 0.2%
2006 0.02% 0.18%
2005 0.13% 0.19%
2004 0.03% 0.24%
2003 0.03% 0.38%
2002 0.06% 0.55%
2001 -3.77% 0.71%
2000 -0.98% 0.71%
1999 -0.43% 0.57%
1998 -0.06% 0.51%
1997 -0.49% 0.45%
1996 -1.36% 0.38%
1995 -0.69% 0.35%
1994 1.12% 0.27%
1993 0.54% 0.12%
1992 -2.41% -0.08%
1991 -1.85% -0.23%
1990 0.21% -0.22%
1989 0.25% -0.15%
1988 0.33% -0.1%
1987 0.39% -0.03%
1986 0.43% 0.09%
1985 0.45% 0.27%
1984 0.47% 0.39%
1983 0.52% 0.47%
1982 0.49% 0.61%
1981 0.25% 0.87%
1980 0.11% 1.09%
1979 0.3% 1.08%
1978 0.47% 1.08%
1977 0.52% 1.07%
1976 0.53% 2.88%
1975 0.48% 3.87%
1974 0.46% 1.4%
1973 0.44% 0.03%
1972 0.44% -0.15%
1971 0.43% -0.42%
1970 0.47% -0.88%
1969 0.59% -0.89%
1968 0.62% -0.43%
1967 0.65% -0.63%
1966 0.7% -0.75%
1965 0.66% -0.41%
1964 0.64% 0.06%
1963 0.69% 0.4%
1962 0.71% 0.72%
1961 0.65% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Croatia Portugal
Current population
3849788
10788071
Population rank 130/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.13%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
4.78 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
6.22 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
4.43 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 +302
Annual growth/decline +10,000 +110,190
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 99/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
32 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 +16,472
Net migration rank 112/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 16,472
2024 -18,944 -5,186 -34,223 20,648
2023 -19,298 10,202 -32,792 29,102
2022 -23,134 11,681 -40,694 68,696
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -45,592 69,606
2020 -21,137 -8,552 -39,129 54,076
2019 -15,798 -13,239 -24,687 63,031
2018 -15,556 -25,016 -25,709 22,495
2017 -16,974 -44,557 -23,691 13,979
2016 -14,374 -32,144 -23,749 -775
2015 -17,022 -27,501 -23,823 -3,209
2014 -11,344 -13,127 -22,882 -26,447
2013 -10,585 -6,245 -24,052 -36,342
2012 -9,799 -4,794 -17,875 -37,083
2011 -9,846 -17,463 -5,279 -31,513
2010 -8,591 -3,995 -4,230 -5,627
2009 -7,319 1,358 -5,284 14,532
2008 -8,188 6,495 0 9,478
2007 -10,335 8,893 -1,055 21,064
2006 -8,669 10,852 3,156 16,754
2005 -9,022 10,629 2,101 15,537
2004 -9,040 15,445 7,339 13,928
2003 -12,480 12,556 4,184 24,740
2002 -10,325 10,306 8,335 42,169
2001 -8,599 19,298 8,290 55,565
2000 -6,255 -47,629 15,435 60,586
1999 -6,769 -47,418 8,175 49,572
1998 -4,985 -47,931 7,112 40,931
1997 3,175 -52,897 8,087 36,922
1996 3,190 -53,688 4,026 32,640
1995 0 -51,882 4,011 26,971
1994 -930 -50,444 9,991 20,761
1993 -2,301 -49,615 7,972 8,561
1992 -4,576 -47,865 13,933 -11,847
1991 -2,813 -31,968 12,948 -37,914
1990 3,344 9,538 13,976 -34,855
1989 3,337 8,471 22,011 -30,615
1988 5,707 7,242 24,047 -26,595
1987 6,161 6,956 28,084 -23,142
1986 8,499 6,261 31,102 -20,000
1985 10,343 5,550 33,077 -19,183
1984 10,764 5,757 45,983 -16,658
1983 10,714 6,323 47,798 -16,568
1982 15,756 7,475 58,479 -15,006
1981 15,680 4,872 56,152 -7,938
1980 17,939 -5,486 63,481 29,881
1979 21,136 -5,740 67,628 32,434
1978 20,157 -7,329 70,731 34,345
1977 22,798 -7,339 84,156 37,779
1976 22,226 -7,400 85,138 40,490
1975 21,658 -7,366 81,841 42,262
1974 22,453 -8,076 74,412 41,254
1973 21,904 -8,335 76,835 39,748
1972 17,802 -7,277 83,715 39,058
1971 19,941 -5,608 82,980 48,944
1970 16,767 -2,359 87,672 -191,862
1969 16,688 -2,796 89,329 -161,114
1968 21,828 -2,799 100,737 -145,200
1967 26,032 -3,518 106,495 -136,232
1966 33,192 -6,341 107,171 -129,233
1965 31,251 -5,253 115,182 -123,855
1964 25,942 -2,090 120,170 -118,763
1963 31,270 -1,289 113,783 -116,874
1962 30,216 -2,176 123,217 -113,947
1961 36,255 -6,567 117,867 -112,768
1960 34,778 -21,768 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/portugal | 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 Portugal 48.2% is from natural causes (a loss of 314,089 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 337,649 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

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
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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

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