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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 19,020,271 people in Romania in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 18,912,567 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • Romania's population is 4.91 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 0.27% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs -0.41% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.9M (10.8% decline).

Croatia vs Romania: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Romania
2100 2,158,545 10,843,503
2099 2,176,440 10,927,951
2098 2,194,539 11,011,822
2097 2,212,602 11,095,182
2096 2,231,114 11,178,195
2095 2,249,667 11,261,202
2094 2,268,376 11,343,358
2093 2,286,882 11,426,736
2092 2,305,583 11,509,522
2091 2,324,254 11,591,897
2090 2,342,729 11,675,686
2089 2,361,668 11,759,143
2088 2,380,831 11,842,733
2087 2,399,709 11,926,699
2086 2,418,760 12,013,212
2085 2,438,113 12,099,742
2084 2,457,815 12,187,794
2083 2,477,556 12,277,402
2082 2,497,595 12,367,518
2081 2,517,715 12,460,785
2080 2,538,164 12,556,104
2079 2,559,092 12,652,446
2078 2,580,179 12,750,395
2077 2,601,778 12,849,896
2076 2,623,507 12,950,914
2075 2,645,523 13,053,551
2074 2,667,391 13,158,624
2073 2,689,518 13,264,931
2072 2,712,201 13,375,162
2071 2,734,759 13,488,051
2070 2,757,112 13,603,287
2069 2,780,455 13,721,187
2068 2,804,383 13,840,530
2067 2,828,363 13,963,377
2066 2,852,669 14,088,938
2065 2,877,009 14,218,608
2064 2,901,213 14,349,029
2063 2,926,228 14,480,312
2062 2,951,475 14,613,788
2061 2,976,903 14,747,178
2060 3,002,483 14,879,235
2059 3,027,959 15,011,161
2058 3,053,643 15,141,670
2057 3,079,155 15,271,230
2056 3,105,119 15,400,030
2055 3,130,769 15,527,331
2054 3,156,282 15,651,338
2053 3,182,091 15,773,422
2052 3,207,640 15,896,118
2051 3,233,551 16,016,719
2050 3,259,702 16,135,745
2049 3,285,684 16,255,638
2048 3,311,657 16,375,139
2047 3,337,645 16,494,633
2046 3,363,102 16,612,186
2045 3,388,731 16,730,009
2044 3,414,541 16,848,827
2043 3,439,695 16,966,857
2042 3,464,688 17,084,359
2041 3,489,565 17,203,640
2040 3,513,946 17,320,952
2039 3,538,129 17,438,042
2038 3,562,371 17,556,386
2037 3,586,606 17,673,500
2036 3,609,771 17,790,613
2035 3,632,470 17,906,949
2034 3,656,066 18,020,973
2033 3,679,626 18,134,889
2032 3,703,646 18,247,275
2031 3,728,250 18,359,750
2030 3,752,014 18,471,446
2029 3,776,079 18,583,513
2028 3,799,610 18,693,807
2027 3,824,370 18,803,518
2026 3,849,788 18,912,567
2025 3,876,200 19,020,271
2024 3,866,200 19,051,804
2023 3,859,686 19,061,062
2022 3,855,641 19,048,502
2021 3,878,981 19,122,059
2020 3,914,206 19,265,250
2019 3,949,390 19,371,648
2018 3,988,775 19,473,970
2017 4,041,407 19,588,715
2016 4,106,867 19,702,267
2015 4,151,725 19,815,616
2014 4,201,598 19,908,979
2013 4,233,922 19,983,693
2012 4,260,368 20,058,035
2011 4,280,622 20,147,528
2010 4,295,427 20,246,871
2009 4,305,181 20,367,487
2008 4,309,705 20,537,875
2007 4,310,217 20,882,982
2006 4,311,159 21,193,760
2005 4,310,145 21,319,685
2004 4,304,600 21,451,748
2003 4,303,399 21,574,326
2002 4,302,174 21,730,496
2001 4,299,642 22,131,970
2000 4,468,302 22,442,971
1999 4,512,597 22,472,040
1998 4,532,135 22,507,344
1997 4,534,920 22,553,978
1996 4,557,097 22,619,004
1995 4,620,030 22,684,270
1994 4,652,024 22,730,211
1993 4,600,463 22,763,280
1992 4,575,818 22,794,284
1991 4,689,022 23,001,155
1990 4,777,368 23,201,835
1989 4,767,260 23,161,458
1988 4,755,207 23,057,662
1987 4,739,745 22,949,430
1986 4,721,446 22,836,841
1985 4,701,417 22,732,999
1984 4,680,285 22,640,547
1983 4,658,254 22,560,478
1982 4,634,234 22,475,741
1981 4,611,509 22,353,070
1980 4,599,782 22,207,282
1979 4,594,778 22,090,488
1978 4,581,085 21,951,464
1977 4,559,571 21,756,096
1976 4,535,934 21,551,634
1975 4,512,082 21,293,583
1974 4,490,660 21,029,429
1973 4,470,161 20,835,681
1972 4,450,564 20,657,957
1971 4,431,275 20,461,567
1970 4,412,252 20,250,398
1969 4,391,490 20,009,141
1968 4,365,628 19,799,831
1967 4,338,683 19,534,242
1966 4,310,701 19,215,450
1965 4,280,923 19,031,576
1964 4,252,876 18,919,126
1963 4,225,675 18,797,850
1962 4,196,712 18,676,550
1961 4,167,292 18,555,250
1960 4,140,181 18,406,905

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Romania's population decreased by 789,700 people (a 4.01% decline).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th 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 Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,135,745 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.9% of the population in Croatia and 31.5% in Romania.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Romania
2100 -0.82% -0.77%
2099 -0.82% -0.76%
2098 -0.82% -0.75%
2097 -0.83% -0.74%
2096 -0.82% -0.74%
2095 -0.82% -0.72%
2094 -0.81% -0.73%
2093 -0.81% -0.72%
2092 -0.8% -0.71%
2091 -0.79% -0.72%
2090 -0.8% -0.71%
2089 -0.8% -0.71%
2088 -0.79% -0.7%
2087 -0.79% -0.72%
2086 -0.79% -0.72%
2085 -0.8% -0.72%
2084 -0.8% -0.73%
2083 -0.8% -0.73%
2082 -0.8% -0.75%
2081 -0.81% -0.76%
2080 -0.82% -0.76%
2079 -0.82% -0.77%
2078 -0.83% -0.77%
2077 -0.83% -0.78%
2076 -0.83% -0.79%
2075 -0.82% -0.8%
2074 -0.82% -0.8%
2073 -0.84% -0.82%
2072 -0.82% -0.84%
2071 -0.81% -0.85%
2070 -0.84% -0.86%
2069 -0.85% -0.86%
2068 -0.85% -0.88%
2067 -0.85% -0.89%
2066 -0.85% -0.91%
2065 -0.83% -0.91%
2064 -0.85% -0.91%
2063 -0.86% -0.91%
2062 -0.85% -0.9%
2061 -0.85% -0.89%
2060 -0.84% -0.88%
2059 -0.84% -0.86%
2058 -0.83% -0.85%
2057 -0.84% -0.84%
2056 -0.82% -0.82%
2055 -0.81% -0.79%
2054 -0.81% -0.77%
2053 -0.8% -0.77%
2052 -0.8% -0.75%
2051 -0.8% -0.74%
2050 -0.79% -0.74%
2049 -0.78% -0.73%
2048 -0.78% -0.72%
2047 -0.76% -0.71%
2046 -0.76% -0.7%
2045 -0.76% -0.71%
2044 -0.73% -0.7%
2043 -0.72% -0.69%
2042 -0.71% -0.69%
2041 -0.69% -0.68%
2040 -0.68% -0.67%
2039 -0.68% -0.67%
2038 -0.68% -0.66%
2037 -0.64% -0.66%
2036 -0.62% -0.65%
2035 -0.65% -0.63%
2034 -0.64% -0.63%
2033 -0.65% -0.62%
2032 -0.66% -0.61%
2031 -0.63% -0.6%
2030 -0.64% -0.6%
2029 -0.62% -0.59%
2028 -0.65% -0.58%
2027 -0.66% -0.58%
2026 -0.68% -0.57%
2025 0.26% -0.17%
2024 0.17% -0.05%
2023 0.1% 0.07%
2022 -0.6% -0.38%
2021 -0.9% -0.74%
2020 -0.89% -0.55%
2019 -0.99% -0.53%
2018 -1.3% -0.59%
2017 -1.59% -0.58%
2016 -1.08% -0.57%
2015 -1.19% -0.47%
2014 -0.76% -0.37%
2013 -0.62% -0.37%
2012 -0.47% -0.44%
2011 -0.34% -0.49%
2010 -0.23% -0.59%
2009 -0.1% -0.83%
2008 -0.01% -1.65%
2007 -0.02% -1.47%
2006 0.02% -0.59%
2005 0.13% -0.62%
2004 0.03% -0.57%
2003 0.03% -0.72%
2002 0.06% -1.81%
2001 -3.77% -1.39%
2000 -0.98% -0.13%
1999 -0.43% -0.16%
1998 -0.06% -0.21%
1997 -0.49% -0.29%
1996 -1.36% -0.29%
1995 -0.69% -0.2%
1994 1.12% -0.15%
1993 0.54% -0.14%
1992 -2.41% -0.9%
1991 -1.85% -0.86%
1990 0.21% 0.17%
1989 0.25% 0.45%
1988 0.33% 0.47%
1987 0.39% 0.49%
1986 0.43% 0.46%
1985 0.45% 0.41%
1984 0.47% 0.35%
1983 0.52% 0.38%
1982 0.49% 0.55%
1981 0.25% 0.66%
1980 0.11% 0.53%
1979 0.3% 0.63%
1978 0.47% 0.9%
1977 0.52% 0.95%
1976 0.53% 1.21%
1975 0.48% 1.26%
1974 0.46% 0.93%
1973 0.44% 0.86%
1972 0.44% 0.96%
1971 0.43% 1.04%
1970 0.47% 1.21%
1969 0.59% 1.06%
1968 0.62% 1.36%
1967 0.65% 1.66%
1966 0.7% 0.97%
1965 0.66% 0.59%
1964 0.64% 0.65%
1963 0.69% 0.65%
1962 0.71% 0.65%
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/romania | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Romania's population declined by 0.17%.

Live population counters

Croatia Romania
Current population
3849788
18912567
Population rank 130/197 70/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.23%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
16.7 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
3.68 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
2.16 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 -86
Annual growth/decline +10,000 -31,533
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% -0.17%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 172/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 -29,041
Net migration rank 112/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -29,041
2024 -18,944 -5,186 -100,975 -28,466
2023 -19,298 10,202 -83,869 -27,780
2022 -23,134 11,681 -93,338 89,076
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -141,504 -17,731
2020 -21,137 -8,552 -100,179 -13,202
2019 -15,798 -13,239 -60,053 -27,909
2018 -15,556 -25,016 -62,316 -33,018
2017 -16,974 -44,557 -50,930 -33,081
2016 -14,374 -32,144 -53,196 -33,073
2015 -17,022 -27,501 -59,447 -35,751
2014 -11,344 -13,127 -55,745 -35,448
2013 -10,585 -6,245 -59,951 -34,910
2012 -9,799 -4,794 -54,157 -37,589
2011 -9,846 -17,463 -56,413 -102,769
2010 -8,591 -3,995 -46,567 -122,364
2009 -7,319 1,358 -34,625 -137,953
2008 -8,188 6,495 -30,806 -144,368
2007 -10,335 8,893 -37,590 -133,089
2006 -8,669 10,852 -38,148 -132,777
2005 -9,022 10,629 -40,508 -131,176
2004 -9,040 15,445 -42,904 -117,432
2003 -12,480 12,556 -56,093 -107,139
2002 -10,325 10,306 -58,673 -106,585
2001 -8,599 19,298 -37,625 -91,154
2000 -6,255 -47,629 -22,443 -92,451
1999 -6,769 -47,418 -31,461 -82,590
1998 -4,985 -47,931 -33,761 -81,366
1997 3,175 -52,897 -42,853 -88,734
1996 3,190 -53,688 -56,548 -70,799
1995 0 -51,882 -36,295 -73,779
1994 -930 -50,444 -18,184 -76,246
1993 -2,301 -49,615 -13,658 -73,475
1992 -4,576 -47,865 -4,559 -63,200
1991 -2,813 -31,968 25,301 -36,824
1990 3,344 9,538 69,605 -38,157
1989 3,337 8,471 122,756 -33,866
1988 5,707 7,242 126,817 -48,911
1987 6,161 6,956 128,517 -42,868
1986 8,499 6,261 134,737 -50,450
1985 10,343 5,550 111,392 -28,108
1984 10,764 5,757 117,731 -24,629
1983 10,714 6,323 87,986 3,093
1982 15,756 7,475 119,121 -4,725
1981 15,680 4,872 156,472 -20,870
1980 17,939 -5,486 168,776 -16,668
1979 21,136 -5,740 194,397 -29,600
1978 20,157 -7,329 204,148 -31,427
1977 22,798 -7,339 215,385 -28,135
1976 22,226 -7,400 213,361 18,748
1975 21,658 -7,366 219,324 9,125
1974 22,453 -8,076 235,530 6,725
1973 21,904 -8,335 175,020 58,651
1972 17,802 -7,277 198,316 61,920
1971 19,941 -5,608 206,662 74,473
1970 16,767 -2,359 234,905 71,919
1969 16,688 -2,796 264,120 74,851
1968 21,828 -2,799 338,577 33,601
1967 26,032 -3,518 347,709 37,282
1966 33,192 -6,341 115,293 -25,458
1965 31,251 -5,253 114,190 -60,430
1964 25,942 -2,090 134,326 -59,500
1963 31,270 -1,289 139,104 -58,076
1962 30,216 -2,176 130,736 -56,152
1961 36,255 -6,567 163,286 -54,642
1960 34,778 -21,768 191,431 -55,397

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/romania | 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 Romania 83.4% is from natural causes (a loss of 805,807 people) and 16.6% is from migration (a loss of 160,935 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | 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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