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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 6,586,476 people in Serbia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 6,494,521 in Serbia.

Population statistics:

  • Serbia's population is 1.7 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Serbia is the 110th.
  • The countries together account for 0.12% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.08% for Serbia.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs -0.76% in Serbia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Serbia has declined from 7.41M to 6.49M (12.4% decline).

Croatia vs Serbia: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Serbia
2100 2,137,465 3,621,418
2099 2,155,186 3,649,584
2098 2,173,108 3,677,789
2097 2,190,995 3,706,279
2096 2,209,326 3,734,933
2095 2,227,698 3,763,769
2094 2,246,224 3,792,851
2093 2,264,550 3,822,147
2092 2,283,068 3,851,865
2091 2,301,556 3,881,833
2090 2,319,851 3,911,964
2089 2,338,604 3,942,571
2088 2,357,581 3,973,274
2087 2,376,274 4,004,485
2086 2,395,139 4,036,066
2085 2,414,304 4,068,021
2084 2,433,813 4,100,403
2083 2,453,361 4,133,391
2082 2,473,204 4,166,924
2081 2,493,128 4,200,811
2080 2,513,378 4,235,306
2079 2,534,101 4,270,442
2078 2,554,982 4,306,246
2077 2,576,370 4,342,382
2076 2,597,887 4,378,754
2075 2,619,688 4,415,505
2074 2,641,342 4,452,888
2073 2,663,253 4,490,589
2072 2,685,714 4,528,672
2071 2,708,053 4,567,167
2070 2,730,187 4,606,212
2069 2,753,302 4,645,524
2068 2,776,996 4,685,090
2067 2,800,742 4,724,796
2066 2,824,811 4,764,445
2065 2,848,913 4,804,405
2064 2,872,881 4,844,434
2063 2,897,651 4,884,574
2062 2,922,653 4,924,899
2061 2,947,832 4,964,985
2060 2,973,162 5,005,138
2059 2,998,389 5,045,125
2058 3,023,822 5,085,292
2057 3,049,085 5,125,901
2056 3,074,796 5,166,530
2055 3,100,195 5,207,137
2054 3,125,459 5,247,793
2053 3,151,016 5,288,369
2052 3,176,316 5,329,487
2051 3,201,973 5,371,281
2050 3,227,869 5,413,067
2049 3,253,597 5,455,402
2048 3,279,316 5,498,031
2047 3,305,051 5,541,158
2046 3,330,260 5,584,824
2045 3,355,638 5,629,108
2044 3,381,196 5,673,908
2043 3,406,105 5,719,287
2042 3,430,854 5,765,400
2041 3,455,487 5,811,936
2040 3,479,631 5,858,464
2039 3,503,577 5,905,404
2038 3,527,583 5,952,107
2037 3,551,581 5,998,763
2036 3,574,520 6,045,097
2035 3,596,996 6,091,385
2034 3,620,363 6,137,447
2033 3,643,692 6,183,536
2032 3,667,478 6,229,136
2031 3,691,842 6,274,395
2030 3,715,373 6,319,422
2029 3,739,203 6,363,799
2028 3,762,505 6,407,914
2027 3,787,023 6,451,609
2026 3,812,193 6,494,521
2025 3,838,346 6,543,364
2024 3,866,200 6,586,476
2023 3,859,686 6,623,183
2022 3,855,641 6,664,449
2021 3,878,981 6,834,326
2020 3,914,206 6,899,126
2019 3,949,390 6,945,235
2018 3,988,775 6,982,604
2017 4,041,407 7,020,858
2016 4,106,867 7,058,322
2015 4,151,725 7,095,383
2014 4,201,598 7,131,787
2013 4,233,922 7,166,553
2012 4,260,368 7,201,497
2011 4,280,622 7,236,519
2010 4,295,427 7,291,436
2009 4,305,181 7,320,807
2008 4,309,705 7,350,222
2007 4,310,217 7,381,579
2006 4,311,159 7,411,569
2005 4,310,145 7,440,769
2004 4,304,600 7,463,157
2003 4,303,399 7,480,591
2002 4,302,174 7,500,031
2001 4,299,642 7,503,433
2000 4,468,302 7,516,346
1999 4,512,597 7,540,401
1998 4,532,135 7,567,745
1997 4,534,920 7,598,538
1996 4,557,097 7,622,185
1995 4,620,030 7,628,264
1994 4,652,024 7,622,711
1993 4,600,463 7,614,328
1992 4,575,818 7,604,063
1991 4,689,022 7,595,636
1990 4,777,368 7,897,937
1989 4,767,260 7,893,787
1988 4,755,207 7,884,218
1987 4,739,745 7,868,027
1986 4,721,446 7,853,824
1985 4,701,417 7,835,902
1984 4,680,285 7,813,549
1983 4,658,254 7,788,100
1982 4,634,234 7,763,335
1981 4,611,509 7,736,787
1980 4,599,782 7,709,544
1979 4,594,778 7,541,997
1978 4,581,085 7,504,017
1977 4,559,571 7,462,783
1976 4,535,934 7,418,973
1975 4,512,082 7,368,717
1974 4,490,660 7,326,043
1973 4,470,161 7,283,902
1972 4,450,564 7,252,012
1971 4,431,275 7,211,716
1970 4,412,252 7,164,993
1969 4,391,490 7,123,249
1968 4,365,628 7,007,586
1967 4,338,683 6,966,522
1966 4,310,701 6,927,969
1965 4,280,923 6,876,624
1964 4,252,876 6,832,855
1963 4,225,675 6,787,950
1962 4,196,712 6,740,264
1961 4,167,292 6,689,077
1960 4,140,181 6,638,992

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/serbia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Serbia lost 353,247 people (a 4.77% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Serbia's population decreased by 563,801 people (a 7.99% decline).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Serbia was ranked 97th in 2006 and ranked 110th 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 Serbia will decrease by 16.7% to 5,413,067 people and rank change from 110th to 125th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.9% of the population in Croatia and 32.6% in Serbia.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Serbia
2100 -0.82% -0.77%
2099 -0.82% -0.77%
2098 -0.82% -0.77%
2097 -0.83% -0.77%
2096 -0.82% -0.77%
2095 -0.82% -0.77%
2094 -0.81% -0.77%
2093 -0.81% -0.77%
2092 -0.8% -0.77%
2091 -0.79% -0.77%
2090 -0.8% -0.78%
2089 -0.8% -0.77%
2088 -0.79% -0.78%
2087 -0.79% -0.78%
2086 -0.79% -0.79%
2085 -0.8% -0.79%
2084 -0.8% -0.8%
2083 -0.8% -0.8%
2082 -0.8% -0.81%
2081 -0.81% -0.81%
2080 -0.82% -0.82%
2079 -0.82% -0.83%
2078 -0.83% -0.83%
2077 -0.83% -0.83%
2076 -0.83% -0.83%
2075 -0.82% -0.84%
2074 -0.82% -0.84%
2073 -0.84% -0.84%
2072 -0.82% -0.84%
2071 -0.81% -0.85%
2070 -0.84% -0.85%
2069 -0.85% -0.84%
2068 -0.85% -0.84%
2067 -0.85% -0.83%
2066 -0.85% -0.83%
2065 -0.83% -0.83%
2064 -0.85% -0.82%
2063 -0.86% -0.82%
2062 -0.85% -0.81%
2061 -0.85% -0.8%
2060 -0.84% -0.79%
2059 -0.84% -0.79%
2058 -0.83% -0.79%
2057 -0.84% -0.79%
2056 -0.82% -0.78%
2055 -0.81% -0.77%
2054 -0.81% -0.77%
2053 -0.8% -0.77%
2052 -0.8% -0.78%
2051 -0.8% -0.77%
2050 -0.79% -0.78%
2049 -0.78% -0.78%
2048 -0.78% -0.78%
2047 -0.76% -0.78%
2046 -0.76% -0.79%
2045 -0.76% -0.79%
2044 -0.73% -0.79%
2043 -0.72% -0.8%
2042 -0.71% -0.8%
2041 -0.69% -0.79%
2040 -0.68% -0.79%
2039 -0.68% -0.78%
2038 -0.68% -0.78%
2037 -0.64% -0.77%
2036 -0.62% -0.76%
2035 -0.65% -0.75%
2034 -0.64% -0.75%
2033 -0.65% -0.73%
2032 -0.66% -0.72%
2031 -0.63% -0.71%
2030 -0.64% -0.7%
2029 -0.62% -0.69%
2028 -0.65% -0.68%
2027 -0.66% -0.66%
2026 -0.68% -0.75%
2025 -0.72% -0.65%
2024 0.17% -0.55%
2023 0.1% -0.62%
2022 -0.6% -2.49%
2021 -0.9% -0.94%
2020 -0.89% -0.66%
2019 -0.99% -0.54%
2018 -1.3% -0.54%
2017 -1.59% -0.53%
2016 -1.08% -0.52%
2015 -1.19% -0.51%
2014 -0.76% -0.49%
2013 -0.62% -0.49%
2012 -0.47% -0.48%
2011 -0.34% -0.75%
2010 -0.23% -0.4%
2009 -0.1% -0.4%
2008 -0.01% -0.42%
2007 -0.02% -0.4%
2006 0.02% -0.39%
2005 0.13% -0.3%
2004 0.03% -0.23%
2003 0.03% -0.26%
2002 0.06% -0.05%
2001 -3.77% -0.17%
2000 -0.98% -0.32%
1999 -0.43% -0.36%
1998 -0.06% -0.41%
1997 -0.49% -0.31%
1996 -1.36% -0.08%
1995 -0.69% 0.07%
1994 1.12% 0.11%
1993 0.54% 0.13%
1992 -2.41% 0.11%
1991 -1.85% -3.83%
1990 0.21% 0.05%
1989 0.25% 0.12%
1988 0.33% 0.21%
1987 0.39% 0.18%
1986 0.43% 0.23%
1985 0.45% 0.29%
1984 0.47% 0.33%
1983 0.52% 0.32%
1982 0.49% 0.34%
1981 0.25% 0.35%
1980 0.11% 2.22%
1979 0.3% 0.51%
1978 0.47% 0.55%
1977 0.52% 0.59%
1976 0.53% 0.68%
1975 0.48% 0.58%
1974 0.46% 0.58%
1973 0.44% 0.44%
1972 0.44% 0.56%
1971 0.43% 0.65%
1970 0.47% 0.59%
1969 0.59% 1.65%
1968 0.62% 0.59%
1967 0.65% 0.56%
1966 0.7% 0.75%
1965 0.66% 0.64%
1964 0.64% 0.66%
1963 0.69% 0.71%
1962 0.71% 0.77%
1961 0.65% 0.75%

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/serbia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Serbia's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Croatia Serbia
Current population
3812193
6494521
Population rank 129/197 110/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.08%
One net population change
1.34 hours
14.3 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
8.63 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
5.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 -101
Annual growth/decline +6,514 -36,707
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 189/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
40.3 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 -13,086
Net migration rank 112/196 140/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 712,550
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 70/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 64/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Serbia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Serbia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -13,086
2024 - -5,186 - -8,132
2023 -19,298 10,202 -36,427 4,348
2022 -23,134 11,681 -46,651 40,118
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -74,494 -8,974
2020 -20,354 -8,552 -55,193 -10,220
2019 -15,008 -13,239 -36,810 -18,891
2018 -15,557 -25,016 -37,707 -18,883
2017 -16,570 -44,557 -39,317 -18,651
2016 -13,553 -32,144 -35,998 -18,322
2015 -16,607 -27,501 -37,605 -18,789
2014 -11,345 -13,127 -34,946 -18,846
2013 -10,162 -6,245 -34,399 -17,866
2012 -9,799 -4,794 -35,288 -18,513
2011 -9,846 -17,463 -36,906 611
2010 -8,591 -3,995 -34,999 3,632
2009 -7,319 1,358 -33,676 6,043
2008 -8,188 6,495 -33,590 7,070
2007 -10,335 8,893 -34,693 7,045
2006 -8,669 10,852 -31,870 8,018
2005 -9,022 10,629 -34,227 7,945
2004 -9,040 15,445 -26,121 7,300
2003 -12,480 12,556 -24,686 6,854
2002 -10,325 10,306 -24,750 1,562
2001 -8,599 19,298 -20,259 -12,007
2000 -6,255 -47,629 -30,065 -14,368
1999 -6,769 -47,418 -29,408 -4,073
1998 -4,985 -47,931 -23,006 -5,665
1997 3,175 -52,897 -18,389 -5,817
1996 3,190 -53,688 -16,007 -5,598
1995 0 -51,882 -7,628 -6,019
1994 -930 -50,444 -7,157 -5,934
1993 -2,301 -49,615 -5,703 -5,972
1992 -4,576 -47,865 -3,779 -4,415
1991 -2,813 -31,968 2,210 -8,483
1990 3,344 9,538 7,416 -16,260
1989 3,337 8,471 11,872 -16,360
1988 5,707 7,242 13,852 -15,715
1987 6,161 6,956 16,711 -16,686
1986 8,499 6,261 19,407 -17,990
1985 10,343 5,550 22,090 -17,646
1984 10,764 5,757 23,815 -15,567
1983 10,714 6,323 27,515 -15,301
1982 15,756 7,475 30,603 -13,550
1981 15,680 4,872 34,304 -8,531
1980 17,939 -5,486 36,273 287
1979 21,136 -5,740 39,022 -960
1978 20,157 -7,329 43,636 -1,481
1977 22,798 -7,339 48,105 -1,953
1976 22,226 -7,400 51,399 -2,744
1975 21,658 -7,366 52,502 -3,490
1974 22,453 -8,076 51,583 -3,525
1973 21,904 -8,335 49,596 -2,396
1972 17,802 -7,277 48,248 -348
1971 19,941 -5,608 47,424 1,655
1970 16,767 -2,359 48,343 1,861
1969 16,688 -2,796 50,304 4,112
1968 21,828 -2,799 51,653 5,430
1967 26,032 -3,518 53,120 6,114
1966 33,192 -6,341 53,338 7,037
1965 31,251 -5,253 53,383 7,957
1964 25,942 -2,090 54,185 8,045
1963 31,270 -1,289 55,580 8,276
1962 30,216 -2,176 59,307 6,064
1961 36,255 -6,567 61,065 6,422
1960 34,778 -21,768 63,642 4,377

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/serbia | 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 Serbia 83.3% is from natural causes (a loss of 435,148 people) and 16.7% is from migration (a loss of 87,110 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 712,550 people or 10.6% in Serbia.

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
Serbia
City Population
Belgrade 1.2M
Novi Sad 260K
Pristina 227K
Nis 183K
Kragujevac 151K
Subotica 106K
Valjevo 90.3K
Cacak 71.9K
Mitrovica 71.6K
Novi Pazar 66.5K

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/serbia | 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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