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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 6,549,143 people in Serbia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 6,500,256 in Serbia.

Population statistics:

  • Serbia's population is 1.69 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th 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 -0.73% per year vs -0.77% in Serbia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Serbia has declined from 7.41M to 6.5M (12.3% decline).

Croatia vs Serbia: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Serbia
2100 2,158,545 3,624,616
2099 2,176,440 3,652,806
2098 2,194,539 3,681,036
2097 2,212,602 3,709,552
2096 2,231,114 3,738,231
2095 2,249,667 3,767,093
2094 2,268,376 3,796,201
2093 2,286,882 3,825,522
2092 2,305,583 3,855,267
2091 2,324,254 3,885,260
2090 2,342,729 3,915,419
2089 2,361,668 3,946,052
2088 2,380,831 3,976,782
2087 2,399,709 4,008,021
2086 2,418,760 4,039,630
2085 2,438,113 4,071,614
2084 2,457,815 4,104,024
2083 2,477,556 4,137,041
2082 2,497,595 4,170,603
2081 2,517,715 4,204,520
2080 2,538,164 4,239,046
2079 2,559,092 4,274,213
2078 2,580,179 4,310,048
2077 2,601,778 4,346,216
2076 2,623,507 4,382,620
2075 2,645,523 4,419,404
2074 2,667,391 4,456,820
2073 2,689,518 4,494,554
2072 2,712,201 4,532,671
2071 2,734,759 4,571,200
2070 2,757,112 4,610,279
2069 2,780,455 4,649,626
2068 2,804,383 4,689,227
2067 2,828,363 4,728,969
2066 2,852,669 4,768,652
2065 2,877,009 4,808,648
2064 2,901,213 4,848,712
2063 2,926,228 4,888,888
2062 2,951,475 4,929,248
2061 2,976,903 4,969,370
2060 3,002,483 5,009,557
2059 3,027,959 5,049,580
2058 3,053,643 5,089,783
2057 3,079,155 5,130,427
2056 3,105,119 5,171,093
2055 3,130,769 5,211,735
2054 3,156,282 5,252,427
2053 3,182,091 5,293,039
2052 3,207,640 5,334,193
2051 3,233,551 5,376,024
2050 3,259,702 5,417,847
2049 3,285,684 5,460,219
2048 3,311,657 5,502,886
2047 3,337,645 5,546,051
2046 3,363,102 5,589,756
2045 3,388,731 5,634,078
2044 3,414,541 5,678,918
2043 3,439,695 5,724,337
2042 3,464,688 5,770,492
2041 3,489,565 5,817,068
2040 3,513,946 5,863,637
2039 3,538,129 5,910,619
2038 3,562,371 5,957,363
2037 3,586,606 6,004,061
2036 3,609,771 6,050,436
2035 3,632,470 6,096,764
2034 3,656,066 6,142,866
2033 3,679,626 6,188,997
2032 3,703,646 6,234,637
2031 3,728,250 6,279,936
2030 3,752,014 6,325,002
2029 3,776,079 6,369,418
2028 3,799,610 6,413,572
2027 3,824,370 6,457,306
2026 3,849,788 6,500,256
2025 3,876,200 6,549,143
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Serbia's population decreased by 558,066 people (a 7.91% decline).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 3,259,702 people with a rank change from 130th to 138th. The population of Serbia will decrease by 16.7% to 5,417,847 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 0.26% -0.57%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Serbia's population declined by 0.57%.

Live population counters

Croatia Serbia
Current population
3849788
6500256
Population rank 130/197 110/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.08%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
14.1 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
8.67 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
5.36 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 -102
Annual growth/decline +10,000 -37,333
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% -0.57%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 187/197
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 -18,944 -5,186 -37,543 -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 -21,137 -8,552 -55,193 -10,220
2019 -15,798 -13,239 -36,810 -18,891
2018 -15,556 -25,016 -37,707 -18,883
2017 -16,974 -44,557 -39,317 -18,651
2016 -14,374 -32,144 -35,998 -18,322
2015 -17,022 -27,501 -37,605 -18,789
2014 -11,344 -13,127 -34,946 -18,846
2013 -10,585 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/serbia | 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 Serbia 85.1% is from natural causes (a loss of 437,745 people) and 14.9% is from migration (a loss of 76,396 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 (1960–2025, 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/serbia | 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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