Skip to content

Population in Croatia compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 2.36 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Croatia vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Sierra Leone
2100 2,158,545 16,107,087
2099 2,176,440 16,121,940
2098 2,194,539 16,135,035
2097 2,212,602 16,149,905
2096 2,231,114 16,160,672
2095 2,249,667 16,169,304
2094 2,268,376 16,168,902
2093 2,286,882 16,173,609
2092 2,305,583 16,170,778
2091 2,324,254 16,163,901
2090 2,342,729 16,154,165
2089 2,361,668 16,142,526
2088 2,380,831 16,128,775
2087 2,399,709 16,112,585
2086 2,418,760 16,085,549
2085 2,438,113 16,064,212
2084 2,457,815 16,040,563
2083 2,477,556 16,006,923
2082 2,497,595 15,970,872
2081 2,517,715 15,930,880
2080 2,538,164 15,892,665
2079 2,559,092 15,850,728
2078 2,580,179 15,801,450
2077 2,601,778 15,750,408
2076 2,623,507 15,695,310
2075 2,645,523 15,635,345
2074 2,667,391 15,580,279
2073 2,689,518 15,512,655
2072 2,712,201 15,442,481
2071 2,734,759 15,370,747
2070 2,757,112 15,293,426
2069 2,780,455 15,212,664
2068 2,804,383 15,124,069
2067 2,828,363 15,028,190
2066 2,852,669 14,931,295
2065 2,877,009 14,833,794
2064 2,901,213 14,736,872
2063 2,926,228 14,638,180
2062 2,951,475 14,525,736
2061 2,976,903 14,420,068
2060 3,002,483 14,307,451
2059 3,027,959 14,194,972
2058 3,053,643 14,077,124
2057 3,079,155 13,957,197
2056 3,105,119 13,832,494
2055 3,130,769 13,702,508
2054 3,156,282 13,576,231
2053 3,182,091 13,440,929
2052 3,207,640 13,299,910
2051 3,233,551 13,152,910
2050 3,259,702 13,006,688
2049 3,285,684 12,863,637
2048 3,311,657 12,712,671
2047 3,337,645 12,566,944
2046 3,363,102 12,411,042
2045 3,388,731 12,254,651
2044 3,414,541 12,088,895
2043 3,439,695 11,928,393
2042 3,464,688 11,767,372
2041 3,489,565 11,599,942
2040 3,513,946 11,428,331
2039 3,538,129 11,259,845
2038 3,562,371 11,097,180
2037 3,586,606 10,928,754
2036 3,609,771 10,757,928
2035 3,632,470 10,582,918
2034 3,656,066 10,411,088
2033 3,679,626 10,238,503
2032 3,703,646 10,059,929
2031 3,728,250 9,881,109
2030 3,752,014 9,705,485
2029 3,776,079 9,529,493
2028 3,799,610 9,358,412
2027 3,824,370 9,177,288
2026 3,849,788 8,998,902
2025 3,876,200 8,819,794
2024 3,866,200 8,642,022
2023 3,859,686 8,460,512
2022 3,855,641 8,276,807
2021 3,878,981 8,094,602
2020 3,914,206 7,912,558
2019 3,949,390 7,731,991
2018 3,988,775 7,554,563
2017 4,041,407 7,379,299
2016 4,106,867 7,205,328
2015 4,151,725 7,037,655
2014 4,201,598 6,876,385
2013 4,233,922 6,714,051
2012 4,260,368 6,551,080
2011 4,280,622 6,387,251
2010 4,295,427 6,222,714
2009 4,305,181 6,055,646
2008 4,309,705 5,894,722
2007 4,310,217 5,749,352
2006 4,311,159 5,624,466
2005 4,310,145 5,501,712
2004 4,304,600 5,355,717
2003 4,303,399 5,177,687
2002 4,302,174 4,971,435
2001 4,299,642 4,692,716
2000 4,468,302 4,423,611
1999 4,512,597 4,318,043
1998 4,532,135 4,295,785
1997 4,534,920 4,253,716
1996 4,557,097 4,199,210
1995 4,620,030 4,179,179
1994 4,652,024 4,173,105
1993 4,600,463 4,157,130
1992 4,575,818 4,166,366
1991 4,689,022 4,246,267
1990 4,777,368 4,196,828
1989 4,767,260 4,034,037
1988 4,755,207 3,934,517
1987 4,739,745 3,829,718
1986 4,721,446 3,728,380
1985 4,701,417 3,638,438
1984 4,680,285 3,558,758
1983 4,658,254 3,481,646
1982 4,634,234 3,408,183
1981 4,611,509 3,338,940
1980 4,599,782 3,272,089
1979 4,594,778 3,207,499
1978 4,581,085 3,145,517
1977 4,559,571 3,085,354
1976 4,535,934 3,028,820
1975 4,512,082 2,974,657
1974 4,490,660 2,920,459
1973 4,470,161 2,866,955
1972 4,450,564 2,814,388
1971 4,431,275 2,763,222
1970 4,412,252 2,712,286
1969 4,391,490 2,661,365
1968 4,365,628 2,611,532
1967 4,338,683 2,562,384
1966 4,310,701 2,514,638
1965 4,280,923 2,468,666
1964 4,252,876 2,424,390
1963 4,225,675 2,382,258
1962 4,196,712 2,342,242
1961 4,167,292 2,304,227
1960 4,140,181 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people, while Croatia's population already peaked in 1990 at 4.78M people and is projected to decrease to 2.16M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Sierra Leone
2100 -0.82% -0.09%
2099 -0.82% -0.08%
2098 -0.82% -0.09%
2097 -0.83% -0.07%
2096 -0.82% -0.05%
2095 -0.82% 0.002%
2094 -0.81% -0.03%
2093 -0.81% 0.02%
2092 -0.8% 0.04%
2091 -0.79% 0.06%
2090 -0.8% 0.07%
2089 -0.8% 0.09%
2088 -0.79% 0.1%
2087 -0.79% 0.17%
2086 -0.79% 0.13%
2085 -0.8% 0.15%
2084 -0.8% 0.21%
2083 -0.8% 0.23%
2082 -0.8% 0.25%
2081 -0.81% 0.24%
2080 -0.82% 0.26%
2079 -0.82% 0.31%
2078 -0.83% 0.32%
2077 -0.83% 0.35%
2076 -0.83% 0.38%
2075 -0.82% 0.35%
2074 -0.82% 0.44%
2073 -0.84% 0.45%
2072 -0.82% 0.47%
2071 -0.81% 0.51%
2070 -0.84% 0.53%
2069 -0.85% 0.59%
2068 -0.85% 0.64%
2067 -0.85% 0.65%
2066 -0.85% 0.66%
2065 -0.83% 0.66%
2064 -0.85% 0.67%
2063 -0.86% 0.77%
2062 -0.85% 0.73%
2061 -0.85% 0.79%
2060 -0.84% 0.79%
2059 -0.84% 0.84%
2058 -0.83% 0.86%
2057 -0.84% 0.9%
2056 -0.82% 0.95%
2055 -0.81% 0.93%
2054 -0.81% 1.01%
2053 -0.8% 1.06%
2052 -0.8% 1.12%
2051 -0.8% 1.12%
2050 -0.79% 1.11%
2049 -0.78% 1.19%
2048 -0.78% 1.16%
2047 -0.76% 1.26%
2046 -0.76% 1.28%
2045 -0.76% 1.37%
2044 -0.73% 1.35%
2043 -0.72% 1.37%
2042 -0.71% 1.44%
2041 -0.69% 1.5%
2040 -0.68% 1.5%
2039 -0.68% 1.47%
2038 -0.68% 1.54%
2037 -0.64% 1.59%
2036 -0.62% 1.65%
2035 -0.65% 1.65%
2034 -0.64% 1.69%
2033 -0.65% 1.78%
2032 -0.66% 1.81%
2031 -0.63% 1.81%
2030 -0.64% 1.85%
2029 -0.62% 1.83%
2028 -0.65% 1.97%
2027 -0.66% 1.98%
2026 -0.68% 2.03%
2025 0.26% 2.06%
2024 0.17% 2.15%
2023 0.1% 2.22%
2022 -0.6% 2.25%
2021 -0.9% 2.3%
2020 -0.89% 2.34%
2019 -0.99% 2.35%
2018 -1.3% 2.38%
2017 -1.59% 2.41%
2016 -1.08% 2.38%
2015 -1.19% 2.35%
2014 -0.76% 2.42%
2013 -0.62% 2.49%
2012 -0.47% 2.56%
2011 -0.34% 2.64%
2010 -0.23% 2.76%
2009 -0.1% 2.73%
2008 -0.01% 2.53%
2007 -0.02% 2.22%
2006 0.02% 2.23%
2005 0.13% 2.73%
2004 0.03% 3.44%
2003 0.03% 4.15%
2002 0.06% 5.94%
2001 -3.77% 6.08%
2000 -0.98% 2.44%
1999 -0.43% 0.52%
1998 -0.06% 0.99%
1997 -0.49% 1.3%
1996 -1.36% 0.48%
1995 -0.69% 0.15%
1994 1.12% 0.38%
1993 0.54% -0.22%
1992 -2.41% -1.88%
1991 -1.85% 1.18%
1990 0.21% 4.04%
1989 0.25% 2.53%
1988 0.33% 2.74%
1987 0.39% 2.72%
1986 0.43% 2.47%
1985 0.45% 2.24%
1984 0.47% 2.21%
1983 0.52% 2.16%
1982 0.49% 2.07%
1981 0.25% 2.04%
1980 0.11% 2.01%
1979 0.3% 1.97%
1978 0.47% 1.95%
1977 0.52% 1.87%
1976 0.53% 1.82%
1975 0.48% 1.86%
1974 0.46% 1.87%
1973 0.44% 1.87%
1972 0.44% 1.85%
1971 0.43% 1.88%
1970 0.47% 1.91%
1969 0.59% 1.91%
1968 0.62% 1.92%
1967 0.65% 1.9%
1966 0.7% 1.86%
1965 0.66% 1.83%
1964 0.64% 1.77%
1963 0.69% 1.71%
1962 0.71% 1.65%
1961 0.65% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Croatia Sierra Leone
Current population
3849788
9090531
Population rank 130/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.11%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
2.96 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
2.02 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 +487
Annual growth/decline +10,000 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 47/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 -11,309
Net migration rank 112/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -11,309
2024 -18,944 -5,186 189,234 -11,000
2023 -19,298 10,202 188,788 -4,000
2022 -23,134 11,681 186,625 -4,000
2021 -26,377 -4,517 183,326 -1,544
2020 -21,137 -8,552 181,015 1,292
2019 -15,798 -13,239 181,068 -2,238
2018 -15,556 -25,016 178,772 -2,741
2017 -16,974 -44,557 173,259 1,234
2016 -14,374 -32,144 168,784 4,657
2015 -17,022 -27,501 162,275 -356
2014 -11,344 -13,127 160,137 485
2013 -10,585 -6,245 161,265 2,773
2012 -9,799 -4,794 160,915 988
2011 -9,846 -17,463 158,858 6,895
2010 -8,591 -3,995 155,338 7,983
2009 -7,319 1,358 152,669 18,145
2008 -8,188 6,495 149,855 1,182
2007 -10,335 8,893 145,740 -6,042
2006 -8,669 10,852 144,127 -34,052
2005 -9,022 10,629 137,234 -1,805
2004 -9,040 15,445 132,661 23,897
2003 -12,480 12,556 130,312 69,185
2002 -10,325 10,306 126,429 86,578
2001 -8,599 19,298 116,647 227,791
2000 -6,255 -47,629 110,754 83,013
1999 -6,769 -47,418 102,295 -84,926
1998 -4,985 -47,931 103,906 -76,766
1997 3,175 -52,897 105,433 -48,437
1996 3,190 -53,688 104,140 -52,110
1995 0 -51,882 100,885 -112,857
1994 -930 -50,444 101,486 -77,371
1993 -2,301 -49,615 103,317 -95,476
1992 -4,576 -47,865 103,251 -129,565
1991 -2,813 -31,968 105,477 -238,965
1990 3,344 9,538 100,778 131,587
1989 3,337 8,471 98,298 -5,079
1988 5,707 7,242 96,344 9,470
1987 6,161 6,956 94,235 9,558
1986 8,499 6,261 90,902 7,992
1985 10,343 5,550 88,869 -7,873
1984 10,764 5,757 87,072 -8,708
1983 10,714 6,323 84,628 -8,783
1982 15,756 7,475 82,457 -11,379
1981 15,680 4,872 80,111 -12,699
1980 17,939 -5,486 77,932 -11,641
1979 21,136 -5,740 75,992 -13,095
1978 20,157 -7,329 74,130 -13,073
1977 22,798 -7,339 71,663 -12,399
1976 22,226 -7,400 69,506 -15,686
1975 21,658 -7,366 67,560 -13,058
1974 22,453 -8,076 65,357 -11,473
1973 21,904 -8,335 62,443 -9,322
1972 17,802 -7,277 60,279 -8,267
1971 19,941 -5,608 58,484 -8,162
1970 16,767 -2,359 56,513 -4,957
1969 16,688 -2,796 54,768 -4,485
1968 21,828 -2,799 53,126 -3,743
1967 26,032 -3,518 51,734 -2,819
1966 33,192 -6,341 49,486 -2,911
1965 31,251 -5,253 47,223 -1,851
1964 25,942 -2,090 45,487 -2,308
1963 31,270 -1,289 43,569 -2,480
1962 30,216 -2,176 41,603 -2,658
1961 36,255 -6,567 40,022 -2,947
1960 34,778 -21,768 38,192 -3,528

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

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
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.