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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 2.37 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • 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 -0.82% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Croatia vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Sierra Leone
2100 2,137,465 16,111,324
2099 2,155,186 16,126,181
2098 2,173,108 16,139,280
2097 2,190,995 16,154,153
2096 2,209,326 16,164,923
2095 2,227,698 16,173,557
2094 2,246,224 16,173,155
2093 2,264,550 16,177,864
2092 2,283,068 16,175,032
2091 2,301,556 16,168,153
2090 2,319,851 16,158,415
2089 2,338,604 16,146,773
2088 2,357,581 16,133,018
2087 2,376,274 16,116,823
2086 2,395,139 16,089,780
2085 2,414,304 16,068,438
2084 2,433,813 16,044,782
2083 2,453,361 16,011,134
2082 2,473,204 15,975,073
2081 2,493,128 15,935,071
2080 2,513,378 15,896,846
2079 2,534,101 15,854,898
2078 2,554,982 15,805,607
2077 2,576,370 15,754,551
2076 2,597,887 15,699,439
2075 2,619,688 15,639,458
2074 2,641,342 15,584,377
2073 2,663,253 15,516,736
2072 2,685,714 15,446,543
2071 2,708,053 15,374,790
2070 2,730,187 15,297,449
2069 2,753,302 15,216,666
2068 2,776,996 15,128,048
2067 2,800,742 15,032,144
2066 2,824,811 14,935,222
2065 2,848,913 14,837,697
2064 2,872,881 14,740,749
2063 2,897,651 14,642,031
2062 2,922,653 14,529,557
2061 2,947,832 14,423,861
2060 2,973,162 14,311,215
2059 2,998,389 14,198,706
2058 3,023,822 14,080,827
2057 3,049,085 13,960,869
2056 3,074,796 13,836,132
2055 3,100,195 13,706,113
2054 3,125,459 13,579,802
2053 3,151,016 13,444,465
2052 3,176,316 13,303,409
2051 3,201,973 13,156,370
2050 3,227,869 13,010,109
2049 3,253,597 12,867,021
2048 3,279,316 12,716,015
2047 3,305,051 12,570,250
2046 3,330,260 12,414,307
2045 3,355,638 12,257,874
2044 3,381,196 12,092,075
2043 3,406,105 11,931,531
2042 3,430,854 11,770,467
2041 3,455,487 11,602,993
2040 3,479,631 11,431,337
2039 3,503,577 11,262,807
2038 3,527,583 11,100,099
2037 3,551,581 10,931,629
2036 3,574,520 10,760,758
2035 3,596,996 10,585,702
2034 3,620,363 10,413,826
2033 3,643,692 10,241,196
2032 3,667,478 10,062,575
2031 3,691,842 9,883,708
2030 3,715,373 9,708,038
2029 3,739,203 9,532,000
2028 3,762,505 9,360,873
2027 3,787,023 9,179,702
2026 3,812,193 9,001,269
2025 3,838,346 8,822,114
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st 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 2.14M 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 -0.72% 2.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Croatia Sierra Leone
Current population
3812193
9049533
Population rank 129/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.11%
One net population change
1.34 hours
2.9 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +497
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 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 - -5,186 - -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 -20,354 -8,552 181,015 1,292
2019 -15,008 -13,239 181,068 -2,238
2018 -15,557 -25,016 178,772 -2,741
2017 -16,570 -44,557 173,259 1,234
2016 -13,553 -32,144 168,784 4,657
2015 -16,607 -27,501 162,275 -356
2014 -11,345 -13,127 160,137 485
2013 -10,162 -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 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 (1960–2024, 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/sierra-leone | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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