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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 5,422,069 people in Slovakia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 5,359,438 in Slovakia.

Population statistics:

  • Slovakia's population is 1.41 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Slovakia is the 125th.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.06% for Slovakia.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +0.01% in Slovakia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Slovakia has declined from 5.37M to 5.36M (0.25% decline).

Croatia vs Slovakia: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Slovakia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Slovakia
2100 2,137,465 3,377,764
2099 2,155,186 3,399,869
2098 2,173,108 3,422,010
2097 2,190,995 3,444,161
2096 2,209,326 3,466,284
2095 2,227,698 3,488,595
2094 2,246,224 3,511,062
2093 2,264,550 3,533,742
2092 2,283,068 3,556,708
2091 2,301,556 3,580,021
2090 2,319,851 3,603,675
2089 2,338,604 3,627,811
2088 2,357,581 3,652,354
2087 2,376,274 3,677,451
2086 2,395,139 3,703,217
2085 2,414,304 3,729,670
2084 2,433,813 3,756,777
2083 2,453,361 3,784,617
2082 2,473,204 3,813,170
2081 2,493,128 3,842,528
2080 2,513,378 3,872,714
2079 2,534,101 3,903,653
2078 2,554,982 3,935,351
2077 2,576,370 3,967,981
2076 2,597,887 4,001,363
2075 2,619,688 4,035,465
2074 2,641,342 4,070,159
2073 2,663,253 4,105,475
2072 2,685,714 4,141,396
2071 2,708,053 4,177,582
2070 2,730,187 4,214,086
2069 2,753,302 4,250,775
2068 2,776,996 4,287,566
2067 2,800,742 4,324,173
2066 2,824,811 4,360,463
2065 2,848,913 4,396,562
2064 2,872,881 4,432,349
2063 2,897,651 4,467,634
2062 2,922,653 4,502,390
2061 2,947,832 4,536,423
2060 2,973,162 4,569,861
2059 2,998,389 4,602,562
2058 3,023,822 4,634,484
2057 3,049,085 4,665,491
2056 3,074,796 4,695,744
2055 3,100,195 4,725,147
2054 3,125,459 4,753,640
2053 3,151,016 4,781,680
2052 3,176,316 4,809,152
2051 3,201,973 4,836,056
2050 3,227,869 4,862,512
2049 3,253,597 4,888,649
2048 3,279,316 4,914,306
2047 3,305,051 4,939,719
2046 3,330,260 4,964,917
2045 3,355,638 4,989,905
2044 3,381,196 5,014,849
2043 3,406,105 5,039,628
2042 3,430,854 5,064,051
2041 3,455,487 5,088,319
2040 3,479,631 5,112,265
2039 3,503,577 5,135,696
2038 3,527,583 5,158,725
2037 3,551,581 5,181,188
2036 3,574,520 5,203,033
2035 3,596,996 5,224,142
2034 3,620,363 5,244,168
2033 3,643,692 5,263,308
2032 3,667,478 5,281,327
2031 3,691,842 5,298,206
2030 3,715,373 5,313,745
2029 3,739,203 5,327,761
2028 3,762,505 5,339,993
2027 3,787,023 5,350,648
2026 3,812,193 5,359,438
2025 3,838,346 5,396,894
2024 3,866,200 5,422,069
2023 3,859,686 5,426,740
2022 3,855,641 5,431,752
2021 3,878,981 5,447,247
2020 3,914,206 5,458,827
2019 3,949,390 5,454,147
2018 3,988,775 5,446,771
2017 4,041,407 5,439,232
2016 4,106,867 5,430,798
2015 4,151,725 5,423,801
2014 4,201,598 5,418,649
2013 4,233,922 5,413,393
2012 4,260,368 5,407,579
2011 4,280,622 5,398,384
2010 4,295,427 5,391,428
2009 4,305,181 5,386,406
2008 4,309,705 5,379,233
2007 4,310,217 5,374,622
2006 4,311,159 5,373,054
2005 4,310,145 5,372,807
2004 4,304,600 5,372,280
2003 4,303,399 5,373,374
2002 4,302,174 5,376,912
2001 4,299,642 5,378,867
2000 4,468,302 5,388,720
1999 4,512,597 5,396,020
1998 4,532,135 5,390,516
1997 4,534,920 5,383,291
1996 4,557,097 5,373,361
1995 4,620,030 5,361,999
1994 4,652,024 5,346,331
1993 4,600,463 5,325,305
1992 4,575,818 5,305,016
1991 4,689,022 5,303,294
1990 4,777,368 5,299,187
1989 4,767,260 5,275,942
1988 4,755,207 5,250,596
1987 4,739,745 5,222,840
1986 4,721,446 5,193,838
1985 4,701,417 5,161,768
1984 4,680,285 5,127,097
1983 4,658,254 5,091,971
1982 4,634,234 5,055,099
1981 4,611,509 5,016,105
1980 4,599,782 4,979,815
1979 4,594,778 4,938,973
1978 4,581,085 4,890,125
1977 4,559,571 4,840,501
1976 4,535,934 4,789,507
1975 4,512,082 4,739,105
1974 4,490,660 4,689,623
1973 4,470,161 4,641,445
1972 4,450,564 4,596,622
1971 4,431,275 4,557,449
1970 4,412,252 4,538,223
1969 4,391,490 4,518,607
1968 4,365,628 4,483,915
1967 4,338,683 4,449,367
1966 4,310,701 4,411,666
1965 4,280,923 4,370,983
1964 4,252,876 4,327,341
1963 4,225,675 4,282,017
1962 4,196,712 4,238,188
1961 4,167,292 4,191,667
1960 4,140,181 4,068,095

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/slovakia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Slovakia gained 57,744 people (a 1.07% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Slovakia's population decreased by 71,360 people (a 1.31% decline).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Slovakia was ranked 110th in 2006 and ranked 125th 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 Slovakia will decrease by 9.27% to 4,862,512 people and rank change from 125th to 129th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.9% of the population in Croatia and 25.3% in Slovakia.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Slovakia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Slovakia
2100 -0.82% -0.65%
2099 -0.82% -0.65%
2098 -0.82% -0.64%
2097 -0.83% -0.64%
2096 -0.82% -0.64%
2095 -0.82% -0.64%
2094 -0.81% -0.64%
2093 -0.81% -0.65%
2092 -0.8% -0.65%
2091 -0.79% -0.66%
2090 -0.8% -0.67%
2089 -0.8% -0.67%
2088 -0.79% -0.68%
2087 -0.79% -0.7%
2086 -0.79% -0.71%
2085 -0.8% -0.72%
2084 -0.8% -0.74%
2083 -0.8% -0.75%
2082 -0.8% -0.76%
2081 -0.81% -0.78%
2080 -0.82% -0.79%
2079 -0.82% -0.81%
2078 -0.83% -0.82%
2077 -0.83% -0.83%
2076 -0.83% -0.85%
2075 -0.82% -0.85%
2074 -0.82% -0.86%
2073 -0.84% -0.87%
2072 -0.82% -0.87%
2071 -0.81% -0.87%
2070 -0.84% -0.86%
2069 -0.85% -0.86%
2068 -0.85% -0.85%
2067 -0.85% -0.83%
2066 -0.85% -0.82%
2065 -0.83% -0.81%
2064 -0.85% -0.79%
2063 -0.86% -0.77%
2062 -0.85% -0.75%
2061 -0.85% -0.73%
2060 -0.84% -0.71%
2059 -0.84% -0.69%
2058 -0.83% -0.66%
2057 -0.84% -0.64%
2056 -0.82% -0.62%
2055 -0.81% -0.6%
2054 -0.81% -0.59%
2053 -0.8% -0.57%
2052 -0.8% -0.56%
2051 -0.8% -0.54%
2050 -0.79% -0.53%
2049 -0.78% -0.52%
2048 -0.78% -0.51%
2047 -0.76% -0.51%
2046 -0.76% -0.5%
2045 -0.76% -0.5%
2044 -0.73% -0.49%
2043 -0.72% -0.48%
2042 -0.71% -0.48%
2041 -0.69% -0.47%
2040 -0.68% -0.46%
2039 -0.68% -0.45%
2038 -0.68% -0.43%
2037 -0.64% -0.42%
2036 -0.62% -0.4%
2035 -0.65% -0.38%
2034 -0.64% -0.36%
2033 -0.65% -0.34%
2032 -0.66% -0.32%
2031 -0.63% -0.29%
2030 -0.64% -0.26%
2029 -0.62% -0.23%
2028 -0.65% -0.2%
2027 -0.66% -0.16%
2026 -0.68% -0.69%
2025 -0.72% -0.46%
2024 0.17% -0.09%
2023 0.1% -0.09%
2022 -0.6% -0.28%
2021 -0.9% -0.21%
2020 -0.89% 0.09%
2019 -0.99% 0.14%
2018 -1.3% 0.14%
2017 -1.59% 0.16%
2016 -1.08% 0.13%
2015 -1.19% 0.1%
2014 -0.76% 0.1%
2013 -0.62% 0.11%
2012 -0.47% 0.17%
2011 -0.34% 0.13%
2010 -0.23% 0.09%
2009 -0.1% 0.13%
2008 -0.01% 0.09%
2007 -0.02% 0.03%
2006 0.02% 0.005%
2005 0.13% 0.01%
2004 0.03% -0.02%
2003 0.03% -0.07%
2002 0.06% -0.04%
2001 -3.77% -0.18%
2000 -0.98% -0.14%
1999 -0.43% 0.1%
1998 -0.06% 0.13%
1997 -0.49% 0.18%
1996 -1.36% 0.21%
1995 -0.69% 0.29%
1994 1.12% 0.39%
1993 0.54% 0.38%
1992 -2.41% 0.03%
1991 -1.85% 0.08%
1990 0.21% 0.44%
1989 0.25% 0.48%
1988 0.33% 0.53%
1987 0.39% 0.56%
1986 0.43% 0.62%
1985 0.45% 0.68%
1984 0.47% 0.69%
1983 0.52% 0.73%
1982 0.49% 0.78%
1981 0.25% 0.73%
1980 0.11% 0.83%
1979 0.3% 1%
1978 0.47% 1.03%
1977 0.52% 1.06%
1976 0.53% 1.06%
1975 0.48% 1.06%
1974 0.46% 1.04%
1973 0.44% 0.98%
1972 0.44% 0.86%
1971 0.43% 0.42%
1970 0.47% 0.43%
1969 0.59% 0.77%
1968 0.62% 0.78%
1967 0.65% 0.85%
1966 0.7% 0.93%
1965 0.66% 1.01%
1964 0.64% 1.06%
1963 0.69% 1.03%
1962 0.71% 1.11%
1961 0.65% 3.04%

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/slovakia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Slovakia's population declined by 0.09%.

Live population counters

Croatia Slovakia
Current population
3812193
5359438
Population rank 129/197 125/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.06%
One net population change
1.34 hours
1.88 hours
One birth every
16.4 minutes
10.8 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
9.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 -13
Annual growth/decline +6,514 -4,671
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% -0.09%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 172/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
16.8 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 -31,377
Net migration rank 112/196 166/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 323,991
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 96/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 5.9%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 88/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Slovakia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Slovakia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -31,377
2024 - -5,186 - -21,027
2023 -19,298 10,202 -5,427 4,933
2022 -23,134 11,681 -7,062 92,314
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -16,886 -8,172
2020 -20,354 -8,552 -2,184 4,350
2019 -15,008 -13,239 3,818 3,128
2018 -15,557 -25,016 3,268 3,446
2017 -16,570 -44,557 4,351 3,279
2016 -13,553 -32,144 5,431 3,487
2015 -16,607 -27,501 2,170 2,549
2014 -11,345 -13,127 3,793 -1,158
2013 -10,162 -6,245 2,707 -1,181
2012 -9,799 -4,794 3,245 871
2011 -9,846 -17,463 9,177 -2,392
2010 -8,591 -3,995 7,008 -1,814
2009 -7,319 1,358 8,619 -542
2008 -8,188 6,495 4,303 -495
2007 -10,335 8,893 537 -571
2006 -8,669 10,852 537 -549
2005 -9,022 10,629 537 -561
2004 -9,040 15,445 1,611 -522
2003 -12,480 12,556 -537 -646
2002 -10,325 10,306 -538 -580
2001 -8,599 19,298 -1,076 -860
2000 -6,255 -47,629 2,155 -831
1999 -6,769 -47,418 3,777 -119
1998 -4,985 -47,931 4,312 -12
1997 3,175 -52,897 6,999 247
1996 3,190 -53,688 9,135 246
1995 0 -51,882 9,115 -30
1994 -930 -50,444 14,970 -109
1993 -2,301 -49,615 20,769 72
1992 -4,576 -47,865 21,220 -201
1991 -2,813 -31,968 23,865 174
1990 3,344 9,538 25,436 -9,402
1989 3,337 8,471 26,380 -7,254
1988 5,707 7,242 30,979 -6,500
1987 6,161 6,956 31,859 -6,401
1986 8,499 6,261 34,279 -6,143
1985 10,343 5,550 37,680 -6,068
1984 10,764 5,757 38,966 -6,276
1983 10,714 6,323 39,717 -6,361
1982 15,756 7,475 41,958 -6,088
1981 15,680 4,872 43,640 -5,821
1980 17,939 -5,486 44,320 -5,522
1979 21,136 -5,740 52,353 -4,712
1978 20,157 -7,329 52,324 -4,689
1977 22,798 -7,339 52,762 -4,621
1976 22,226 -7,400 54,121 -4,432
1975 21,658 -7,366 52,604 -4,652
1974 22,453 -8,076 52,524 -4,190
1973 21,904 -8,335 49,199 -3,854
1972 17,802 -7,277 46,426 -3,516
1971 19,941 -5,608 40,105 -3,495
1970 16,767 -2,359 38,575 -4,919
1969 16,688 -2,796 39,312 -8,998
1968 21,828 -2,799 38,113 -8,881
1967 26,032 -3,518 41,824 -8,876
1966 33,192 -6,341 45,440 -8,817
1965 31,251 -5,253 48,517 -8,707
1964 25,942 -2,090 54,092 -8,608
1963 31,270 -1,289 54,382 -8,548
1962 30,216 -2,176 49,587 -9,019
1961 36,255 -6,567 55,749 4,812
1960 34,778 -21,768 56,546 4,344

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/slovakia | 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 Slovakia 7.47% is from natural causes (a loss of 8,728 people) and 92.5% is from migration (a gain of 108,156 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 323,991 people or 5.9% in Slovakia.

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
Slovakia
City Population
Bratislava 479K
Kosice 224K
Petrzalka 112K
Presov 81.7K
Zilina 80.3K
Nitra 75.9K
Banska Bystrica 73.5K
Trnava 63.2K
Trencin 54.1K
Martin 50.3K

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/slovakia | 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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