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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 2,127,400 people in Slovenia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 2,124,138 in Slovenia.

Population statistics:

  • Croatia's population is 1.79 times bigger than Slovenia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Slovenia is the 147th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.03% for Slovenia.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +0.29% in Slovenia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Slovenia has grown from 2.01M to 2.12M (5.84% growth).

Croatia vs Slovenia: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Slovenia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Slovenia
2100 2,137,465 1,640,541
2099 2,155,186 1,644,752
2098 2,173,108 1,648,834
2097 2,190,995 1,653,196
2096 2,209,326 1,657,434
2095 2,227,698 1,661,656
2094 2,246,224 1,665,825
2093 2,264,550 1,670,076
2092 2,283,068 1,674,280
2091 2,301,556 1,678,462
2090 2,319,851 1,682,998
2089 2,338,604 1,687,376
2088 2,357,581 1,691,788
2087 2,376,274 1,696,409
2086 2,395,139 1,701,325
2085 2,414,304 1,706,189
2084 2,433,813 1,711,157
2083 2,453,361 1,716,396
2082 2,473,204 1,721,709
2081 2,493,128 1,727,302
2080 2,513,378 1,733,405
2079 2,534,101 1,739,518
2078 2,554,982 1,746,152
2077 2,576,370 1,752,783
2076 2,597,887 1,759,639
2075 2,619,688 1,766,867
2074 2,641,342 1,774,528
2073 2,663,253 1,782,697
2072 2,685,714 1,790,658
2071 2,708,053 1,798,960
2070 2,730,187 1,807,483
2069 2,753,302 1,816,607
2068 2,776,996 1,825,849
2067 2,800,742 1,834,865
2066 2,824,811 1,844,034
2065 2,848,913 1,853,651
2064 2,872,881 1,863,550
2063 2,897,651 1,873,173
2062 2,922,653 1,882,832
2061 2,947,832 1,892,739
2060 2,973,162 1,902,939
2059 2,998,389 1,912,861
2058 3,023,822 1,922,175
2057 3,049,085 1,932,119
2056 3,074,796 1,941,469
2055 3,100,195 1,950,861
2054 3,125,459 1,959,953
2053 3,151,016 1,968,641
2052 3,176,316 1,977,227
2051 3,201,973 1,985,279
2050 3,227,869 1,993,115
2049 3,253,597 2,000,477
2048 3,279,316 2,007,283
2047 3,305,051 2,014,140
2046 3,330,260 2,020,756
2045 3,355,638 2,027,366
2044 3,381,196 2,033,871
2043 3,406,105 2,040,173
2042 3,430,854 2,046,339
2041 3,455,487 2,052,041
2040 3,479,631 2,057,278
2039 3,503,577 2,062,718
2038 3,527,583 2,067,922
2037 3,551,581 2,073,705
2036 3,574,520 2,079,201
2035 3,596,996 2,084,471
2034 3,620,363 2,089,430
2033 3,643,692 2,094,601
2032 3,667,478 2,099,622
2031 3,691,842 2,104,690
2030 3,715,373 2,109,416
2029 3,739,203 2,113,874
2028 3,762,505 2,118,053
2027 3,787,023 2,121,324
2026 3,812,193 2,124,138
2025 3,838,346 2,126,340
2024 3,866,200 2,127,400
2023 3,859,686 2,120,461
2022 3,855,641 2,112,076
2021 3,878,981 2,108,079
2020 3,914,206 2,102,419
2019 3,949,390 2,088,385
2018 3,988,775 2,073,894
2017 4,041,407 2,066,388
2016 4,106,867 2,065,042
2015 4,151,725 2,063,531
2014 4,201,598 2,061,980
2013 4,233,922 2,059,953
2012 4,260,368 2,057,159
2011 4,280,622 2,052,843
2010 4,295,427 2,048,583
2009 4,305,181 2,039,669
2008 4,309,705 2,021,316
2007 4,310,217 2,018,122
2006 4,311,159 2,006,868
2005 4,310,145 2,000,474
2004 4,304,600 1,997,012
2003 4,303,399 1,995,733
2002 4,302,174 1,994,530
2001 4,299,642 1,992,060
2000 4,468,302 1,988,925
1999 4,512,597 1,983,045
1998 4,532,135 1,981,629
1997 4,534,920 1,985,956
1996 4,557,097 1,988,628
1995 4,620,030 1,989,872
1994 4,652,024 1,989,443
1993 4,600,463 1,991,746
1992 4,575,818 1,996,498
1991 4,689,022 1,999,429
1990 4,777,368 1,998,161
1989 4,767,260 1,996,351
1988 4,755,207 1,995,196
1987 4,739,745 1,989,776
1986 4,721,446 1,965,964
1985 4,701,417 1,941,641
1984 4,680,285 1,932,154
1983 4,658,254 1,922,321
1982 4,634,234 1,910,334
1981 4,611,509 1,906,531
1980 4,599,782 1,901,315
1979 4,594,778 1,882,599
1978 4,581,085 1,862,548
1977 4,559,571 1,842,377
1976 4,535,934 1,820,249
1975 4,512,082 1,793,581
1974 4,490,660 1,776,132
1973 4,470,161 1,766,697
1972 4,450,564 1,752,233
1971 4,431,275 1,738,335
1970 4,412,252 1,724,891
1969 4,391,490 1,713,874
1968 4,365,628 1,704,546
1967 4,338,683 1,689,528
1966 4,310,701 1,669,905
1965 4,280,923 1,649,160
1964 4,252,876 1,632,114
1963 4,225,675 1,616,971
1962 4,196,712 1,603,649
1961 4,167,292 1,594,131
1960 4,140,181 1,584,720

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/slovenia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Slovenia gained 58,174 people (a 2.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Slovenia's population increased by 59,096 people (a 2.86% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Slovenia was ranked 141st in 2006 and ranked 147th 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 Slovenia will decrease by 6.17% to 1,993,115 people and will still be ranked 147th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.9% of the population in Croatia and 17.2% in Slovenia.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Slovenia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Slovenia
2100 -0.82% -0.26%
2099 -0.82% -0.25%
2098 -0.82% -0.26%
2097 -0.83% -0.26%
2096 -0.82% -0.25%
2095 -0.82% -0.25%
2094 -0.81% -0.25%
2093 -0.81% -0.25%
2092 -0.8% -0.25%
2091 -0.79% -0.27%
2090 -0.8% -0.26%
2089 -0.8% -0.26%
2088 -0.79% -0.27%
2087 -0.79% -0.29%
2086 -0.79% -0.29%
2085 -0.8% -0.29%
2084 -0.8% -0.31%
2083 -0.8% -0.31%
2082 -0.8% -0.32%
2081 -0.81% -0.35%
2080 -0.82% -0.35%
2079 -0.82% -0.38%
2078 -0.83% -0.38%
2077 -0.83% -0.39%
2076 -0.83% -0.41%
2075 -0.82% -0.43%
2074 -0.82% -0.46%
2073 -0.84% -0.44%
2072 -0.82% -0.46%
2071 -0.81% -0.47%
2070 -0.84% -0.5%
2069 -0.85% -0.51%
2068 -0.85% -0.49%
2067 -0.85% -0.5%
2066 -0.85% -0.52%
2065 -0.83% -0.53%
2064 -0.85% -0.51%
2063 -0.86% -0.51%
2062 -0.85% -0.52%
2061 -0.85% -0.54%
2060 -0.84% -0.52%
2059 -0.84% -0.48%
2058 -0.83% -0.51%
2057 -0.84% -0.48%
2056 -0.82% -0.48%
2055 -0.81% -0.46%
2054 -0.81% -0.44%
2053 -0.8% -0.43%
2052 -0.8% -0.41%
2051 -0.8% -0.39%
2050 -0.79% -0.37%
2049 -0.78% -0.34%
2048 -0.78% -0.34%
2047 -0.76% -0.33%
2046 -0.76% -0.33%
2045 -0.76% -0.32%
2044 -0.73% -0.31%
2043 -0.72% -0.3%
2042 -0.71% -0.28%
2041 -0.69% -0.25%
2040 -0.68% -0.26%
2039 -0.68% -0.25%
2038 -0.68% -0.28%
2037 -0.64% -0.26%
2036 -0.62% -0.25%
2035 -0.65% -0.24%
2034 -0.64% -0.25%
2033 -0.65% -0.24%
2032 -0.66% -0.24%
2031 -0.63% -0.22%
2030 -0.64% -0.21%
2029 -0.62% -0.2%
2028 -0.65% -0.15%
2027 -0.66% -0.13%
2026 -0.68% -0.1%
2025 -0.72% -0.05%
2024 0.17% 0.33%
2023 0.1% 0.4%
2022 -0.6% 0.19%
2021 -0.9% 0.27%
2020 -0.89% 0.67%
2019 -0.99% 0.7%
2018 -1.3% 0.36%
2017 -1.59% 0.07%
2016 -1.08% 0.07%
2015 -1.19% 0.08%
2014 -0.76% 0.1%
2013 -0.62% 0.14%
2012 -0.47% 0.21%
2011 -0.34% 0.21%
2010 -0.23% 0.44%
2009 -0.1% 0.91%
2008 -0.01% 0.16%
2007 -0.02% 0.56%
2006 0.02% 0.32%
2005 0.13% 0.17%
2004 0.03% 0.06%
2003 0.03% 0.06%
2002 0.06% 0.12%
2001 -3.77% 0.16%
2000 -0.98% 0.3%
1999 -0.43% 0.07%
1998 -0.06% -0.22%
1997 -0.49% -0.13%
1996 -1.36% -0.06%
1995 -0.69% 0.02%
1994 1.12% -0.12%
1993 0.54% -0.24%
1992 -2.41% -0.15%
1991 -1.85% 0.06%
1990 0.21% 0.09%
1989 0.25% 0.06%
1988 0.33% 0.27%
1987 0.39% 1.21%
1986 0.43% 1.25%
1985 0.45% 0.49%
1984 0.47% 0.51%
1983 0.52% 0.63%
1982 0.49% 0.2%
1981 0.25% 0.27%
1980 0.11% 0.99%
1979 0.3% 1.08%
1978 0.47% 1.09%
1977 0.52% 1.22%
1976 0.53% 1.49%
1975 0.48% 0.98%
1974 0.46% 0.53%
1973 0.44% 0.83%
1972 0.44% 0.8%
1971 0.43% 0.78%
1970 0.47% 0.64%
1969 0.59% 0.55%
1968 0.62% 0.89%
1967 0.65% 1.18%
1966 0.7% 1.26%
1965 0.66% 1.04%
1964 0.64% 0.94%
1963 0.69% 0.83%
1962 0.71% 0.6%
1961 0.65% 0.59%

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/slovenia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Slovenia's population grew by 0.33%.

Live population counters

Croatia Slovenia
Current population
3812193
2124138
Population rank 129/197 147/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.03%
One net population change
1.34 hours
1.26 hours
One birth every
16.4 minutes
31 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
24.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +19
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +6,939
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +0.33%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 148/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
3.24 hours
Annual migration change -3,481 +2,711
Net migration rank 112/196 55/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 315,122
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 97/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 14.9%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 44/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Slovenia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Slovenia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 2,711
2024 - -5,186 - 3,319
2023 -19,298 10,202 -4,665 5,339
2022 -23,134 11,681 -4,858 9,014
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -4,216 2,477
2020 -20,354 -8,552 -5,256 28,514
2019 -15,008 -13,239 -1,254 16,352
2018 -15,557 -25,016 -1,037 14,640
2017 -16,570 -44,557 -207 1,359
2016 -13,553 -32,144 826 1,195
2015 -16,607 -27,501 826 712
2014 -11,345 -13,127 2,268 -70
2013 -10,162 -6,245 1,648 639
2012 -9,799 -4,794 2,674 1,117
2011 -9,846 -17,463 3,285 2,190
2010 -8,591 -3,995 3,687 -410
2009 -7,319 1,358 3,060 11,594
2008 -8,188 6,495 3,437 2,971
2007 -10,335 8,893 1,211 14,191
2006 -8,669 10,852 602 6,081
2005 -9,022 10,629 -600 6,317
2004 -9,040 15,445 -599 1,759
2003 -12,480 12,556 -1,996 3,218
2002 -10,325 10,306 -1,197 1,975
2001 -8,599 19,298 -996 4,527
2000 -6,255 -47,629 -398 3,124
1999 -6,769 -47,418 -1,388 10,291
1998 -4,985 -47,931 -1,189 -5,280
1997 3,175 -52,897 -794 -1,298
1996 3,190 -53,688 0 -2,456
1995 0 -51,882 0 356
1994 -930 -50,444 199 -153
1993 -2,301 -49,615 -199 -4,641
1992 -4,576 -47,865 598 -5,547
1991 -2,813 -31,968 2,199 -3,325
1990 3,344 9,538 3,797 618
1989 3,337 8,471 4,592 -2,718
1988 5,707 7,242 5,986 -3,023
1987 6,161 6,956 5,771 2,972
1986 8,499 6,261 6,094 32,700
1985 10,343 5,550 6,213 3,404
1984 10,764 5,757 5,990 3,280
1983 10,714 6,323 6,343 3,613
1982 15,756 7,475 9,170 -8,695
1981 15,680 4,872 10,485 -5,016
1980 17,939 -5,486 11,027 3,128
1979 21,136 -5,740 12,614 2,107
1978 20,157 -7,329 11,920 2,113
1977 22,798 -7,339 12,160 2,584
1976 22,226 -7,400 12,196 2,226
1975 21,658 -7,366 11,658 2,421
1974 22,453 -8,076 11,367 3,145
1973 21,904 -8,335 11,837 2,175
1972 17,802 -7,277 10,513 2,924
1971 19,941 -5,608 10,951 2,286
1970 16,767 -2,359 10,004 260
1969 16,688 -2,796 9,427 685
1968 21,828 -2,799 11,250 438
1967 26,032 -3,518 13,516 -192
1966 33,192 -6,341 15,697 -1,262
1965 31,251 -5,253 14,513 -1,421
1964 25,942 -2,090 12,567 -349
1963 31,270 -1,289 14,068 -180
1962 30,216 -2,176 13,150 148
1961 36,255 -6,567 14,985 -306
1960 34,778 -21,768 12,678 -929

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/slovenia | 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 Slovenia 18.1% is from natural causes (a loss of 17,573 people) and 81.9% is from migration (a gain of 79,532 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 315,122 people or 14.9% in Slovenia.

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
Slovenia
City Population
Ljubljana 284K
Maribor 114K
Kranj 37.6K
Celje 37.1K
Velenje 25.6K
Novo Mesto 24.2K
Nova Gorica 13K
Izola 11.7K
Murska Sobota 11.2K
Piran 3.79K

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/slovenia | 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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