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Population in Croatia compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 17.1 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.84% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Croatia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia South Africa
2100 2,158,545 94,734,082
2099 2,176,440 94,523,360
2098 2,194,539 94,316,049
2097 2,212,602 94,125,043
2096 2,231,114 93,927,246
2095 2,249,667 93,719,451
2094 2,268,376 93,494,697
2093 2,286,882 93,267,274
2092 2,305,583 93,041,793
2091 2,324,254 92,793,249
2090 2,342,729 92,561,159
2089 2,361,668 92,322,396
2088 2,380,831 92,080,212
2087 2,399,709 91,833,409
2086 2,418,760 91,581,639
2085 2,438,113 91,352,906
2084 2,457,815 91,106,961
2083 2,477,556 90,845,161
2082 2,497,595 90,583,188
2081 2,517,715 90,313,417
2080 2,538,164 90,039,857
2079 2,559,092 89,770,116
2078 2,580,179 89,494,440
2077 2,601,778 89,217,520
2076 2,623,507 88,954,522
2075 2,645,523 88,681,719
2074 2,667,391 88,397,221
2073 2,689,518 88,118,589
2072 2,712,201 87,835,051
2071 2,734,759 87,509,098
2070 2,757,112 87,178,463
2069 2,780,455 86,870,660
2068 2,804,383 86,558,000
2067 2,828,363 86,237,764
2066 2,852,669 85,904,801
2065 2,877,009 85,573,984
2064 2,901,213 85,214,686
2063 2,926,228 84,845,370
2062 2,951,475 84,473,236
2061 2,976,903 84,103,016
2060 3,002,483 83,719,266
2059 3,027,959 83,325,330
2058 3,053,643 82,918,226
2057 3,079,155 82,508,742
2056 3,105,119 82,098,320
2055 3,130,769 81,669,191
2054 3,156,282 81,227,019
2053 3,182,091 80,789,939
2052 3,207,640 80,338,877
2051 3,233,551 79,858,310
2050 3,259,702 79,383,784
2049 3,285,684 78,897,472
2048 3,311,657 78,409,829
2047 3,337,645 77,894,547
2046 3,363,102 77,369,819
2045 3,388,731 76,852,544
2044 3,414,541 76,330,046
2043 3,439,695 75,800,788
2042 3,464,688 75,264,885
2041 3,489,565 74,721,871
2040 3,513,946 74,179,185
2039 3,538,129 73,636,894
2038 3,562,371 73,079,976
2037 3,586,606 72,506,991
2036 3,609,771 71,930,701
2035 3,632,470 71,337,219
2034 3,656,066 70,737,692
2033 3,679,626 70,128,299
2032 3,703,646 69,502,726
2031 3,728,250 68,865,544
2030 3,752,014 68,221,143
2029 3,776,079 67,549,189
2028 3,799,610 66,860,631
2027 3,824,370 66,166,759
2026 3,849,788 65,473,024
2025 3,876,200 64,747,319
2024 3,866,200 64,007,187
2023 3,859,686 63,212,384
2022 3,855,641 62,378,410
2021 3,878,981 61,502,603
2020 3,914,206 60,562,381
2019 3,949,390 59,587,885
2018 3,988,775 58,613,001
2017 4,041,407 57,635,162
2016 4,106,867 57,259,551
2015 4,151,725 56,723,537
2014 4,201,598 55,594,838
2013 4,233,922 54,678,791
2012 4,260,368 53,782,567
2011 4,280,622 52,995,205
2010 4,295,427 52,344,051
2009 4,305,181 51,728,516
2008 4,309,705 51,114,599
2007 4,310,217 50,528,584
2006 4,311,159 49,998,277
2005 4,310,145 49,490,033
2004 4,304,600 48,991,421
2003 4,303,399 48,500,348
2002 4,302,174 48,019,415
2001 4,299,642 47,566,800
2000 4,468,302 47,159,719
1999 4,512,597 46,730,335
1998 4,532,135 46,223,880
1997 4,534,920 45,666,838
1996 4,557,097 45,123,018
1995 4,620,030 44,541,554
1994 4,652,024 44,004,139
1993 4,600,463 43,297,156
1992 4,575,818 42,443,509
1991 4,689,022 41,687,898
1990 4,777,368 40,746,268
1989 4,767,260 39,628,575
1988 4,755,207 38,480,649
1987 4,739,745 37,326,190
1986 4,721,446 36,180,515
1985 4,701,417 35,042,093
1984 4,680,285 33,892,788
1983 4,658,254 32,739,304
1982 4,634,234 31,615,339
1981 4,611,509 30,541,044
1980 4,599,782 29,518,857
1979 4,594,778 28,634,162
1978 4,581,085 27,869,507
1977 4,559,571 27,118,952
1976 4,535,934 26,395,450
1975 4,512,082 25,690,940
1974 4,490,660 24,989,108
1973 4,470,161 24,294,263
1972 4,450,564 23,609,456
1971 4,431,275 22,942,143
1970 4,412,252 22,279,984
1969 4,391,490 21,614,676
1968 4,365,628 20,957,287
1967 4,338,683 20,314,066
1966 4,310,701 19,690,087
1965 4,280,923 19,089,380
1964 4,252,876 18,511,361
1963 4,225,675 17,954,564
1962 4,196,712 17,418,522
1961 4,167,292 16,908,035
1960 4,140,181 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M 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
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia South Africa
2100 -0.82% 0.22%
2099 -0.82% 0.22%
2098 -0.82% 0.2%
2097 -0.83% 0.21%
2096 -0.82% 0.22%
2095 -0.82% 0.24%
2094 -0.81% 0.24%
2093 -0.81% 0.24%
2092 -0.8% 0.27%
2091 -0.79% 0.25%
2090 -0.8% 0.26%
2089 -0.8% 0.26%
2088 -0.79% 0.27%
2087 -0.79% 0.27%
2086 -0.79% 0.25%
2085 -0.8% 0.27%
2084 -0.8% 0.29%
2083 -0.8% 0.29%
2082 -0.8% 0.3%
2081 -0.81% 0.3%
2080 -0.82% 0.3%
2079 -0.82% 0.31%
2078 -0.83% 0.31%
2077 -0.83% 0.3%
2076 -0.83% 0.31%
2075 -0.82% 0.32%
2074 -0.82% 0.32%
2073 -0.84% 0.32%
2072 -0.82% 0.37%
2071 -0.81% 0.38%
2070 -0.84% 0.35%
2069 -0.85% 0.36%
2068 -0.85% 0.37%
2067 -0.85% 0.39%
2066 -0.85% 0.39%
2065 -0.83% 0.42%
2064 -0.85% 0.44%
2063 -0.86% 0.44%
2062 -0.85% 0.44%
2061 -0.85% 0.46%
2060 -0.84% 0.47%
2059 -0.84% 0.49%
2058 -0.83% 0.5%
2057 -0.84% 0.5%
2056 -0.82% 0.53%
2055 -0.81% 0.54%
2054 -0.81% 0.54%
2053 -0.8% 0.56%
2052 -0.8% 0.6%
2051 -0.8% 0.6%
2050 -0.79% 0.62%
2049 -0.78% 0.62%
2048 -0.78% 0.66%
2047 -0.76% 0.68%
2046 -0.76% 0.67%
2045 -0.76% 0.68%
2044 -0.73% 0.7%
2043 -0.72% 0.71%
2042 -0.71% 0.73%
2041 -0.69% 0.73%
2040 -0.68% 0.74%
2039 -0.68% 0.76%
2038 -0.68% 0.79%
2037 -0.64% 0.8%
2036 -0.62% 0.83%
2035 -0.65% 0.85%
2034 -0.64% 0.87%
2033 -0.65% 0.9%
2032 -0.66% 0.93%
2031 -0.63% 0.94%
2030 -0.64% 0.99%
2029 -0.62% 1.03%
2028 -0.65% 1.05%
2027 -0.66% 1.06%
2026 -0.68% 1.12%
2025 0.26% 1.16%
2024 0.17% 1.26%
2023 0.1% 1.34%
2022 -0.6% 1.42%
2021 -0.9% 1.55%
2020 -0.89% 1.64%
2019 -0.99% 1.66%
2018 -1.3% 1.7%
2017 -1.59% 0.66%
2016 -1.08% 0.94%
2015 -1.19% 2.03%
2014 -0.76% 1.68%
2013 -0.62% 1.67%
2012 -0.47% 1.49%
2011 -0.34% 1.24%
2010 -0.23% 1.19%
2009 -0.1% 1.2%
2008 -0.01% 1.16%
2007 -0.02% 1.06%
2006 0.02% 1.03%
2005 0.13% 1.02%
2004 0.03% 1.01%
2003 0.03% 1%
2002 0.06% 0.95%
2001 -3.77% 0.86%
2000 -0.98% 0.92%
1999 -0.43% 1.1%
1998 -0.06% 1.22%
1997 -0.49% 1.21%
1996 -1.36% 1.31%
1995 -0.69% 1.22%
1994 1.12% 1.63%
1993 0.54% 2.01%
1992 -2.41% 1.81%
1991 -1.85% 2.31%
1990 0.21% 2.82%
1989 0.25% 2.98%
1988 0.33% 3.09%
1987 0.39% 3.17%
1986 0.43% 3.25%
1985 0.45% 3.39%
1984 0.47% 3.52%
1983 0.52% 3.56%
1982 0.49% 3.52%
1981 0.25% 3.46%
1980 0.11% 3.09%
1979 0.3% 2.74%
1978 0.47% 2.77%
1977 0.52% 2.74%
1976 0.53% 2.74%
1975 0.48% 2.81%
1974 0.46% 2.86%
1973 0.44% 2.9%
1972 0.44% 2.91%
1971 0.43% 2.97%
1970 0.47% 3.08%
1969 0.59% 3.14%
1968 0.62% 3.17%
1967 0.65% 3.17%
1966 0.7% 3.15%
1965 0.66% 3.12%
1964 0.64% 3.1%
1963 0.69% 3.08%
1962 0.71% 3.02%
1961 0.65% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Croatia South Africa
Current population
3849788
65829368
Population rank 130/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.79%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
16.4 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
10.3 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +27 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +10,000 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 91/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 +146,370
Net migration rank 112/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 146,370
2024 -18,944 -5,186 591,618 166,972
2023 -19,298 10,202 602,793 228,222
2022 -23,134 11,681 603,636 233,284
2021 -26,377 -4,517 456,411 458,246
2020 -21,137 -8,552 595,873 369,901
2019 -15,798 -13,239 652,130 331,124
2018 -15,556 -25,016 648,319 318,260
2017 -16,974 -44,557 645,975 343,146
2016 -14,374 -32,144 641,365 -879,235
2015 -17,022 -27,501 668,771 641,150
2014 -11,344 -13,127 674,754 272,697
2013 -10,585 -6,245 652,427 232,230
2012 -9,799 -4,794 643,723 264,091
2011 -9,846 -17,463 601,708 65,166
2010 -8,591 -3,995 566,834 68,563
2009 -7,319 1,358 554,115 41,528
2008 -8,188 6,495 595,332 36,869
2007 -10,335 8,893 503,567 36,339
2006 -8,669 10,852 487,584 33,159
2005 -9,022 10,629 464,464 31,286
2004 -9,040 15,445 442,540 58,924
2003 -12,480 12,556 415,018 65,604
2002 -10,325 10,306 430,926 50,313
2001 -8,599 19,298 484,801 -60,793
2000 -6,255 -47,629 526,963 -136,794
1999 -6,769 -47,418 594,643 -126,011
1998 -4,985 -47,931 627,027 -82,722
1997 3,175 -52,897 667,969 -98,181
1996 3,190 -53,688 710,868 -193,007
1995 0 -51,882 743,488 -98,403
1994 -930 -50,444 698,609 -268,849
1993 -2,301 -49,615 789,220 194,977
1992 -4,576 -47,865 794,415 -71,342
1991 -2,813 -31,968 827,296 -39,131
1990 3,344 9,538 835,421 259,718
1989 3,337 8,471 884,629 255,605
1988 5,707 7,242 909,221 246,382
1987 6,161 6,956 922,330 231,009
1986 8,499 6,261 903,644 234,378
1985 10,343 5,550 893,889 244,940
1984 10,764 5,757 869,011 290,789
1983 10,714 6,323 837,013 310,172
1982 15,756 7,475 807,550 293,195
1981 15,680 4,872 767,833 279,985
1980 17,939 -5,486 738,415 258,127
1979 21,136 -5,740 716,541 56,323
1978 20,157 -7,329 694,341 62,121
1977 22,798 -7,339 680,929 63,739
1976 22,226 -7,400 675,011 27,333
1975 21,658 -7,366 667,862 38,809
1974 22,453 -8,076 658,438 38,518
1973 21,904 -8,335 651,596 41,125
1972 17,802 -7,277 638,754 38,163
1971 19,941 -5,608 624,761 32,961
1970 16,767 -2,359 605,102 61,514
1969 16,688 -2,796 590,794 73,225
1968 21,828 -2,799 571,841 78,932
1967 26,032 -3,518 553,741 81,932
1966 33,192 -6,341 534,862 77,417
1965 31,251 -5,253 506,632 82,514
1964 25,942 -2,090 490,606 76,298
1963 31,270 -1,289 473,821 72,844
1962 30,216 -2,176 455,634 69,771
1961 36,255 -6,567 437,851 57,728
1960 34,778 -21,768 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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