Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 13.4 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.67% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Croatia vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia South Korea
2100 2,158,545 22,001,649
2099 2,176,440 22,324,514
2098 2,194,539 22,657,541
2097 2,212,602 22,998,315
2096 2,231,114 23,348,632
2095 2,249,667 23,711,049
2094 2,268,376 24,081,510
2093 2,286,882 24,460,970
2092 2,305,583 24,848,715
2091 2,324,254 25,242,926
2090 2,342,729 25,642,926
2089 2,361,668 26,048,094
2088 2,380,831 26,457,020
2087 2,399,709 26,871,556
2086 2,418,760 27,288,450
2085 2,438,113 27,710,065
2084 2,457,815 28,133,600
2083 2,477,556 28,564,090
2082 2,497,595 28,998,646
2081 2,517,715 29,441,497
2080 2,538,164 29,887,135
2079 2,559,092 30,337,095
2078 2,580,179 30,793,984
2077 2,601,778 31,258,278
2076 2,623,507 31,728,826
2075 2,645,523 32,205,338
2074 2,667,391 32,689,892
2073 2,689,518 33,180,187
2072 2,712,201 33,679,874
2071 2,734,759 34,187,068
2070 2,757,112 34,702,204
2069 2,780,455 35,224,472
2068 2,804,383 35,745,164
2067 2,828,363 36,274,411
2066 2,852,669 36,808,495
2065 2,877,009 37,349,660
2064 2,901,213 37,897,742
2063 2,926,228 38,450,082
2062 2,951,475 39,009,227
2061 2,976,903 39,565,102
2060 3,002,483 40,130,032
2059 3,027,959 40,692,438
2058 3,053,643 41,256,780
2057 3,079,155 41,813,259
2056 3,105,119 42,356,530
2055 3,130,769 42,888,143
2054 3,156,282 43,405,840
2053 3,182,091 43,917,075
2052 3,207,640 44,419,192
2051 3,233,551 44,901,452
2050 3,259,702 45,362,931
2049 3,285,684 45,809,553
2048 3,311,657 46,235,718
2047 3,337,645 46,645,885
2046 3,363,102 47,033,200
2045 3,388,731 47,409,815
2044 3,414,541 47,773,842
2043 3,439,695 48,120,989
2042 3,464,688 48,455,085
2041 3,489,565 48,782,206
2040 3,513,946 49,091,438
2039 3,538,129 49,388,464
2038 3,562,371 49,669,835
2037 3,586,606 49,932,869
2036 3,609,771 50,175,947
2035 3,632,470 50,401,135
2034 3,656,066 50,607,994
2033 3,679,626 50,796,030
2032 3,703,646 50,961,878
2031 3,728,250 51,109,725
2030 3,752,014 51,242,628
2029 3,776,079 51,360,529
2028 3,799,610 51,461,403
2027 3,824,370 51,551,313
2026 3,849,788 51,624,449
2025 3,876,200 51,684,564
2024 3,866,200 51,751,065
2023 3,859,686 51,712,619
2022 3,855,641 51,672,569
2021 3,878,981 51,769,539
2020 3,914,206 51,836,239
2019 3,949,390 51,764,822
2018 3,988,775 51,585,058
2017 4,041,407 51,361,911
2016 4,106,867 51,217,803
2015 4,151,725 51,014,947
2014 4,201,598 50,746,659
2013 4,233,922 50,428,893
2012 4,260,368 50,199,853
2011 4,280,622 49,936,638
2010 4,295,427 49,554,112
2009 4,305,181 49,307,835
2008 4,309,705 49,054,708
2007 4,310,217 48,683,638
2006 4,311,159 48,438,292
2005 4,310,145 48,184,561
2004 4,304,600 48,082,519
2003 4,303,399 47,892,330
2002 4,302,174 47,644,736
2001 4,299,642 47,370,164
2000 4,468,302 47,008,111
1999 4,512,597 46,616,677
1998 4,532,135 46,286,503
1997 4,534,920 45,953,580
1996 4,557,097 45,524,681
1995 4,620,030 45,092,991
1994 4,652,024 44,641,540
1993 4,600,463 44,194,628
1992 4,575,818 43,747,962
1991 4,689,022 43,295,704
1990 4,777,368 42,869,283
1989 4,767,260 42,449,038
1988 4,755,207 42,031,247
1987 4,739,745 41,621,690
1986 4,721,446 41,213,674
1985 4,701,417 40,805,744
1984 4,680,285 40,405,956
1983 4,658,254 39,910,403
1982 4,634,234 39,326,352
1981 4,611,509 38,723,248
1980 4,599,782 38,123,775
1979 4,594,778 37,534,236
1978 4,581,085 36,969,185
1977 4,559,571 36,411,795
1976 4,535,934 35,848,523
1975 4,512,082 35,280,725
1974 4,490,660 34,692,266
1973 4,470,161 34,103,149
1972 4,450,564 33,505,406
1971 4,431,275 32,882,704
1970 4,412,252 32,240,827
1969 4,391,490 31,544,266
1968 4,365,628 30,838,302
1967 4,338,683 30,130,983
1966 4,310,701 29,435,571
1965 4,280,923 28,704,674
1964 4,252,876 27,984,155
1963 4,225,675 27,261,747
1962 4,196,712 26,513,030
1961 4,167,292 25,765,673
1960 4,140,181 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.9% of the population in Croatia and 38.5% in South Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia South Korea
2100 -0.82% -1.45%
2099 -0.82% -1.47%
2098 -0.82% -1.48%
2097 -0.83% -1.5%
2096 -0.82% -1.53%
2095 -0.82% -1.54%
2094 -0.81% -1.55%
2093 -0.81% -1.56%
2092 -0.8% -1.56%
2091 -0.79% -1.56%
2090 -0.8% -1.56%
2089 -0.8% -1.55%
2088 -0.79% -1.54%
2087 -0.79% -1.53%
2086 -0.79% -1.52%
2085 -0.8% -1.51%
2084 -0.8% -1.51%
2083 -0.8% -1.5%
2082 -0.8% -1.5%
2081 -0.81% -1.49%
2080 -0.82% -1.48%
2079 -0.82% -1.48%
2078 -0.83% -1.49%
2077 -0.83% -1.48%
2076 -0.83% -1.48%
2075 -0.82% -1.48%
2074 -0.82% -1.48%
2073 -0.84% -1.48%
2072 -0.82% -1.48%
2071 -0.81% -1.48%
2070 -0.84% -1.48%
2069 -0.85% -1.46%
2068 -0.85% -1.46%
2067 -0.85% -1.45%
2066 -0.85% -1.45%
2065 -0.83% -1.45%
2064 -0.85% -1.44%
2063 -0.86% -1.43%
2062 -0.85% -1.4%
2061 -0.85% -1.41%
2060 -0.84% -1.38%
2059 -0.84% -1.37%
2058 -0.83% -1.33%
2057 -0.84% -1.28%
2056 -0.82% -1.24%
2055 -0.81% -1.19%
2054 -0.81% -1.16%
2053 -0.8% -1.13%
2052 -0.8% -1.07%
2051 -0.8% -1.02%
2050 -0.79% -0.97%
2049 -0.78% -0.92%
2048 -0.78% -0.88%
2047 -0.76% -0.82%
2046 -0.76% -0.79%
2045 -0.76% -0.76%
2044 -0.73% -0.72%
2043 -0.72% -0.69%
2042 -0.71% -0.67%
2041 -0.69% -0.63%
2040 -0.68% -0.6%
2039 -0.68% -0.57%
2038 -0.68% -0.53%
2037 -0.64% -0.48%
2036 -0.62% -0.45%
2035 -0.65% -0.41%
2034 -0.64% -0.37%
2033 -0.65% -0.33%
2032 -0.66% -0.29%
2031 -0.63% -0.26%
2030 -0.64% -0.23%
2029 -0.62% -0.2%
2028 -0.65% -0.17%
2027 -0.66% -0.14%
2026 -0.68% -0.12%
2025 0.26% -0.13%
2024 0.17% 0.07%
2023 0.1% 0.08%
2022 -0.6% -0.19%
2021 -0.9% -0.13%
2020 -0.89% 0.14%
2019 -0.99% 0.35%
2018 -1.3% 0.43%
2017 -1.59% 0.28%
2016 -1.08% 0.4%
2015 -1.19% 0.53%
2014 -0.76% 0.63%
2013 -0.62% 0.46%
2012 -0.47% 0.53%
2011 -0.34% 0.77%
2010 -0.23% 0.5%
2009 -0.1% 0.52%
2008 -0.01% 0.76%
2007 -0.02% 0.51%
2006 0.02% 0.53%
2005 0.13% 0.21%
2004 0.03% 0.4%
2003 0.03% 0.52%
2002 0.06% 0.58%
2001 -3.77% 0.77%
2000 -0.98% 0.84%
1999 -0.43% 0.71%
1998 -0.06% 0.72%
1997 -0.49% 0.94%
1996 -1.36% 0.96%
1995 -0.69% 1.01%
1994 1.12% 1.01%
1993 0.54% 1.02%
1992 -2.41% 1.04%
1991 -1.85% 0.99%
1990 0.21% 0.99%
1989 0.25% 0.99%
1988 0.33% 0.98%
1987 0.39% 0.99%
1986 0.43% 1%
1985 0.45% 0.99%
1984 0.47% 1.24%
1983 0.52% 1.49%
1982 0.49% 1.56%
1981 0.25% 1.57%
1980 0.11% 1.57%
1979 0.3% 1.53%
1978 0.47% 1.53%
1977 0.52% 1.57%
1976 0.53% 1.61%
1975 0.48% 1.7%
1974 0.46% 1.73%
1973 0.44% 1.78%
1972 0.44% 1.89%
1971 0.43% 1.99%
1970 0.47% 2.21%
1969 0.59% 2.29%
1968 0.62% 2.35%
1967 0.65% 2.36%
1966 0.7% 2.55%
1965 0.66% 2.57%
1964 0.64% 2.65%
1963 0.69% 2.82%
1962 0.71% 2.9%
1961 0.65% 3.01%

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-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Croatia South Korea
Current population
3849788
51624449
Population rank 130/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.62%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 -182
Annual growth/decline +10,000 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 169/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 +65,731
Net migration rank 112/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 65,731
2024 -18,944 -5,186 -119,027 75,963
2023 -19,298 10,202 -124,111 87,800
2022 -23,134 11,681 -124,014 87,800
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -21,137 -8,552 -31,101 112,631
2019 -15,798 -13,239 10,353 128,622
2018 -15,556 -25,016 30,951 118,220
2017 -16,974 -44,557 71,907 104,029
2016 -14,374 -32,144 122,923 91,568
2015 -17,022 -27,501 163,248 276,427
2014 -11,344 -13,127 167,464 308,037
2013 -10,585 -6,245 166,415 301,926
2012 -9,799 -4,794 215,859 281,866
2011 -9,846 -17,463 214,728 269,958
2010 -8,591 -3,995 213,083 52,042
2009 -7,319 1,358 197,231 5,308
2008 -8,188 6,495 215,841 -19,630
2007 -10,335 8,893 248,286 -42,293
2006 -8,669 10,852 203,441 -28,434
2005 -9,022 10,629 187,920 -47,821
2004 -9,040 15,445 225,988 -42,549
2003 -12,480 12,556 244,251 -31,994
2002 -10,325 10,306 247,752 -18,105
2001 -8,599 19,298 312,643 -28,006
2000 -6,255 -47,629 390,167 -84,960
1999 -6,769 -47,418 368,272 -107,448
1998 -4,985 -47,931 393,436 -98,044
1997 3,175 -52,897 422,773 -109,130
1996 3,190 -53,688 446,142 -115,705
1995 0 -51,882 468,967 -208,491
1994 -930 -50,444 473,200 -208,309
1993 -2,301 -49,615 477,302 -222,802
1992 -4,576 -47,865 494,352 -265,849
1991 -2,813 -31,968 467,594 -270,754
1990 3,344 9,538 411,546 79,294
1989 3,337 8,471 403,266 186,120
1988 5,707 7,242 399,297 192,534
1987 6,161 6,956 378,758 198,057
1986 8,499 6,261 395,651 189,782
1985 10,343 5,550 416,219 97,949
1984 10,764 5,757 436,384 101,394
1983 10,714 6,323 514,844 102,167
1982 15,756 7,475 605,626 48,638
1981 15,680 4,872 631,189 18,442
1980 17,939 -5,486 583,294 -148,341
1979 21,136 -5,740 623,068 -139,566
1978 20,157 -7,329 499,084 -85,721
1977 22,798 -7,339 578,947 -90,737
1976 22,226 -7,400 530,558 -92,314
1975 21,658 -7,366 603,300 -52,332
1974 22,453 -8,076 673,030 27,005
1973 21,904 -8,335 699,115 35,779
1972 17,802 -7,277 740,469 25,382
1971 19,941 -5,608 789,185 -6,326
1970 16,767 -2,359 747,987 -27,999
1969 16,688 -2,796 694,227 -21,175
1968 21,828 -2,799 684,487 -16,868
1967 26,032 -3,518 692,169 -16,484
1966 33,192 -6,341 623,534 -16,688
1965 31,251 -5,253 641,090 -146,386
1964 25,942 -2,090 655,501 -102,284
1963 31,270 -1,289 685,824 -80,226
1962 30,216 -2,176 712,590 -94,606
1961 36,255 -6,567 730,173 -93,179
1960 34,778 -21,768 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/south-korea | 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 Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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 Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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