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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 13.5 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th 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 -0.82% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Croatia vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia South Korea
2100 2,137,465 22,012,503
2099 2,155,186 22,335,528
2098 2,173,108 22,668,719
2097 2,190,995 23,009,661
2096 2,209,326 23,360,151
2095 2,227,698 23,722,747
2094 2,246,224 24,093,391
2093 2,264,550 24,473,038
2092 2,283,068 24,860,975
2091 2,301,556 25,255,379
2090 2,319,851 25,655,577
2089 2,338,604 26,060,945
2088 2,357,581 26,470,073
2087 2,376,274 26,884,813
2086 2,395,139 27,301,913
2085 2,414,304 27,723,736
2084 2,433,813 28,147,480
2083 2,453,361 28,578,182
2082 2,473,204 29,012,953
2081 2,493,128 29,456,022
2080 2,513,378 29,901,880
2079 2,534,101 30,352,062
2078 2,554,982 30,809,176
2077 2,576,370 31,273,700
2076 2,597,887 31,744,480
2075 2,619,688 32,221,226
2074 2,641,342 32,706,020
2073 2,663,253 33,196,556
2072 2,685,714 33,696,490
2071 2,708,053 34,203,935
2070 2,730,187 34,719,324
2069 2,753,302 35,241,850
2068 2,776,996 35,762,799
2067 2,800,742 36,292,307
2066 2,824,811 36,826,655
2065 2,848,913 37,368,086
2064 2,872,881 37,916,439
2063 2,897,651 38,469,051
2062 2,922,653 39,028,473
2061 2,947,832 39,584,621
2060 2,973,162 40,149,830
2059 2,998,389 40,712,514
2058 3,023,822 41,277,134
2057 3,049,085 41,833,887
2056 3,074,796 42,377,427
2055 3,100,195 42,909,302
2054 3,125,459 43,427,254
2053 3,151,016 43,938,741
2052 3,176,316 44,441,106
2051 3,201,973 44,923,604
2050 3,227,869 45,385,311
2049 3,253,597 45,832,153
2048 3,279,316 46,258,529
2047 3,305,051 46,668,898
2046 3,330,260 47,056,404
2045 3,355,638 47,433,205
2044 3,381,196 47,797,411
2043 3,406,105 48,144,730
2042 3,430,854 48,478,991
2041 3,455,487 48,806,273
2040 3,479,631 49,115,658
2039 3,503,577 49,412,830
2038 3,527,583 49,694,340
2037 3,551,581 49,957,504
2036 3,574,520 50,200,702
2035 3,596,996 50,426,000
2034 3,620,363 50,632,962
2033 3,643,692 50,821,090
2032 3,667,478 50,987,020
2031 3,691,842 51,134,940
2030 3,715,373 51,267,908
2029 3,739,203 51,385,868
2028 3,762,505 51,486,791
2027 3,787,023 51,576,746
2026 3,812,193 51,649,918
2025 3,838,346 51,710,062
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th 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 3,227,869 people with a rank change from 129th to 139th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 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 -0.72% -0.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Croatia South Korea
Current population
3812193
51649918
Population rank 129/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.62%
One net population change
1.34 hours
13.7 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +105
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 160/197
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 - -5,186 - 75,963
2023 -19,298 10,202 -77,569 87,800
2022 -23,134 11,681 -124,014 87,800
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -20,354 -8,552 -31,101 112,631
2019 -15,008 -13,239 10,353 128,622
2018 -15,557 -25,016 30,951 118,220
2017 -16,570 -44,557 71,907 104,029
2016 -13,553 -32,144 122,923 91,568
2015 -16,607 -27,501 163,248 276,427
2014 -11,345 -13,127 167,464 308,037
2013 -10,162 -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/south-korea | 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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 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 (1960–2024, 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/south-korea | 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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