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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 12.8 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.63% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Croatia vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Spain
2100 2,137,465 33,862,981
2099 2,155,186 34,039,965
2098 2,173,108 34,215,187
2097 2,190,995 34,387,116
2096 2,209,326 34,552,002
2095 2,227,698 34,719,411
2094 2,246,224 34,882,039
2093 2,264,550 35,044,043
2092 2,283,068 35,204,657
2091 2,301,556 35,366,895
2090 2,319,851 35,535,838
2089 2,338,604 35,707,942
2088 2,357,581 35,877,681
2087 2,376,274 36,043,209
2086 2,395,139 36,210,710
2085 2,414,304 36,386,207
2084 2,433,813 36,564,622
2083 2,453,361 36,749,680
2082 2,473,204 36,936,644
2081 2,493,128 37,133,976
2080 2,513,378 37,337,517
2079 2,534,101 37,551,557
2078 2,554,982 37,771,135
2077 2,576,370 38,002,963
2076 2,597,887 38,249,247
2075 2,619,688 38,506,040
2074 2,641,342 38,777,715
2073 2,663,253 39,056,249
2072 2,685,714 39,348,447
2071 2,708,053 39,642,346
2070 2,730,187 39,949,413
2069 2,753,302 40,256,590
2068 2,776,996 40,575,543
2067 2,800,742 40,893,798
2066 2,824,811 41,218,263
2065 2,848,913 41,543,254
2064 2,872,881 41,878,338
2063 2,897,651 42,208,320
2062 2,922,653 42,542,893
2061 2,947,832 42,874,096
2060 2,973,162 43,191,452
2059 2,998,389 43,506,737
2058 3,023,822 43,809,907
2057 3,049,085 44,112,668
2056 3,074,796 44,415,689
2055 3,100,195 44,691,749
2054 3,125,459 44,958,971
2053 3,151,016 45,223,225
2052 3,176,316 45,470,541
2051 3,201,973 45,695,307
2050 3,227,869 45,911,520
2049 3,253,597 46,127,777
2048 3,279,316 46,322,244
2047 3,305,051 46,510,152
2046 3,330,260 46,687,914
2045 3,355,638 46,858,778
2044 3,381,196 47,016,278
2043 3,406,105 47,158,325
2042 3,430,854 47,301,091
2041 3,455,487 47,434,593
2040 3,479,631 47,563,236
2039 3,503,577 47,685,343
2038 3,527,583 47,798,797
2037 3,551,581 47,910,899
2036 3,574,520 48,020,350
2035 3,596,996 48,124,430
2034 3,620,363 48,220,051
2033 3,643,692 48,311,842
2032 3,667,478 48,402,470
2031 3,691,842 48,495,278
2030 3,715,373 48,579,920
2029 3,739,203 48,648,699
2028 3,762,505 48,707,969
2027 3,787,023 48,758,200
2026 3,812,193 48,806,901
2025 3,838,346 48,838,057
2024 3,866,200 48,848,840
2023 3,859,686 48,352,528
2022 3,855,641 47,786,102
2021 3,878,981 47,443,821
2020 3,914,206 47,359,424
2019 3,949,390 47,118,501
2018 3,988,775 46,782,011
2017 4,041,407 46,571,232
2016 4,106,867 46,458,139
2015 4,151,725 46,422,303
2014 4,201,598 46,460,733
2013 4,233,922 46,604,197
2012 4,260,368 46,773,055
2011 4,280,622 46,742,697
2010 4,295,427 46,576,897
2009 4,305,181 46,362,946
2008 4,309,705 45,954,106
2007 4,310,217 45,226,803
2006 4,311,159 44,397,319
2005 4,310,145 43,653,155
2004 4,304,600 42,921,895
2003 4,303,399 42,187,645
2002 4,302,174 41,431,558
2001 4,299,642 40,850,412
2000 4,468,302 40,567,864
1999 4,512,597 40,386,875
1998 4,532,135 40,223,509
1997 4,534,920 40,057,389
1996 4,557,097 39,889,852
1995 4,620,030 39,724,050
1994 4,652,024 39,549,108
1993 4,600,463 39,361,262
1992 4,575,818 39,157,685
1991 4,689,022 38,966,376
1990 4,777,368 38,867,322
1989 4,767,260 38,827,764
1988 4,755,207 38,766,939
1987 4,739,745 38,684,815
1986 4,721,446 38,584,624
1985 4,701,417 38,469,512
1984 4,680,285 38,330,364
1983 4,658,254 38,171,525
1982 4,634,234 37,986,012
1981 4,611,509 37,758,631
1980 4,599,782 37,491,165
1979 4,594,778 37,191,330
1978 4,581,085 36,864,898
1977 4,559,571 36,511,638
1976 4,535,934 36,137,812
1975 4,512,082 35,757,900
1974 4,490,660 35,373,335
1973 4,470,161 34,988,947
1972 4,450,564 34,604,469
1971 4,431,275 34,224,490
1970 4,412,252 33,814,531
1969 4,391,490 33,441,054
1968 4,365,628 33,113,134
1967 4,338,683 32,682,947
1966 4,310,701 32,283,194
1965 4,280,923 31,954,292
1964 4,252,876 31,609,195
1963 4,225,675 31,296,651
1962 4,196,712 31,023,366
1961 4,167,292 30,739,250
1960 4,140,181 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.9% of the population in Croatia and 21.6% in Spain.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Spain
2100 -0.82% -0.52%
2099 -0.82% -0.51%
2098 -0.82% -0.5%
2097 -0.83% -0.48%
2096 -0.82% -0.48%
2095 -0.82% -0.47%
2094 -0.81% -0.46%
2093 -0.81% -0.46%
2092 -0.8% -0.46%
2091 -0.79% -0.48%
2090 -0.8% -0.48%
2089 -0.8% -0.47%
2088 -0.79% -0.46%
2087 -0.79% -0.46%
2086 -0.79% -0.48%
2085 -0.8% -0.49%
2084 -0.8% -0.5%
2083 -0.8% -0.51%
2082 -0.8% -0.53%
2081 -0.81% -0.55%
2080 -0.82% -0.57%
2079 -0.82% -0.58%
2078 -0.83% -0.61%
2077 -0.83% -0.64%
2076 -0.83% -0.67%
2075 -0.82% -0.7%
2074 -0.82% -0.71%
2073 -0.84% -0.74%
2072 -0.82% -0.74%
2071 -0.81% -0.77%
2070 -0.84% -0.76%
2069 -0.85% -0.79%
2068 -0.85% -0.78%
2067 -0.85% -0.79%
2066 -0.85% -0.78%
2065 -0.83% -0.8%
2064 -0.85% -0.78%
2063 -0.86% -0.79%
2062 -0.85% -0.77%
2061 -0.85% -0.73%
2060 -0.84% -0.72%
2059 -0.84% -0.69%
2058 -0.83% -0.69%
2057 -0.84% -0.68%
2056 -0.82% -0.62%
2055 -0.81% -0.59%
2054 -0.81% -0.58%
2053 -0.8% -0.54%
2052 -0.8% -0.49%
2051 -0.8% -0.47%
2050 -0.79% -0.47%
2049 -0.78% -0.42%
2048 -0.78% -0.4%
2047 -0.76% -0.38%
2046 -0.76% -0.36%
2045 -0.76% -0.33%
2044 -0.73% -0.3%
2043 -0.72% -0.3%
2042 -0.71% -0.28%
2041 -0.69% -0.27%
2040 -0.68% -0.26%
2039 -0.68% -0.24%
2038 -0.68% -0.23%
2037 -0.64% -0.23%
2036 -0.62% -0.22%
2035 -0.65% -0.2%
2034 -0.64% -0.19%
2033 -0.65% -0.19%
2032 -0.66% -0.19%
2031 -0.63% -0.17%
2030 -0.64% -0.14%
2029 -0.62% -0.12%
2028 -0.65% -0.1%
2027 -0.66% -0.1%
2026 -0.68% -0.06%
2025 -0.72% -0.02%
2024 0.17% 1.03%
2023 0.1% 1.19%
2022 -0.6% 0.72%
2021 -0.9% 0.18%
2020 -0.89% 0.51%
2019 -0.99% 0.72%
2018 -1.3% 0.45%
2017 -1.59% 0.24%
2016 -1.08% 0.08%
2015 -1.19% -0.08%
2014 -0.76% -0.31%
2013 -0.62% -0.36%
2012 -0.47% 0.06%
2011 -0.34% 0.36%
2010 -0.23% 0.46%
2009 -0.1% 0.89%
2008 -0.01% 1.61%
2007 -0.02% 1.87%
2006 0.02% 1.7%
2005 0.13% 1.7%
2004 0.03% 1.74%
2003 0.03% 1.82%
2002 0.06% 1.42%
2001 -3.77% 0.7%
2000 -0.98% 0.45%
1999 -0.43% 0.41%
1998 -0.06% 0.41%
1997 -0.49% 0.42%
1996 -1.36% 0.42%
1995 -0.69% 0.44%
1994 1.12% 0.48%
1993 0.54% 0.52%
1992 -2.41% 0.49%
1991 -1.85% 0.25%
1990 0.21% 0.1%
1989 0.25% 0.16%
1988 0.33% 0.21%
1987 0.39% 0.26%
1986 0.43% 0.3%
1985 0.45% 0.36%
1984 0.47% 0.42%
1983 0.52% 0.49%
1982 0.49% 0.6%
1981 0.25% 0.71%
1980 0.11% 0.81%
1979 0.3% 0.89%
1978 0.47% 0.97%
1977 0.52% 1.03%
1976 0.53% 1.06%
1975 0.48% 1.09%
1974 0.46% 1.1%
1973 0.44% 1.11%
1972 0.44% 1.11%
1971 0.43% 1.21%
1970 0.47% 1.12%
1969 0.59% 0.99%
1968 0.62% 1.32%
1967 0.65% 1.24%
1966 0.7% 1.03%
1965 0.66% 1.09%
1964 0.64% 1%
1963 0.69% 0.88%
1962 0.71% 0.92%
1961 0.65% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Croatia Spain
Current population
3812193
48806901
Population rank 129/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.59%
One net population change
1.34 hours
1.06 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 100/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 +96,630
Net migration rank 112/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 96,630
2024 - -5,186 - 111,674
2023 -19,298 10,202 -111,211 119,099
2022 -23,134 11,681 -133,801 299,779
2021 -26,377 -4,517 -113,865 144,385
2020 -20,354 -8,552 -151,551 236,854
2019 -15,008 -13,239 -56,542 464,783
2018 -15,557 -25,016 -56,139 337,467
2017 -16,570 -44,557 -32,600 201,135
2016 -13,553 -32,144 0 106,474
2015 -16,607 -27,501 -4,642 -1,979
2014 -11,345 -13,127 32,522 -97,870
2013 -10,162 -6,245 37,284 -250,741
2012 -9,799 -4,794 51,450 -153,486
2011 -9,846 -17,463 84,137 60,761
2010 -8,591 -3,995 102,469 69,406
2009 -7,319 1,358 106,635 129,557
2008 -8,188 6,495 133,267 434,135
2007 -10,335 8,893 108,545 772,317
2006 -8,669 10,852 110,994 659,720
2005 -9,022 10,629 78,576 629,803
2004 -9,040 15,445 85,844 661,158
2003 -12,480 12,556 54,844 658,428
2002 -10,325 10,306 53,861 737,880
2001 -8,599 19,298 44,936 181,307
2000 -6,255 -47,629 36,512 176,269
1999 -6,769 -47,418 8,077 178,559
1998 -4,985 -47,931 4,022 182,926
1997 3,175 -52,897 20,028 165,345
1996 3,190 -53,688 11,967 162,704
1995 0 -51,882 15,889 162,434
1994 -930 -50,444 31,639 160,407
1993 -2,301 -49,615 47,234 160,907
1992 -4,576 -47,865 62,652 177,544
1991 -2,813 -31,968 58,450 122,841
1990 3,344 9,538 66,075 -30,684
1989 3,337 8,471 81,538 -25,892
1988 5,707 7,242 100,794 -17,663
1987 6,161 6,956 116,054 -12,681
1986 8,499 6,261 131,188 -13,540
1985 10,343 5,550 146,184 -589
1984 10,764 5,757 172,487 2,754
1983 10,714 6,323 183,223 1,241
1982 15,756 7,475 231,714 -7,384
1981 15,680 4,872 237,879 2,563
1980 17,939 -5,486 281,184 20,166
1979 21,136 -5,740 312,407 -5,929
1978 20,157 -7,329 339,157 -2,504
1977 22,798 -7,339 361,465 -1,332
1976 22,226 -7,400 375,834 2,804
1975 21,658 -7,366 371,882 -218
1974 22,453 -8,076 396,182 105,838
1973 21,904 -8,335 374,381 8,624
1972 17,802 -7,277 391,030 7,935
1971 19,941 -5,608 369,625 7,363
1970 16,767 -2,359 378,723 -60,580
1969 16,688 -2,796 367,851 -49,956
1968 21,828 -2,799 387,423 -46,088
1967 26,032 -3,518 402,001 -42,344
1966 33,192 -6,341 397,084 -41,467
1965 31,251 -5,253 405,819 -42,476
1964 25,942 -2,090 429,885 -41,461
1963 31,270 -1,289 394,338 -44,446
1962 30,216 -2,176 384,690 -45,211
1961 36,255 -6,567 396,537 -46,517
1960 34,778 -21,768 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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