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Population in Croatia compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 5.7 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.73% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Croatia vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Sri Lanka
2100 2,158,545 20,009,380
2099 2,176,440 20,121,095
2098 2,194,539 20,234,513
2097 2,212,602 20,345,619
2096 2,231,114 20,456,607
2095 2,249,667 20,566,246
2094 2,268,376 20,674,019
2093 2,286,882 20,780,946
2092 2,305,583 20,886,274
2091 2,324,254 20,990,047
2090 2,342,729 21,095,968
2089 2,361,668 21,198,788
2088 2,380,831 21,299,229
2087 2,399,709 21,398,269
2086 2,418,760 21,496,892
2085 2,438,113 21,594,661
2084 2,457,815 21,687,323
2083 2,477,556 21,778,597
2082 2,497,595 21,866,395
2081 2,517,715 21,954,337
2080 2,538,164 22,038,953
2079 2,559,092 22,122,744
2078 2,580,179 22,200,069
2077 2,601,778 22,274,355
2076 2,623,507 22,345,857
2075 2,645,523 22,414,609
2074 2,667,391 22,485,066
2073 2,689,518 22,550,427
2072 2,712,201 22,610,645
2071 2,734,759 22,669,042
2070 2,757,112 22,725,948
2069 2,780,455 22,779,050
2068 2,804,383 22,831,596
2067 2,828,363 22,885,941
2066 2,852,669 22,935,123
2065 2,877,009 22,985,942
2064 2,901,213 23,030,844
2063 2,926,228 23,071,114
2062 2,951,475 23,107,970
2061 2,976,903 23,139,924
2060 3,002,483 23,171,649
2059 3,027,959 23,199,387
2058 3,053,643 23,224,997
2057 3,079,155 23,247,211
2056 3,105,119 23,267,292
2055 3,130,769 23,278,653
2054 3,156,282 23,287,520
2053 3,182,091 23,297,347
2052 3,207,640 23,301,287
2051 3,233,551 23,302,108
2050 3,259,702 23,299,282
2049 3,285,684 23,293,630
2048 3,311,657 23,283,465
2047 3,337,645 23,267,251
2046 3,363,102 23,244,081
2045 3,388,731 23,212,221
2044 3,414,541 23,181,041
2043 3,439,695 23,144,217
2042 3,464,688 23,103,489
2041 3,489,565 23,056,478
2040 3,513,946 23,005,928
2039 3,538,129 22,948,866
2038 3,562,371 22,888,821
2037 3,586,606 22,822,943
2036 3,609,771 22,756,462
2035 3,632,470 22,685,766
2034 3,656,066 22,611,514
2033 3,679,626 22,532,374
2032 3,703,646 22,449,310
2031 3,728,250 22,364,063
2030 3,752,014 22,273,377
2029 3,776,079 22,181,300
2028 3,799,610 22,082,826
2027 3,824,370 21,979,196
2026 3,849,788 21,870,145
2025 3,876,200 21,756,000
2024 3,866,200 21,916,000
2023 3,859,686 22,037,000
2022 3,855,641 22,181,000
2021 3,878,981 22,156,000
2020 3,914,206 21,919,000
2019 3,949,390 21,803,000
2018 3,988,775 21,670,000
2017 4,041,407 21,453,000
2016 4,106,867 21,209,000
2015 4,151,725 20,970,000
2014 4,201,598 20,778,000
2013 4,233,922 20,585,000
2012 4,260,368 21,169,458
2011 4,280,622 21,009,048
2010 4,295,427 20,879,089
2009 4,305,181 20,756,435
2008 4,309,705 20,629,378
2007 4,310,217 20,492,545
2006 4,311,159 20,352,411
2005 4,310,145 20,216,524
2004 4,304,600 20,087,605
2003 4,303,399 19,951,521
2002 4,302,174 19,805,752
2001 4,299,642 19,600,362
2000 4,468,302 19,293,054
1999 4,512,597 18,944,731
1998 4,532,135 18,596,003
1997 4,534,920 18,248,200
1996 4,557,097 17,905,018
1995 4,620,030 17,564,068
1994 4,652,024 17,275,773
1993 4,600,463 17,025,918
1992 4,575,818 16,739,284
1991 4,689,022 16,475,354
1990 4,777,368 16,352,458
1989 4,767,260 16,248,557
1988 4,755,207 16,078,621
1987 4,739,745 15,916,576
1986 4,721,446 15,731,256
1985 4,701,417 15,544,154
1984 4,680,285 15,441,860
1983 4,658,254 15,388,794
1982 4,634,234 15,286,567
1981 4,611,509 15,099,414
1980 4,599,782 14,847,974
1979 4,594,778 14,579,614
1978 4,581,085 14,310,128
1977 4,559,571 14,049,371
1976 4,535,934 13,796,770
1975 4,512,082 13,548,984
1974 4,490,660 13,305,693
1973 4,470,161 13,060,916
1972 4,450,564 12,809,205
1971 4,431,275 12,551,910
1970 4,412,252 12,287,110
1969 4,391,490 12,013,858
1968 4,365,628 11,736,088
1967 4,338,683 11,457,328
1966 4,310,701 11,183,928
1965 4,280,923 10,916,965
1964 4,252,876 10,653,397
1963 4,225,675 10,395,040
1962 4,196,712 10,143,754
1961 4,167,292 9,899,372
1960 4,140,181 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.3M 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
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Sri Lanka
2100 -0.82% -0.56%
2099 -0.82% -0.56%
2098 -0.82% -0.55%
2097 -0.83% -0.54%
2096 -0.82% -0.53%
2095 -0.82% -0.52%
2094 -0.81% -0.51%
2093 -0.81% -0.5%
2092 -0.8% -0.49%
2091 -0.79% -0.5%
2090 -0.8% -0.49%
2089 -0.8% -0.47%
2088 -0.79% -0.46%
2087 -0.79% -0.46%
2086 -0.79% -0.45%
2085 -0.8% -0.43%
2084 -0.8% -0.42%
2083 -0.8% -0.4%
2082 -0.8% -0.4%
2081 -0.81% -0.38%
2080 -0.82% -0.38%
2079 -0.82% -0.35%
2078 -0.83% -0.33%
2077 -0.83% -0.32%
2076 -0.83% -0.31%
2075 -0.82% -0.31%
2074 -0.82% -0.29%
2073 -0.84% -0.27%
2072 -0.82% -0.26%
2071 -0.81% -0.25%
2070 -0.84% -0.23%
2069 -0.85% -0.23%
2068 -0.85% -0.24%
2067 -0.85% -0.21%
2066 -0.85% -0.22%
2065 -0.83% -0.19%
2064 -0.85% -0.17%
2063 -0.86% -0.16%
2062 -0.85% -0.14%
2061 -0.85% -0.14%
2060 -0.84% -0.12%
2059 -0.84% -0.11%
2058 -0.83% -0.1%
2057 -0.84% -0.09%
2056 -0.82% -0.05%
2055 -0.81% -0.04%
2054 -0.81% -0.04%
2053 -0.8% -0.02%
2052 -0.8% -0.004%
2051 -0.8% 0.01%
2050 -0.79% 0.02%
2049 -0.78% 0.04%
2048 -0.78% 0.07%
2047 -0.76% 0.1%
2046 -0.76% 0.14%
2045 -0.76% 0.13%
2044 -0.73% 0.16%
2043 -0.72% 0.18%
2042 -0.71% 0.2%
2041 -0.69% 0.22%
2040 -0.68% 0.25%
2039 -0.68% 0.26%
2038 -0.68% 0.29%
2037 -0.64% 0.29%
2036 -0.62% 0.31%
2035 -0.65% 0.33%
2034 -0.64% 0.35%
2033 -0.65% 0.37%
2032 -0.66% 0.38%
2031 -0.63% 0.41%
2030 -0.64% 0.42%
2029 -0.62% 0.45%
2028 -0.65% 0.47%
2027 -0.66% 0.5%
2026 -0.68% 0.52%
2025 0.26% -0.73%
2024 0.17% -0.55%
2023 0.1% -0.65%
2022 -0.6% 0.11%
2021 -0.9% 1.08%
2020 -0.89% 0.53%
2019 -0.99% 0.61%
2018 -1.3% 1.01%
2017 -1.59% 1.15%
2016 -1.08% 1.14%
2015 -1.19% 0.92%
2014 -0.76% 0.94%
2013 -0.62% -2.76%
2012 -0.47% 0.76%
2011 -0.34% 0.62%
2010 -0.23% 0.59%
2009 -0.1% 0.62%
2008 -0.01% 0.67%
2007 -0.02% 0.69%
2006 0.02% 0.67%
2005 0.13% 0.64%
2004 0.03% 0.68%
2003 0.03% 0.74%
2002 0.06% 1.05%
2001 -3.77% 1.59%
2000 -0.98% 1.84%
1999 -0.43% 1.88%
1998 -0.06% 1.91%
1997 -0.49% 1.92%
1996 -1.36% 1.94%
1995 -0.69% 1.67%
1994 1.12% 1.47%
1993 0.54% 1.71%
1992 -2.41% 1.6%
1991 -1.85% 0.75%
1990 0.21% 0.64%
1989 0.25% 1.06%
1988 0.33% 1.02%
1987 0.39% 1.18%
1986 0.43% 1.2%
1985 0.45% 0.66%
1984 0.47% 0.34%
1983 0.52% 0.67%
1982 0.49% 1.24%
1981 0.25% 1.69%
1980 0.11% 1.84%
1979 0.3% 1.88%
1978 0.47% 1.86%
1977 0.52% 1.83%
1976 0.53% 1.83%
1975 0.48% 1.83%
1974 0.46% 1.87%
1973 0.44% 1.97%
1972 0.44% 2.05%
1971 0.43% 2.16%
1970 0.47% 2.27%
1969 0.59% 2.37%
1968 0.62% 2.43%
1967 0.65% 2.44%
1966 0.7% 2.45%
1965 0.66% 2.47%
1964 0.64% 2.49%
1963 0.69% 2.48%
1962 0.71% 2.47%
1961 0.65% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Croatia Sri Lanka
Current population
3849788
21926160
Population rank 130/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.26%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 -438
Annual growth/decline +10,000 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 190/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 -30,724
Net migration rank 112/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -30,724
2024 -18,944 -5,186 50,407 -27,245
2023 -19,298 10,202 66,111 -28,011
2022 -23,134 11,681 95,378 -27,435
2021 -26,377 -4,517 121,858 -29,586
2020 -21,137 -8,552 170,968 -29,875
2019 -15,798 -13,239 172,243 -28,426
2018 -15,556 -25,016 183,610 -28,607
2017 -16,974 -44,557 187,993 -22,324
2016 -14,374 -32,144 194,232 -18,388
2015 -17,022 -27,501 201,815 -29,797
2014 -11,344 -13,127 211,541 -33,672
2013 -10,585 -6,245 221,021 -37,754
2012 -9,799 -4,794 229,138 -41,955
2011 -9,846 -17,463 224,461 -90,839
2010 -8,591 -3,995 224,325 -98,060
2009 -7,319 1,358 200,175 -81,130
2008 -8,188 6,495 232,225 -97,144
2007 -10,335 8,893 248,287 -109,695
2006 -8,669 10,852 248,706 -107,045
2005 -9,022 10,629 248,683 -118,594
2004 -9,040 15,445 212,527 -84,795
2003 -12,480 12,556 252,008 -107,573
2002 -10,325 10,306 252,840 -105,718
2001 -8,599 19,298 244,377 19,273
2000 -6,255 -47,629 227,060 123,894
1999 -6,769 -47,418 206,876 138,799
1998 -4,985 -47,931 201,059 150,724
1997 3,175 -52,897 208,193 135,636
1996 3,190 -53,688 215,290 127,236
1995 0 -51,882 221,957 117,416
1994 -930 -50,444 228,904 8,323
1993 -2,301 -49,615 226,257 36,232
1992 -4,576 -47,865 222,230 88,542
1991 -2,813 -31,968 218,117 -1,047
1990 3,344 9,538 224,454 -195,736
1989 3,337 8,471 212,401 -33,305
1988 5,707 7,242 219,184 -58,415
1987 6,161 6,956 226,414 -63,105
1986 8,499 6,261 233,782 -26,460
1985 10,343 5,550 247,836 -80,950
1984 10,764 5,757 263,175 -225,450
1983 10,714 6,323 277,768 -209,362
1982 15,756 7,475 300,030 -163,987
1981 15,680 4,872 328,096 -89,824
1980 17,939 -5,486 328,155 -63,541
1979 21,136 -5,740 329,791 -57,683
1978 20,157 -7,329 317,055 -50,189
1977 22,798 -7,339 300,038 -45,383
1976 22,226 -7,400 291,816 -41,258
1975 21,658 -7,366 282,496 -37,475
1974 22,453 -8,076 275,521 -33,979
1973 21,904 -8,335 278,577 -30,582
1972 17,802 -7,277 282,494 -27,071
1971 19,941 -5,608 281,200 -22,021
1970 16,767 -2,359 286,719 -16,299
1969 16,688 -2,796 286,218 -10,152
1968 21,828 -2,799 286,642 -7,163
1967 26,032 -3,518 284,738 -6,696
1966 33,192 -6,341 275,549 -6,794
1965 31,251 -5,253 272,422 -7,249
1964 25,942 -2,090 269,584 -7,614
1963 31,270 -1,289 262,880 -8,118
1962 30,216 -2,176 256,719 -8,909
1961 36,255 -6,567 251,087 -10,144
1960 34,778 -21,768 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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