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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 10,569,709 people in Sweden in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 10,680,056 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Sweden's population is 2.8 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 91st.
  • The countries together account for 0.17% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.13% for Sweden.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +0.88% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.6% growth).

Croatia vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Sweden
2100 2,137,465 11,357,586
2099 2,155,186 11,361,443
2098 2,173,108 11,365,725
2097 2,190,995 11,366,889
2096 2,209,326 11,368,572
2095 2,227,698 11,371,525
2094 2,246,224 11,374,169
2093 2,264,550 11,376,054
2092 2,283,068 11,378,099
2091 2,301,556 11,379,549
2090 2,319,851 11,381,475
2089 2,338,604 11,384,408
2088 2,357,581 11,387,073
2087 2,376,274 11,390,874
2086 2,395,139 11,398,223
2085 2,414,304 11,403,279
2084 2,433,813 11,408,050
2083 2,453,361 11,411,588
2082 2,473,204 11,416,796
2081 2,493,128 11,418,438
2080 2,513,378 11,420,629
2079 2,534,101 11,420,158
2078 2,554,982 11,418,032
2077 2,576,370 11,415,948
2076 2,597,887 11,412,112
2075 2,619,688 11,407,978
2074 2,641,342 11,404,682
2073 2,663,253 11,401,754
2072 2,685,714 11,398,056
2071 2,708,053 11,393,134
2070 2,730,187 11,389,416
2069 2,753,302 11,385,560
2068 2,776,996 11,384,165
2067 2,800,742 11,383,331
2066 2,824,811 11,383,335
2065 2,848,913 11,382,611
2064 2,872,881 11,381,643
2063 2,897,651 11,381,489
2062 2,922,653 11,382,109
2061 2,947,832 11,379,849
2060 2,973,162 11,378,661
2059 2,998,389 11,376,317
2058 3,023,822 11,372,527
2057 3,049,085 11,367,109
2056 3,074,796 11,361,843
2055 3,100,195 11,354,884
2054 3,125,459 11,347,343
2053 3,151,016 11,336,678
2052 3,176,316 11,322,876
2051 3,201,973 11,306,983
2050 3,227,869 11,287,973
2049 3,253,597 11,268,461
2048 3,279,316 11,247,615
2047 3,305,051 11,225,655
2046 3,330,260 11,202,749
2045 3,355,638 11,178,920
2044 3,381,196 11,153,887
2043 3,406,105 11,128,417
2042 3,430,854 11,102,505
2041 3,455,487 11,078,898
2040 3,479,631 11,054,498
2039 3,503,577 11,031,322
2038 3,527,583 11,008,943
2037 3,551,581 10,987,323
2036 3,574,520 10,964,438
2035 3,596,996 10,941,953
2034 3,620,363 10,919,289
2033 3,643,692 10,895,104
2032 3,667,478 10,869,796
2031 3,691,842 10,844,434
2030 3,715,373 10,815,888
2029 3,739,203 10,784,274
2028 3,762,505 10,749,191
2027 3,787,023 10,710,226
2026 3,812,193 10,668,870
2025 3,838,346 10,621,495
2024 3,866,200 10,569,709
2023 3,859,686 10,536,632
2022 3,855,641 10,486,941
2021 3,878,981 10,415,811
2020 3,914,206 10,353,442
2019 3,949,390 10,278,887
2018 3,988,775 10,175,214
2017 4,041,407 10,057,698
2016 4,106,867 9,923,085
2015 4,151,725 9,799,186
2014 4,201,598 9,696,110
2013 4,233,922 9,600,379
2012 4,260,368 9,519,374
2011 4,280,622 9,449,213
2010 4,295,427 9,378,126
2009 4,305,181 9,298,515
2008 4,309,705 9,219,637
2007 4,310,217 9,148,092
2006 4,311,159 9,080,505
2005 4,310,145 9,029,572
2004 4,304,600 8,993,531
2003 4,303,399 8,958,229
2002 4,302,174 8,924,958
2001 4,299,642 8,895,960
2000 4,468,302 8,872,109
1999 4,512,597 8,857,874
1998 4,532,135 8,850,974
1997 4,534,920 8,846,062
1996 4,557,097 8,840,998
1995 4,620,030 8,826,939
1994 4,652,024 8,780,745
1993 4,600,463 8,718,561
1992 4,575,818 8,668,067
1991 4,689,022 8,617,375
1990 4,777,368 8,558,835
1989 4,767,260 8,492,964
1988 4,755,207 8,436,489
1987 4,739,745 8,397,804
1986 4,721,446 8,369,829
1985 4,701,417 8,350,386
1984 4,680,285 8,336,605
1983 4,658,254 8,329,033
1982 4,634,234 8,325,263
1981 4,611,509 8,320,503
1980 4,599,782 8,310,531
1979 4,594,778 8,293,678
1978 4,581,085 8,275,599
1977 4,559,571 8,251,540
1976 4,535,934 8,222,286
1975 4,512,082 8,192,437
1974 4,490,660 8,159,955
1973 4,470,161 8,136,312
1972 4,450,564 8,122,300
1971 4,431,275 8,098,334
1970 4,412,252 8,042,801
1969 4,391,490 7,968,072
1968 4,365,628 7,912,273
1967 4,338,683 7,867,931
1966 4,310,701 7,807,797
1965 4,280,923 7,733,853
1964 4,252,876 7,661,354
1963 4,225,675 7,604,328
1962 4,196,712 7,561,588
1961 4,167,292 7,519,998
1960 4,140,181 7,484,656

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/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Sweden gained 842,580 people (a 9.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Sweden's population increased by 756,971 people (a 7.63% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Sweden will increase by 5.69% to 11,287,973 people and rank change from 91st to 93rd.

Sweden is projected to reach its peak in 2080 at 11.4M people, while Croatia's population already peaked in 1990 at 4.78M people and is projected to decrease to 2.14M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Sweden
2100 -0.82% -0.03%
2099 -0.82% -0.04%
2098 -0.82% -0.01%
2097 -0.83% -0.01%
2096 -0.82% -0.03%
2095 -0.82% -0.02%
2094 -0.81% -0.02%
2093 -0.81% -0.02%
2092 -0.8% -0.01%
2091 -0.79% -0.02%
2090 -0.8% -0.03%
2089 -0.8% -0.02%
2088 -0.79% -0.03%
2087 -0.79% -0.06%
2086 -0.79% -0.04%
2085 -0.8% -0.04%
2084 -0.8% -0.03%
2083 -0.8% -0.05%
2082 -0.8% -0.01%
2081 -0.81% -0.02%
2080 -0.82% 0.004%
2079 -0.82% 0.02%
2078 -0.83% 0.02%
2077 -0.83% 0.03%
2076 -0.83% 0.04%
2075 -0.82% 0.03%
2074 -0.82% 0.03%
2073 -0.84% 0.03%
2072 -0.82% 0.04%
2071 -0.81% 0.03%
2070 -0.84% 0.03%
2069 -0.85% 0.01%
2068 -0.85% 0.007%
2067 -0.85% -0%
2066 -0.85% 0.006%
2065 -0.83% 0.009%
2064 -0.85% 0.001%
2063 -0.86% -0.005%
2062 -0.85% 0.02%
2061 -0.85% 0.01%
2060 -0.84% 0.02%
2059 -0.84% 0.03%
2058 -0.83% 0.05%
2057 -0.84% 0.05%
2056 -0.82% 0.06%
2055 -0.81% 0.07%
2054 -0.81% 0.09%
2053 -0.8% 0.12%
2052 -0.8% 0.14%
2051 -0.8% 0.17%
2050 -0.79% 0.17%
2049 -0.78% 0.19%
2048 -0.78% 0.2%
2047 -0.76% 0.2%
2046 -0.76% 0.21%
2045 -0.76% 0.22%
2044 -0.73% 0.23%
2043 -0.72% 0.23%
2042 -0.71% 0.21%
2041 -0.69% 0.22%
2040 -0.68% 0.21%
2039 -0.68% 0.2%
2038 -0.68% 0.2%
2037 -0.64% 0.21%
2036 -0.62% 0.21%
2035 -0.65% 0.21%
2034 -0.64% 0.22%
2033 -0.65% 0.23%
2032 -0.66% 0.23%
2031 -0.63% 0.26%
2030 -0.64% 0.29%
2029 -0.62% 0.33%
2028 -0.65% 0.36%
2027 -0.66% 0.39%
2026 -0.68% 0.45%
2025 -0.72% 0.49%
2024 0.17% 0.31%
2023 0.1% 0.47%
2022 -0.6% 0.68%
2021 -0.9% 0.6%
2020 -0.89% 0.73%
2019 -0.99% 1.02%
2018 -1.3% 1.17%
2017 -1.59% 1.36%
2016 -1.08% 1.26%
2015 -1.19% 1.06%
2014 -0.76% 1%
2013 -0.62% 0.85%
2012 -0.47% 0.74%
2011 -0.34% 0.76%
2010 -0.23% 0.86%
2009 -0.1% 0.86%
2008 -0.01% 0.78%
2007 -0.02% 0.74%
2006 0.02% 0.56%
2005 0.13% 0.4%
2004 0.03% 0.39%
2003 0.03% 0.37%
2002 0.06% 0.33%
2001 -3.77% 0.27%
2000 -0.98% 0.16%
1999 -0.43% 0.08%
1998 -0.06% 0.06%
1997 -0.49% 0.06%
1996 -1.36% 0.16%
1995 -0.69% 0.53%
1994 1.12% 0.71%
1993 0.54% 0.58%
1992 -2.41% 0.59%
1991 -1.85% 0.68%
1990 0.21% 0.78%
1989 0.25% 0.67%
1988 0.33% 0.46%
1987 0.39% 0.33%
1986 0.43% 0.23%
1985 0.45% 0.17%
1984 0.47% 0.09%
1983 0.52% 0.05%
1982 0.49% 0.06%
1981 0.25% 0.12%
1980 0.11% 0.2%
1979 0.3% 0.22%
1978 0.47% 0.29%
1977 0.52% 0.36%
1976 0.53% 0.36%
1975 0.48% 0.4%
1974 0.46% 0.29%
1973 0.44% 0.17%
1972 0.44% 0.3%
1971 0.43% 0.69%
1970 0.47% 0.94%
1969 0.59% 0.71%
1968 0.62% 0.56%
1967 0.65% 0.77%
1966 0.7% 0.96%
1965 0.66% 0.95%
1964 0.64% 0.75%
1963 0.69% 0.57%
1962 0.71% 0.55%
1961 0.65% 0.47%

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/sweden | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Croatia Sweden
Current population
3812193
10680056
Population rank 129/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.13%
One net population change
1.34 hours
15.9 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
5.25 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
5.54 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +91
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +33,077
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 149/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 +47,079
Net migration rank 112/196 22/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 2,272,158
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 34/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 21.4%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 28/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Sweden
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Sweden
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 47,079
2024 - -5,186 - 50,115
2023 -19,298 10,202 5,269 55,209
2022 -23,134 11,681 10,487 58,955
2021 -26,377 -4,517 22,914 51,947
2020 -20,354 -8,552 14,495 37,302
2019 -15,008 -13,239 25,697 72,619
2018 -15,557 -25,016 23,403 87,517
2017 -16,570 -44,557 24,138 102,671
2016 -13,553 -32,144 25,800 119,234
2015 -16,607 -27,501 23,518 80,534
2014 -11,345 -13,127 26,179 77,654
2013 -10,162 -6,245 23,041 66,760
2012 -9,799 -4,794 20,943 52,879
2011 -9,846 -17,463 21,733 46,049
2010 -8,591 -3,995 25,320 51,175
2009 -7,319 1,358 21,387 63,638
2008 -8,188 6,495 18,439 56,452
2007 -10,335 8,893 15,552 54,907
2006 -8,669 10,852 15,436 51,675
2005 -9,022 10,629 9,030 27,030
2004 -9,040 15,445 9,893 25,842
2003 -12,480 12,556 6,271 29,161
2002 -10,325 10,306 893 31,364
2001 -8,599 19,298 -1,779 28,856
2000 -6,255 -47,629 -2,662 24,900
1999 -6,769 -47,418 -6,201 13,940
1998 -4,985 -47,931 -3,541 11,325
1997 3,175 -52,897 -3,539 6,047
1996 3,190 -53,688 1,768 5,773
1995 0 -51,882 9,710 11,621
1994 -930 -50,444 20,196 51,545
1993 -2,301 -49,615 20,924 32,725
1992 -4,576 -47,865 28,605 20,507
1991 -2,813 -31,968 29,299 25,314
1990 3,344 9,538 29,100 35,668
1989 3,337 8,471 24,629 44,565
1988 5,707 7,242 15,186 30,064
1987 6,161 6,956 11,757 21,335
1986 8,499 6,261 9,206 15,211
1985 10,343 5,550 4,175 11,464
1984 10,764 5,757 3,335 8,668
1983 10,714 6,323 833 2,105
1982 15,756 7,475 1,665 2,524
1981 15,680 4,872 1,664 3,209
1980 17,939 -5,486 5,818 10,040
1979 21,136 -5,740 4,976 13,895
1978 20,157 -7,329 4,138 13,807
1977 22,798 -7,339 7,426 23,528
1976 22,226 -7,400 8,222 20,324
1975 21,658 -7,366 14,746 16,564
1974 22,453 -8,076 23,664 9,217
1973 21,904 -8,335 24,409 -9,551
1972 17,802 -7,277 28,428 -13,519
1971 19,941 -5,608 31,583 2,334
1970 16,767 -2,359 30,563 47,242
1969 16,688 -2,796 23,904 48,824
1968 21,828 -2,799 30,858 8,545
1967 26,032 -3,518 41,700 11,075
1966 33,192 -6,341 45,286 24,920
1965 31,251 -5,253 44,857 32,444
1964 25,942 -2,090 45,968 23,581
1963 31,270 -1,289 35,741 11,009
1962 30,216 -2,176 30,246 9,627
1961 36,255 -6,567 30,832 14,401
1960 34,778 -21,768 27,693 1,080

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/sweden | 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 Sweden 21.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 201,900 people) and 78.6% is from migration (a gain of 743,642 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 2,272,158 people or 21.4% in Sweden.

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
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/sweden | 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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