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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 10,596,620 people in Sweden in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 10,665,077 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Sweden's population is 2.77 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 93rd.
  • 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 -0.73% per year vs +0.81% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.5% growth).

Croatia vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Sweden
2100 2,158,545 11,330,987
2099 2,176,440 11,334,835
2098 2,194,539 11,339,107
2097 2,212,602 11,340,268
2096 2,231,114 11,341,947
2095 2,249,667 11,344,893
2094 2,268,376 11,347,531
2093 2,286,882 11,349,412
2092 2,305,583 11,351,452
2091 2,324,254 11,352,899
2090 2,342,729 11,354,820
2089 2,361,668 11,357,746
2088 2,380,831 11,360,405
2087 2,399,709 11,364,197
2086 2,418,760 11,371,529
2085 2,438,113 11,376,573
2084 2,457,815 11,381,332
2083 2,477,556 11,384,862
2082 2,497,595 11,390,058
2081 2,517,715 11,391,696
2080 2,538,164 11,393,882
2079 2,559,092 11,393,412
2078 2,580,179 11,391,291
2077 2,601,778 11,389,212
2076 2,623,507 11,385,385
2075 2,645,523 11,381,261
2074 2,667,391 11,377,973
2073 2,689,518 11,375,051
2072 2,712,201 11,371,362
2071 2,734,759 11,366,451
2070 2,757,112 11,362,742
2069 2,780,455 11,358,895
2068 2,804,383 11,357,504
2067 2,828,363 11,356,672
2066 2,852,669 11,356,676
2065 2,877,009 11,355,953
2064 2,901,213 11,354,988
2063 2,926,228 11,354,834
2062 2,951,475 11,355,452
2061 2,976,903 11,353,198
2060 3,002,483 11,352,013
2059 3,027,959 11,349,674
2058 3,053,643 11,345,893
2057 3,079,155 11,340,487
2056 3,105,119 11,335,234
2055 3,130,769 11,328,291
2054 3,156,282 11,320,768
2053 3,182,091 11,310,127
2052 3,207,640 11,296,358
2051 3,233,551 11,280,503
2050 3,259,702 11,261,537
2049 3,285,684 11,242,070
2048 3,311,657 11,221,274
2047 3,337,645 11,199,365
2046 3,363,102 11,176,512
2045 3,388,731 11,152,739
2044 3,414,541 11,127,765
2043 3,439,695 11,102,354
2042 3,464,688 11,076,504
2041 3,489,565 11,052,951
2040 3,513,946 11,028,609
2039 3,538,129 11,005,487
2038 3,562,371 10,983,160
2037 3,586,606 10,961,591
2036 3,609,771 10,938,759
2035 3,632,470 10,916,327
2034 3,656,066 10,893,717
2033 3,679,626 10,869,588
2032 3,703,646 10,844,339
2031 3,728,250 10,819,037
2030 3,752,014 10,790,557
2029 3,776,079 10,759,017
2028 3,799,610 10,724,017
2027 3,824,370 10,685,143
2026 3,849,788 10,643,884
2025 3,876,200 10,596,620
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Sweden's population increased by 741,992 people (a 7.48% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 93rd 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 Sweden will increase by 5.59% to 11,261,537 people and will still be ranked 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 2.16M 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 0.26% 0.25%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/sweden | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

Croatia Sweden
Current population
3849788
10665077
Population rank 130/197 93/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.13%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
19.6 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
5.35 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
5.78 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 +74
Annual growth/decline +10,000 +26,911
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 148/197
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 -18,944 -5,186 7,399 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 -21,137 -8,552 14,495 37,302
2019 -15,798 -13,239 25,697 72,619
2018 -15,556 -25,016 23,403 87,517
2017 -16,974 -44,557 24,138 102,671
2016 -14,374 -32,144 25,800 119,234
2015 -17,022 -27,501 23,518 80,534
2014 -11,344 -13,127 26,179 77,654
2013 -10,585 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/sweden | 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 Sweden 20.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 183,120 people) and 79.6% is from migration (a gain of 716,103 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 (1960–2025, 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/sweden | 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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