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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 7.04 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.37% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Croatia vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Syria
2100 2,137,465 44,620,090
2099 2,155,186 44,690,260
2098 2,173,108 44,750,249
2097 2,190,995 44,813,148
2096 2,209,326 44,867,740
2095 2,227,698 44,895,489
2094 2,246,224 44,945,231
2093 2,264,550 44,974,311
2092 2,283,068 45,003,795
2091 2,301,556 45,016,478
2090 2,319,851 45,048,083
2089 2,338,604 45,047,102
2088 2,357,581 45,041,864
2087 2,376,274 45,049,516
2086 2,395,139 45,068,928
2085 2,414,304 45,034,847
2084 2,433,813 44,999,929
2083 2,453,361 44,971,600
2082 2,473,204 44,910,859
2081 2,493,128 44,843,908
2080 2,513,378 44,744,718
2079 2,534,101 44,687,371
2078 2,554,982 44,649,760
2077 2,576,370 44,604,175
2076 2,597,887 44,520,132
2075 2,619,688 44,426,423
2074 2,641,342 44,328,795
2073 2,663,253 44,221,016
2072 2,685,714 44,084,262
2071 2,708,053 43,939,848
2070 2,730,187 43,795,999
2069 2,753,302 43,648,130
2068 2,776,996 43,465,442
2067 2,800,742 43,271,173
2066 2,824,811 43,060,752
2065 2,848,913 42,810,442
2064 2,872,881 42,559,554
2063 2,897,651 42,311,907
2062 2,922,653 42,062,193
2061 2,947,832 41,808,082
2060 2,973,162 41,522,274
2059 2,998,389 41,208,825
2058 3,023,822 40,925,728
2057 3,049,085 40,643,453
2056 3,074,796 40,332,578
2055 3,100,195 40,026,632
2054 3,125,459 39,691,425
2053 3,151,016 39,348,020
2052 3,176,316 39,045,268
2051 3,201,973 38,733,827
2050 3,227,869 38,410,423
2049 3,253,597 38,089,455
2048 3,279,316 37,784,449
2047 3,305,051 37,492,636
2046 3,330,260 37,181,526
2045 3,355,638 36,843,579
2044 3,381,196 36,526,509
2043 3,406,105 36,188,225
2042 3,430,854 35,825,419
2041 3,455,487 35,447,414
2040 3,479,631 35,042,107
2039 3,503,577 34,626,945
2038 3,527,583 34,183,740
2037 3,551,581 33,703,682
2036 3,574,520 33,223,843
2035 3,596,996 32,696,648
2034 3,620,363 32,148,814
2033 3,643,692 31,562,427
2032 3,667,478 30,967,322
2031 3,691,842 30,329,874
2030 3,715,373 29,672,629
2029 3,739,203 28,949,535
2028 3,762,505 28,217,748
2027 3,787,023 27,428,807
2026 3,812,193 26,607,148
2025 3,838,346 25,689,551
2024 3,866,200 24,672,760
2023 3,859,686 23,594,623
2022 3,855,641 22,462,173
2021 3,878,981 21,628,839
2020 3,914,206 21,049,429
2019 3,949,390 20,353,534
2018 3,988,775 19,577,845
2017 4,041,407 19,224,668
2016 4,106,867 19,193,834
2015 4,151,725 19,424,618
2014 4,201,598 20,273,659
2013 4,233,922 21,666,917
2012 4,260,368 22,759,763
2011 4,280,622 22,878,098
2010 4,295,427 22,482,421
2009 4,305,181 21,976,969
2008 4,309,705 21,636,564
2007 4,310,217 20,884,125
2006 4,311,159 19,637,022
2005 4,310,145 18,814,091
2004 4,304,600 18,336,875
2003 4,303,399 17,889,296
2002 4,302,174 17,468,332
2001 4,299,642 17,051,338
2000 4,468,302 16,637,888
1999 4,512,597 16,228,061
1998 4,532,135 15,820,413
1997 4,534,920 15,417,542
1996 4,557,097 15,018,104
1995 4,620,030 14,616,801
1994 4,652,024 14,208,583
1993 4,600,463 13,795,686
1992 4,575,818 13,385,571
1991 4,689,022 12,980,821
1990 4,777,368 12,579,208
1989 4,767,260 12,179,060
1988 4,755,207 11,782,264
1987 4,739,745 11,388,923
1986 4,721,446 11,002,844
1985 4,701,417 10,625,672
1984 4,680,285 10,258,398
1983 4,658,254 9,904,809
1982 4,634,234 9,572,511
1981 4,611,509 9,260,189
1980 4,599,782 8,957,663
1979 4,594,778 8,661,909
1978 4,581,085 8,372,759
1977 4,559,571 8,090,501
1976 4,535,934 7,817,320
1975 4,512,082 7,554,364
1974 4,490,660 7,302,160
1973 4,470,161 7,060,321
1972 4,450,564 6,826,024
1971 4,431,275 6,598,094
1970 4,412,252 6,380,609
1969 4,391,490 6,175,166
1968 4,365,628 5,978,742
1967 4,338,683 5,790,198
1966 4,310,701 5,609,047
1965 4,280,923 5,435,267
1964 4,252,876 5,269,087
1963 4,225,675 5,110,467
1962 4,196,712 4,959,340
1961 4,167,292 4,815,466
1960 4,140,181 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Syria is projected to reach its peak in 2086 at 45.1M 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
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Syria
2100 -0.82% -0.16%
2099 -0.82% -0.13%
2098 -0.82% -0.14%
2097 -0.83% -0.12%
2096 -0.82% -0.06%
2095 -0.82% -0.11%
2094 -0.81% -0.06%
2093 -0.81% -0.07%
2092 -0.8% -0.03%
2091 -0.79% -0.07%
2090 -0.8% 0.002%
2089 -0.8% 0.01%
2088 -0.79% -0.02%
2087 -0.79% -0.04%
2086 -0.79% 0.08%
2085 -0.8% 0.08%
2084 -0.8% 0.06%
2083 -0.8% 0.14%
2082 -0.8% 0.15%
2081 -0.81% 0.22%
2080 -0.82% 0.13%
2079 -0.82% 0.08%
2078 -0.83% 0.1%
2077 -0.83% 0.19%
2076 -0.83% 0.21%
2075 -0.82% 0.22%
2074 -0.82% 0.24%
2073 -0.84% 0.31%
2072 -0.82% 0.33%
2071 -0.81% 0.33%
2070 -0.84% 0.34%
2069 -0.85% 0.42%
2068 -0.85% 0.45%
2067 -0.85% 0.49%
2066 -0.85% 0.58%
2065 -0.83% 0.59%
2064 -0.85% 0.59%
2063 -0.86% 0.59%
2062 -0.85% 0.61%
2061 -0.85% 0.69%
2060 -0.84% 0.76%
2059 -0.84% 0.69%
2058 -0.83% 0.69%
2057 -0.84% 0.77%
2056 -0.82% 0.76%
2055 -0.81% 0.84%
2054 -0.81% 0.87%
2053 -0.8% 0.78%
2052 -0.8% 0.8%
2051 -0.8% 0.84%
2050 -0.79% 0.84%
2049 -0.78% 0.81%
2048 -0.78% 0.78%
2047 -0.76% 0.84%
2046 -0.76% 0.92%
2045 -0.76% 0.87%
2044 -0.73% 0.93%
2043 -0.72% 1.01%
2042 -0.71% 1.07%
2041 -0.69% 1.16%
2040 -0.68% 1.2%
2039 -0.68% 1.3%
2038 -0.68% 1.42%
2037 -0.64% 1.44%
2036 -0.62% 1.61%
2035 -0.65% 1.7%
2034 -0.64% 1.86%
2033 -0.65% 1.92%
2032 -0.66% 2.1%
2031 -0.63% 2.21%
2030 -0.64% 2.5%
2029 -0.62% 2.59%
2028 -0.65% 2.88%
2027 -0.66% 3.09%
2026 -0.68% 3.57%
2025 -0.72% 4.12%
2024 0.17% 4.57%
2023 0.1% 5.04%
2022 -0.6% 3.85%
2021 -0.9% 2.75%
2020 -0.89% 3.42%
2019 -0.99% 3.96%
2018 -1.3% 1.84%
2017 -1.59% 0.16%
2016 -1.08% -1.19%
2015 -1.19% -4.19%
2014 -0.76% -6.43%
2013 -0.62% -4.8%
2012 -0.47% -0.52%
2011 -0.34% 1.76%
2010 -0.23% 2.3%
2009 -0.1% 1.57%
2008 -0.01% 3.6%
2007 -0.02% 6.35%
2006 0.02% 4.37%
2005 0.13% 2.6%
2004 0.03% 2.5%
2003 0.03% 2.41%
2002 0.06% 2.45%
2001 -3.77% 2.48%
2000 -0.98% 2.53%
1999 -0.43% 2.58%
1998 -0.06% 2.61%
1997 -0.49% 2.66%
1996 -1.36% 2.75%
1995 -0.69% 2.87%
1994 1.12% 2.99%
1993 0.54% 3.06%
1992 -2.41% 3.12%
1991 -1.85% 3.19%
1990 0.21% 3.29%
1989 0.25% 3.37%
1988 0.33% 3.45%
1987 0.39% 3.51%
1986 0.43% 3.55%
1985 0.45% 3.58%
1984 0.47% 3.57%
1983 0.52% 3.47%
1982 0.49% 3.37%
1981 0.25% 3.38%
1980 0.11% 3.41%
1979 0.3% 3.45%
1978 0.47% 3.49%
1977 0.52% 3.49%
1976 0.53% 3.48%
1975 0.48% 3.45%
1974 0.46% 3.43%
1973 0.44% 3.43%
1972 0.44% 3.45%
1971 0.43% 3.41%
1970 0.47% 3.33%
1969 0.59% 3.29%
1968 0.62% 3.26%
1967 0.65% 3.23%
1966 0.7% 3.2%
1965 0.66% 3.15%
1964 0.64% 3.1%
1963 0.69% 3.05%
1962 0.71% 2.99%
1961 0.65% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Croatia Syria
Current population
3812193
26829400
Population rank 129/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.32%
One net population change
1.34 hours
29.3 seconds
One birth every
16.4 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 6/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 +421,693
Net migration rank 112/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 421,693
2024 - -5,186 - 546,494
2023 -19,298 10,202 402,713 757,309
2022 -23,134 11,681 369,750 735,142
2021 -26,377 -4,517 350,560 211,220
2020 -20,354 -8,552 327,992 269,050
2019 -15,008 -13,239 293,762 500,985
2018 -15,557 -25,016 242,530 514,102
2017 -16,570 -44,557 237,214 -287,501
2016 -13,553 -32,144 236,007 -124,063
2015 -16,607 -27,501 253,977 -827,496
2014 -11,345 -13,127 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 -10,162 -6,245 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 -9,799 -4,794 475,520 -999,267
2011 -9,846 -17,463 543,950 -256,888
2010 -8,591 -3,995 558,666 -54,359
2009 -7,319 1,358 559,314 -52,703
2008 -8,188 6,495 576,593 -402,393
2007 -10,335 8,893 529,162 801,514
2006 -8,669 10,852 480,616 682,911
2005 -9,022 10,629 468,960 13,382
2004 -9,040 15,445 461,209 10,881
2003 -12,480 12,556 457,000 -33,920
2002 -10,325 10,306 453,967 -35,096
2001 -8,599 19,298 451,503 -36,383
2000 -6,255 -47,629 446,211 -34,425
1999 -6,769 -47,418 439,261 -31,394
1998 -4,985 -47,931 433,447 -26,025
1997 3,175 -52,897 429,887 -31,571
1996 3,190 -53,688 430,765 -30,197
1995 0 -51,882 430,172 -28,122
1994 -930 -50,444 426,996 -12,630
1993 -2,301 -49,615 420,244 -8,828
1992 -4,576 -47,865 412,878 -4,063
1991 -2,813 -31,968 410,830 -10,154
1990 3,344 9,538 409,177 -6,620
1989 3,337 8,471 406,111 -8,379
1988 5,707 7,242 404,285 -8,426
1987 6,161 6,956 399,159 -8,335
1986 8,499 6,261 390,821 -9,485
1985 10,343 5,550 379,231 -6,221
1984 10,764 5,757 366,768 -5,245
1983 10,714 6,323 355,375 -9,729
1982 15,756 7,475 319,664 -721
1981 15,680 4,872 330,237 -24,536
1980 17,939 -5,486 332,464 -33,114
1979 21,136 -5,740 324,943 -32,793
1978 20,157 -7,329 316,724 -30,567
1977 22,798 -7,339 306,630 -28,275
1976 22,226 -7,400 294,267 -26,268
1975 21,658 -7,366 282,299 -24,389
1974 22,453 -8,076 270,735 -24,242
1973 21,904 -8,335 254,687 -17,502
1972 17,802 -7,277 249,027 -17,610
1971 19,941 -5,608 239,610 -15,167
1970 16,767 -2,359 230,117 -19,594
1969 16,688 -2,796 219,114 -18,749
1968 21,828 -2,799 209,454 -16,968
1967 26,032 -3,518 199,223 -14,618
1966 33,192 -6,341 191,122 -13,434
1965 31,251 -5,253 182,560 -12,704
1964 25,942 -2,090 174,549 -12,044
1963 31,270 -1,289 166,555 -11,817
1962 30,216 -2,176 159,155 -11,641
1961 36,255 -6,567 151,485 -11,237
1960 34,778 -21,768 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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