Skip to content

Population in Croatia compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 3.07 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.19% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Croatia vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia UAE
2100 2,137,465 26,368,750
2099 2,155,186 26,130,374
2098 2,173,108 25,894,010
2097 2,190,995 25,660,062
2096 2,209,326 25,427,961
2095 2,227,698 25,197,670
2094 2,246,224 24,968,891
2093 2,264,550 24,741,434
2092 2,283,068 24,515,086
2091 2,301,556 24,289,496
2090 2,319,851 24,064,404
2089 2,338,604 23,839,033
2088 2,357,581 23,613,963
2087 2,376,274 23,388,786
2086 2,395,139 23,163,641
2085 2,414,304 22,938,169
2084 2,433,813 22,711,804
2083 2,453,361 22,484,154
2082 2,473,204 22,255,625
2081 2,493,128 22,026,183
2080 2,513,378 21,796,073
2079 2,534,101 21,565,118
2078 2,554,982 21,333,574
2077 2,576,370 21,101,274
2076 2,597,887 20,868,733
2075 2,619,688 20,636,203
2074 2,641,342 20,404,044
2073 2,663,253 20,171,659
2072 2,685,714 19,940,853
2071 2,708,053 19,710,934
2070 2,730,187 19,483,026
2069 2,753,302 19,256,572
2068 2,776,996 19,032,681
2067 2,800,742 18,811,331
2066 2,824,811 18,593,017
2065 2,848,913 18,377,364
2064 2,872,881 18,164,584
2063 2,897,651 17,955,352
2062 2,922,653 17,749,596
2061 2,947,832 17,547,827
2060 2,973,162 17,349,620
2059 2,998,389 17,153,273
2058 3,023,822 16,959,263
2057 3,049,085 16,767,893
2056 3,074,796 16,579,195
2055 3,100,195 16,392,558
2054 3,125,459 16,207,309
2053 3,151,016 16,024,789
2052 3,176,316 15,844,357
2051 3,201,973 15,665,362
2050 3,227,869 15,487,008
2049 3,253,597 15,309,031
2048 3,279,316 15,132,784
2047 3,305,051 14,958,209
2046 3,330,260 14,788,046
2045 3,355,638 14,620,902
2044 3,381,196 14,454,466
2043 3,406,105 14,289,021
2042 3,430,854 14,124,515
2041 3,455,487 13,961,010
2040 3,479,631 13,798,651
2039 3,503,577 13,637,499
2038 3,527,583 13,477,450
2037 3,551,581 13,319,346
2036 3,574,520 13,163,073
2035 3,596,996 13,009,160
2034 3,620,363 12,857,729
2033 3,643,692 12,709,520
2032 3,667,478 12,564,906
2031 3,691,842 12,424,286
2030 3,715,373 12,288,186
2029 3,739,203 12,148,661
2028 3,762,505 11,999,549
2027 3,787,023 11,831,082
2026 3,812,193 11,632,806
2025 3,838,346 11,367,504
2024 3,866,200 10,986,400
2023 3,859,686 10,483,751
2022 3,855,641 10,074,977
2021 3,878,981 9,575,152
2020 3,914,206 9,401,038
2019 3,949,390 9,445,785
2018 3,988,775 9,346,701
2017 4,041,407 9,223,225
2016 4,106,867 8,935,095
2015 4,151,725 8,505,237
2014 4,201,598 8,059,440
2013 4,233,922 7,693,031
2012 4,260,368 7,391,448
2011 4,280,622 7,104,538
2010 4,295,427 6,869,838
2009 4,305,181 6,707,058
2008 4,309,705 6,302,664
2007 4,310,217 5,624,635
2006 4,311,159 5,009,100
2005 4,310,145 4,664,790
2004 4,304,600 4,428,967
2003 4,303,399 4,192,457
2002 4,302,174 3,956,826
2001 4,299,642 3,723,590
2000 4,468,302 3,493,575
1999 4,512,597 3,266,009
1998 4,532,135 3,040,421
1997 4,534,920 2,817,410
1996 4,557,097 2,597,564
1995 4,620,030 2,434,662
1994 4,652,024 2,328,188
1993 4,600,463 2,222,093
1992 4,575,818 2,114,730
1991 4,689,022 2,006,626
1990 4,777,368 1,898,220
1989 4,767,260 1,789,851
1988 4,755,207 1,681,788
1987 4,739,745 1,574,244
1986 4,721,446 1,467,383
1985 4,701,417 1,377,911
1984 4,680,285 1,305,996
1983 4,658,254 1,235,305
1982 4,634,234 1,166,370
1981 4,611,509 1,099,855
1980 4,599,782 1,015,700
1979 4,594,778 912,010
1978 4,581,085 809,274
1977 4,559,571 710,209
1976 4,535,934 615,866
1975 4,512,082 542,856
1974 4,490,660 489,087
1973 4,470,161 436,399
1972 4,450,564 385,014
1971 4,431,275 335,027
1970 4,412,252 286,536
1969 4,391,490 239,660
1968 4,365,628 199,416
1967 4,338,683 179,700
1966 4,310,701 173,976
1965 4,280,923 167,103
1964 4,252,876 159,692
1963 4,225,675 152,211
1962 4,196,712 144,946
1961 4,167,292 137,989
1960 4,140,181 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

The United Arab Emirates is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 26.4M 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
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia UAE
2100 -0.82% 0.91%
2099 -0.82% 0.91%
2098 -0.82% 0.91%
2097 -0.83% 0.91%
2096 -0.82% 0.91%
2095 -0.82% 0.92%
2094 -0.81% 0.92%
2093 -0.81% 0.92%
2092 -0.8% 0.93%
2091 -0.79% 0.94%
2090 -0.8% 0.95%
2089 -0.8% 0.95%
2088 -0.79% 0.96%
2087 -0.79% 0.97%
2086 -0.79% 0.98%
2085 -0.8% 1%
2084 -0.8% 1.01%
2083 -0.8% 1.03%
2082 -0.8% 1.04%
2081 -0.81% 1.06%
2080 -0.82% 1.07%
2079 -0.82% 1.09%
2078 -0.83% 1.1%
2077 -0.83% 1.11%
2076 -0.83% 1.13%
2075 -0.82% 1.14%
2074 -0.82% 1.15%
2073 -0.84% 1.16%
2072 -0.82% 1.17%
2071 -0.81% 1.17%
2070 -0.84% 1.18%
2069 -0.85% 1.18%
2068 -0.85% 1.18%
2067 -0.85% 1.17%
2066 -0.85% 1.17%
2065 -0.83% 1.17%
2064 -0.85% 1.17%
2063 -0.86% 1.16%
2062 -0.85% 1.15%
2061 -0.85% 1.14%
2060 -0.84% 1.14%
2059 -0.84% 1.14%
2058 -0.83% 1.14%
2057 -0.84% 1.14%
2056 -0.82% 1.14%
2055 -0.81% 1.14%
2054 -0.81% 1.14%
2053 -0.8% 1.14%
2052 -0.8% 1.14%
2051 -0.8% 1.15%
2050 -0.79% 1.16%
2049 -0.78% 1.16%
2048 -0.78% 1.17%
2047 -0.76% 1.15%
2046 -0.76% 1.14%
2045 -0.76% 1.15%
2044 -0.73% 1.16%
2043 -0.72% 1.16%
2042 -0.71% 1.17%
2041 -0.69% 1.18%
2040 -0.68% 1.18%
2039 -0.68% 1.19%
2038 -0.68% 1.19%
2037 -0.64% 1.19%
2036 -0.62% 1.18%
2035 -0.65% 1.18%
2034 -0.64% 1.17%
2033 -0.65% 1.15%
2032 -0.66% 1.13%
2031 -0.63% 1.11%
2030 -0.64% 1.15%
2029 -0.62% 1.24%
2028 -0.65% 1.42%
2027 -0.66% 1.7%
2026 -0.68% 2.33%
2025 -0.72% 3.47%
2024 0.17% 4.79%
2023 0.1% 4.06%
2022 -0.6% 5.22%
2021 -0.9% 1.85%
2020 -0.89% -0.47%
2019 -0.99% 1.06%
2018 -1.3% 1.34%
2017 -1.59% 3.22%
2016 -1.08% 5.05%
2015 -1.19% 5.53%
2014 -0.76% 4.76%
2013 -0.62% 4.08%
2012 -0.47% 4.04%
2011 -0.34% 3.42%
2010 -0.23% 2.43%
2009 -0.1% 6.42%
2008 -0.01% 12.1%
2007 -0.02% 12.3%
2006 0.02% 7.38%
2005 0.13% 5.32%
2004 0.03% 5.64%
2003 0.03% 5.96%
2002 0.06% 6.26%
2001 -3.77% 6.58%
2000 -0.98% 6.97%
1999 -0.43% 7.42%
1998 -0.06% 7.92%
1997 -0.49% 8.46%
1996 -1.36% 6.69%
1995 -0.69% 4.57%
1994 1.12% 4.77%
1993 0.54% 5.08%
1992 -2.41% 5.39%
1991 -1.85% 5.71%
1990 0.21% 6.05%
1989 0.25% 6.43%
1988 0.33% 6.83%
1987 0.39% 7.28%
1986 0.43% 6.49%
1985 0.45% 5.51%
1984 0.47% 5.72%
1983 0.52% 5.91%
1982 0.49% 6.05%
1981 0.25% 8.29%
1980 0.11% 11.4%
1979 0.3% 12.7%
1978 0.47% 13.9%
1977 0.52% 15.3%
1976 0.53% 13.4%
1975 0.48% 11%
1974 0.46% 12.1%
1973 0.44% 13.3%
1972 0.44% 14.9%
1971 0.43% 16.9%
1970 0.47% 19.6%
1969 0.59% 20.2%
1968 0.62% 11%
1967 0.65% 3.29%
1966 0.7% 4.11%
1965 0.66% 4.64%
1964 0.64% 4.91%
1963 0.69% 5.01%
1962 0.71% 5.04%
1961 0.65% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Croatia UAE
Current population
3812193
11686438
Population rank 129/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.14%
One net population change
1.34 hours
1.05 minutes
One birth every
16.4 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
10.2 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 3/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change -3,481 +158,634
Net migration rank 112/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 158,634
2024 - -5,186 - 278,439
2023 -19,298 10,202 92,698 300,004
2022 -23,134 11,681 81,758 322,773
2021 -26,377 -4,517 76,802 421,663
2020 -20,354 -8,552 87,871 92,541
2019 -15,008 -13,239 86,296 -125,186
2018 -15,557 -25,016 86,840 14,611
2017 -16,570 -44,557 89,382 34,155
2016 -13,553 -32,144 87,028 195,317
2015 -16,607 -27,501 85,044 342,468
2014 -11,345 -13,127 84,277 360,174
2013 -10,162 -6,245 82,977 279,269
2012 -9,799 -4,794 78,682 225,921
2011 -9,846 -17,463 73,496 215,183
2010 -8,591 -3,995 69,907 161,842
2009 -7,319 1,358 66,521 163,643
2008 -8,188 6,495 55,426 523,207
2007 -10,335 8,893 55,048 722,380
2006 -8,669 10,852 54,338 399,306
2005 -9,022 10,629 60,046 174,926
2004 -9,040 15,445 60,344 176,319
2003 -12,480 12,556 59,118 177,237
2002 -10,325 10,306 55,922 178,988
2001 -8,599 19,298 52,789 178,779
2000 -6,255 -47,629 49,993 178,469
1999 -6,769 -47,418 46,198 180,469
1998 -4,985 -47,931 41,176 183,329
1997 3,175 -52,897 38,207 183,310
1996 3,190 -53,688 37,886 180,296
1995 0 -51,882 38,685 68,938
1994 -930 -50,444 42,976 62,352
1993 -2,301 -49,615 41,324 65,545
1992 -4,576 -47,865 42,119 65,739
1991 -2,813 -31,968 41,409 66,943
1990 3,344 9,538 41,339 67,118
1989 3,337 8,471 40,148 68,132
1988 5,707 7,242 38,861 68,991
1987 6,161 6,956 37,741 69,493
1986 8,499 6,261 36,829 69,655
1985 10,343 5,550 34,855 37,605
1984 10,764 5,757 33,250 38,124
1983 10,714 6,323 31,480 38,536
1982 15,756 7,475 29,585 38,276
1981 15,680 4,872 27,560 37,600
1980 17,939 -5,486 25,005 78,148
1979 21,136 -5,740 21,987 82,238
1978 20,157 -7,329 18,879 82,359
1977 22,798 -7,339 15,787 81,111
1976 22,226 -7,400 12,876 78,903
1975 21,658 -7,366 11,859 42,380
1974 22,453 -8,076 10,835 42,474
1973 21,904 -8,335 9,822 42,243
1972 17,802 -7,277 8,818 41,888
1971 19,941 -5,608 7,839 41,425
1970 16,767 -2,359 6,922 40,792
1969 16,688 -2,796 6,138 39,902
1968 21,828 -2,799 5,588 28,866
1967 26,032 -3,518 5,264 -283
1966 33,192 -6,341 4,955 1,516
1965 31,251 -5,253 4,675 2,598
1964 25,942 -2,090 4,410 3,126
1963 31,270 -1,289 4,157 3,264
1962 30,216 -2,176 3,901 3,212
1961 36,255 -6,567 3,657 3,141
1960 34,778 -21,768 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.