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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 11,513,149 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 11,885,001 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 3.09 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th 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 -0.73% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.9M (137.3% 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 2,158,545 26,706,595
2099 2,176,440 26,465,166
2098 2,194,539 26,225,773
2097 2,212,602 25,988,828
2096 2,231,114 25,753,753
2095 2,249,667 25,520,511
2094 2,268,376 25,288,801
2093 2,286,882 25,058,430
2092 2,305,583 24,829,182
2091 2,324,254 24,600,702
2090 2,342,729 24,372,725
2089 2,361,668 24,144,467
2088 2,380,831 23,916,513
2087 2,399,709 23,688,452
2086 2,418,760 23,460,422
2085 2,438,113 23,232,061
2084 2,457,815 23,002,795
2083 2,477,556 22,772,229
2082 2,497,595 22,540,771
2081 2,517,715 22,308,390
2080 2,538,164 22,075,331
2079 2,559,092 21,841,417
2078 2,580,179 21,606,907
2077 2,601,778 21,371,631
2076 2,623,507 21,136,110
2075 2,645,523 20,900,601
2074 2,667,391 20,665,468
2073 2,689,518 20,430,105
2072 2,712,201 20,196,342
2071 2,734,759 19,963,477
2070 2,757,112 19,732,649
2069 2,780,455 19,503,294
2068 2,804,383 19,276,535
2067 2,828,363 19,052,348
2066 2,852,669 18,831,237
2065 2,877,009 18,612,821
2064 2,901,213 18,397,315
2063 2,926,228 18,185,402
2062 2,951,475 17,977,010
2061 2,976,903 17,772,656
2060 3,002,483 17,571,910
2059 3,027,959 17,373,047
2058 3,053,643 17,176,551
2057 3,079,155 16,982,730
2056 3,105,119 16,791,613
2055 3,130,769 16,602,585
2054 3,156,282 16,414,963
2053 3,182,091 16,230,105
2052 3,207,640 16,047,360
2051 3,233,551 15,866,073
2050 3,259,702 15,685,433
2049 3,285,684 15,505,176
2048 3,311,657 15,326,671
2047 3,337,645 15,149,859
2046 3,363,102 14,977,516
2045 3,388,731 14,808,230
2044 3,414,541 14,639,661
2043 3,439,695 14,472,097
2042 3,464,688 14,305,483
2041 3,489,565 14,139,883
2040 3,513,946 13,975,444
2039 3,538,129 13,812,227
2038 3,562,371 13,650,128
2037 3,586,606 13,489,998
2036 3,609,771 13,331,723
2035 3,632,470 13,175,838
2034 3,656,066 13,022,467
2033 3,679,626 12,872,359
2032 3,703,646 12,725,892
2031 3,728,250 12,583,470
2030 3,752,014 12,445,626
2029 3,776,079 12,304,314
2028 3,799,610 12,153,292
2027 3,824,370 11,982,666
2026 3,849,788 11,781,850
2025 3,876,200 11,513,149
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,949,906 people (a 33% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 3,259,702 people with a rank change from 130th to 138th. The population of the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32% to 15,685,433 people and rank change from 84th to 82nd.

The United Arab Emirates is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 26.7M 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
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 0.26% 4.79%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Croatia UAE
Current population
3849788
11885001
Population rank 130/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.14%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
1 minute
One birth every
16.4 minutes
4.87 minutes
One death every
10.3 minutes
49.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 +1,443
Annual growth/decline +10,000 +526,749
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 1/197
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 -18,944 -5,186 97,197 278,439
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 -21,137 -8,552 87,871 92,541
2019 -15,798 -13,239 86,296 -125,186
2018 -15,556 -25,016 86,840 14,611
2017 -16,974 -44,557 89,382 34,155
2016 -14,374 -32,144 87,028 195,317
2015 -17,022 -27,501 85,044 342,468
2014 -11,344 -13,127 84,277 360,174
2013 -10,585 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 31.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 870,916 people) and 68.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,876,785 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
Fujairah 119K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
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 (1960–2025, 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/united-arab-emirates | 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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