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Population in Croatia compared to the Vatican: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Croatia's population is 4,073 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 0.05% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

Croatia vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Vatican
2100 2,137,465 2,521
2099 2,155,186 2,506
2098 2,173,108 2,497
2097 2,190,995 2,482
2096 2,209,326 2,469
2095 2,227,698 2,452
2094 2,246,224 2,435
2093 2,264,550 2,421
2092 2,283,068 2,400
2091 2,301,556 2,384
2090 2,319,851 2,359
2089 2,338,604 2,337
2088 2,357,581 2,319
2087 2,376,274 2,291
2086 2,395,139 2,269
2085 2,414,304 2,248
2084 2,433,813 2,217
2083 2,453,361 2,183
2082 2,473,204 2,159
2081 2,493,128 2,129
2080 2,513,378 2,105
2079 2,534,101 2,089
2078 2,554,982 2,068
2077 2,576,370 2,050
2076 2,597,887 2,025
2075 2,619,688 2,001
2074 2,641,342 1,970
2073 2,663,253 1,944
2072 2,685,714 1,912
2071 2,708,053 1,866
2070 2,730,187 1,829
2069 2,753,302 1,795
2068 2,776,996 1,777
2067 2,800,742 1,755
2066 2,824,811 1,729
2065 2,848,913 1,701
2064 2,872,881 1,679
2063 2,897,651 1,651
2062 2,922,653 1,623
2061 2,947,832 1,595
2060 2,973,162 1,556
2059 2,998,389 1,530
2058 3,023,822 1,512
2057 3,049,085 1,493
2056 3,074,796 1,469
2055 3,100,195 1,441
2054 3,125,459 1,419
2053 3,151,016 1,382
2052 3,176,316 1,358
2051 3,201,973 1,335
2050 3,227,869 1,311
2049 3,253,597 1,283
2048 3,279,316 1,256
2047 3,305,051 1,237
2046 3,330,260 1,215
2045 3,355,638 1,192
2044 3,381,196 1,174
2043 3,406,105 1,152
2042 3,430,854 1,135
2041 3,455,487 1,105
2040 3,479,631 1,070
2039 3,503,577 1,033
2038 3,527,583 1,001
2037 3,551,581 996
2036 3,574,520 1,001
2035 3,596,996 988
2034 3,620,363 988
2033 3,643,692 974
2032 3,667,478 964
2031 3,691,842 977
2030 3,715,373 979
2029 3,739,203 985
2028 3,762,505 983
2027 3,787,023 946
2026 3,812,193 933
2025 3,838,346 927
2024 3,866,200 910
2023 3,859,686 927
2022 3,855,641 951
2021 3,878,981 972
2020 3,914,206 987
2019 3,949,390 1,000
2018 3,988,775 -
2017 4,041,407 1,000
2016 4,106,867 -
2015 4,151,725 1,000
2014 4,201,598 842
2013 4,233,922 839
2012 4,260,368 836
2011 4,280,622 832
2010 4,295,427 829
2009 4,305,181 826
2008 4,309,705 824
2007 4,310,217 821
2006 4,311,159 932
2005 4,310,145 921
2004 4,304,600 921
2003 4,303,399 911
2002 4,302,174 900
2001 4,299,642 890
2000 4,468,302 880
1999 4,512,597 -
1998 4,532,135 -
1997 4,534,920 -
1996 4,557,097 -
1995 4,620,030 -
1994 4,652,024 -
1993 4,600,463 -
1992 4,575,818 -
1991 4,689,022 -
1990 4,777,368 -
1989 4,767,260 -
1988 4,755,207 -
1987 4,739,745 -
1986 4,721,446 -
1985 4,701,417 -
1984 4,680,285 -
1983 4,658,254 -
1982 4,634,234 -
1981 4,611,509 -
1980 4,599,782 -
1979 4,594,778 -
1978 4,581,085 -
1977 4,559,571 -
1976 4,535,934 -
1975 4,512,082 -
1974 4,490,660 -
1973 4,470,161 -
1972 4,450,564 -
1971 4,431,275 -
1970 4,412,252 -
1969 4,391,490 -
1968 4,365,628 -
1967 4,338,683 -
1966 4,310,701 -
1965 4,280,923 -
1964 4,252,876 -
1963 4,225,675 -
1962 4,196,712 -
1961 4,167,292 -
1960 4,140,181 -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

The Vatican is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 2.52K 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
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Vatican
2100 -0.82% 0.59%
2099 -0.82% 0.37%
2098 -0.82% 0.6%
2097 -0.83% 0.53%
2096 -0.82% 0.68%
2095 -0.82% 0.69%
2094 -0.81% 0.61%
2093 -0.81% 0.85%
2092 -0.8% 0.7%
2091 -0.79% 1.02%
2090 -0.8% 0.95%
2089 -0.8% 0.8%
2088 -0.79% 1.21%
2087 -0.79% 0.98%
2086 -0.79% 0.91%
2085 -0.8% 1.42%
2084 -0.8% 1.53%
2083 -0.8% 1.12%
2082 -0.8% 1.39%
2081 -0.81% 1.15%
2080 -0.82% 0.8%
2079 -0.82% 0.99%
2078 -0.83% 0.9%
2077 -0.83% 1.19%
2076 -0.83% 1.2%
2075 -0.82% 1.6%
2074 -0.82% 1.34%
2073 -0.84% 1.65%
2072 -0.82% 2.49%
2071 -0.81% 2.03%
2070 -0.84% 1.86%
2069 -0.85% 1.04%
2068 -0.85% 1.27%
2067 -0.85% 1.5%
2066 -0.85% 1.64%
2065 -0.83% 1.33%
2064 -0.85% 1.69%
2063 -0.86% 1.71%
2062 -0.85% 1.74%
2061 -0.85% 2.5%
2060 -0.84% 1.7%
2059 -0.84% 1.23%
2058 -0.83% 1.24%
2057 -0.84% 1.64%
2056 -0.82% 1.93%
2055 -0.81% 1.57%
2054 -0.81% 2.68%
2053 -0.8% 1.78%
2052 -0.8% 1.67%
2051 -0.8% 1.84%
2050 -0.79% 2.17%
2049 -0.78% 2.22%
2048 -0.78% 1.5%
2047 -0.76% 1.83%
2046 -0.76% 1.87%
2045 -0.76% 1.58%
2044 -0.73% 1.93%
2043 -0.72% 1.47%
2042 -0.71% 2.68%
2041 -0.69% 3.29%
2040 -0.68% 3.59%
2039 -0.68% 3.15%
2038 -0.68% 0.56%
2037 -0.64% -0.56%
2036 -0.62% 1.31%
2035 -0.65% 0%
2034 -0.64% 1.52%
2033 -0.65% 0.96%
2032 -0.66% -1.33%
2031 -0.63% -0.19%
2030 -0.64% -0.56%
2029 -0.62% 0.19%
2028 -0.65% 3.92%
2027 -0.66% 1.39%
2026 -0.68% 0.6%
2025 -0.72% 1.83%
2024 0.17% -1.8%
2023 0.1% -2.53%
2022 -0.6% -2.1%
2021 -0.9% -1.5%
2020 -0.89% -1.3%
2019 -0.99% 0%
2018 -1.3% 0%
2017 -1.59% 0%
2016 -1.08% 0%
2015 -1.19% 18.8%
2014 -0.76% 0.36%
2013 -0.62% 0.36%
2012 -0.47% 0.48%
2011 -0.34% 0.36%
2010 -0.23% 0.36%
2009 -0.1% 0.24%
2008 -0.01% 0.37%
2007 -0.02% -11.9%
2006 0.02% 1.19%
2005 0.13% 0%
2004 0.03% 1.1%
2003 0.03% 1.22%
2002 0.06% 1.12%
2001 -3.77% 1.14%
2000 -0.98% -
1999 -0.43% -
1998 -0.06% -
1997 -0.49% -
1996 -1.36% -
1995 -0.69% -
1994 1.12% -
1993 0.54% -
1992 -2.41% -
1991 -1.85% -
1990 0.21% -
1989 0.25% -
1988 0.33% -
1987 0.39% -
1986 0.43% -
1985 0.45% -
1984 0.47% -
1983 0.52% -
1982 0.49% -
1981 0.25% -
1980 0.11% -
1979 0.3% -
1978 0.47% -
1977 0.52% -
1976 0.53% -
1975 0.48% -
1974 0.46% -
1973 0.44% -
1972 0.44% -
1971 0.43% -
1970 0.47% -
1969 0.59% -
1968 0.62% -
1967 0.65% -
1966 0.7% -
1965 0.66% -
1964 0.64% -
1963 0.69% -
1962 0.71% -
1961 0.65% -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Croatia Vatican
Current population
3812193
936
Population rank 129/197 197/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.00001%
One net population change
1.34 hours
1 month
One birth every
16.4 minutes
n/a
One death every
10.2 minutes
n/a
Daily growth/decline +18 +0
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +0%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 163/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
n/a
Annual migration change -3,481 n/a
Net migration rank 112/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 50/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - -
2024 - -5,186 - -
2023 -19,298 10,202 - -
2022 -23,134 11,681 - -
2021 -26,377 -4,517 - -
2020 -20,354 -8,552 - -
2019 -15,008 -13,239 - -
2018 -15,557 -25,016 - -
2017 -16,570 -44,557 - -
2016 -13,553 -32,144 - -
2015 -16,607 -27,501 - -
2014 -11,345 -13,127 - -
2013 -10,162 -6,245 - -
2012 -9,799 -4,794 - -
2011 -9,846 -17,463 - -
2010 -8,591 -3,995 - -
2009 -7,319 1,358 - -
2008 -8,188 6,495 - -
2007 -10,335 8,893 - -
2006 -8,669 10,852 - -
2005 -9,022 10,629 - -
2004 -9,040 15,445 - -
2003 -12,480 12,556 - -
2002 -10,325 10,306 - -
2001 -8,599 19,298 - -
2000 -6,255 -47,629 - -
1999 -6,769 -47,418 - -
1998 -4,985 -47,931 - -
1997 3,175 -52,897 - -
1996 3,190 -53,688 - -
1995 0 -51,882 - -
1994 -930 -50,444 - -
1993 -2,301 -49,615 - -
1992 -4,576 -47,865 - -
1991 -2,813 -31,968 - -
1990 3,344 9,538 - -
1989 3,337 8,471 - -
1988 5,707 7,242 - -
1987 6,161 6,956 - -
1986 8,499 6,261 - -
1985 10,343 5,550 - -
1984 10,764 5,757 - -
1983 10,714 6,323 - -
1982 15,756 7,475 - -
1981 15,680 4,872 - -
1980 17,939 -5,486 - -
1979 21,136 -5,740 - -
1978 20,157 -7,329 - -
1977 22,798 -7,339 - -
1976 22,226 -7,400 - -
1975 21,658 -7,366 - -
1974 22,453 -8,076 - -
1973 21,904 -8,335 - -
1972 17,802 -7,277 - -
1971 19,941 -5,608 - -
1970 16,767 -2,359 - -
1969 16,688 -2,796 - -
1968 21,828 -2,799 - -
1967 26,032 -3,518 - -
1966 33,192 -6,341 - -
1965 31,251 -5,253 - -
1964 25,942 -2,090 - -
1963 31,270 -1,289 - -
1962 30,216 -2,176 - -
1961 36,255 -6,567 - -
1960 34,778 -21,768 - -

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

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

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
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between Croatia and the Vatican

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

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