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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,866,200 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,812,193 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 5.95 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 129th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.05% for Croatia vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Croatia has had an average growth rate of -0.82% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.81M (11.6% decline), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Croatia vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Zambia
2100 2,137,465 65,217,429
2099 2,155,186 64,871,545
2098 2,173,108 64,515,891
2097 2,190,995 64,148,736
2096 2,209,326 63,777,313
2095 2,227,698 63,393,169
2094 2,246,224 62,992,652
2093 2,264,550 62,590,327
2092 2,283,068 62,175,930
2091 2,301,556 61,750,591
2090 2,319,851 61,321,399
2089 2,338,604 60,880,148
2088 2,357,581 60,434,676
2087 2,376,274 59,970,107
2086 2,395,139 59,499,234
2085 2,414,304 59,023,040
2084 2,433,813 58,535,857
2083 2,453,361 58,040,512
2082 2,473,204 57,538,672
2081 2,493,128 57,027,491
2080 2,513,378 56,506,421
2079 2,534,101 55,983,242
2078 2,554,982 55,449,777
2077 2,576,370 54,906,771
2076 2,597,887 54,361,075
2075 2,619,688 53,806,856
2074 2,641,342 53,246,777
2073 2,663,253 52,677,348
2072 2,685,714 52,101,139
2071 2,708,053 51,519,691
2070 2,730,187 50,931,614
2069 2,753,302 50,334,700
2068 2,776,996 49,737,479
2067 2,800,742 49,135,488
2066 2,824,811 48,530,443
2065 2,848,913 47,918,592
2064 2,872,881 47,299,740
2063 2,897,651 46,677,439
2062 2,922,653 46,048,819
2061 2,947,832 45,416,657
2060 2,973,162 44,777,347
2059 2,998,389 44,137,306
2058 3,023,822 43,494,451
2057 3,049,085 42,851,923
2056 3,074,796 42,206,898
2055 3,100,195 41,558,284
2054 3,125,459 40,906,492
2053 3,151,016 40,255,629
2052 3,176,316 39,603,888
2051 3,201,973 38,949,958
2050 3,227,869 38,294,607
2049 3,253,597 37,634,194
2048 3,279,316 36,971,309
2047 3,305,051 36,309,749
2046 3,330,260 35,645,868
2045 3,355,638 34,981,812
2044 3,381,196 34,316,981
2043 3,406,105 33,652,420
2042 3,430,854 32,990,657
2041 3,455,487 32,329,447
2040 3,479,631 31,664,262
2039 3,503,577 31,001,305
2038 3,527,583 30,335,662
2037 3,551,581 29,668,561
2036 3,574,520 29,000,264
2035 3,596,996 28,333,498
2034 3,620,363 27,671,195
2033 3,643,692 27,011,974
2032 3,667,478 26,356,580
2031 3,691,842 25,702,812
2030 3,715,373 25,055,216
2029 3,739,203 24,414,405
2028 3,762,505 23,780,809
2027 3,787,023 23,151,479
2026 3,812,193 22,529,742
2025 3,838,346 21,918,187
2024 3,866,200 21,314,956
2023 3,859,686 20,723,965
2022 3,855,641 20,152,938
2021 3,878,981 19,603,607
2020 3,914,206 19,059,395
2019 3,949,390 18,513,839
2018 3,988,775 17,973,569
2017 4,041,407 17,441,320
2016 4,106,867 16,914,423
2015 4,151,725 16,399,089
2014 4,201,598 15,895,315
2013 4,233,922 15,398,997
2012 4,260,368 14,913,629
2011 4,280,622 14,437,796
2010 4,295,427 13,965,594
2009 4,305,181 13,490,389
2008 4,309,705 13,021,324
2007 4,310,217 12,565,085
2006 4,311,159 12,129,553
2005 4,310,145 11,718,819
2004 4,304,600 11,338,198
2003 4,303,399 10,983,595
2002 4,302,174 10,647,949
2001 4,299,642 10,325,185
2000 4,468,302 10,017,631
1999 4,512,597 9,740,005
1998 4,532,135 9,482,408
1997 4,534,920 9,237,063
1996 4,557,097 9,004,053
1995 4,620,030 8,785,763
1994 4,652,024 8,576,269
1993 4,600,463 8,373,921
1992 4,575,818 8,176,680
1991 4,689,022 7,981,650
1990 4,777,368 7,786,169
1989 4,767,260 7,589,216
1988 4,755,207 7,391,440
1987 4,739,745 7,191,282
1986 4,721,446 6,986,471
1985 4,701,417 6,780,953
1984 4,680,285 6,580,490
1983 4,658,254 6,381,038
1982 4,634,234 6,178,637
1981 4,611,509 5,983,289
1980 4,599,782 5,802,833
1979 4,594,778 5,631,728
1978 4,581,085 5,465,374
1977 4,559,571 5,302,480
1976 4,535,934 5,143,842
1975 4,512,082 4,990,086
1974 4,490,660 4,842,746
1973 4,470,161 4,702,693
1972 4,450,564 4,569,309
1971 4,431,275 4,442,525
1970 4,412,252 4,321,718
1969 4,391,490 4,197,116
1968 4,365,628 4,065,593
1967 4,338,683 3,936,343
1966 4,310,701 3,812,003
1965 4,280,923 3,692,086
1964 4,252,876 3,577,017
1963 4,225,675 3,465,907
1962 4,196,712 3,358,099
1961 4,167,292 3,254,086
1960 4,140,181 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Croatia decreased by 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Croatia lost 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 129th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Zambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 65.2M 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
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Croatia Zambia
2100 -0.82% 0.53%
2099 -0.82% 0.55%
2098 -0.82% 0.57%
2097 -0.83% 0.58%
2096 -0.82% 0.61%
2095 -0.82% 0.64%
2094 -0.81% 0.64%
2093 -0.81% 0.67%
2092 -0.8% 0.69%
2091 -0.79% 0.7%
2090 -0.8% 0.72%
2089 -0.8% 0.74%
2088 -0.79% 0.77%
2087 -0.79% 0.79%
2086 -0.79% 0.81%
2085 -0.8% 0.83%
2084 -0.8% 0.85%
2083 -0.8% 0.87%
2082 -0.8% 0.9%
2081 -0.81% 0.92%
2080 -0.82% 0.93%
2079 -0.82% 0.96%
2078 -0.83% 0.99%
2077 -0.83% 1%
2076 -0.83% 1.03%
2075 -0.82% 1.05%
2074 -0.82% 1.08%
2073 -0.84% 1.11%
2072 -0.82% 1.13%
2071 -0.81% 1.15%
2070 -0.84% 1.19%
2069 -0.85% 1.2%
2068 -0.85% 1.23%
2067 -0.85% 1.25%
2066 -0.85% 1.28%
2065 -0.83% 1.31%
2064 -0.85% 1.33%
2063 -0.86% 1.37%
2062 -0.85% 1.39%
2061 -0.85% 1.43%
2060 -0.84% 1.45%
2059 -0.84% 1.48%
2058 -0.83% 1.5%
2057 -0.84% 1.53%
2056 -0.82% 1.56%
2055 -0.81% 1.59%
2054 -0.81% 1.62%
2053 -0.8% 1.65%
2052 -0.8% 1.68%
2051 -0.8% 1.71%
2050 -0.79% 1.75%
2049 -0.78% 1.79%
2048 -0.78% 1.82%
2047 -0.76% 1.86%
2046 -0.76% 1.9%
2045 -0.76% 1.94%
2044 -0.73% 1.97%
2043 -0.72% 2.01%
2042 -0.71% 2.05%
2041 -0.69% 2.1%
2040 -0.68% 2.14%
2039 -0.68% 2.19%
2038 -0.68% 2.25%
2037 -0.64% 2.3%
2036 -0.62% 2.35%
2035 -0.65% 2.39%
2034 -0.64% 2.44%
2033 -0.65% 2.49%
2032 -0.66% 2.54%
2031 -0.63% 2.58%
2030 -0.64% 2.62%
2029 -0.62% 2.66%
2028 -0.65% 2.72%
2027 -0.66% 2.76%
2026 -0.68% 2.79%
2025 -0.72% 2.83%
2024 0.17% 2.85%
2023 0.1% 2.83%
2022 -0.6% 2.8%
2021 -0.9% 2.86%
2020 -0.89% 2.95%
2019 -0.99% 3.01%
2018 -1.3% 3.05%
2017 -1.59% 3.12%
2016 -1.08% 3.14%
2015 -1.19% 3.17%
2014 -0.76% 3.22%
2013 -0.62% 3.25%
2012 -0.47% 3.3%
2011 -0.34% 3.38%
2010 -0.23% 3.52%
2009 -0.1% 3.6%
2008 -0.01% 3.63%
2007 -0.02% 3.59%
2006 0.02% 3.5%
2005 0.13% 3.36%
2004 0.03% 3.23%
2003 0.03% 3.15%
2002 0.06% 3.13%
2001 -3.77% 3.07%
2000 -0.98% 2.85%
1999 -0.43% 2.72%
1998 -0.06% 2.66%
1997 -0.49% 2.59%
1996 -1.36% 2.48%
1995 -0.69% 2.44%
1994 1.12% 2.42%
1993 0.54% 2.41%
1992 -2.41% 2.44%
1991 -1.85% 2.51%
1990 0.21% 2.6%
1989 0.25% 2.68%
1988 0.33% 2.78%
1987 0.39% 2.93%
1986 0.43% 3.03%
1985 0.45% 3.05%
1984 0.47% 3.13%
1983 0.52% 3.28%
1982 0.49% 3.26%
1981 0.25% 3.11%
1980 0.11% 3.04%
1979 0.3% 3.04%
1978 0.47% 3.07%
1977 0.52% 3.08%
1976 0.53% 3.08%
1975 0.48% 3.04%
1974 0.46% 2.98%
1973 0.44% 2.92%
1972 0.44% 2.85%
1971 0.43% 2.8%
1970 0.47% 2.97%
1969 0.59% 3.24%
1968 0.62% 3.28%
1967 0.65% 3.26%
1966 0.7% 3.25%
1965 0.66% 3.22%
1964 0.64% 3.21%
1963 0.69% 3.21%
1962 0.71% 3.2%
1961 0.65% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Croatia grew by 0.17%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Croatia Zambia
Current population
3812193
22697916
Population rank 129/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.27%
One net population change
1.34 hours
53.4 seconds
One birth every
16.4 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
10.2 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +18 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +6,514 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +0.17% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 157/197 21/197
One migration net change every
2.52 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -3,481 +6,562
Net migration rank 112/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 527,831 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 78/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.6% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 50/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Croatia
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Croatia Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,481 - 6,562
2024 - -5,186 - 7,381
2023 -19,298 10,202 577,660 9,521
2022 -23,134 11,681 563,456 -8,566
2021 -26,377 -4,517 535,629 8,143
2020 -20,354 -8,552 536,484 8,156
2019 -15,008 -13,239 528,089 18,385
2018 -15,557 -25,016 515,644 18,431
2017 -16,570 -44,557 504,630 25,789
2016 -13,553 -32,144 497,521 25,860
2015 -16,607 -27,501 491,021 16,261
2014 -11,345 -13,127 483,663 16,574
2013 -10,162 -6,245 476,846 15,542
2012 -9,799 -4,794 469,406 8,958
2011 -9,846 -17,463 459,743 13,569
2010 -8,591 -3,995 448,337 22,761
2009 -7,319 1,358 434,458 44,867
2008 -8,188 6,495 419,560 39,249
2007 -10,335 8,893 403,729 49,945
2006 -8,669 10,852 387,891 29,517
2005 -9,022 10,629 368,756 35,316
2004 -9,040 15,445 349,352 7,819
2003 -12,480 12,556 331,189 20,845
2002 -10,325 10,306 316,041 3,206
2001 -8,599 19,298 302,682 23,582
2000 -6,255 -47,629 293,186 -4,338
1999 -6,769 -47,418 283,297 -16,888
1998 -4,985 -47,931 275,568 -26,796
1997 3,175 -52,897 268,198 -26,276
1996 3,190 -53,688 262,468 -38,358
1995 0 -51,882 257,897 -45,423
1994 -930 -50,444 252,023 -45,504
1993 -2,301 -49,615 245,917 -47,739
1992 -4,576 -47,865 239,953 -43,656
1991 -2,813 -31,968 237,957 -44,203
1990 3,344 9,538 235,835 -38,619
1989 3,337 8,471 233,429 -36,736
1988 5,707 7,242 230,118 -31,270
1987 6,161 6,956 227,813 -26,338
1986 8,499 6,261 224,768 -16,610
1985 10,343 5,550 221,351 -18,474
1984 10,764 5,757 216,695 -18,652
1983 10,714 6,323 212,712 -11,849
1982 15,756 7,475 207,621 -3,676
1981 15,680 4,872 202,822 -16,072
1980 17,939 -5,486 198,817 -24,664
1979 21,136 -5,740 197,578 -29,515
1978 20,157 -7,329 194,933 -30,284
1977 22,798 -7,339 191,557 -30,423
1976 22,226 -7,400 186,762 -30,612
1975 21,658 -7,366 182,258 -30,886
1974 22,453 -8,076 174,484 -31,178
1973 21,904 -8,335 168,258 -31,472
1972 17,802 -7,277 161,648 -31,672
1971 19,941 -5,608 155,249 -31,651
1970 16,767 -2,359 149,380 -31,370
1969 16,688 -2,796 142,660 -11,469
1968 21,828 -2,799 137,315 -5,447
1967 26,032 -3,518 131,938 -5,298
1966 33,192 -6,341 127,164 -5,129
1965 31,251 -5,253 122,814 -5,023
1964 25,942 -2,090 117,197 -4,851
1963 31,270 -1,289 114,555 -4,676
1962 30,216 -2,176 110,173 -4,428
1961 36,255 -6,567 106,318 -4,043
1960 34,778 -21,768 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 527,831 residents or 13.6% of the population were not native-born in Croatia, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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