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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Croatia was 3,876,200 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Croatia's population is 3,849,788 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 5.93 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Croatia is ranked the 130th 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 -0.73% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Croatia has decreased from 4.31M people to 3.85M (10.7% decline), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Croatia vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Croatia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Croatia Zambia
2100 2,158,545 65,204,593
2099 2,176,440 64,858,778
2098 2,194,539 64,503,193
2097 2,212,602 64,136,110
2096 2,231,114 63,764,760
2095 2,249,667 63,380,692
2094 2,268,376 62,980,254
2093 2,286,882 62,578,008
2092 2,305,583 62,163,693
2091 2,324,254 61,738,437
2090 2,342,729 61,309,330
2089 2,361,668 60,868,166
2088 2,380,831 60,422,781
2087 2,399,709 59,958,303
2086 2,418,760 59,487,524
2085 2,438,113 59,011,423
2084 2,457,815 58,524,337
2083 2,477,556 58,029,088
2082 2,497,595 57,527,347
2081 2,517,715 57,016,267
2080 2,538,164 56,495,299
2079 2,559,092 55,972,223
2078 2,580,179 55,438,864
2077 2,601,778 54,895,964
2076 2,623,507 54,350,375
2075 2,645,523 53,796,265
2074 2,667,391 53,236,297
2073 2,689,518 52,666,980
2072 2,712,201 52,090,884
2071 2,734,759 51,509,551
2070 2,757,112 50,921,590
2069 2,780,455 50,324,793
2068 2,804,383 49,727,689
2067 2,828,363 49,125,817
2066 2,852,669 48,520,891
2065 2,877,009 47,909,160
2064 2,901,213 47,290,430
2063 2,926,228 46,668,252
2062 2,951,475 46,039,755
2061 2,976,903 45,407,718
2060 3,002,483 44,768,534
2059 3,027,959 44,128,619
2058 3,053,643 43,485,891
2057 3,079,155 42,843,489
2056 3,105,119 42,198,591
2055 3,130,769 41,550,105
2054 3,156,282 40,898,440
2053 3,182,091 40,247,706
2052 3,207,640 39,596,094
2051 3,233,551 38,942,292
2050 3,259,702 38,287,070
2049 3,285,684 37,626,787
2048 3,311,657 36,964,032
2047 3,337,645 36,302,603
2046 3,363,102 35,638,852
2045 3,388,731 34,974,927
2044 3,414,541 34,310,227
2043 3,439,695 33,645,797
2042 3,464,688 32,984,164
2041 3,489,565 32,323,084
2040 3,513,946 31,658,029
2039 3,538,129 30,995,204
2038 3,562,371 30,329,691
2037 3,586,606 29,662,721
2036 3,609,771 28,994,556
2035 3,632,470 28,327,922
2034 3,656,066 27,665,749
2033 3,679,626 27,006,658
2032 3,703,646 26,351,393
2031 3,728,250 25,697,754
2030 3,752,014 25,050,285
2029 3,776,079 24,409,600
2028 3,799,610 23,776,128
2027 3,824,370 23,146,922
2026 3,849,788 22,525,308
2025 3,876,200 21,913,874
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

Croatia was ranked 120th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 3,259,702 people with a rank change from 130th to 138th. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 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 2.16M 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 0.26% 2.81%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Croatia grew by 0.26%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Croatia Zambia
Current population
3849788
22844606
Population rank 130/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.05% 0.27%
One net population change
52.7 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
16.4 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
10.3 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +27 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +10,000 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +0.26% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 147/197 19/197
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 -18,944 -5,186 587,419 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 -21,137 -8,552 536,484 8,156
2019 -15,798 -13,239 528,089 18,385
2018 -15,556 -25,016 515,644 18,431
2017 -16,974 -44,557 504,630 25,789
2016 -14,374 -32,144 497,521 25,860
2015 -17,022 -27,501 491,021 16,261
2014 -11,344 -13,127 483,663 16,574
2013 -10,585 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/croatia/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 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 (1960–2025, 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/zambia | 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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