Croatia Population
Europe & Central Asia · 130th most populous · High income
Population right now (estimate)
3,843,775
The population of Croatia is about 3,843,775 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 3.9 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.05% of the world's people.
Croatia is ranked 130th of 217 by population. The population is shrinking, by about 0.64% a year. It peaked around 1990 at 4.8 million and is projected to fall to 3.3 million by 2050. It has fewer people today than in 1960 (4.1 million). Population density is 69 people per square kilometre. 58% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
3.9 million
Yearly change
−0.64%
World rank
130th
Share of world
0.05%
Density
69/km²
Land area
55,960 km²
Life expectancy
78.9 yrs
Births per woman
1.46
GDP per capita
$27,104
GDP
$105.1B
Population of Croatia, 1960–2050
Croatia population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4,140,181 | — | 74 |
| 1970 | 4,412,252 | +0.47% | 79 |
| 1980 | 4,599,782 | +0.11% | 82 |
| 1990 | 4,777,368 | +0.21% | 85 |
| 2000 | 4,468,302 | −0.98% | 80 |
| 2010 | 4,295,427 | −0.23% | 77 |
| 2020 | 3,914,206 | −0.89% | 70 |
| 2024 | 3,866,200 | +0.17% | 69 |
| 2026proj. | 3,851,318 | −0.64% | 69 |
| 2030proj. | 3,755,706 | −0.64% | 67 |
| 2040proj. | 3,506,903 | −0.72% | 63 |
| 2050proj. | 3,250,419 | −0.78% | 58 |
Croatia vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 46.2 times as many people as Croatia. Bangladesh is 19.8 times more densely populated.
Croatia population: questions and answers
What is the population of Croatia in 2026?
About 3,851,318 (3.9 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is Croatia's population growing?
No — it is falling by about 0.64% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Croatia?
About 69 people per km², with a land area of 55,960 km².
What will the population of Croatia be in 2050?
About 3.3 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Croatia?
Zagreb.
What is the life expectancy in Croatia?
78.9 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.