In 2024, the total population of Croatia was estimated at 3.86 million people. Between 1992 and 2024, the figure dropped by 870,000 people, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory. The total population is forecast to decline by 10,000 people from 2024 to 2030, fluctuating as it trends downward.This indicator describes the total population in the country at hand. This total population of the country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census.

In 1800, the population of the region making up present-day Croatia was just over 1.2 million. Croatia's population grew relatively consistently throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, despite the region suffering around 200,000 fatalities in each of the World Wars. The lack of clearly defined boundaries, mass displacement and general disorganization have made it very difficult for historians to estimate the total number of fatalities suffered by Croatia and by ethnic Croats in this time; additionally, the various ethnic groups within Yugoslavia at the time committed a number of atrocities against one another, which has exacerbated this.

In spite of these events, the population of Croatia would continue to grow steadily until the early 1990s, when it was one of six parts of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia. In the wake of communism's demise in Southern Europe in the late 20th century, Croatia claimed its sovereignty in 1991, which set in motion the Croatian War of Independence with Serbia. War was waged for four years, and saw the deaths of more than 20,000 people, while several hundred thousand were displaced. In the quarter century since the war's end, Croatia has emerged as a high-income, developing country, with a booming tourism and hospitality industry. However the population has continued to drop as a result of declining birth rates, and large-scale economic migration (particularly influenced by the financial crisis of 2008 and Croatia's accession to the European Union in 2013).

The total population in Croatia was estimated at 3.9 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Croatia Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Croatia HR: Population: Male data was reported at 1,861,175.000 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,858,433.000 Person for 2022. Croatia HR: Population: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 2,088,035.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,294,230.000 Person in 1990 and a record low of 1,858,433.000 Person in 2022. Croatia HR: Population: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Croatia – Table HR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all male residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.;World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision.;Sum;

Croatia HR: Population: Total data was reported at 3,853,200.000 Person in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3,855,641.000 Person for 2022. Croatia HR: Population: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 4,378,559.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,777,368.000 Person in 1990 and a record low of 3,853,200.000 Person in 2023. Croatia HR: Population: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Croatia – Table HR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.;(1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2022 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.;Sum;Relevance to gender indicator: disaggregating the population composition by gender will help a country in projecting its demand for social services on a gender basis.

Croatia - Population was 3861967.00 persons in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Croatia - Population - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, Croatia - Population reached a record high of 4289857.00 persons in December of 2011 and a record low of 3850894.00 persons in December of 2023.

In 2023, the annual population growth in Croatia stood at 0.1 percent. Between 1961 and 2023, the figure dropped by 0.55 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for Croatia (POPTOTHRA647NWDB) from 1960 to 2024 about Croatia and population.

Comprehensive demographic and economic data for Croatia

Croatia HR: Population: Male: Ages 25-29: % of Male Population data was reported at 5.876 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.748 % for 2022. Croatia HR: Population: Male: Ages 25-29: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 7.296 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.417 % in 1960 and a record low of 5.649 % in 2021. Croatia HR: Population: Male: Ages 25-29: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Croatia – Table HR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 25 to 29 as a percentage of the total male population.;United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision.;;

This statistic shows the age structure in Croatia from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, about 14.14 percent of Croatia's total population were aged 0 to 14 years.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for Croatia (SPPOPGROWHRV) from 1961 to 2023 about Croatia, population, and rate.

Comprehensive socio-economic dataset for Croatia including population demographics, economic indicators, geographic data, and social statistics. This dataset covers key metrics such as GDP, population density, area, capital city, and regional classifications.

Croatia HR: Rural Population data was reported at 1,598,875.000 Person in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,610,925.000 Person for 2022. Croatia HR: Rural Population data is updated yearly, averaging 2,255,810.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,891,751.000 Person in 1960 and a record low of 1,598,875.000 Person in 2023. Croatia HR: Rural Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Croatia – Table HR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.;World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.;Sum;

Croatia - Foreign-born population was 519916.00 in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Croatia - Foreign-born population - last updated from the EUROSTAT on August of 2025. Historically, Croatia - Foreign-born population reached a record high of 569220.00 in December of 2013 and a record low of 472308.00 in December of 2022.

Historical dataset showing Croatia population growth rate by year from 1961 to 2023.

Abstract

The 2011 Croatia Population and Housing Census took place between 1 and 28 April 2011 according to the situation as on 31 March 2011 at midnight, which shall be deemed the census moment. It is necessary to determine this moment because of changes that affect Census units.

The 2011 Census was implemented on the basis of the Act on the Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Croatia in 2011 (NN, No. 92/10), which regulates the content, preparation, organisation and implementation of the Census, obligations of state and other bodies included in the Census, enumeration period, processing, keeping and releasing of results and the way of providing finances for the Census.

In line with Article 21 of the Act, the Census has been carried out on the basis of official data from the Register of Spatial Units, which were provided by the State Geodetic Administration. According to the situation as on 31 March 2011, the Republic of Croatia had 21 counties (including the City of Zagreb), 127 towns, 429 municipalities and 6 756 settlements.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Household;
• Indivudual.

Universe

In line with the Act, the Census included three units: population, households and dwellings and other housing units that are not dwellings by definition but were used for habitation at the census moment.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Population, female in Croatia was reported at 2001253 Persons in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Croatia - Population, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Population ages 20-24, female (% of female population) in Croatia was reported at 4.7689 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Croatia - Population ages 20-24, female (% of female population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

This statistic shows the median age of the population in Croatia from 1950 to 2100. The median age is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population. In 2020, the median age of the Croatian population was 44.2 years.