Croatia Population
Croatia was previously a Yugoslav sub-republic, but became independent in 1991. The post-independence war resulted in great human and economic losses. During the 2000s, Croatia has moved in a more democratic direction, and in 2013 it joined the EU.
Key figures and facts
- Capital: Zagreb
- Ethnic groups: Croatians 90.4%, Serbs 4.4% others 5.2% (2011)
- Language: Croatian (official) 95.6%, Serbian 1.2%, other 3.2% (2011)
- Religion: Catholics 86.3%, Orthodox Christians 4.4%, non-religious or atheists 3.8%, Muslims 1.5%, other 4% (2011)
- Population: 4,164,783 (2018)
- Control Form: Republic
- Area: 56 590 km2
- Currency: Kuna at 100 lipa
- GNP per capita: 23 422 PPP $
- National Day: June 25th
Croatia’s Population
The population of Croatia is 4 270 480 (2018). Compared to 2017, the number of residents decreased by 0.5 percent. Life expectancy at birth is 79.6 years for women and 73.2 years for men. The population has been declining for many years due to low birth rates. According to the World Bank, the birth rate in 2017 was 1.4 children per child. woman. The same year there was a net immigration of minus 1.7 per thousand. The country therefore has an aging population.
90.4 percent of the population are Croatians, and 4.4 percent are Serbs. They are especially located in eastern Slavonia and in the Krajina area around the town of Knin. 4.4 percent belonging to other groups, including Bosniaks, Hungarians, Slovenes, Czechs and rooms. 0.8 percent is unspecified.
56.9 percent of the population live in urban areas. The closest residents are the areas around the capital Zagreb. The largest cities are Zagreb, the port cities of Split and Rijeka and Slavonia’s main city, Osijek.
Population of Croatia by Year (Historical)
| Year | Population | Annual Growth Rate | Population Density | Global Rank |
| 2020 | 4,105,156 | -0.610% | 73.3607 | 130 |
| 2019 | 4,130,193 | -0.630% | 73.8081 | 130 |
| 2018 | 4,156,294 | -0.630% | 74.2746 | 129 |
| 2017 | 4,182,746 | -0.610% | 74.7473 | 128 |
| 2016 | 4,208,491 | -0.570% | 75.2073 | 127 |
| 2015 | 4,232,763 | -0.440% | 75.6411 | 127 |
| 2010 | 4,328,054 | -0.230% | 77.3439 | 123 |
| 2005 | 4,377,947 | -0.230% | 78.2355 | 118 |
| 2000 | 4,427,964 | -0.830% | 79.1293 | 116 |
| 1995 | 4,616,655 | -0.680% | 82.5012 | 111 |
| 1990 | 4,776,263 | 0.250% | 85.3534 | 105 |
| 1985 | 4,716,006 | 0.510% | 84.2766 | 102 |
| 1980 | 4,598,019 | 0.430% | 82.1682 | 98 |
| 1975 | 4,500,756 | 0.350% | 80.4301 | 94 |
| 1970 | 4,422,962 | 0.430% | 79.0399 | 92 |
| 1965 | 4,328,812 | 0.640% | 77.3575 | 86 |
| 1960 | 4,192,524 | 0.790% | 74.9220 | 80 |
| 1955 | 4,030,304 | 0.920% | 72.0231 | 77 |
| 1950 | 3,850,186 | 0.000% | 68.8045 | 77 |
Major Cities in Croatia by Population
| Rank | City | Population |
| 1 | Zagreb | 698,855 |
| 2 | Split | 176,203 |
| 3 | Rijeka | 141,061 |
| 4 | Osijek | 88,029 |
| 5 | Zadar | 71,147 |
| 6 | Slavonski Brod | 60,631 |
| 7 | Pula | 58,967 |
| 8 | Sesvete | 52,300 |
| 9 | Karlovac | 46,722 |
| 10 | Varazdin | 41,697 |
| 11 | Stenjevec | 41,146 |
| 12 | Sibenik | 37,001 |
| 13 | Centar | 36,889 |
| 14 | Sisak | 35,637 |
| 15 | Velika Gorica | 34,961 |
| 16 | Vinkovci | 33,203 |
| 17 | Vukovar | 29,473 |
| 18 | Dubrovnik | 28,317 |
| 19 | Bjelovar | 28,164 |
| 20 | Koprivnica | 25,468 |
| 21 | Pozega | 21,042 |
| 22 | Solin | 20,101 |
| 23 | Zapresic | 19,553 |
| 24 | GJakovo | 19,380 |
| 25 | Cakovec | 15,756 |
| 26 | Virovitica | 15,554 |
| 27 | Samobor | 15,110 |
| 28 | Kutina | 14,775 |
| 29 | Metkovic | 13,830 |
| 30 | Petrinja | 13,757 |
| 31 | Zupanja | 13,731 |
| 32 | Rovinj | 13,422 |
| 33 | Makarska | 13,335 |
| 34 | Nova Gradiska | 13,218 |
| 35 | Krizevci | 11,486 |
| 36 | Sinj | 11,413 |
| 37 | Knin | 11,071 |
| 38 | Slatina | 10,862 |
| 39 | Trogir | 10,849 |
| 40 | Brezovica | 10,773 |
| 41 | Porec | 10,388 |
| 42 | Daruvar | 9,752 |
| 43 | Cepin | 9,437 |
| 44 | Podstrana | 9,018 |
| 45 | Ogulin | 8,644 |
| 46 | Beli Manastir | 8,602 |
| 47 | Nasice | 8,102 |
| 48 | Labin | 7,832 |
| 49 | Valpovo | 7,832 |
| 50 | Opatija | 7,777 |
| 51 | Umag | 7,696 |
| 52 | Drenova | 7,527 |
| 53 | Tenja | 7,265 |
| 54 | Novska | 7,195 |
| 55 | Belisce | 7,121 |
| 56 | Crikvenica | 7,045 |
| 57 | Kastel Stari | 6,941 |
| 58 | Ivankovo | 6,617 |
| 59 | Visnjevac | 6,569 |
| 60 | Omis | 6,486 |
| 61 | Kastel Novi | 6,300 |
| 62 | GJurgevac | 6,238 |
| 63 | Mursko Sredisce | 6,196 |
| 64 | Vodice | 6,035 |
| 65 | Gospic | 6,007 |
| 66 | Buzet | 5,948 |
| 67 | Ilok | 5,815 |
| 68 | Otok | 5,776 |
| 69 | Pitomaca | 5,629 |
| 70 | Senj | 5,407 |
| 71 | Ivanec | 5,350 |
| 72 | Jastrebarsko | 5,334 |
| 73 | Kastel Luksic | 5,314 |
| 74 | Darda | 5,309 |
| 75 | Biograd na Moru | 5,174 |
| 76 | Novi Vinodolski | 5,171 |
| 77 | Gunja | 4,947 |
| 78 | Borovo | 4,945 |
| 79 | Kastel Kambelovac | 4,916 |
| 80 | Pazin | 4,899 |
| 81 | Krapina | 4,614 |
Religion
Most Croats are Christians, and the Roman Catholic Church has traditionally been a leader. 86.3 percent of the population are Catholics, while 4.4 percent are Orthodox Christians and 1.5 percent are Muslims. 1.5 percent belong to other faith communities. Non-religious, atheist and unspecified groups make up 6.3 percent. There are several Protestant churches and a Croatian Old Catholic church that does not approve the Pope’s infallibility and authority.
Language
The official language and mother tongue of the majority of the population is Croatian, written with the Latin alphabet. 95.6 percent of the population states Croatian as their mother tongue. The most important minority language is Serbian, used by 1.2 percent of the population. Other minority languages, including Hungarian, Czech, Slovak and Albanian, make up a total of 3.0 percent. (0.2 percent is unspecified).