Croatia Population Pyramid (2026)
Croatia has a population of 3,822,344 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 128th-largest population in the world and 0.05% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 13.5% of the population and people aged 65 and over 24.0%, with 93.3 males for every 100 females.
Croatia Demographics
Croatia has 3.8 million people in 2026, down 14.3% from 4.5 million in 1970.
Deaths outnumber births by 22,822 (UN projection for 2026).
65+ share 24.0% — the 8th-highest of 194 countries.
Median age 45.5 — the 11th-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Baby Boomers — 23.8% (908,550)
All generations in Croatia →Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Croatia's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
Page Navigation(Quick jump to sections)
Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Croatia has 93.3 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 131,828 (3.4% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:1,845,258
- Percentage:48.3%
Female Statistics
- Population:1,977,086
- Percentage:51.7%
- Ratio Format:1:1.071
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Croatia indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 30,609 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 35,785 | 9.1 | 1.62 | estimate |
| 2022 | 33,039 | 8.5 | 1.53 | estimate |
| 2023 | 31,446 | 8.1 | 1.47 | estimate |
| 2024 | 31,379 | 8.1 | 1.47 | projection |
| 2025 | 30,995 | 8.1 | 1.47 | projection |
| 2026 | 30,609 | 8.0 | 1.47 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (30,609 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Croatia's median age is 45.5 years
Half the population is younger than 45.5 years, half is older — indicating an aging society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 159,187 | 4.2% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 170,114 | 4.5% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 187,185 | 4.9% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 206,804 | 5.4% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 195,650 | 5.1% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 209,767 | 5.5% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 209,510 | 5.5% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 227,524 | 6.0% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 261,020 | 6.8% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 273,378 | 7.2% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 264,648 | 6.9% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 263,690 | 6.9% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 275,708 | 7.2% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 272,394 | 7.1% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 246,962 | 6.5% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 184,268 | 4.8% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 107,266 | 2.8% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 70,592 | 1.8% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 29,192 | 0.8% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 6,684 | 0.2% | Senior |
| 100+ | 801 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 5 (natural decrease): deaths outnumber births — 8.0 births and 14.0 deaths per 1,000 people in 2026. Read more about Stage 5 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Croatia Total Fertility Rate: 1.47 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.62 | 9.1 | |
| 2022 | 1.53 | 8.5 | ↓0.09 |
| 2023 | 1.47 | 8.1 | ↓0.06 |
| 2024 | 1.47 | 8.1 | 0.00 |
| 2025 | 1.47 | 8.1 | 0.00 |
| 2026 | 1.47 | 8.0 | 0.00 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.48
Croatia's total fertility rate is 1.47 children per woman in 2026 (below replacement), below the replacement level of 2.1. Croatia ranks 151 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the lowest third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −49.8% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Croatia's population has decreased by 1.1%.
The median age has increased from 25.4 in 1950 to 45.5 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Croatia's Demographics
Croatia has a constrictive population pyramid — a base narrower than the middle, so younger cohorts are smaller than the ones above them.
Children under 15 make up 13.5% of the population and people aged 65 and over 24.0%.
The largest five-year age band is 45–49, at 7.2% of the population, compared with 4.2% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Croatia's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
Croatia's working-age share peaked in 1990 at 68.6% and is 62.5% in 2026.
Fertility Transition Stage
Croatia is in a period of below replacement, with a total fertility rate of 1.47 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Croatia's median age changed by +2.8 years from 2016 to 2026, faster than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 3,822,344 |
| Male Population | 1,845,258(48.3%) |
| Female Population | 1,977,086(51.7%) |
| Median Age | 45.5 years |
| Sex Ratio | 93.3 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 516,486(13.5%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 2,387,699(62.5%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 918,159(24.0%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 60.1 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 21.6 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 38.5 |
| Pyramid Type | Constrictive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Croatia
How long the average person in Croatia is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Croatia is projected to shrink to 3.2 million people by 2050 (−15.4% from 2026).
The median age rises from 45.5 in 2026 to 49.1 by 2050.
Croatia's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 4.1%, growing from 4.5 million in 1970 to 4.6 million by 1980
The median age increased by 1.0 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 2.1 percentage points
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion grew by 2.1 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 4.5M to 4.6M
- • Growth rate of 4.1% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 31.2 to 32.2 years (+1.0y)
- • 65+ share changed by +2.1 points; under-15 share by −2.1 points
How Does Croatia Compare to Its Neighbors?
Croatia has an older population than Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Romania. Croatia has a smaller population than Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Romania.
Croatia
Russia
Poland
Ukraine
Romania
Frequently Asked Questions About Croatia
How does Croatia rank globally by population?
Croatia ranks 128th in the world by population with 3.82 million people as of 2026, representing 0.05% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Croatia's age structure reveal about its development?
Croatia's age structure — 13.5% under 15, 62.5% working-age (15–64) and 24.0% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 5 of the demographic transition, with a constrictive population pyramid. The median age is 45.5 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Croatia?
Croatia has 60.1 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Croatia experiencing a demographic dividend?
Croatia has moved past its demographic-dividend window. Croatia's working-age share peaked in 1990 at 68.6% and is 62.5% in 2026. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Croatia's population?
Croatia has more females than males, with 93.3 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Croatia Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/croatia
View UN World Population Prospects Data →