Croatia’s population rises again but demographic picture changing

ZAGREB, 4 September 2026 – Croatia’s population increased slightly in 2025, reaching 3,874,993, according to the latest mid-year population estimate released on Friday by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. 

The figure represents an increase of 8,760 people, or 0.2%, compared with the estimate for 2024.

Women accounted for 51.1% of the population, with 1,981,521 women compared with 1,893,472 men.

The latest figures also show continued differences between Croatian counties, with population growth concentrated in several coastal and central areas.

Istria recorded the strongest relative increase, with its population rising by 1.60% compared with the previous year. It was followed by Zadar County (1.49%), Zagreb County (1.18%), Dubrovnik-Neretva County (0.82%), Lika-Senj County (0.80%), Split-Dalmatia County (0.65%), Šibenik-Knin County (0.59%), Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (0.50%) and Zagreb (0.45%).

Population declined in the remaining counties. The largest relative decreases were recorded in Sisak-Moslavina County (-1.14%) and Požega-Slavonia County (-1.13%).

Zagreb remains Croatia’s largest population centre

More than half of Croatia’s population, 52.5%, lived in just five counties in 2025.

Zagreb remained the country’s largest population centre, with 777,744 residents, accounting for 20.1% of the national total.

It was followed by Split-Dalmatia County, with 431,463 residents, or 11.1% of Croatia’s population.

At the other end of the scale, Lika-Senj County had 43,402 residents, while Požega-Slavonia County had 60,289.

The figures also show significant population changes over the longer term. Croatia had an estimated 3,878,981 residents in 2021, falling to 3,855,641 in 2022 before gradually increasing to 3,874,993 in 2025.

Croatia continues to age

Despite the recent increase in total population, the demographic structure continues to reflect an ageing population.

The average age of Croatia’s population was 44.7 years in 2025. The average was 42.9 years for men and 46.4 years for women.

People aged between 0 and 19 accounted for 18.7% of the total population.

The lowest share of young people was recorded in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, at 16.2%, while Međimurje had the highest share, at 21.1%.

The proportion of women of reproductive age in the total female population stood at 39.8%.

People aged 65 and over accounted for the largest share of the population in Šibenik-Knin County, where they represented 28.8%. The lowest share was recorded in Zagreb, at 20.9%.

The latest estimate therefore points to a mixed demographic picture: Croatia recorded a modest increase in its overall population in 2025, while regional disparities and the long-term trend of population ageing continued.