Croatia has more inhabitants, but continues to age: Where is the population growing, and where is it falling?

In mid-2025, Croatia had 3,874,993 inhabitants, which is 8,760 more than the estimate from the previous year, or 0.2 percent more. Istria County recorded the largest population growth, while the largest decline was registered in Sisak-Moslavina County. At the same time, Croatia's demography continues to age – the average age of the population is 44.7 years, and natural increase remains negative.

Nearly 3.9 million inhabitants

According to estimates by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the Republic of Croatia had 3,874,993 inhabitants in mid-2025.

Of that number, 1,893,472 were men and 1,981,521 were women.

Compared to the estimate from the previous year, the population increased by 8,760 people, or 0.2 percent.

However, despite the slight increase in the total population, the CBS warns that the continuous aging of the population persists.

Istria County recorded the highest growth

The highest relative growth in the number of inhabitants compared to the previous year's estimate was achieved by Istria County, with an increase of 1.60 percent.

Population growth was also recorded in Zadar County, Zagreb County, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Lika-Senj County, Split-Dalmatia County, Šibenik-Knin County, and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.

The number of inhabitants also increased in the City of Zagreb, by 0.45 percent.

Population falling sharply in some counties

Other counties recorded a decrease in their total population.

The largest relative declines occurred in Sisak-Moslavina County, where the population decreased by 1.14 percent, and Požega-Slavonia County, with a drop of 1.13 percent.

The data thus shows significant disparities between different parts of Croatia.

Croatia among the oldest nations in Europe

The average age of Croatia's total population in 2025 was 44.7 years.

The average age for men was 42.9 years, while women averaged 46.4 years.

According to this data, Croatia ranks among the oldest nations in Europe.

Šibenik-Knin County had the highest share of the population aged 65 and over relative to the total population – 28.8 percent.

The lowest share of inhabitants over the age of 65 was recorded in the City of Zagreb – 20.9 percent.

How many young people are there in Croatia?

The share of the young population, meaning inhabitants aged 0 to 19, in Croatia's total population was 18.7 percent.

Among the counties, Međimurje County had the highest share of young population, at 21.1 percent.

The lowest share of young people was recorded in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, where residents aged 0 to 19 made up 16.2 percent of the population.

Nearly 40 percent of women of reproductive age

The share of the fertile contingent, i.e., the population of reproductive age, within Croatia's total female population in 2025 was 39.8 percent.

The fertile female population consists of women aged 15 to 49.

More than half of the population lives in just five counties

Croatia's population is highly concentrated in a few counties.

As much as 52.5 percent of Croatia's population lives in just five counties.

The highest number of inhabitants, 20.1 percent or 777,744, lives in the City of Zagreb.

This is followed by Split-Dalmatia County, which has 431,463 inhabitants, or 11.1 percent of Croatia's total population.

At the other end of the scale are Lika-Senj and Požega-Slavonia counties.

Lika-Senj County had 43,402 inhabitants, making up 1.1 percent of Croatia's total population, while Požega-Slavonia County had 60,289 inhabitants, or 1.6 percent.

More children born, but natural increase still negative

During 2025, 32,479 children were born in Croatia, which is 410 more than in 2024.

At the same time, 50,007 people died, which is 1,073 fewer than in 2024.

Despite the higher number of births and lower number of deaths compared to the previous year, Croatia continues to record a negative natural increase.

In 2025, it stood at -17,528, which is a slightly less negative result than in 2024.

More marriages, but also more divorces

In 2025, 17,270 marriages were entered into, which is 64 more than in 2024.

At the same time, 5,674 divorces were recorded, or 713 more than the year before.

Thus, an increase in both the number of marriages and the number of divorces was recorded in the same year.

Croatia still has a positive net migration rate

Unlike the natural increase, migration data shows a positive net balance.

In 2025, 19,180 more people moved to Croatia than moved out. However, this balance is nearly half of what it was in 2024, when it stood at 31,394.

During 2025, 56,665 people moved to Croatia from abroad, while 37,485 people emigrated from Croatia to other countries.

The data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics thus simultaneously show a slight growth in the total population, but also the continuation of the long-term process of population aging and negative natural increase, alongside a positive, yet significantly smaller migration balance than the year before.

Source: HRT