Net migration (UNICEF) in Croatia
Croatia: Net migration was -3,481 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-3,481
Change on year
up 32.9%
World rank
44th
of 74 countries
All-time high
19,298
in 2001
All-time low
-53,688
in 1996
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net migration in Croatia, 1960–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Croatia recorded -3,481 for net migration in 2025.
That represents a change of up 32.9% on the previous year and up 87.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Croatia peaked at 19,298 in 2001 and was at its lowest, -53,688, in 1996.
That places Croatia 44th out of 74 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Croatia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -21,768 | — |
| 1961 | -6,567 | -69.8% |
| 1962 | -2,176 | -66.9% |
| 1963 | -1,289 | -40.8% |
| 1964 | -2,090 | +62.1% |
| 1965 | -5,253 | +151.3% |
| 1966 | -6,341 | +20.7% |
| 1967 | -3,518 | -44.5% |
| 1968 | -2,799 | -20.4% |
| 1969 | -2,796 | -0.1% |
| 1970 | -2,359 | -15.6% |
| 1971 | -5,608 | +137.7% |
| 1972 | -7,277 | +29.8% |
| 1973 | -8,335 | +14.5% |
| 1974 | -8,076 | -3.1% |
| 1975 | -7,366 | -8.8% |
| 1976 | -7,400 | +0.5% |
| 1977 | -7,339 | -0.8% |
| 1978 | -7,329 | -0.1% |
| 1979 | -5,740 | -21.7% |
| 1980 | -5,486 | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 4,872 | -188.8% |
| 1982 | 7,475 | +53.4% |
| 1983 | 6,323 | -15.4% |
| 1984 | 5,757 | -9.0% |
| 1985 | 5,550 | -3.6% |
| 1986 | 6,261 | +12.8% |
| 1987 | 6,956 | +11.1% |
| 1988 | 7,242 | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 8,471 | +17.0% |
| 1990 | 9,538 | +12.6% |
| 1991 | -31,968 | -435.2% |
| 1992 | -47,865 | +49.7% |
| 1993 | -49,615 | +3.7% |
| 1994 | -50,444 | +1.7% |
| 1995 | -51,882 | +2.9% |
| 1996 | -53,688 | +3.5% |
| 1997 | -52,897 | -1.5% |
| 1998 | -47,931 | -9.4% |
| 1999 | -47,418 | -1.1% |
| 2000 | -47,629 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 19,298 | -140.5% |
| 2002 | 10,306 | -46.6% |
| 2003 | 12,556 | +21.8% |
| 2004 | 15,445 | +23.0% |
| 2005 | 10,629 | -31.2% |
| 2006 | 10,852 | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 8,893 | -18.1% |
| 2008 | 6,495 | -27.0% |
| 2009 | 1,358 | -79.1% |
| 2010 | -3,995 | -394.2% |
| 2011 | -17,463 | +337.1% |
| 2012 | -4,794 | -72.5% |
| 2013 | -6,245 | +30.3% |
| 2014 | -13,127 | +110.2% |
| 2015 | -27,501 | +109.5% |
| 2016 | -32,144 | +16.9% |
| 2017 | -44,557 | +38.6% |
| 2018 | -25,016 | -43.9% |
| 2019 | -13,239 | -47.1% |
| 2020 | -8,552 | -35.4% |
| 2021 | -4,517 | -47.2% |
| 2022 | 11,681 | -358.6% |
| 2023 | 10,202 | -12.7% |
| 2024 | -5,186 | -150.8% |
| 2025 | -3,481 | -32.9% |
Croatia compared with similar countries
- Croatia's -3,481 is below the median for high income countries, which is 9,502. (42 countries reporting)
- Croatia's -3,481 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 158. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Croatia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -435.2% | 9,538 | -31,968 |
| 2010 | -394.2% | 1,358 | -3,995 |
| 2022 | +358.6% | -4,517 | 11,681 |
| 2011 | -337.1% | -3,995 | -17,463 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -5,460 | -21,768 | -1,289 | 10 |
| 1970s | -6,683 | -8,335 | -2,359 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,342 | -5,486 | 8,471 | 10 |
| 1990s | -42,417 | -53,688 | 9,538 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,820 | -47,629 | 19,298 | 10 |
| 2010s | -18,808 | -44,557 | -3,995 | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.5 | -8,552 | 11,681 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Croatia
- 41 Iraq -1,064 compare
- 42 Bulgaria -2,961 compare
- 43 Belarus -3,020 compare
- 45 North Macedonia -5,645 compare
- 46 Uzbekistan -6,987 compare
- 47 Bosnia and Herzegovina -6,994 compare
More population data for Croatia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.8996 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.8211 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.79 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.8211 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.8% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 79,027 people (2100)
- Population density 38.27 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.8% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7685 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.4188 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Croatia?
- Net migration in Croatia was -3,481 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Croatia?
- The highest recorded value was 19,298 in 2001.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Croatia?
- The lowest recorded value was -53,688 in 1996.
- How does Croatia rank for net migration?
- Croatia ranks 44th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Croatia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 87.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Croatia data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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