Census 2021: Only 3.89 million people live in Croatia

According to the provisional results of the 2020 population census, only 3.89 million people live in Croatia, or 9,25% fewer than according to the last census in 2011. 

Thus, Croatia has lost 396.360 inhabitants in the past 10 years. Figuratively speaking, it is as if we suddenly lost the entire population of Split and Rijeka. Let us recall that, according to the 2011 Census, Croatia had 4.284.889 inhabitants.

The largest population declines are recorded in Vukovar-Srijem i Sisak-Moslavina County, while the smallest decrease was achieved in City of Zagreb, Dubrovnik-Neretva i Zadar County. 

In addition to the population, the number of households is also decreasing, but on the other hand, interestingly, the number of housing units, primarily in coastal counties, which we could attribute to engaging in tourism activities or real estate owned by foreign citizens.

As Nedo Pinezić commented on his FB profile, Croatia will turn into "Florida", i.e. a summer home for foreign pensioners. Fewer residents, fewer households, and more apartments... When we add the fact that every third property buyer is a foreigner, we can conclude that Croatia is on the path to becoming a weekend country. 

Census 2021 / Download Excel file the first results of the 2021 Census, in which the table is divided into counties and cities.

Photo: CBS