MigrantoCroatian Diaspora
826.2K Croats live abroad — 21% of the population of Croatia
Croatian diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 67% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Germany | 271197 |
| Serbia | 223325 |
| Austria | 59348 |
| Slovenia | 52829 |
| Australia | 47534 |
| Canada | 35035 |
| Italy | 20875 |
| Switzerland | 19802 |
| Ireland | 15615 |
| United Kingdom | 15398 |
| Montenegro | 15398 |
| Sweden | 14041 |
| Bosnia | 11319 |
| Norway | 5445 |
| Denmark | 3200 |
| Hungary | 2692 |
| Czech Republic | 2048 |
| North Macedonia | 1443 |
| Slovakia | 1350 |
| Mali | 1282 |
| Iceland | 1081 |
| Luxembourg | 1010 |
| Argentina | 765 |
| Brazil | 664 |
| Greece | 462 |
| Poland | 418 |
| Malta | 377 |
| Venezuela | 367 |
| Finland | 345 |
| South Africa | 323 |
| Chile | 293 |
| Panama | 185 |
| Bulgaria | 172 |
| Liechtenstein | 123 |
| Portugal | 102 |
| Cyprus | 86 |
| Estonia | 48 |
| Bolivia | 46 |
| Lithuania | 37 |
| Costa Rica | 34 |
| Faroe Islands | 29 |
| Guinea | 16 |
| Latvia | 7 |
By region
90% of the diaspora lives in Europe
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Key facts
The Croatian diaspora in numbers
Most Croats abroad live in Germany
33% of the diaspora lives in Germany, while the next country accounts for just 27%.
The map of the diaspora has changed since 1990
5 countries have entered the top 20 since 1990: Ireland, Norway, Denmark. Ireland climbed from outside the top 20 to #9.
1 in 5 people born in Croatia lives abroad
826.2K people born in Croatia now live in other countries — 21.4% of a population of 3.9M.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 46% to 33%.
Croatian diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 840829 |
| 1995 | 1056934 |
| 2000 | 1196319 |
| 2005 | 990980 |
| 2010 | 847561 |
| 2015 | 802347 |
| 2020 | 825039 |
| 2024 | 826166 |
Largest communities over time
Croats living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Germany | Serbia | Austria | Slovenia | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 64486 | 388793 | 31301 | 48018 | 55533 |
| 1995 | 151133 | 531823 | 35998 | 47721 | 57434 |
| 2000 | 167650 | 647883 | 40829 | 59921 | 58254 |
| 2005 | 174209 | 464341 | 35142 | 56322 | 69644 |
| 2010 | 170139 | 343685 | 39459 | 55964 | 68492 |
| 2015 | 198532 | 282253 | 42582 | 46995 | 61762 |
| 2020 | 266440 | 242098 | 49279 | 46599 | 54563 |
| 2024 | 271197 | 223325 | 59348 | 52829 | 47534 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Croats in each country has changed since the selected year
Croats among immigrants in other countries
Where Croats make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Croats live outside Croatia?
Around 826.2K Croats live abroad, the world's #76 largest diaspora.
Where do most Croats abroad live?
Most Croats live in Germany, Serbia and Austria — these three countries account for about 67% of all Croats living abroad.
Which country has the largest Croatian population outside Croatia?
Germany is home to the largest Croatian community abroad — 271.2K people, about 33% of all Croats living abroad.
What share of the population of Croatia lives abroad?
About 21% of the population of Croatia lives abroad — that's 826.2K out of a total population of 3.9M.
Is the Croatian diaspora growing?
Barely — over the past decade, the number of Croats living abroad has changed from 802.3K to 826.2K, about 3%.
Where does the data on the Croatian diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Croatia who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Croatia
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