The demographic characteristics of the population of Croatia are known through censuses , normally conducted in ten-year intervals and analysed by various statistical bureaus since the s. The Croatian Bureau of Statistics has performed this task since the s. The latest census in Croatia was performed in autumn of According to final results published on 22 September the permanent population of Croatia at the census 31st Aug had reached 3. The population density is Since , Croatia's death rate has continuously exceeded its birth rate ; the natural growth rate of the population is negative.
Croatia is in the fourth or fifth stage of the demographic transition. The median age of the population is Croatia is inhabited mostly by Croats The demographic history of Croatia is marked by significant migrations, including the arrival of the Croats in the area growth of Hungarian and German-speaking population since the union of Croatia and Hungary , and joining of the Habsburg Empire , migrations set off by Ottoman conquests and growth of Italian speaking population in Istria and in Dalmatia during Venetian rule there.
After the collapse of Austria-Hungary , the Hungarian population declined, while the German-speaking population was forced or compelled to leave after World War II and similar fate was suffered by the Italian population. Late 19th century and the 20th century were marked by large scale economic migrations abroad. The s and the s in Yugoslavia were marked by internal migrations in Yugoslavia, as well as by urbanisation.
Recently, significant migrations came as a result of the Croatian War of Independence when hundreds of thousands were displaced, while the s brought a new wave of emigration which strengthened after Croatia's accession to the EU in Croatian is the official language, but minority languages are officially used in some local government units.
Croatian is declared as the native language by The main religions of Croatia are Roman Catholic Literacy in Croatia stands at The proportion of the population aged 15 and over attaining academic degrees grew rapidly since , doubling and reaching An estimated 4.
