Ethnic minorities in Croatia

Population of Croatia (in thousands) from 1857–2011
Population	4 290 612 (31 March 2011)
Growth rate	−4.0 per 1,000 pop. (2014)
Birth rate	8.9 per 1,000 pop. (2015)
Death rate	12.9 per 1,000 pop. (2015)
Life expectancy	78 years (2012)
• male	74 years (2012)
• female	81 years (2012)
Fertility rate	1.43 children born/woman (2013)
Infant mortality rate	5.0 deaths/1,000 infants (2014)
Net migration rate	-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 pop. (2009)
0–14 years	15.3% (2009)
15–64 years	67.5% (2009)
65 and over	17.3% (2009)
At birth	1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15	1.06 male(s)/female
15–64 years	0.99 male(s)/female
65 and over	0.64 male(s)/female
Nationality	noun: Croatian(s) adjective: Croatian
Major ethnic	Croats (90.4%) (2011)
Minor ethnic	Serbs (4.36%) (2011) and others <2% individually (2011)
Official	Croatian at national level; Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Ruthenian, Serbian and Slovak are in official use in some local government areas
Spoken	Croatian, languages of the minorities

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 1850s. The Croatian Bureau of Statistics has performed this task since the 1990s. The latest census in Croatia was performed in April 2011. The permanent population of Croatia at the 2011 census had reached 4.29 million. The population density is 75.8 inhabitants per square kilometre, and the overall life expectancy in Croatia at birth was 78 years in 2012. The population rose steadily (with the exception of censuses taken following the two world wars) from 2.1 million in 1857 until 1991, when it peaked at 4.7 million. Since 1991, 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. In terms of age structure, the population is dominated by the 15‑ to 64‑year‑old segment. The median age of the population is 41.4, and the gender ratio of the total population is 0.93 males per 1 female.

Demographics professors from Zagreb Faculty of Economics predict that the population will decrease by 350.000 people by 2030, based on current number of children born and people emigrating. Population going below 4 million people in the next 15 years can be avoided in only two ways - if 350.000 more people immigrate than the number of people who emigrate or if the number of children born almost doubles. Experts believe both options are unlikely.

Croatia is inhabited mostly by Croats (90.4%), while minorities include Serbs (4.5%), and 21 other ethnicities (less than 1% each). 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 1940s and the 1950s in Yugoslavia were marked by internal migrations in Yugoslavia, as well as by urbanisation. The most recent significant migrations came as a result of the Croatian War of Independence when hundreds of thousands were displaced.