Quick facts
Zagreb overview
Zagreb (orange) and the other large cities of Croatia
Zagreb lies in Croatia at 45.81°N, 15.98°E, about 135 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Zagreb (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Croatia: the next largest cities are Split (149,830), Rijeka (107,964), Osijek (75,535). Together, the three largest cities hold 24.1% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Velika Gorica, about 14 km away, followed by Zaprešić (14 km).
Croatia as a whole has a live population of 3,815,552 (-0.7% a year) and ranks #130 of 238 countries — see the Croatia population page for the full statistics and the Croatia atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Zagreb
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Velika Gorica Zagreb County | 14 km | 30,036 |
| Zaprešić Zagreb County | 14 km | 18,768 |
| Samobor Zagreb County | 20 km | 16,911 |
| Karlovac Karlovac | 49 km | 41,869 |
| Sisak Sisak-Moslavina | 50 km | 27,859 |
| Varaždin Varaždin | 61 km | 36,187 |
| Bjelovar Bjelovar-Bilogora | 68 km | 24,392 |
| Čakovec Međimurje | 72 km | 15,078 |
Largest cities in Croatia
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZagrebCapital | Zagreb | 663,592 |
| 2 | Split | Split-Dalmatia | 149,830 |
| 3 | Rijeka | Primorje-Gorski Kotar | 107,964 |
| 4 | Osijek | County of Osijek-Baranja | 75,535 |
| 5 | Zadar | Zadar | 67,309 |
| 6 | Pula | Istria | 52,220 |
| 7 | Slavonski Brod | Brod-Posavina | 45,005 |
| 8 | Karlovac | Karlovac | 41,869 |
| 9 | Varaždin | Varaždin | 36,187 |
| 10 | Šibenik | Šibenik-Knin | 31,115 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Zagreb?
Zagreb has about 663,592 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Zagreb the capital of Croatia?
Yes — Zagreb is the national capital of Croatia.
How big is Zagreb compared with the rest of Croatia?
Its 663,592 residents are 17.4% of the 3,815,552 people living in Croatia today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Zagreb?
In Croatia, at latitude 45.81 and longitude 15.98, 135 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Velika Gorica (14 km), Zaprešić (14 km), Samobor (20 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Zagreb Population 2026 — Croatia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/croatia/zagreb/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/croatia/zagreb/">Zagreb Population 2026 — Croatia</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.