Updated
Overview
Hungary has 2.5 times the population of Croatia: 9.51 million people against 3.88 million (2025).
Hungary's economy is 2.3 times the size of Croatia's, at $246.49B versus $105.06B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Hungary | Croatia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $246.49B | $105.06B | 2025 | $222.91B / $92.53B |
| GDP per capita | $25,907 | Higher: $27,104 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.5% | Higher: 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 4.4% | Lower: 3.7% | 2025 | 3.7% / 3.0% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.5% | 5.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 52 | 53 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,290 | Higher: $2,494 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $823 | Higher: $1,096 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.30 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 9.51 million | 3.88 million | 2025 | 9.86 million / 4.07 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 43.9 yrs | 45.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.50 | 1.47 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.7 yrs | Higher: 78.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 71% | 58% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 94% | 84% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 93,028 km² | 56,594 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 102.3/km² | 68.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 40 Mt | Lower: 18 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.1 t | 4.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.73B | $1.63B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.2% | 1.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 46,000 | 20,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Croatia is growing faster: 3.4% annual GDP growth versus 0.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 4.4% in Hungary and 3.7% in Croatia.
Average monthly earnings favour Croatia: $2,494 against $1,290 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 43.9 (Hungary) and 45.3 (Croatia).
Life expectancy is 2.2 years longer in Croatia (78.9 vs 76.7).
Hungary is considerably more urbanized: 71% of people live in cities, against 58%.
Internet adoption is higher in Hungary (94% vs 84% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Hungary is 64% larger than Croatia: 93,028 km² versus 56,594 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Hungary spends 2.9 times as much on defence as Croatia: $4.73B versus $1.63B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Hungary fields the larger armed forces: 46,000 personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Hungary bigger than Croatia?
- Hungary is larger by land area. Hungary covers 93,028 km² while Croatia covers 56,594 km², so Hungary is 64% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Hungary or Croatia?
- Hungary has the larger population: 9.51 million versus 3.88 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Hungary richer than Croatia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Croatia is richer: $27,104 against $25,907. Total GDP tells a different story: $246.49B for Hungary versus $105.06B for Croatia.
- Who spends more on their military, Hungary or Croatia?
- Hungary spends more: $4.73B versus $1.63B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).