How Many Croats Live Abroad?

Croatia is renowned for having one of the biggest Diasporas in the world when compared to the population. But how many are there living in communities around the world?…

According to a report by daily Vecernji list, there are at least 2.6 million Croats, including their descendants, living in 26 countries around the world. Nearly half of that total is in the USA.

In other words, there are just 1.5 million more people living in Croatia today than there are with Croatian ancestry living around the world. After the USA, the largest Croatian communities are found in Argentina, Canada, Australia, Germany and Chile.

According to estimates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration last year, around 1.2 million people of Croatian descent are living in the USA. The most are based in the States of Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio in Pittsburgh, Chicago and Cleveland, as well as in California. There are also large communities in Missouri, Indiana, Minnesota, Kansas, Montana, New York and New Jersey.

In Argentina there are around 250,000 citizens with Croatian heritage, with 80% of the Croatian immigrants arriving from Dalmatia at the end of the 19th and start of the 20th Century.

In Canada it is estimated that around 200,000 Croatians and their descendants live. Most are located around Toronto, Mississauga, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary. Between 150,000 and 200,000 are estimated to be living in Australia, with the largest communities in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Canberra and Brisbane.

In the second half of the 19th century a wave of Croats from Dalmatia, mainly from the Makarska Riviera, Brač, Hvar, Korčula and Pelješac area arrived in New Zealand. The biggest community is found in Auckland, with smaller groups living in the Kaitaia, Hamilton, Whangarei and Wellington area. Between 20,000 and 60,000 with Croatian heritage are estimated to be living in New Zealand, although the number on the official census is a lot smaller.

In Chile there was a wave of Dalmatians, a lot from the island of Brač, arriving at the end of the 19th Century. In Germany there around 225,000 Croatians living, Ecuador 4,000, Uruguay 3,300, and South Africa 8,000.

This week a lexicon of around 3,500 Croats who made an impact in their newly-adopted countries abroad was made available online. You can see that here.