According to figures released by the Central Bureau of Statistics last Thursday, the number of newcomers was 8,468 while 9,940 people emigrated from Croatia.
The number of newcomers went down by 40 percent as against 2008.
The diminishing number of immigrants is ascribed to the economic crisis in Croatia and weakening demand for labour in the construction, catering and tourist trade sectors, the bureau said in a press release.
A majority of immigrants settled in Zagreb where every fifth newcomer moved in. Split-Dalmatia County follows with accepting 13.5 percent of immigrants and Dubrovnik-Neretva County with 8 percent.
A majority of emigrants left Sisak-Moslavina County (13.5 percent), Zagreb (9.1 percent) and Slavonski Brod-Posavina County (8.3 percent).
As many as 90 percent of newcomers were Croats from abroad, while foreigners accounted for the remaining 10 percent.
As regards those who left Croatia, 86.9 percent were Croatian nationals, foreigners made up 1.4 percent while citizenship was unknown for the remaining 11.7 percent of emigrants.
When it comes to migrations within Croatia, 71,353 people changed their place of residence in 2009.
Broken down by age and gender, a majority of Croatia's internal migrants in 2009 were people aged between 20-39 and women accounted for 55.2 percent of migrants