Costa Rica birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Costa Rica has a birth rate of 10.2 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.33 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Costa Rica was 6.71 children per woman — 5.05 times higher than in 2023.

Costa Rica birth rate statistics:

Costa Rica is ranked 145/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 77/194 in 1960.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.6, a change from 27.2 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 101.3 in 1960 to 26.3 in 2023.
25.9% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 21.8% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Costa Rica by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.33	171
2022	1.34	173
2021	1.35	180
2020	1.45	165
2019	1.6	145
2018	1.71	139
2017	1.71	139
2016	1.75	136
2015	1.8	135
2014	1.8	136
2013	1.78	138
2012	1.85	135
2011	1.88	136
2010	1.83	142
2009	1.95	132
2008	1.98	128
2007	1.95	132
2006	1.94	132
2005	2.04	121
2004	2.03	123
2003	2.08	119
2002	2.16	118
2001	2.31	116
2000	2.41	111
1999	2.48	113
1998	2.53	114
1997	2.59	116
1996	2.68	116
1995	2.78	116
1994	2.86	117
1993	2.93	115
1992	3	114
1991	3.08	114
1990	3.17	112
1989	3.24	112
1988	3.31	112
1987	3.38	113
1986	3.45	113
1985	3.51	112
1984	3.52	114
1983	3.53	116
1982	3.54	117
1981	3.56	119
1980	3.58	122
1979	3.65	121
1978	3.66	122
1977	3.7	123
1976	3.75	123
1975	3.8	124
1974	3.89	125
1973	3.99	128
1972	4.16	128
1971	4.36	127
1970	4.59	127
1969	4.84	126
1968	5.03	125
1967	5.42	119
1966	5.7	114
1965	5.96	106
1964	6.19	95
1963	6.39	80
1962	6.54	68
1961	6.65	62
1960	6.71	58

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Costa Rica was 1.33 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 2003. In 1993, the fertility rate was 2.93 — a 54.6% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	24,109	51,969	27,860
2022	21,409	52,438	31,029
2021	20,119	53,347	33,228
2020	29,164	57,220	28,056
2019	37,682	63,299	25,617
2018	42,469	67,535	25,066
2017	43,471	67,860	24,389
2016	45,565	69,033	23,468
2015	49,077	70,844	21,767
2014	49,559	70,782	21,223
2013	49,227	69,657	20,430
2012	52,036	72,109	20,073
2011	52,884	72,646	19,762
2010	50,803	70,193	19,390
2009	55,757	74,359	18,602
2008	56,491	74,619	18,128
2007	55,244	72,729	17,485
2006	54,177	70,995	16,818
2005	57,139	73,519	16,380
2004	55,769	71,972	16,203
2003	56,743	72,726	15,983
2002	58,388	74,128	15,740
2001	62,199	77,805	15,606
2000	64,268	79,688	15,420
1999	64,922	80,084	15,162
1998	64,788	79,594	14,806
1997	64,954	79,516	14,562
1996	66,094	80,302	14,208
1995	67,585	81,227	13,642
1994	68,336	81,577	13,241
1993	69,016	81,741	12,725
1992	69,830	81,968	12,138
1991	70,506	82,302	11,796
1990	71,727	83,202	11,475
1989	72,327	83,592	11,265
1988	72,944	84,077	11,133
1987	73,188	84,209	11,021
1986	73,211	84,082	10,871
1985	72,776	83,400	10,624
1984	71,062	81,414	10,352
1983	68,972	79,196	10,224
1982	66,826	76,968	10,142
1981	64,632	74,721	10,089
1980	62,561	72,589	10,028
1979	60,984	71,046	10,062
1978	58,327	68,408	10,081
1977	56,122	66,234	10,112
1976	54,019	64,203	10,184
1975	51,979	62,333	10,354
1974	50,349	60,971	10,622
1973	48,943	59,783	10,840
1972	48,417	59,511	11,094
1971	48,341	59,645	11,304
1970	48,398	59,935	11,537
1969	48,790	60,432	11,642
1968	48,361	60,229	11,868
1967	50,193	62,100	11,907
1966	50,755	62,793	12,038
1965	51,196	63,286	12,090
1964	51,435	63,473	12,038
1963	51,403	63,301	11,898
1962	51,046	62,731	11,685
1961	50,149	61,741	11,592
1960	48,857	60,357	11,500

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Costa Rica (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.74% annually. On average, 36,262 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.47% — 24,109 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Costa Rica ranks 105/196 for absolute natural population change and 122/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Costa Rica compared to other countries

	Costa Rica	Rank
Fertility rate	1.33	171/196
Birth rate	10.2	145/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+24,109	105/196
Natural population change rate	+0.47%	122/196
Population growth	+0.48%	138/197
Average age at childbearing	28.6 years	132/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	22.8	115/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	65.4	148/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	13.4	161/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	25.9%	48/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	70%	17/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	99%	78/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.02%	119/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.72%	110/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.92%	118/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	1.05%	118/192
Life expectancy	81.4 years	39/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	19.1	22.8	65.4	13.4
2025	19.4	23.6	66	13.5
2024	19.7	24.9	66.7	13.6
2023	20.1	26.3	67.7	13.7
2022	20.3	26.4	67.9	14
2021	20.8	27.6	69.3	14.1
2020	22.4	33.1	74.3	14.8
2019	25	41.6	82.6	15.7
2018	26.9	48.5	87.9	16.4
2017	27.2	50.7	88	16.4
2016	27.9	53.1	89.9	16.5
2015	28.9	56.4	92.1	16.9
2014	29.2	59.5	92.6	16.6
2013	29	61	91.7	16.1
2012	30.4	65.4	95.6	16.5
2011	31	65.3	97.9	16.8
2010	30.3	62.9	97	16.2
2009	32.5	68.3	104.7	17.1
2008	33.1	69.7	107.1	17.2
2007	32.7	67.6	106.6	17.2
2006	32.4	65.3	105.8	17.5
2005	34	67.1	111.5	19.1
2004	33.8	68.3	109.6	19.5
2003	34.6	70.2	112.2	20.6
2002	35.8	72.7	116	22
2001	38.3	78.2	123.7	24
2000	39.9	84.3	128.3	25.3
1999	40.9	85	132.1	26.8
1998	41.6	85.3	133.8	28.2
1997	42.5	85.9	136.2	29.8
1996	44	87	141.1	31.5
1995	45.6	88.5	146	33.2
1994	47	89.6	150.3	34.6
1993	48.3	89.9	153.8	36.1
1992	49.7	90	157.4	37.6
1991	51.3	90.4	161.3	39
1990	53.2	91.9	165.9	40.7
1989	54.9	93.7	168.8	42.1
1988	56.6	95.7	172.2	43.4
1987	58.2	96.4	175.9	44.7
1986	59.7	97	179.3	46.1
1985	60.8	97.5	182.1	47.2
1984	61	96.6	183.2	47.3
1983	61	95.4	184.1	47.3
1982	60.9	94.2	185.2	47.5
1981	60.8	94.7	186.3	47.4
1980	60.7	95.6	187.9	47.4
1979	61	96.5	191	48.4
1978	60.4	95.7	191.8	48.4
1977	60	95.1	193.9	48.9
1976	59.8	94.6	196.2	49.6
1975	59.6	93.5	199.5	50.6
1974	59.8	92.6	204.2	52.4
1973	60.1	92	209.2	54.3
1972	61.4	92.6	216.5	57.7
1971	63.2	93.2	225.1	62
1970	65.2	93.9	234.3	66.7
1969	67.6	93.4	245.1	72.2
1968	69.3	92.5	253.2	76.6
1967	73.6	93	269.4	84.9
1966	76.7	94.1	281.5	90.8
1965	79.8	95.5	293.4	96
1964	82.8	97.4	304	100.5
1963	85.4	99.4	313	104.1
1962	87.7	101	321	106.8
1961	89.6	102.4	326	108.6
1960	90.9	103.2	329	109.5

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Costa Rica by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 8.01% will be to women under age 20, 49% to women ages 20-29, and 43% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 15.5%, 56.4%, and 28.1%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Costa Rica	World
2100	10.3%	16.5%
2099	10.3%	16.6%
2098	10.3%	16.6%
2097	10.3%	16.7%
2096	10.3%	16.8%
2095	10.4%	16.8%
2094	10.4%	16.9%
2093	10.4%	17%
2092	10.4%	17%
2091	10.4%	17.1%
2090	10.5%	17.2%
2089	10.5%	17.2%
2088	10.5%	17.3%
2087	10.5%	17.4%
2086	10.5%	17.4%
2085	10.5%	17.5%
2084	10.5%	17.5%
2083	10.6%	17.6%
2082	10.6%	17.7%
2081	10.5%	17.7%
2080	10.5%	17.8%
2079	10.5%	17.8%
2078	10.5%	17.9%
2077	10.5%	17.9%
2076	10.5%	18%
2075	10.5%	18%
2074	10.5%	18.1%
2073	10.5%	18.2%
2072	10.5%	18.2%
2071	10.5%	18.3%
2070	10.5%	18.3%
2069	10.6%	18.4%
2068	10.6%	18.5%
2067	10.7%	18.6%
2066	10.8%	18.6%
2065	10.8%	18.7%
2064	10.9%	18.8%
2063	11%	18.9%
2062	11.2%	19.1%
2061	11.3%	19.2%
2060	11.4%	19.3%
2059	11.5%	19.4%
2058	11.7%	19.5%
2057	11.8%	19.6%
2056	11.9%	19.8%
2055	12.1%	19.9%
2054	12.2%	20%
2053	12.3%	20.1%
2052	12.4%	20.2%
2051	12.6%	20.3%
2050	12.7%	20.4%
2049	12.8%	20.5%
2048	12.9%	20.6%
2047	13%	20.7%
2046	13%	20.8%
2045	13.1%	20.9%
2044	13.2%	20.9%
2043	13.3%	21%
2042	13.4%	21.1%
2041	13.5%	21.2%
2040	13.5%	21.2%
2039	13.6%	21.3%
2038	13.7%	21.4%
2037	13.9%	21.5%
2036	14%	21.6%
2035	14.2%	21.8%
2034	14.5%	22%
2033	14.9%	22.2%
2032	15.3%	22.4%
2031	15.7%	22.7%
2030	16.2%	23%
2029	16.7%	23.3%
2028	17.1%	23.6%
2027	17.6%	23.9%
2026	18.1%	24.2%
2025	18.5%	24.6%
2024	18.8%	24.7%
2023	19.3%	25%
2022	19.8%	25.3%
2021	20.3%	25.6%
2020	20.7%	25.8%
2019	21.1%	26%
2018	21.4%	26.2%
2017	21.8%	26.4%
2016	22.1%	26.5%
2015	22.5%	26.6%
2014	23%	26.8%
2013	23.4%	26.9%
2012	23.9%	27%
2011	24.3%	27.1%
2010	24.9%	27.3%
2009	25.4%	27.5%
2008	25.9%	27.6%
2007	26.5%	27.9%
2006	27.1%	28.1%
2005	27.7%	28.5%
2004	28.4%	28.8%
2003	29.1%	29.2%
2002	29.8%	29.6%
2001	30.5%	30%
2000	31.1%	30.4%
1999	31.8%	30.8%
1998	32.4%	31.1%
1997	33%	31.5%
1996	33.6%	31.8%
1995	34.1%	32.1%
1994	34.6%	32.3%
1993	35%	32.5%
1992	35.4%	32.7%
1991	35.7%	32.9%
1990	36%	33%
1989	36.1%	33.2%
1988	36.2%	33.4%
1987	36.2%	33.6%
1986	36.3%	33.8%
1985	36.3%	34%
1984	36.4%	34.3%
1983	36.5%	34.6%
1982	36.7%	34.9%
1981	37.1%	35.2%
1980	37.5%	35.5%
1979	38%	35.9%
1978	38.6%	36.3%
1977	39.2%	36.7%
1976	40%	36.9%
1975	40.8%	37.1%
1974	41.5%	37.2%
1973	42.3%	37.3%
1972	43.1%	37.5%
1971	43.8%	37.6%
1970	44.4%	37.7%
1969	45%	37.8%
1968	45.5%	37.9%
1967	45.9%	38%
1966	46.3%	38%
1965	46.5%	38%
1964	46.6%	38%
1963	46.7%	37.8%
1962	46.7%	37.6%
1961	46.6%	37.5%
1960	46.4%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Costa Rica was 46.4% in 1960, 35.4% in 1992, and 18.8% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Costa Rica.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Costa Rica	World
2023	24	197
2022	27	203
2021	44	242
2020	34	211
2019	26	207
2018	28	211
2017	27	215
2016	27	220
2015	26	228
2014	27	231
2013	27	235
2012	27	239
2011	28	247
2010	29	253
2009	29	258
2008	30	264
2007	30	269
2006	30	276
2005	31	283
2004	33	291
2003	33	301
2002	34	311
2001	35	321
2000	36	328
1999	36	340
1998	37	360
1997	38	358
1996	39	366
1995	39	371
1994	39	382
1993	39	389
1992	39	395
1991	39	395
1990	40	391
1989	40	401
1988	40	414
1987	41	429
1986	42	438
1985	43	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Costa Rica was 24 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.02% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 33.3% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Costa Rica	World
2023	1.05%	2.49%
2022	1.01%	2.59%
2021	0.97%	2.66%
2020	0.94%	2.75%
2019	0.91%	2.86%
2018	0.89%	2.97%
2017	0.89%	3.11%
2016	0.89%	3.22%
2015	0.9%	3.35%
2014	0.92%	3.48%
2013	0.95%	3.61%
2012	0.98%	3.77%
2011	1.02%	3.97%
2010	1.05%	4.11%
2009	1.07%	4.31%
2008	1.09%	4.5%
2007	1.11%	4.7%
2006	1.12%	4.92%
2005	1.13%	5.16%
2004	1.15%	5.43%
2003	1.18%	5.65%
2002	1.22%	5.94%
2001	1.26%	6.21%
2000	1.31%	6.48%
1999	1.36%	6.75%
1998	1.41%	7.05%
1997	1.45%	7.28%
1996	1.47%	7.52%
1995	1.49%	7.76%
1994	1.51%	7.98%
1993	1.53%	8.19%
1992	1.57%	8.46%
1991	1.62%	8.66%
1990	1.69%	8.81%
1989	1.78%	9.02%
1988	1.89%	9.31%
1987	2.01%	9.47%
1986	2.12%	9.81%
1985	2.2%	10.1%
1984	2.25%	10.4%
1983	2.27%	10.6%
1982	2.29%	10.8%
1981	2.33%	11%
1980	2.45%	11.4%
1979	2.65%	11.7%
1978	2.96%	12.2%
1977	3.39%	12.6%
1976	3.93%	13%
1975	4.54%	13.4%
1974	5.17%	13.8%
1973	5.82%	14.1%
1972	6.45%	14.5%
1971	7.02%	15.1%
1970	7.48%	15.2%
1969	7.85%	15.4%
1968	8.17%	15.6%
1967	8.49%	15.9%
1966	8.78%	16.1%
1965	9.02%	16.4%
1964	9.18%	16.6%
1963	9.25%	16.5%
1962	9.27%	16.7%
1961	9.36%	17%
1960	9.62%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Costa Rica was 10.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 1.05% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 13.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.