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Population density: Costa Rica vs Israel compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population density of 262.6 people per square mile compared to 1,227 people in Israel. Costa Rica has 107,389 sq ft of land per person vs 22,414 sq ft in Israel. Costa Rica and Israel rank 93rd and 21st by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Costa Rica has 0.06% of the world's population and 0.03% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.12% of the population and 0.01% of the land area for Israel, making the population density in Costa Rica 78.6% lower than in Israel.

Population density by year

Costa Rica
Israel

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Costa Rica Israel
2026 262.6 1,227
2025 261.4 1,210
2024 260.2 1,194
2023 259 1,179
2022 257.8 1,144
2021 256.7 1,122
2020 255.4 1,103
2019 253.6 1,084
2018 251.5 1,063
2017 249.2 1,043
2016 246.9 1,023
2015 244.4 1,003
2014 241.8 983
2013 239.2 965
2012 236.6 947
2011 233.8 929
2010 231.1 912
2009 228.2 896
2008 225.2 875
2007 222.2 859
2006 219.2 844
2005 216.1 829
2004 213 815
2003 209.9 801
2002 206.7 786
2001 203.4 771
2000 199.7 753
1999 195.9 733
1998 191.9 715
1997 187.8 698
1996 183.6 681
1995 179.3 664
1994 175.1 646
1993 170.8 630
1992 166.6 613
1991 162.4 592
1990 158.3 558
1989 154.4 541
1988 150.6 532
1987 146.7 523
1986 142.9 515
1985 139.1 507
1984 135.3 498
1983 131.6 491
1982 128.1 482
1981 124.6 473
1980 121.3 464
1979 118 453
1978 114.9 442
1977 111.8 432
1976 108.9 423
1975 106.2 414
1974 103.5 404
1973 100.9 392
1972 98.3 377
1971 95.8 367
1970 93.3 356
1969 90.8 344
1968 88.2 335
1967 85.7 329
1966 83.1 315
1965 80.5 307
1964 77.8 296.2
1963 75.2 284.7
1962 72.5 274.4
1961 69.9 261.5

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/costa-rica/israel | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Costa Rica increased by 19.8%, compared to a 45.4% growth in Israel.

In 2006, Costa Rica ranked 88th by population density and is 93rd now. Israel was 23rd in 2006 and ranks 21st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Costa Rica
Israel
1x
Year Urban population
Costa Rica Israel
2024 79.3% 91.5%
2023 78.9% 91.5%
2022 78.4% 91.5%
2021 78% 91.5%
2020 77.5% 91.6%
2019 77% 91.6%
2018 76.6% 91.6%
2017 76.1% 91.7%
2016 75.5% 91.7%
2015 75% 91.7%
2014 74.5% 91.7%
2013 73.9% 91.7%
2012 73.4% 91.7%
2011 72.8% 91.7%
2010 71.5% 91.7%
2009 70.1% 91.7%
2008 68.8% 91.7%
2007 67.5% 91.7%
2006 66.2% 91.7%
2005 64.9% 91.6%
2004 63.7% 91.6%
2003 62.5% 91.5%
2002 61.3% 91.4%
2001 60.1% 91.4%
2000 59% 91.3%
1999 58% 91.2%
1998 56.9% 91.1%
1997 55.8% 91%
1996 54.7% 90.9%
1995 53.6% 90.9%
1994 52.5% 90.8%
1993 51.5% 90.7%
1992 50.5% 90.6%
1991 49.5% 90.5%
1990 48.6% 90.4%
1989 47.7% 90.3%
1988 46.9% 90.2%
1987 46.1% 90.1%
1986 45.5% 90%
1985 44.9% 89.9%
1984 44.4% 89.7%
1983 43.9% 89.6%
1982 43.5% 89.4%
1981 43.2% 89.1%
1980 42.9% 88.8%
1979 42.6% 88.5%
1978 42.3% 88.1%
1977 42% 87.7%
1976 41.7% 87.3%
1975 41.4% 86.8%
1974 41.1% 86.3%
1973 40.7% 85.8%
1972 40.2% 85.3%
1971 39.5% 84.8%
1970 38.8% 84.3%
1969 38% 83.7%
1968 37.3% 83.2%
1967 36.5% 82.5%
1966 35.8% 81.9%
1965 35.2% 81.2%
1964 34.8% 80.4%
1963 34.5% 79.7%
1962 34.3% 78.8%
1961 34.2% 78%
1960 34.1% 76.9%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/costa-rica/israel | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 63.7% to 79.3% in Costa Rica and from 91.6% to 91.5% in Israel.

Densely populated cities

Costa Rica
City Population
San Jose 335K
Limon 71.5K
Liberia 65.9K
Israel
City Population
Jerusalem 936K
Tel Aviv 468K
Haifa 283K
Rishon LeZion 250K
Petah Tikva 236K
Netanya 217K
Beersheba 209K
Holon 194K
Bnei Brak 194K
Ramat Gan 159K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/costa-rica/israel | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2016–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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