The latest officially reported population of Barbados was 282,467 in 2024 vs 5,129,910 people in Costa Rica in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Barbados' population is 282,798 people compared to 5,181,862 in Costa Rica.
Population statistics:
- Costa Rica's population is 18.3 times bigger than Barbados'.
- Barbados is ranked the 175th most populous country in the world, while Costa Rica is the 126th.
- The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.003% for Barbados vs 0.06% for Costa Rica.
- For the last 10 years, Barbados has had an average growth rate of +0.16% per year vs +0.77% in Costa Rica.
- Since 2006, the population of Barbados has increased from 270K people to 283K (4.74% growth), while Costa Rica has grown from 4.32M to 5.18M (19.9% growth).
Barbados vs Costa Rica: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Barbados
|
Costa Rica
|
|
| 2100 | 195,450 | 3,804,183 |
| 2099 | 196,847 | 3,842,423 |
| 2098 | 198,246 | 3,880,999 |
| 2097 | 199,653 | 3,919,996 |
| 2096 | 201,065 | 3,959,352 |
| 2095 | 202,496 | 3,999,084 |
| 2094 | 203,943 | 4,039,053 |
| 2093 | 205,390 | 4,079,349 |
| 2092 | 206,859 | 4,119,898 |
| 2091 | 208,334 | 4,160,663 |
| 2090 | 209,783 | 4,201,548 |
| 2089 | 211,228 | 4,242,452 |
| 2088 | 212,641 | 4,283,327 |
| 2087 | 214,083 | 4,324,225 |
| 2086 | 215,541 | 4,364,979 |
| 2085 | 216,992 | 4,405,520 |
| 2084 | 218,441 | 4,445,770 |
| 2083 | 219,875 | 4,485,644 |
| 2082 | 221,315 | 4,525,171 |
| 2081 | 222,746 | 4,564,265 |
| 2080 | 224,182 | 4,602,737 |
| 2079 | 225,610 | 4,640,677 |
| 2078 | 227,023 | 4,677,935 |
| 2077 | 228,447 | 4,714,527 |
| 2076 | 229,877 | 4,750,309 |
| 2075 | 231,245 | 4,785,359 |
| 2074 | 232,651 | 4,819,691 |
| 2073 | 234,000 | 4,853,137 |
| 2072 | 235,352 | 4,885,727 |
| 2071 | 236,662 | 4,917,445 |
| 2070 | 238,055 | 4,948,313 |
| 2069 | 239,400 | 4,978,425 |
| 2068 | 240,780 | 5,007,604 |
| 2067 | 242,154 | 5,035,877 |
| 2066 | 243,494 | 5,063,521 |
| 2065 | 244,844 | 5,090,474 |
| 2064 | 246,188 | 5,116,546 |
| 2063 | 247,554 | 5,141,922 |
| 2062 | 248,919 | 5,166,260 |
| 2061 | 250,265 | 5,189,836 |
| 2060 | 251,636 | 5,212,549 |
| 2059 | 252,971 | 5,234,066 |
| 2058 | 254,282 | 5,254,528 |
| 2057 | 255,590 | 5,273,844 |
| 2056 | 256,930 | 5,292,013 |
| 2055 | 258,288 | 5,308,829 |
| 2054 | 259,602 | 5,324,305 |
| 2053 | 260,932 | 5,338,417 |
| 2052 | 262,269 | 5,350,974 |
| 2051 | 263,633 | 5,361,865 |
| 2050 | 264,967 | 5,371,197 |
| 2049 | 266,314 | 5,378,904 |
| 2048 | 267,638 | 5,385,081 |
| 2047 | 268,981 | 5,389,678 |
| 2046 | 270,264 | 5,392,713 |
| 2045 | 271,457 | 5,394,209 |
| 2044 | 272,639 | 5,394,124 |
| 2043 | 273,822 | 5,392,590 |
| 2042 | 274,938 | 5,389,628 |
| 2041 | 275,939 | 5,385,101 |
| 2040 | 276,930 | 5,379,344 |
| 2039 | 277,804 | 5,372,186 |
| 2038 | 278,676 | 5,363,617 |
| 2037 | 279,437 | 5,353,928 |
| 2036 | 280,128 | 5,343,027 |
| 2035 | 280,737 | 5,330,994 |
| 2034 | 281,246 | 5,317,895 |
| 2033 | 281,734 | 5,303,634 |
| 2032 | 282,134 | 5,288,416 |
| 2031 | 282,455 | 5,272,215 |
| 2030 | 282,707 | 5,255,064 |
| 2029 | 282,864 | 5,236,901 |
| 2028 | 282,903 | 5,217,724 |
| 2027 | 282,852 | 5,197,413 |
| 2026 | 282,779 | 5,176,096 |
| 2025 | 282,650 | 5,153,634 |
| 2024 | 282,467 | 5,129,910 |
| 2023 | 282,336 | 5,105,525 |
| 2022 | 282,318 | 5,081,765 |
| 2021 | 282,147 | 5,059,988 |
| 2020 | 281,698 | 5,034,320 |
| 2019 | 281,207 | 4,999,553 |
| 2018 | 280,711 | 4,957,818 |
| 2017 | 280,171 | 4,913,177 |
| 2016 | 279,598 | 4,866,998 |
| 2015 | 278,990 | 4,818,038 |
| 2014 | 278,348 | 4,767,119 |
| 2013 | 277,665 | 4,716,147 |
| 2012 | 276,938 | 4,663,934 |
| 2011 | 276,139 | 4,609,833 |
| 2010 | 275,243 | 4,555,962 |
| 2009 | 274,123 | 4,499,791 |
| 2008 | 272,714 | 4,440,056 |
| 2007 | 271,288 | 4,380,248 |
| 2006 | 270,002 | 4,321,340 |
| 2005 | 268,706 | 4,261,240 |
| 2004 | 267,298 | 4,200,078 |
| 2003 | 265,776 | 4,138,784 |
| 2002 | 264,148 | 4,075,705 |
| 2001 | 262,425 | 4,008,947 |
| 2000 | 262,063 | 3,937,739 |
| 1999 | 262,517 | 3,862,101 |
| 1998 | 262,436 | 3,782,838 |
| 1997 | 262,392 | 3,701,711 |
| 1996 | 262,284 | 3,619,013 |
| 1995 | 262,039 | 3,535,176 |
| 1994 | 261,620 | 3,451,122 |
| 1993 | 261,027 | 3,367,434 |
| 1992 | 260,267 | 3,284,258 |
| 1991 | 259,373 | 3,202,176 |
| 1990 | 258,582 | 3,121,706 |
| 1989 | 258,109 | 3,043,827 |
| 1988 | 257,763 | 2,968,103 |
| 1987 | 257,279 | 2,892,699 |
| 1986 | 256,618 | 2,817,216 |
| 1985 | 255,820 | 2,741,894 |
| 1984 | 254,920 | 2,667,595 |
| 1983 | 253,992 | 2,595,153 |
| 1982 | 253,095 | 2,524,806 |
| 1981 | 252,270 | 2,456,637 |
| 1980 | 251,524 | 2,390,633 |
| 1979 | 251,269 | 2,326,490 |
| 1978 | 251,551 | 2,264,510 |
| 1977 | 251,626 | 2,205,025 |
| 1976 | 251,442 | 2,147,774 |
| 1975 | 251,175 | 2,092,719 |
| 1974 | 250,777 | 2,039,643 |
| 1973 | 250,322 | 1,988,343 |
| 1972 | 249,658 | 1,938,248 |
| 1971 | 249,168 | 1,888,539 |
| 1970 | 249,387 | 1,838,949 |
| 1969 | 249,444 | 1,789,276 |
| 1968 | 248,540 | 1,739,731 |
| 1967 | 247,091 | 1,689,523 |
| 1966 | 244,996 | 1,638,116 |
| 1965 | 242,417 | 1,586,208 |
| 1964 | 239,958 | 1,533,960 |
| 1963 | 237,557 | 1,481,604 |
| 1962 | 235,224 | 1,429,445 |
| 1961 | 233,148 | 1,377,920 |
| 1960 | 230,893 | 1,327,496 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/barbados/costa-rica | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Barbados increased by 9,596 people (a 3.55% growth), while Costa Rica gained 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Barbados gained 3,200 people (a 1.14% growth), while Costa Rica's population increased by 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth).
Barbados was ranked 174th most populous country in 2006 and is 175th in 2026. Costa Rica was ranked 119th in 2006 and ranked 126th now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Barbados' population will shrink by 6.31% to 264,967 people with a rank change from 175th to 177th. The population of Costa Rica will increase by 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th.
Barbados is projected to reach its peak in 2028 at 283K people compared to the peak of 5.39M people in 2045 for Costa Rica.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Barbados
|
Costa Rica
|
|
| 2100 | -0.71% | -1% |
| 2099 | -0.71% | -0.99% |
| 2098 | -0.7% | -0.99% |
| 2097 | -0.7% | -0.99% |
| 2096 | -0.71% | -0.99% |
| 2095 | -0.71% | -0.99% |
| 2094 | -0.7% | -0.99% |
| 2093 | -0.71% | -0.98% |
| 2092 | -0.71% | -0.98% |
| 2091 | -0.69% | -0.97% |
| 2090 | -0.68% | -0.96% |
| 2089 | -0.66% | -0.95% |
| 2088 | -0.67% | -0.95% |
| 2087 | -0.68% | -0.93% |
| 2086 | -0.67% | -0.92% |
| 2085 | -0.66% | -0.91% |
| 2084 | -0.65% | -0.89% |
| 2083 | -0.65% | -0.87% |
| 2082 | -0.64% | -0.86% |
| 2081 | -0.64% | -0.84% |
| 2080 | -0.63% | -0.82% |
| 2079 | -0.62% | -0.8% |
| 2078 | -0.62% | -0.78% |
| 2077 | -0.62% | -0.75% |
| 2076 | -0.59% | -0.73% |
| 2075 | -0.6% | -0.71% |
| 2074 | -0.58% | -0.69% |
| 2073 | -0.57% | -0.67% |
| 2072 | -0.55% | -0.65% |
| 2071 | -0.59% | -0.62% |
| 2070 | -0.56% | -0.6% |
| 2069 | -0.57% | -0.58% |
| 2068 | -0.57% | -0.56% |
| 2067 | -0.55% | -0.55% |
| 2066 | -0.55% | -0.53% |
| 2065 | -0.55% | -0.51% |
| 2064 | -0.55% | -0.49% |
| 2063 | -0.55% | -0.47% |
| 2062 | -0.54% | -0.45% |
| 2061 | -0.54% | -0.44% |
| 2060 | -0.53% | -0.41% |
| 2059 | -0.52% | -0.39% |
| 2058 | -0.51% | -0.37% |
| 2057 | -0.52% | -0.34% |
| 2056 | -0.53% | -0.32% |
| 2055 | -0.51% | -0.29% |
| 2054 | -0.51% | -0.26% |
| 2053 | -0.51% | -0.23% |
| 2052 | -0.52% | -0.2% |
| 2051 | -0.5% | -0.17% |
| 2050 | -0.51% | -0.14% |
| 2049 | -0.49% | -0.11% |
| 2048 | -0.5% | -0.09% |
| 2047 | -0.47% | -0.06% |
| 2046 | -0.44% | -0.03% |
| 2045 | -0.43% | 0.002% |
| 2044 | -0.43% | 0.03% |
| 2043 | -0.41% | 0.05% |
| 2042 | -0.36% | 0.08% |
| 2041 | -0.36% | 0.11% |
| 2040 | -0.31% | 0.13% |
| 2039 | -0.31% | 0.16% |
| 2038 | -0.27% | 0.18% |
| 2037 | -0.25% | 0.2% |
| 2036 | -0.22% | 0.23% |
| 2035 | -0.18% | 0.25% |
| 2034 | -0.17% | 0.27% |
| 2033 | -0.14% | 0.29% |
| 2032 | -0.11% | 0.31% |
| 2031 | -0.09% | 0.33% |
| 2030 | -0.06% | 0.35% |
| 2029 | -0.01% | 0.37% |
| 2028 | 0.02% | 0.39% |
| 2027 | 0.03% | 0.41% |
| 2026 | 0.05% | 0.44% |
| 2025 | 0.06% | 0.46% |
| 2024 | 0.05% | 0.48% |
| 2023 | 0.006% | 0.47% |
| 2022 | 0.06% | 0.43% |
| 2021 | 0.16% | 0.51% |
| 2020 | 0.17% | 0.7% |
| 2019 | 0.18% | 0.84% |
| 2018 | 0.19% | 0.91% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | 0.95% |
| 2016 | 0.22% | 1.02% |
| 2015 | 0.23% | 1.07% |
| 2014 | 0.25% | 1.08% |
| 2013 | 0.26% | 1.12% |
| 2012 | 0.29% | 1.17% |
| 2011 | 0.33% | 1.18% |
| 2010 | 0.41% | 1.25% |
| 2009 | 0.52% | 1.35% |
| 2008 | 0.53% | 1.37% |
| 2007 | 0.48% | 1.36% |
| 2006 | 0.48% | 1.41% |
| 2005 | 0.53% | 1.46% |
| 2004 | 0.57% | 1.48% |
| 2003 | 0.62% | 1.55% |
| 2002 | 0.66% | 1.67% |
| 2001 | 0.14% | 1.81% |
| 2000 | -0.17% | 1.96% |
| 1999 | 0.03% | 2.1% |
| 1998 | 0.02% | 2.19% |
| 1997 | 0.04% | 2.29% |
| 1996 | 0.09% | 2.37% |
| 1995 | 0.16% | 2.44% |
| 1994 | 0.23% | 2.49% |
| 1993 | 0.29% | 2.53% |
| 1992 | 0.34% | 2.56% |
| 1991 | 0.31% | 2.58% |
| 1990 | 0.18% | 2.56% |
| 1989 | 0.13% | 2.55% |
| 1988 | 0.19% | 2.61% |
| 1987 | 0.26% | 2.68% |
| 1986 | 0.31% | 2.75% |
| 1985 | 0.35% | 2.79% |
| 1984 | 0.37% | 2.79% |
| 1983 | 0.35% | 2.79% |
| 1982 | 0.33% | 2.77% |
| 1981 | 0.3% | 2.76% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | 2.76% |
| 1979 | -0.11% | 2.74% |
| 1978 | -0.03% | 2.7% |
| 1977 | 0.07% | 2.67% |
| 1976 | 0.11% | 2.63% |
| 1975 | 0.16% | 2.6% |
| 1974 | 0.18% | 2.58% |
| 1973 | 0.27% | 2.58% |
| 1972 | 0.2% | 2.63% |
| 1971 | -0.09% | 2.7% |
| 1970 | -0.02% | 2.78% |
| 1969 | 0.36% | 2.85% |
| 1968 | 0.59% | 2.97% |
| 1967 | 0.86% | 3.14% |
| 1966 | 1.06% | 3.27% |
| 1965 | 1.02% | 3.41% |
| 1964 | 1.01% | 3.53% |
| 1963 | 0.99% | 3.65% |
| 1962 | 0.89% | 3.74% |
| 1961 | 0.98% | 3.8% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/barbados/costa-rica | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Barbados grew by 0.05%, while Costa Rica's population grew by 0.48%.
Live population counters
|
Barbados
|
Costa Rica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
282798
|
5181862
|
| Population rank | 175/197 | 126/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.003% | 0.06% |
| One net population change |
2.79 days
|
21.6 minutes
|
| One birth every |
2.78 hours
|
10.1 minutes
|
| One death every |
2.92 hours
|
18.9 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +67 |
| Annual growth/decline | +131 | +24,385 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.05% | +0.48% |
| Population growth rate rank | 162/197 | 138/197 |
| One migration net change every |
4.21 days
|
8.78 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -87 | +1,000 |
| Net migration rank | 81/196 | 63/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 35,187 | 628,404 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 159/195 | 75/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 54/195 | 55/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Barbados
|
Costa Rica
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -87 | - | 1,000 |
| 2024 | - | -70 | - | 967 |
| 2023 | 158 | -80 | 24,109 | 995 |
| 2022 | 43 | -80 | 21,409 | 1,006 |
| 2021 | 415 | -28 | 20,119 | 1,018 |
| 2020 | 503 | 0 | 29,164 | 1,029 |
| 2019 | 542 | -65 | 37,682 | 1,653 |
| 2018 | 584 | -65 | 42,469 | 1,673 |
| 2017 | 616 | -65 | 43,471 | 1,671 |
| 2016 | 655 | -65 | 45,565 | 1,649 |
| 2015 | 690 | -65 | 49,077 | 1,617 |
| 2014 | 730 | -65 | 49,559 | 1,589 |
| 2013 | 772 | -65 | 49,227 | 1,579 |
| 2012 | 815 | -64 | 52,036 | 1,587 |
| 2011 | 897 | -54 | 52,884 | 1,695 |
| 2010 | 981 | -36 | 50,803 | 2,357 |
| 2009 | 1,000 | 296 | 55,757 | 3,432 |
| 2008 | 989 | 526 | 56,491 | 3,794 |
| 2007 | 1,028 | 308 | 55,244 | 4,080 |
| 2006 | 927 | 317 | 54,177 | 4,321 |
| 2005 | 1,018 | 330 | 57,139 | 4,567 |
| 2004 | 1,204 | 273 | 55,769 | 4,856 |
| 2003 | 1,321 | 248 | 56,743 | 5,216 |
| 2002 | 1,369 | 308 | 58,388 | 5,812 |
| 2001 | 1,578 | 199 | 62,199 | 7,119 |
| 2000 | 1,577 | -2,628 | 64,268 | 8,826 |
| 1999 | 1,351 | -1,215 | 64,922 | 13,253 |
| 1998 | 1,093 | -1,068 | 64,788 | 15,556 |
| 1997 | 1,172 | -1,122 | 64,954 | 16,954 |
| 1996 | 1,334 | -1,164 | 66,094 | 17,393 |
| 1995 | 1,467 | -1,141 | 67,585 | 16,609 |
| 1994 | 1,607 | -1,096 | 68,336 | 15,587 |
| 1993 | 1,765 | -1,080 | 69,016 | 14,431 |
| 1992 | 1,912 | -1,076 | 69,830 | 13,069 |
| 1991 | 2,055 | -1,108 | 70,506 | 10,757 |
| 1990 | 2,101 | -1,474 | 71,727 | 7,949 |
| 1989 | 1,719 | -1,400 | 72,327 | 3,758 |
| 1988 | 1,684 | -1,301 | 72,944 | 2,414 |
| 1987 | 1,841 | -1,262 | 73,188 | 2,267 |
| 1986 | 2,111 | -1,377 | 73,211 | 2,302 |
| 1985 | 2,356 | -1,487 | 72,776 | 2,357 |
| 1984 | 2,388 | -1,447 | 71,062 | 2,402 |
| 1983 | 2,656 | -1,733 | 68,972 | 2,449 |
| 1982 | 2,660 | -1,794 | 66,826 | 2,453 |
| 1981 | 2,605 | -1,821 | 64,632 | 2,431 |
| 1980 | 2,393 | -1,687 | 62,561 | 2,387 |
| 1979 | 2,485 | -2,691 | 60,984 | 2,349 |
| 1978 | 2,367 | -2,725 | 58,327 | 2,296 |
| 1977 | 2,988 | -2,778 | 56,122 | 2,228 |
| 1976 | 2,988 | -2,836 | 54,019 | 2,129 |
| 1975 | 3,321 | -2,939 | 51,979 | 1,992 |
| 1974 | 3,644 | -3,222 | 50,349 | 1,839 |
| 1973 | 3,996 | -3,508 | 48,943 | 1,468 |
| 1972 | 4,505 | -3,665 | 48,417 | 1,366 |
| 1971 | 4,530 | -4,396 | 48,341 | 1,296 |
| 1970 | 4,271 | -4,852 | 48,398 | 1,137 |
| 1969 | 4,710 | -4,236 | 48,790 | 1,017 |
| 1968 | 5,035 | -3,693 | 48,361 | 939 |
| 1967 | 4,984 | -3,436 | 50,193 | 926 |
| 1966 | 5,842 | -3,201 | 50,755 | 930 |
| 1965 | 5,762 | -3,251 | 51,196 | 932 |
| 1964 | 5,688 | -3,277 | 51,435 | 934 |
| 1963 | 5,706 | -3,303 | 51,403 | 938 |
| 1962 | 5,589 | -3,327 | 51,046 | 934 |
| 1961 | 5,208 | -3,323 | 50,149 | 924 |
| 1960 | 5,949 | -3,315 | 48,857 | 910 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/barbados/costa-rica | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 89.5% of the population change in Barbados is from natural causes (a gain of 4,936 people) and 10.5% is from migration (a loss of 578 people). In Costa Rica 96.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 362,624 people) and 3.69% is from migration (a gain of 13,900 people).
As of 2024, 35,187 residents or 12.5% of the population were not native-born in Barbados, compared to 628,404 people or 12.2% in Costa Rica.
Biggest cities by population
|
Barbados
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Bridgetown | 98.5K |
| Holetown | 1.6K |
|
Costa Rica
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| San Jose | 335K |
| Limon | 71.5K |
| Liberia | 65.9K |
| Alajuela | 44.4K |
| Puntarenas | 41.5K |
| Cartago | 22.8K |
| Heredia | 16.7K |
| Tamarindo | 7.13K |
| Santa Teresa | 3K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Barbados and Costa Rica
|
Barbados
|
Costa Rica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 76.6 years | 81.4 years |
| Average age | 40.1 years | 37 years |
| Median age | 40.2 years | 35.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 47.9:52.1 | 49.4:50.6 |
| Fertility rate | 1.71 births per woman | 1.33 births per woman |
| Population density | 1,703 ppl/mi² | 262.6 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/barbados/costa-rica | CC BY
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.