The latest officially reported population of Belize was 422,924 in 2025 vs 5,152,950 people in Costa Rica in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belize's population is 431,659 people compared to 5,186,356 in Costa Rica.
Population statistics:
- Costa Rica's population is 12 times bigger than Belize's.
- Belize is ranked the 171st most populous country in the world, while Costa Rica is the 126th.
- The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.005% for Belize vs 0.06% for Costa Rica.
- For the last 10 years, Belize has had an average growth rate of +1.76% per year vs +0.71% in Costa Rica.
- Since 2006, the population of Belize has increased from 288K people to 432K (49.9% growth), while Costa Rica has grown from 4.32M to 5.19M (20% growth).
Belize vs Costa Rica: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Belize
|
Costa Rica
|
|
| 2100 | 452,044 | 3,803,678 |
| 2099 | 455,235 | 3,841,913 |
| 2098 | 458,394 | 3,880,484 |
| 2097 | 461,514 | 3,919,475 |
| 2096 | 464,682 | 3,958,826 |
| 2095 | 467,855 | 3,998,552 |
| 2094 | 471,004 | 4,038,516 |
| 2093 | 474,092 | 4,078,807 |
| 2092 | 477,139 | 4,119,351 |
| 2091 | 480,198 | 4,160,111 |
| 2090 | 483,205 | 4,200,989 |
| 2089 | 486,135 | 4,241,888 |
| 2088 | 489,094 | 4,282,758 |
| 2087 | 492,108 | 4,323,650 |
| 2086 | 494,903 | 4,364,399 |
| 2085 | 497,657 | 4,404,935 |
| 2084 | 500,389 | 4,445,179 |
| 2083 | 503,097 | 4,485,048 |
| 2082 | 505,700 | 4,524,570 |
| 2081 | 508,166 | 4,563,658 |
| 2080 | 510,562 | 4,602,126 |
| 2079 | 512,869 | 4,640,060 |
| 2078 | 515,127 | 4,677,313 |
| 2077 | 517,367 | 4,713,901 |
| 2076 | 519,315 | 4,749,678 |
| 2075 | 521,085 | 4,784,723 |
| 2074 | 522,809 | 4,819,050 |
| 2073 | 524,414 | 4,852,492 |
| 2072 | 525,810 | 4,885,078 |
| 2071 | 527,132 | 4,916,792 |
| 2070 | 528,187 | 4,947,655 |
| 2069 | 529,181 | 4,977,764 |
| 2068 | 530,112 | 5,006,939 |
| 2067 | 530,699 | 5,035,207 |
| 2066 | 531,167 | 5,062,849 |
| 2065 | 531,462 | 5,089,797 |
| 2064 | 531,629 | 5,115,866 |
| 2063 | 531,646 | 5,141,239 |
| 2062 | 531,508 | 5,165,574 |
| 2061 | 531,368 | 5,189,146 |
| 2060 | 531,025 | 5,211,857 |
| 2059 | 530,482 | 5,233,370 |
| 2058 | 529,801 | 5,253,830 |
| 2057 | 528,956 | 5,273,143 |
| 2056 | 528,034 | 5,291,310 |
| 2055 | 526,939 | 5,308,124 |
| 2054 | 525,693 | 5,323,598 |
| 2053 | 524,361 | 5,337,707 |
| 2052 | 522,760 | 5,350,263 |
| 2051 | 521,115 | 5,361,152 |
| 2050 | 519,218 | 5,370,484 |
| 2049 | 517,273 | 5,378,189 |
| 2048 | 515,049 | 5,384,366 |
| 2047 | 512,800 | 5,388,962 |
| 2046 | 510,390 | 5,391,996 |
| 2045 | 507,938 | 5,393,493 |
| 2044 | 505,311 | 5,393,407 |
| 2043 | 502,562 | 5,391,873 |
| 2042 | 499,648 | 5,388,912 |
| 2041 | 496,579 | 5,384,386 |
| 2040 | 493,347 | 5,378,629 |
| 2039 | 490,008 | 5,371,473 |
| 2038 | 486,391 | 5,362,904 |
| 2037 | 482,512 | 5,353,217 |
| 2036 | 478,489 | 5,342,317 |
| 2035 | 474,259 | 5,330,286 |
| 2034 | 469,723 | 5,317,189 |
| 2033 | 465,050 | 5,302,930 |
| 2032 | 460,281 | 5,287,714 |
| 2031 | 455,405 | 5,271,514 |
| 2030 | 450,437 | 5,254,366 |
| 2029 | 445,247 | 5,236,206 |
| 2028 | 439,932 | 5,217,031 |
| 2027 | 434,443 | 5,196,723 |
| 2026 | 428,719 | 5,175,408 |
| 2025 | 422,924 | 5,152,950 |
| 2024 | 417,072 | 5,129,910 |
| 2023 | 411,106 | 5,105,525 |
| 2022 | 402,733 | 5,081,765 |
| 2021 | 395,346 | 5,059,988 |
| 2020 | 390,812 | 5,034,320 |
| 2019 | 385,829 | 4,999,553 |
| 2018 | 380,226 | 4,957,818 |
| 2017 | 373,202 | 4,913,177 |
| 2016 | 364,705 | 4,866,998 |
| 2015 | 356,333 | 4,818,038 |
| 2014 | 348,923 | 4,767,119 |
| 2013 | 341,627 | 4,716,147 |
| 2012 | 334,414 | 4,663,934 |
| 2011 | 327,298 | 4,609,833 |
| 2010 | 320,245 | 4,555,962 |
| 2009 | 312,614 | 4,499,791 |
| 2008 | 304,361 | 4,440,056 |
| 2007 | 296,100 | 4,380,248 |
| 2006 | 287,878 | 4,321,340 |
| 2005 | 279,731 | 4,261,240 |
| 2004 | 271,688 | 4,200,078 |
| 2003 | 263,780 | 4,138,784 |
| 2002 | 256,009 | 4,075,705 |
| 2001 | 248,379 | 4,008,947 |
| 2000 | 240,799 | 3,937,739 |
| 1999 | 233,059 | 3,862,101 |
| 1998 | 225,173 | 3,782,838 |
| 1997 | 217,446 | 3,701,711 |
| 1996 | 210,310 | 3,619,013 |
| 1995 | 204,146 | 3,535,176 |
| 1994 | 199,097 | 3,451,122 |
| 1993 | 194,902 | 3,367,434 |
| 1992 | 190,983 | 3,284,258 |
| 1991 | 187,040 | 3,202,176 |
| 1990 | 183,076 | 3,121,706 |
| 1989 | 179,107 | 3,043,827 |
| 1988 | 175,180 | 2,968,103 |
| 1987 | 171,338 | 2,892,699 |
| 1986 | 167,554 | 2,817,216 |
| 1985 | 163,796 | 2,741,894 |
| 1984 | 160,044 | 2,667,595 |
| 1983 | 156,297 | 2,595,153 |
| 1982 | 152,548 | 2,524,806 |
| 1981 | 148,786 | 2,456,637 |
| 1980 | 145,062 | 2,390,633 |
| 1979 | 141,678 | 2,326,490 |
| 1978 | 138,713 | 2,264,510 |
| 1977 | 135,887 | 2,205,025 |
| 1976 | 133,099 | 2,147,774 |
| 1975 | 130,387 | 2,092,719 |
| 1974 | 128,185 | 2,039,643 |
| 1973 | 126,445 | 1,988,343 |
| 1972 | 124,676 | 1,938,248 |
| 1971 | 122,805 | 1,888,539 |
| 1970 | 120,736 | 1,838,949 |
| 1969 | 118,040 | 1,789,276 |
| 1968 | 114,713 | 1,739,731 |
| 1967 | 111,272 | 1,689,523 |
| 1966 | 107,906 | 1,638,116 |
| 1965 | 104,675 | 1,586,208 |
| 1964 | 101,603 | 1,533,960 |
| 1963 | 98,704 | 1,481,604 |
| 1962 | 96,042 | 1,429,445 |
| 1961 | 93,632 | 1,377,920 |
| 1960 | 91,318 | 1,327,496 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/belize/costa-rica | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belize increased by 76,827 people (a 26.7% growth), while Costa Rica gained 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belize gained 66,954 people (a 18.4% growth), while Costa Rica's population increased by 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth).
Belize was ranked 173rd most populous country in 2006 and is 171st 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) Belize's population will grow by 20.3% to 519,218 people with a rank change from 171st to 172nd. The population of Costa Rica will increase by 3.55% to 5,370,484 people and rank change from 126th to 127th.
Belize is projected to reach its peak in 2063 at 532K people compared to the peak of 5.39M people in 2045 for Costa Rica.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Belize
|
Costa Rica
|
|
| 2100 | -0.7% | -1% |
| 2099 | -0.69% | -0.99% |
| 2098 | -0.68% | -0.99% |
| 2097 | -0.68% | -0.99% |
| 2096 | -0.68% | -0.99% |
| 2095 | -0.67% | -0.99% |
| 2094 | -0.65% | -0.99% |
| 2093 | -0.64% | -0.98% |
| 2092 | -0.64% | -0.98% |
| 2091 | -0.62% | -0.97% |
| 2090 | -0.6% | -0.96% |
| 2089 | -0.61% | -0.95% |
| 2088 | -0.61% | -0.95% |
| 2087 | -0.56% | -0.93% |
| 2086 | -0.55% | -0.92% |
| 2085 | -0.55% | -0.91% |
| 2084 | -0.54% | -0.89% |
| 2083 | -0.51% | -0.87% |
| 2082 | -0.49% | -0.86% |
| 2081 | -0.47% | -0.84% |
| 2080 | -0.45% | -0.82% |
| 2079 | -0.44% | -0.8% |
| 2078 | -0.43% | -0.78% |
| 2077 | -0.38% | -0.75% |
| 2076 | -0.34% | -0.73% |
| 2075 | -0.33% | -0.71% |
| 2074 | -0.31% | -0.69% |
| 2073 | -0.27% | -0.67% |
| 2072 | -0.25% | -0.65% |
| 2071 | -0.2% | -0.62% |
| 2070 | -0.19% | -0.6% |
| 2069 | -0.18% | -0.58% |
| 2068 | -0.11% | -0.56% |
| 2067 | -0.09% | -0.55% |
| 2066 | -0.06% | -0.53% |
| 2065 | -0.03% | -0.51% |
| 2064 | -0.003% | -0.49% |
| 2063 | 0.03% | -0.47% |
| 2062 | 0.03% | -0.45% |
| 2061 | 0.06% | -0.44% |
| 2060 | 0.1% | -0.41% |
| 2059 | 0.13% | -0.39% |
| 2058 | 0.16% | -0.37% |
| 2057 | 0.17% | -0.34% |
| 2056 | 0.21% | -0.32% |
| 2055 | 0.24% | -0.29% |
| 2054 | 0.25% | -0.26% |
| 2053 | 0.31% | -0.23% |
| 2052 | 0.32% | -0.2% |
| 2051 | 0.37% | -0.17% |
| 2050 | 0.38% | -0.14% |
| 2049 | 0.43% | -0.11% |
| 2048 | 0.44% | -0.09% |
| 2047 | 0.47% | -0.06% |
| 2046 | 0.48% | -0.03% |
| 2045 | 0.52% | 0.002% |
| 2044 | 0.55% | 0.03% |
| 2043 | 0.58% | 0.05% |
| 2042 | 0.62% | 0.08% |
| 2041 | 0.66% | 0.11% |
| 2040 | 0.68% | 0.13% |
| 2039 | 0.74% | 0.16% |
| 2038 | 0.8% | 0.18% |
| 2037 | 0.84% | 0.2% |
| 2036 | 0.89% | 0.23% |
| 2035 | 0.97% | 0.25% |
| 2034 | 1% | 0.27% |
| 2033 | 1.04% | 0.29% |
| 2032 | 1.07% | 0.31% |
| 2031 | 1.1% | 0.33% |
| 2030 | 1.17% | 0.35% |
| 2029 | 1.21% | 0.37% |
| 2028 | 1.26% | 0.39% |
| 2027 | 1.34% | 0.41% |
| 2026 | 1.37% | 0.44% |
| 2025 | 1.4% | 0.45% |
| 2024 | 1.45% | 0.48% |
| 2023 | 2.08% | 0.47% |
| 2022 | 1.87% | 0.43% |
| 2021 | 1.16% | 0.51% |
| 2020 | 1.29% | 0.7% |
| 2019 | 1.47% | 0.84% |
| 2018 | 1.88% | 0.91% |
| 2017 | 2.33% | 0.95% |
| 2016 | 2.35% | 1.02% |
| 2015 | 2.12% | 1.07% |
| 2014 | 2.14% | 1.08% |
| 2013 | 2.16% | 1.12% |
| 2012 | 2.17% | 1.17% |
| 2011 | 2.2% | 1.18% |
| 2010 | 2.44% | 1.25% |
| 2009 | 2.71% | 1.35% |
| 2008 | 2.79% | 1.37% |
| 2007 | 2.86% | 1.36% |
| 2006 | 2.91% | 1.41% |
| 2005 | 2.96% | 1.46% |
| 2004 | 3% | 1.48% |
| 2003 | 3.04% | 1.55% |
| 2002 | 3.07% | 1.67% |
| 2001 | 3.15% | 1.81% |
| 2000 | 3.32% | 1.96% |
| 1999 | 3.5% | 2.1% |
| 1998 | 3.55% | 2.19% |
| 1997 | 3.39% | 2.29% |
| 1996 | 3.02% | 2.37% |
| 1995 | 2.54% | 2.44% |
| 1994 | 2.15% | 2.49% |
| 1993 | 2.05% | 2.53% |
| 1992 | 2.11% | 2.56% |
| 1991 | 2.17% | 2.58% |
| 1990 | 2.22% | 2.56% |
| 1989 | 2.24% | 2.55% |
| 1988 | 2.24% | 2.61% |
| 1987 | 2.26% | 2.68% |
| 1986 | 2.29% | 2.75% |
| 1985 | 2.34% | 2.79% |
| 1984 | 2.4% | 2.79% |
| 1983 | 2.46% | 2.79% |
| 1982 | 2.53% | 2.77% |
| 1981 | 2.57% | 2.76% |
| 1980 | 2.39% | 2.76% |
| 1979 | 2.14% | 2.74% |
| 1978 | 2.08% | 2.7% |
| 1977 | 2.09% | 2.67% |
| 1976 | 2.08% | 2.63% |
| 1975 | 1.72% | 2.6% |
| 1974 | 1.38% | 2.58% |
| 1973 | 1.42% | 2.58% |
| 1972 | 1.52% | 2.63% |
| 1971 | 1.71% | 2.7% |
| 1970 | 2.28% | 2.78% |
| 1969 | 2.9% | 2.85% |
| 1968 | 3.09% | 2.97% |
| 1967 | 3.12% | 3.14% |
| 1966 | 3.09% | 3.27% |
| 1965 | 3.02% | 3.41% |
| 1964 | 2.94% | 3.53% |
| 1963 | 2.77% | 3.65% |
| 1962 | 2.57% | 3.74% |
| 1961 | 2.53% | 3.8% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/belize/costa-rica | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Belize grew by 1.4%, while Costa Rica's population grew by 0.45%.
Live population counters
|
Belize
|
Costa Rica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
431659
|
5186356
|
| Population rank | 171/197 | 126/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.005% | 0.06% |
| One net population change |
1.5 hours
|
22.9 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.16 hours
|
10.3 minutes
|
| One death every |
4.24 hours
|
18.4 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +16 | +63 |
| Annual growth/decline | +5,852 | +23,040 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.4% | +0.45% |
| Population growth rate rank | 74/197 | 134/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.02 days
|
8.78 hours
|
| Annual migration change | +360 | +1,000 |
| Net migration rank | 70/196 | 63/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 68,706 | 628,404 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 143/195 | 75/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 16.5% | 12.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 39/195 | 55/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Belize
|
Costa Rica
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 360 | - | 1,000 |
| 2024 | 5,460 | 490 | 22,699 | 967 |
| 2023 | 5,386 | 595 | 24,109 | 995 |
| 2022 | 4,825 | 5,936 | 21,409 | 1,006 |
| 2021 | 4,186 | -173 | 20,119 | 1,018 |
| 2020 | 4,993 | 64 | 29,164 | 1,029 |
| 2019 | 5,516 | -606 | 37,682 | 1,653 |
| 2018 | 6,112 | 187 | 42,469 | 1,673 |
| 2017 | 6,042 | 1,705 | 43,471 | 1,671 |
| 2016 | 5,931 | 3,313 | 45,565 | 1,649 |
| 2015 | 5,899 | 1,596 | 49,077 | 1,617 |
| 2014 | 5,864 | 1,456 | 49,559 | 1,589 |
| 2013 | 5,767 | 1,505 | 49,227 | 1,579 |
| 2012 | 5,628 | 1,524 | 52,036 | 1,587 |
| 2011 | 5,509 | 1,582 | 52,884 | 1,695 |
| 2010 | 5,381 | 1,639 | 50,803 | 2,357 |
| 2009 | 5,506 | 2,728 | 55,757 | 3,432 |
| 2008 | 5,643 | 2,627 | 56,491 | 3,794 |
| 2007 | 5,728 | 2,521 | 55,244 | 4,080 |
| 2006 | 5,874 | 2,321 | 54,177 | 4,321 |
| 2005 | 6,030 | 2,073 | 57,139 | 4,567 |
| 2004 | 5,997 | 1,980 | 55,769 | 4,856 |
| 2003 | 5,968 | 1,870 | 56,743 | 5,216 |
| 2002 | 5,967 | 1,739 | 58,388 | 5,812 |
| 2001 | 5,915 | 1,640 | 62,199 | 7,119 |
| 2000 | 5,934 | 1,675 | 64,268 | 8,826 |
| 1999 | 5,914 | 1,968 | 64,922 | 13,253 |
| 1998 | 5,733 | 2,153 | 64,788 | 15,556 |
| 1997 | 5,494 | 2,072 | 64,954 | 16,954 |
| 1996 | 5,339 | 1,365 | 66,094 | 17,393 |
| 1995 | 5,339 | 273 | 67,585 | 16,609 |
| 1994 | 5,283 | -798 | 68,336 | 15,587 |
| 1993 | 5,436 | -1,521 | 69,016 | 14,431 |
| 1992 | 5,562 | -1,634 | 69,830 | 13,069 |
| 1991 | 5,656 | -1,699 | 70,506 | 10,757 |
| 1990 | 5,728 | -1,763 | 71,727 | 7,949 |
| 1989 | 5,629 | -1,654 | 72,327 | 3,758 |
| 1988 | 5,465 | -1,579 | 72,944 | 2,414 |
| 1987 | 5,328 | -1,527 | 73,188 | 2,267 |
| 1986 | 5,238 | -1,475 | 73,211 | 2,302 |
| 1985 | 5,155 | -1,402 | 72,776 | 2,357 |
| 1984 | 5,128 | -1,381 | 71,062 | 2,402 |
| 1983 | 5,161 | -1,414 | 68,972 | 2,449 |
| 1982 | 5,155 | -1,410 | 66,826 | 2,453 |
| 1981 | 5,132 | -1,354 | 64,632 | 2,431 |
| 1980 | 5,029 | -1,350 | 62,561 | 2,387 |
| 1979 | 4,929 | -1,844 | 60,984 | 2,349 |
| 1978 | 4,804 | -1,960 | 58,327 | 2,296 |
| 1977 | 4,659 | -1,843 | 56,122 | 2,228 |
| 1976 | 4,484 | -1,731 | 54,019 | 2,129 |
| 1975 | 4,294 | -1,624 | 51,979 | 1,992 |
| 1974 | 4,136 | -2,399 | 50,349 | 1,839 |
| 1973 | 3,974 | -2,227 | 48,943 | 1,468 |
| 1972 | 3,814 | -2,029 | 48,417 | 1,366 |
| 1971 | 3,651 | -1,693 | 48,341 | 1,296 |
| 1970 | 3,486 | -1,297 | 48,398 | 1,137 |
| 1969 | 3,346 | -148 | 48,790 | 1,017 |
| 1968 | 3,240 | 214 | 48,361 | 939 |
| 1967 | 3,158 | 265 | 50,193 | 926 |
| 1966 | 3,092 | 214 | 50,755 | 930 |
| 1965 | 3,045 | 112 | 51,196 | 932 |
| 1964 | 3,010 | -25 | 51,435 | 934 |
| 1963 | 2,983 | -170 | 51,403 | 938 |
| 1962 | 2,961 | -450 | 51,046 | 934 |
| 1961 | 2,657 | -347 | 50,149 | 924 |
| 1960 | 2,903 | -577 | 48,857 | 910 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/belize/costa-rica | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 80.6% of the population change in Belize is from natural causes (a gain of 54,350 people) and 19.4% is from migration (a gain of 13,107 people). In Costa Rica 96.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 335,764 people) and 3.8% is from migration (a gain of 13,278 people).
As of 2024, 68,706 residents or 16.5% of the population were not native-born in Belize, compared to 628,404 people or 12.2% in Costa Rica.
Biggest cities by population
|
Belize
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Belize | 64K |
| San Ignacio | 26.2K |
| Belmopan | 20.8K |
| San Pedro Town | 15.5K |
| Caye Caulker | 2K |
|
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 Belize and Costa Rica
|
Belize
|
Costa Rica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 74.1 years | 81.4 years |
| Average age | 30 years | 37.5 years |
| Median age | 27.9 years | 36.2 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.4:49.6 | 49.4:50.6 |
| Fertility rate | 2.02 births per woman | 1.32 births per woman |
| Population density | 48.7 ppl/mi² | 262.5 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/belize/costa-rica | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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