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Population in Bhutan compared to Costa Rica: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 5,129,910 people in Costa Rica in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 5,181,862 in Costa Rica.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 6.45 times bigger than Bhutan's.
  • Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while Costa Rica is the 126th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 0.06% for Costa Rica.
  • For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs +0.77% in Costa Rica.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while Costa Rica has grown from 4.32M to 5.18M (19.9% growth).

Bhutan vs Costa Rica: population by year and forecast

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bhutan Costa Rica
2100 695,106 3,804,183
2099 699,983 3,842,423
2098 704,455 3,880,999
2097 709,230 3,919,996
2096 713,930 3,959,352
2095 719,152 3,999,084
2094 724,401 4,039,053
2093 729,500 4,079,349
2092 735,075 4,119,898
2091 741,074 4,160,663
2090 746,937 4,201,548
2089 753,010 4,242,452
2088 758,937 4,283,327
2087 765,235 4,324,225
2086 770,883 4,364,979
2085 776,435 4,405,520
2084 781,892 4,445,770
2083 787,929 4,485,644
2082 793,543 4,525,171
2081 799,530 4,564,265
2080 805,275 4,602,737
2079 811,060 4,640,677
2078 816,530 4,677,935
2077 821,247 4,714,527
2076 825,978 4,750,309
2075 830,808 4,785,359
2074 836,017 4,819,691
2073 841,208 4,853,137
2072 845,861 4,885,727
2071 850,262 4,917,445
2070 853,930 4,948,313
2069 857,808 4,978,425
2068 861,327 5,007,604
2067 864,753 5,035,877
2066 868,260 5,063,521
2065 871,517 5,090,474
2064 873,735 5,116,546
2063 875,674 5,141,922
2062 877,938 5,166,260
2061 880,023 5,189,836
2060 881,913 5,212,549
2059 883,191 5,234,066
2058 884,515 5,254,528
2057 884,612 5,273,844
2056 885,822 5,292,013
2055 886,403 5,308,829
2054 885,903 5,324,305
2053 886,520 5,338,417
2052 886,640 5,350,974
2051 885,551 5,361,865
2050 884,535 5,371,197
2049 883,736 5,378,904
2048 882,640 5,385,081
2047 881,660 5,389,678
2046 880,037 5,392,713
2045 877,677 5,394,209
2044 875,155 5,394,124
2043 872,383 5,392,590
2042 869,248 5,389,628
2041 866,366 5,385,101
2040 863,173 5,379,344
2039 859,926 5,372,186
2038 856,429 5,363,617
2037 852,475 5,353,928
2036 848,122 5,343,027
2035 843,447 5,330,994
2034 839,780 5,317,895
2033 835,308 5,303,634
2032 830,472 5,288,416
2031 825,528 5,272,215
2030 820,888 5,255,064
2029 816,655 5,236,901
2028 812,002 5,217,724
2027 807,474 5,197,413
2026 801,869 5,176,096
2025 796,375 5,153,634
2024 791,524 5,129,910
2023 786,385 5,105,525
2022 780,914 5,081,765
2021 775,442 5,059,988
2020 770,006 5,034,320
2019 764,824 4,999,553
2018 759,759 4,957,818
2017 754,335 4,913,177
2016 747,866 4,866,998
2015 740,618 4,818,038
2014 733,139 4,767,119
2013 725,273 4,716,147
2012 717,279 4,663,934
2011 709,377 4,609,833
2010 701,632 4,555,962
2009 693,988 4,499,791
2008 686,351 4,440,056
2007 678,641 4,380,248
2006 670,799 4,321,340
2005 661,865 4,261,240
2004 650,544 4,200,078
2003 637,663 4,138,784
2002 624,409 4,075,705
2001 610,794 4,008,947
2000 596,863 3,937,739
1999 582,579 3,862,101
1998 569,435 3,782,838
1997 558,697 3,701,711
1996 548,784 3,619,013
1995 547,989 3,535,176
1994 554,497 3,451,122
1993 554,673 3,367,434
1992 577,774 3,284,258
1991 599,784 3,202,176
1990 589,287 3,121,706
1989 573,586 3,043,827
1988 556,986 2,968,103
1987 540,557 2,892,699
1986 524,324 2,817,216
1985 508,392 2,741,894
1984 492,784 2,667,595
1983 477,460 2,595,153
1982 462,485 2,524,806
1981 447,836 2,456,637
1980 433,404 2,390,633
1979 419,200 2,326,490
1978 405,243 2,264,510
1977 391,639 2,205,025
1976 378,490 2,147,774
1975 365,791 2,092,719
1974 353,538 2,039,643
1973 341,705 1,988,343
1972 330,264 1,938,248
1971 319,211 1,888,539
1970 308,528 1,838,949
1969 298,214 1,789,276
1968 288,311 1,739,731
1967 278,852 1,689,523
1966 269,820 1,638,116
1965 261,200 1,586,208
1964 252,987 1,533,960
1963 245,156 1,481,604
1962 237,636 1,429,445
1961 230,602 1,377,920
1960 224,084 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/bhutan/costa-rica | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while Costa Rica gained 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while Costa Rica's population increased by 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth).

Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd 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) Bhutan's population will grow by 10.1% to 884,535 people and will still be ranked 163rd. The population of Costa Rica will increase by 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th.

Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people compared to the peak of 5.39M people in 2045 for Costa Rica.

Population growth rate by year

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bhutan Costa Rica
2100 -0.7% -1%
2099 -0.63% -0.99%
2098 -0.67% -0.99%
2097 -0.66% -0.99%
2096 -0.73% -0.99%
2095 -0.72% -0.99%
2094 -0.7% -0.99%
2093 -0.76% -0.98%
2092 -0.81% -0.98%
2091 -0.78% -0.97%
2090 -0.81% -0.96%
2089 -0.78% -0.95%
2088 -0.82% -0.95%
2087 -0.73% -0.93%
2086 -0.72% -0.92%
2085 -0.7% -0.91%
2084 -0.77% -0.89%
2083 -0.71% -0.87%
2082 -0.75% -0.86%
2081 -0.71% -0.84%
2080 -0.71% -0.82%
2079 -0.67% -0.8%
2078 -0.57% -0.78%
2077 -0.57% -0.75%
2076 -0.58% -0.73%
2075 -0.62% -0.71%
2074 -0.62% -0.69%
2073 -0.55% -0.67%
2072 -0.52% -0.65%
2071 -0.43% -0.62%
2070 -0.45% -0.6%
2069 -0.41% -0.58%
2068 -0.4% -0.56%
2067 -0.4% -0.55%
2066 -0.37% -0.53%
2065 -0.25% -0.51%
2064 -0.22% -0.49%
2063 -0.26% -0.47%
2062 -0.24% -0.45%
2061 -0.21% -0.44%
2060 -0.14% -0.41%
2059 -0.15% -0.39%
2058 -0.01% -0.37%
2057 -0.14% -0.34%
2056 -0.07% -0.32%
2055 0.06% -0.29%
2054 -0.07% -0.26%
2053 -0.01% -0.23%
2052 0.12% -0.2%
2051 0.11% -0.17%
2050 0.09% -0.14%
2049 0.12% -0.11%
2048 0.11% -0.09%
2047 0.18% -0.06%
2046 0.27% -0.03%
2045 0.29% 0.002%
2044 0.32% 0.03%
2043 0.36% 0.05%
2042 0.33% 0.08%
2041 0.37% 0.11%
2040 0.38% 0.13%
2039 0.41% 0.16%
2038 0.46% 0.18%
2037 0.51% 0.2%
2036 0.55% 0.23%
2035 0.44% 0.25%
2034 0.54% 0.27%
2033 0.58% 0.29%
2032 0.6% 0.31%
2031 0.57% 0.33%
2030 0.52% 0.35%
2029 0.57% 0.37%
2028 0.56% 0.39%
2027 0.7% 0.41%
2026 0.69% 0.44%
2025 0.61% 0.46%
2024 0.65% 0.48%
2023 0.7% 0.47%
2022 0.71% 0.43%
2021 0.71% 0.51%
2020 0.68% 0.7%
2019 0.67% 0.84%
2018 0.72% 0.91%
2017 0.86% 0.95%
2016 0.98% 1.02%
2015 1.02% 1.07%
2014 1.08% 1.08%
2013 1.11% 1.12%
2012 1.11% 1.17%
2011 1.1% 1.18%
2010 1.1% 1.25%
2009 1.11% 1.35%
2008 1.14% 1.37%
2007 1.17% 1.36%
2006 1.35% 1.41%
2005 1.74% 1.46%
2004 2.02% 1.48%
2003 2.12% 1.55%
2002 2.23% 1.67%
2001 2.33% 1.81%
2000 2.45% 1.96%
1999 2.31% 2.1%
1998 1.92% 2.19%
1997 1.81% 2.29%
1996 0.15% 2.37%
1995 -1.17% 2.44%
1994 -0.03% 2.49%
1993 -4% 2.53%
1992 -3.67% 2.56%
1991 1.78% 2.58%
1990 2.74% 2.56%
1989 2.98% 2.55%
1988 3.04% 2.61%
1987 3.1% 2.68%
1986 3.13% 2.75%
1985 3.17% 2.79%
1984 3.21% 2.79%
1983 3.24% 2.79%
1982 3.27% 2.77%
1981 3.33% 2.76%
1980 3.39% 2.76%
1979 3.44% 2.74%
1978 3.47% 2.7%
1977 3.47% 2.67%
1976 3.47% 2.63%
1975 3.47% 2.6%
1974 3.46% 2.58%
1973 3.46% 2.58%
1972 3.46% 2.63%
1971 3.46% 2.7%
1970 3.46% 2.78%
1969 3.43% 2.85%
1968 3.39% 2.97%
1967 3.35% 3.14%
1966 3.3% 3.27%
1965 3.25% 3.41%
1964 3.19% 3.53%
1963 3.16% 3.65%
1962 3.05% 3.74%
1961 2.91% 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/bhutan/costa-rica | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while Costa Rica's population grew by 0.48%.

Live population counters

Bhutan Costa Rica
Current population
803385
5181862
Population rank 163/197 126/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 0.06%
One net population change
1.7 hours
21.6 minutes
One birth every
52.8 minutes
10.1 minutes
One death every
1.82 hours
18.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +14 +67
Annual growth/decline +5,139 +24,385
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +0.48%
Population growth rate rank 120/197 138/197
One migration net change every
19.3 hours
8.78 hours
Annual migration change +455 +1,000
Net migration rank 69/196 63/196
Foreign-born residents 55,705 628,404
Foreign-born residents rank 146/195 75/195
Foreign-born share of population 7% 12.2%
Foreign-born share rank 80/195 55/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bhutan
Natural

Migration
Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bhutan Costa Rica
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 455 - 1,000
2024 - -277 - 967
2023 5,153 291 24,109 995
2022 5,204 291 21,409 1,006
2021 5,162 287 20,119 1,018
2020 5,142 287 29,164 1,029
2019 4,643 287 37,682 1,653
2018 4,909 287 42,469 1,673
2017 5,367 287 43,471 1,671
2016 6,164 1,116 45,565 1,649
2015 6,762 450 49,077 1,617
2014 7,290 452 49,559 1,589
2013 7,689 309 49,227 1,579
2012 7,967 20 52,036 1,587
2011 8,282 -464 52,884 1,695
2010 8,598 -922 50,803 2,357
2009 8,913 -1,305 55,757 3,432
2008 9,200 -1,538 56,491 3,794
2007 9,322 -1,553 55,244 4,080
2006 9,197 -1,283 54,177 4,321
2005 9,102 848 57,139 4,567
2004 9,056 3,642 55,769 4,856
2003 9,132 3,921 56,743 5,216
2002 9,464 3,996 58,388 5,812
2001 9,904 3,874 62,199 7,119
2000 10,142 3,940 64,268 8,826
1999 10,940 3,542 64,922 13,253
1998 11,320 486 64,788 15,556
1997 11,668 -1,994 64,954 16,954
1996 12,153 -1,998 66,094 17,393
1995 12,938 -21,501 67,585 16,609
1994 13,536 -17,997 68,336 15,587
1993 13,915 -9,800 69,016 14,431
1992 15,594 -65,900 69,830 13,069
1991 15,801 -9,522 70,506 10,757
1990 15,704 -1,000 71,727 7,949
1989 15,516 1,180 72,327 3,758
1988 15,212 1,286 72,944 2,414
1987 14,887 1,481 73,188 2,267
1986 14,516 1,586 73,211 2,302
1985 14,061 1,694 72,776 2,357
1984 13,688 1,779 71,062 2,402
1983 13,284 1,897 68,972 2,449
1982 12,872 1,897 66,826 2,453
1981 12,444 2,096 64,632 2,431
1980 12,016 2,307 62,561 2,387
1979 11,583 2,493 60,984 2,349
1978 11,133 2,700 58,327 2,296
1977 10,679 2,700 56,122 2,228
1976 10,228 2,700 54,019 2,129
1975 9,775 2,700 51,979 1,992
1974 9,324 2,700 50,349 1,839
1973 8,939 2,700 48,943 1,468
1972 8,549 2,700 48,417 1,366
1971 8,161 2,700 48,341 1,296
1970 7,791 2,700 48,398 1,137
1969 7,435 2,700 48,790 1,017
1968 7,085 2,593 48,361 939
1967 6,744 2,493 50,193 926
1966 6,418 2,407 50,755 930
1965 6,109 2,307 51,196 932
1964 5,818 2,196 51,435 934
1963 5,551 2,096 51,403 938
1962 5,297 2,096 51,046 934
1961 5,081 1,586 50,149 924
1960 4,888 1,481 48,857 910

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/costa-rica | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 93.3% of the population change in Bhutan is from natural causes (a gain of 55,796 people) and 6.74% is from migration (a gain of 4,035 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, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 628,404 people or 12.2% in Costa Rica.

Biggest cities by population

Bhutan
City Population
Thimphu 115K
Paro 2.36K
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 map with other countries

1x

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/bhutan/costa-rica | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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