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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 5,152,950 people in Costa Rica in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 5,186,356 in Costa Rica.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 270.6 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Costa Rica is the 126th.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.06% for Costa Rica.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs +0.71% in Costa Rica.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Costa Rica has grown from 4.32M to 5.19M (20% growth).

China vs Costa Rica: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Costa Rica
2100 633,662,382 3,803,678
2099 644,307,192 3,841,913
2098 655,044,881 3,880,484
2097 665,876,462 3,919,475
2096 676,803,171 3,958,826
2095 687,828,883 3,998,552
2094 698,966,872 4,038,516
2093 710,235,681 4,078,807
2092 721,640,723 4,119,351
2091 733,187,178 4,160,111
2090 744,903,105 4,200,989
2089 756,812,472 4,241,888
2088 768,893,004 4,282,758
2087 781,128,909 4,323,650
2086 793,508,970 4,364,399
2085 806,043,039 4,404,935
2084 818,709,832 4,445,179
2083 831,420,518 4,485,048
2082 844,177,036 4,524,570
2081 856,996,835 4,563,658
2080 869,821,040 4,602,126
2079 882,622,985 4,640,060
2078 895,372,147 4,677,313
2077 908,082,676 4,713,901
2076 920,776,984 4,749,678
2075 933,459,600 4,784,723
2074 946,141,456 4,819,050
2073 958,870,128 4,852,492
2072 971,639,931 4,885,078
2071 984,469,009 4,916,792
2070 997,391,342 4,947,655
2069 1,010,450,818 4,977,764
2068 1,023,633,867 5,006,939
2067 1,036,979,285 5,035,207
2066 1,050,453,924 5,062,849
2065 1,064,051,499 5,089,797
2064 1,077,787,979 5,115,866
2063 1,091,571,021 5,141,239
2062 1,105,429,748 5,165,574
2061 1,119,286,514 5,189,146
2060 1,133,115,260 5,211,857
2059 1,146,818,251 5,233,370
2058 1,160,340,554 5,253,830
2057 1,173,596,480 5,273,143
2056 1,186,578,041 5,291,310
2055 1,199,197,172 5,308,124
2054 1,211,403,028 5,323,598
2053 1,223,160,257 5,337,707
2052 1,234,474,716 5,350,263
2051 1,245,255,938 5,361,152
2050 1,255,501,171 5,370,484
2049 1,265,281,319 5,378,189
2048 1,274,572,888 5,384,366
2047 1,283,393,445 5,388,962
2046 1,291,830,414 5,391,996
2045 1,299,855,379 5,393,493
2044 1,307,510,531 5,393,407
2043 1,314,885,869 5,391,873
2042 1,322,032,311 5,388,912
2041 1,328,936,491 5,384,386
2040 1,335,577,799 5,378,629
2039 1,341,989,157 5,371,473
2038 1,348,134,255 5,362,904
2037 1,354,107,817 5,353,217
2036 1,359,866,705 5,342,317
2035 1,365,387,904 5,330,286
2034 1,370,679,807 5,317,189
2033 1,375,744,986 5,302,930
2032 1,380,528,766 5,287,714
2031 1,385,048,521 5,271,514
2030 1,389,269,809 5,254,366
2029 1,393,241,425 5,236,206
2028 1,396,917,178 5,217,031
2027 1,400,271,033 5,196,723
2026 1,403,335,670 5,175,408
2025 1,406,585,000 5,152,950
2024 1,408,975,000 5,129,910
2023 1,410,710,000 5,105,525
2022 1,412,175,000 5,081,765
2021 1,412,360,000 5,059,988
2020 1,411,100,000 5,034,320
2019 1,407,745,000 4,999,553
2018 1,402,760,000 4,957,818
2017 1,396,215,000 4,913,177
2016 1,387,790,000 4,866,998
2015 1,379,860,000 4,818,038
2014 1,371,860,000 4,767,119
2013 1,363,240,000 4,716,147
2012 1,354,190,000 4,663,934
2011 1,345,035,000 4,609,833
2010 1,337,705,000 4,555,962
2009 1,331,260,000 4,499,791
2008 1,324,655,000 4,440,056
2007 1,317,885,000 4,380,248
2006 1,311,020,000 4,321,340
2005 1,303,720,000 4,261,240
2004 1,296,075,000 4,200,078
2003 1,288,400,000 4,138,784
2002 1,280,400,000 4,075,705
2001 1,271,850,000 4,008,947
2000 1,262,645,000 3,937,739
1999 1,252,735,000 3,862,101
1998 1,241,935,000 3,782,838
1997 1,230,075,000 3,701,711
1996 1,217,550,000 3,619,013
1995 1,204,855,000 3,535,176
1994 1,191,835,000 3,451,122
1993 1,178,440,000 3,367,434
1992 1,164,970,000 3,284,258
1991 1,150,780,000 3,202,176
1990 1,135,185,000 3,121,706
1989 1,118,650,000 3,043,827
1988 1,101,630,000 2,968,103
1987 1,084,035,000 2,892,699
1986 1,066,790,000 2,817,216
1985 1,051,040,000 2,741,894
1984 1,036,825,000 2,667,595
1983 1,023,310,000 2,595,153
1982 1,008,630,000 2,524,806
1981 993,885,000 2,456,637
1980 981,235,000 2,390,633
1979 969,005,000 2,326,490
1978 956,165,000 2,264,510
1977 943,455,000 2,205,025
1976 930,685,000 2,147,774
1975 916,395,000 2,092,719
1974 900,350,000 2,039,643
1973 881,940,000 1,988,343
1972 862,030,000 1,938,248
1971 841,105,000 1,888,539
1970 818,315,000 1,838,949
1969 796,025,000 1,789,276
1968 774,510,000 1,739,731
1967 754,550,000 1,689,523
1966 735,400,000 1,638,116
1965 715,185,000 1,586,208
1964 698,355,000 1,533,960
1963 682,335,000 1,481,604
1962 665,770,000 1,429,445
1961 660,330,000 1,377,920
1960 667,070,000 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/china/costa-rica | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Costa Rica gained 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Costa Rica's population increased by 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd 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) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Costa Rica will increase by 3.55% to 5,370,484 people and rank change from 126th to 127th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Costa Rica
2100 -1.65% -1%
2099 -1.64% -0.99%
2098 -1.63% -0.99%
2097 -1.61% -0.99%
2096 -1.6% -0.99%
2095 -1.59% -0.99%
2094 -1.59% -0.99%
2093 -1.58% -0.98%
2092 -1.57% -0.98%
2091 -1.57% -0.97%
2090 -1.57% -0.96%
2089 -1.57% -0.95%
2088 -1.57% -0.95%
2087 -1.56% -0.93%
2086 -1.56% -0.92%
2085 -1.55% -0.91%
2084 -1.53% -0.89%
2083 -1.51% -0.87%
2082 -1.5% -0.86%
2081 -1.47% -0.84%
2080 -1.45% -0.82%
2079 -1.42% -0.8%
2078 -1.4% -0.78%
2077 -1.38% -0.75%
2076 -1.36% -0.73%
2075 -1.34% -0.71%
2074 -1.33% -0.69%
2073 -1.31% -0.67%
2072 -1.3% -0.65%
2071 -1.3% -0.62%
2070 -1.29% -0.6%
2069 -1.29% -0.58%
2068 -1.29% -0.56%
2067 -1.28% -0.55%
2066 -1.28% -0.53%
2065 -1.27% -0.51%
2064 -1.26% -0.49%
2063 -1.25% -0.47%
2062 -1.24% -0.45%
2061 -1.22% -0.44%
2060 -1.19% -0.41%
2059 -1.17% -0.39%
2058 -1.13% -0.37%
2057 -1.09% -0.34%
2056 -1.05% -0.32%
2055 -1.01% -0.29%
2054 -0.96% -0.26%
2053 -0.92% -0.23%
2052 -0.87% -0.2%
2051 -0.82% -0.17%
2050 -0.77% -0.14%
2049 -0.73% -0.11%
2048 -0.69% -0.09%
2047 -0.65% -0.06%
2046 -0.62% -0.03%
2045 -0.59% 0.002%
2044 -0.56% 0.03%
2043 -0.54% 0.05%
2042 -0.52% 0.08%
2041 -0.5% 0.11%
2040 -0.48% 0.13%
2039 -0.46% 0.16%
2038 -0.44% 0.18%
2037 -0.42% 0.2%
2036 -0.4% 0.23%
2035 -0.39% 0.25%
2034 -0.37% 0.27%
2033 -0.35% 0.29%
2032 -0.33% 0.31%
2031 -0.3% 0.33%
2030 -0.29% 0.35%
2029 -0.26% 0.37%
2028 -0.24% 0.39%
2027 -0.22% 0.41%
2026 -0.23% 0.44%
2025 -0.17% 0.45%
2024 -0.12% 0.48%
2023 -0.1% 0.47%
2022 -0.01% 0.43%
2021 0.09% 0.51%
2020 0.24% 0.7%
2019 0.36% 0.84%
2018 0.47% 0.91%
2017 0.61% 0.95%
2016 0.57% 1.02%
2015 0.58% 1.07%
2014 0.63% 1.08%
2013 0.67% 1.12%
2012 0.68% 1.17%
2011 0.55% 1.18%
2010 0.48% 1.25%
2009 0.5% 1.35%
2008 0.51% 1.37%
2007 0.52% 1.36%
2006 0.56% 1.41%
2005 0.59% 1.46%
2004 0.6% 1.48%
2003 0.62% 1.55%
2002 0.67% 1.67%
2001 0.73% 1.81%
2000 0.79% 1.96%
1999 0.87% 2.1%
1998 0.96% 2.19%
1997 1.03% 2.29%
1996 1.05% 2.37%
1995 1.09% 2.44%
1994 1.14% 2.49%
1993 1.16% 2.53%
1992 1.23% 2.56%
1991 1.37% 2.58%
1990 1.48% 2.56%
1989 1.54% 2.55%
1988 1.62% 2.61%
1987 1.62% 2.68%
1986 1.5% 2.75%
1985 1.37% 2.79%
1984 1.32% 2.79%
1983 1.46% 2.79%
1982 1.48% 2.77%
1981 1.29% 2.76%
1980 1.26% 2.76%
1979 1.34% 2.74%
1978 1.35% 2.7%
1977 1.37% 2.67%
1976 1.56% 2.63%
1975 1.78% 2.6%
1974 2.09% 2.58%
1973 2.31% 2.58%
1972 2.49% 2.63%
1971 2.78% 2.7%
1970 2.8% 2.78%
1969 2.78% 2.85%
1968 2.65% 2.97%
1967 2.6% 3.14%
1966 2.83% 3.27%
1965 2.41% 3.41%
1964 2.35% 3.53%
1963 2.49% 3.65%
1962 0.82% 3.74%
1961 -1.01% 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/china/costa-rica | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Costa Rica's population grew by 0.45%.

Live population counters

China Costa Rica
Current population
1403335670
5186356
Population rank 2/197 126/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.06%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
22.9 minutes
One birth every
3.31 seconds
10.3 minutes
One death every
2.88 seconds
18.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +63
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +23,040
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +0.45%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 134/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
8.78 hours
Annual migration change -268,126 +1,000
Net migration rank 189/196 63/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 628,404
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 75/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 12.2%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 55/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Costa Rica
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 1,000
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 22,699 967
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 24,109 995
2022 -847,305 -293,846 21,409 1,006
2021 480,203 -379,749 20,119 1,018
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 29,164 1,029
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 37,682 1,653
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 42,469 1,673
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 43,471 1,671
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 45,565 1,649
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 49,077 1,617
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 49,559 1,589
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 49,227 1,579
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 52,036 1,587
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 52,884 1,695
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 50,803 2,357
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 55,757 3,432
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 56,491 3,794
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 55,244 4,080
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 54,177 4,321
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 57,139 4,567
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 55,769 4,856
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 56,743 5,216
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 58,388 5,812
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 62,199 7,119
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 64,268 8,826
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 64,922 13,253
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 64,788 15,556
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 64,954 16,954
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 66,094 17,393
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 67,585 16,609
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 68,336 15,587
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 69,016 14,431
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 69,830 13,069
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 70,506 10,757
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 71,727 7,949
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 72,327 3,758
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 72,944 2,414
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 73,188 2,267
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 73,211 2,302
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 72,776 2,357
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 71,062 2,402
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 68,972 2,449
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 66,826 2,453
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 64,632 2,431
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 62,561 2,387
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 60,984 2,349
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 58,327 2,296
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 56,122 2,228
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 54,019 2,129
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 51,979 1,992
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 50,349 1,839
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 48,943 1,468
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 48,417 1,366
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 48,341 1,296
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 48,398 1,137
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 48,790 1,017
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 48,361 939
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 50,193 926
1966 19,282,187 4,165 50,755 930
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 51,196 932
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 51,435 934
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 51,403 938
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 51,046 934
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 50,149 924
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 48,857 910

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 90.3% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 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, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 628,404 people or 12.2% in Costa Rica.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
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 (1960–2025, 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/china/costa-rica | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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