The current population of Costa Rica is 5,181,862 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 5,129,910 in 2024.
- Costa Rica is ranked 126/197 by population and was ranked 119th in 2006.
- For the last 20 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of 1% per year.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth in 20 years).
- Costa Rica is projected to reach 5.39M people in 2045.
- Costa Rica accounts for 0.06% of the world's population.
Costa Rica population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 3,804,183 | -1% |
| 2099 | 3,842,423 | -0.99% |
| 2098 | 3,880,999 | -0.99% |
| 2097 | 3,919,996 | -0.99% |
| 2096 | 3,959,352 | -0.99% |
| 2095 | 3,999,084 | -0.99% |
| 2094 | 4,039,053 | -0.99% |
| 2093 | 4,079,349 | -0.98% |
| 2092 | 4,119,898 | -0.98% |
| 2091 | 4,160,663 | -0.97% |
| 2090 | 4,201,548 | -0.96% |
| 2089 | 4,242,452 | -0.95% |
| 2088 | 4,283,327 | -0.95% |
| 2087 | 4,324,225 | -0.93% |
| 2086 | 4,364,979 | -0.92% |
| 2085 | 4,405,520 | -0.91% |
| 2084 | 4,445,770 | -0.89% |
| 2083 | 4,485,644 | -0.87% |
| 2082 | 4,525,171 | -0.86% |
| 2081 | 4,564,265 | -0.84% |
| 2080 | 4,602,737 | -0.82% |
| 2079 | 4,640,677 | -0.8% |
| 2078 | 4,677,935 | -0.78% |
| 2077 | 4,714,527 | -0.75% |
| 2076 | 4,750,309 | -0.73% |
| 2075 | 4,785,359 | -0.71% |
| 2074 | 4,819,691 | -0.69% |
| 2073 | 4,853,137 | -0.67% |
| 2072 | 4,885,727 | -0.65% |
| 2071 | 4,917,445 | -0.62% |
| 2070 | 4,948,313 | -0.6% |
| 2069 | 4,978,425 | -0.58% |
| 2068 | 5,007,604 | -0.56% |
| 2067 | 5,035,877 | -0.55% |
| 2066 | 5,063,521 | -0.53% |
| 2065 | 5,090,474 | -0.51% |
| 2064 | 5,116,546 | -0.49% |
| 2063 | 5,141,922 | -0.47% |
| 2062 | 5,166,260 | -0.45% |
| 2061 | 5,189,836 | -0.44% |
| 2060 | 5,212,549 | -0.41% |
| 2059 | 5,234,066 | -0.39% |
| 2058 | 5,254,528 | -0.37% |
| 2057 | 5,273,844 | -0.34% |
| 2056 | 5,292,013 | -0.32% |
| 2055 | 5,308,829 | -0.29% |
| 2054 | 5,324,305 | -0.26% |
| 2053 | 5,338,417 | -0.23% |
| 2052 | 5,350,974 | -0.2% |
| 2051 | 5,361,865 | -0.17% |
| 2050 | 5,371,197 | -0.14% |
| 2049 | 5,378,904 | -0.11% |
| 2048 | 5,385,081 | -0.09% |
| 2047 | 5,389,678 | -0.06% |
| 2046 | 5,392,713 | -0.03% |
| 2045 | 5,394,209 | 0.002% |
| 2044 | 5,394,124 | 0.03% |
| 2043 | 5,392,590 | 0.05% |
| 2042 | 5,389,628 | 0.08% |
| 2041 | 5,385,101 | 0.11% |
| 2040 | 5,379,344 | 0.13% |
| 2039 | 5,372,186 | 0.16% |
| 2038 | 5,363,617 | 0.18% |
| 2037 | 5,353,928 | 0.2% |
| 2036 | 5,343,027 | 0.23% |
| 2035 | 5,330,994 | 0.25% |
| 2034 | 5,317,895 | 0.27% |
| 2033 | 5,303,634 | 0.29% |
| 2032 | 5,288,416 | 0.31% |
| 2031 | 5,272,215 | 0.33% |
| 2030 | 5,255,064 | 0.35% |
| 2029 | 5,236,901 | 0.37% |
| 2028 | 5,217,724 | 0.39% |
| 2027 | 5,197,413 | 0.41% |
| 2026 | 5,176,096 | 0.44% |
| 2025 | 5,153,634 | 0.46% |
| 2024 | 5,129,910 | 0.48% |
| 2023 | 5,105,525 | 0.47% |
| 2022 | 5,081,765 | 0.43% |
| 2021 | 5,059,988 | 0.51% |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 | 0.7% |
| 2019 | 4,999,553 | 0.84% |
| 2018 | 4,957,818 | 0.91% |
| 2017 | 4,913,177 | 0.95% |
| 2016 | 4,866,998 | 1.02% |
| 2015 | 4,818,038 | 1.07% |
| 2014 | 4,767,119 | 1.08% |
| 2013 | 4,716,147 | 1.12% |
| 2012 | 4,663,934 | 1.17% |
| 2011 | 4,609,833 | 1.18% |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 | 1.25% |
| 2009 | 4,499,791 | 1.35% |
| 2008 | 4,440,056 | 1.37% |
| 2007 | 4,380,248 | 1.36% |
| 2006 | 4,321,340 | 1.41% |
| 2005 | 4,261,240 | 1.46% |
| 2004 | 4,200,078 | 1.48% |
| 2003 | 4,138,784 | 1.55% |
| 2002 | 4,075,705 | 1.67% |
| 2001 | 4,008,947 | 1.81% |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 | 1.96% |
| 1999 | 3,862,101 | 2.1% |
| 1998 | 3,782,838 | 2.19% |
| 1997 | 3,701,711 | 2.29% |
| 1996 | 3,619,013 | 2.37% |
| 1995 | 3,535,176 | 2.44% |
| 1994 | 3,451,122 | 2.49% |
| 1993 | 3,367,434 | 2.53% |
| 1992 | 3,284,258 | 2.56% |
| 1991 | 3,202,176 | 2.58% |
| 1990 | 3,121,706 | 2.56% |
| 1989 | 3,043,827 | 2.55% |
| 1988 | 2,968,103 | 2.61% |
| 1987 | 2,892,699 | 2.68% |
| 1986 | 2,817,216 | 2.75% |
| 1985 | 2,741,894 | 2.79% |
| 1984 | 2,667,595 | 2.79% |
| 1983 | 2,595,153 | 2.79% |
| 1982 | 2,524,806 | 2.77% |
| 1981 | 2,456,637 | 2.76% |
| 1980 | 2,390,633 | 2.76% |
| 1979 | 2,326,490 | 2.74% |
| 1978 | 2,264,510 | 2.7% |
| 1977 | 2,205,025 | 2.67% |
| 1976 | 2,147,774 | 2.63% |
| 1975 | 2,092,719 | 2.6% |
| 1974 | 2,039,643 | 2.58% |
| 1973 | 1,988,343 | 2.58% |
| 1972 | 1,938,248 | 2.63% |
| 1971 | 1,888,539 | 2.7% |
| 1970 | 1,838,949 | 2.78% |
| 1969 | 1,789,276 | 2.85% |
| 1968 | 1,739,731 | 2.97% |
| 1967 | 1,689,523 | 3.14% |
| 1966 | 1,638,116 | 3.27% |
| 1965 | 1,586,208 | 3.41% |
| 1964 | 1,533,960 | 3.53% |
| 1963 | 1,481,604 | 3.65% |
| 1962 | 1,429,445 | 3.74% |
| 1961 | 1,377,920 | 3.8% |
| 1960 | 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/costa-rica | CC BY 
Costa Rica has a population of 5.18M as of 2026, compared to 4.87M in 2016, 4.32M in 2006, and 3.62M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 0.65% per year. Costa Rica is ranked 127th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) Costa Rica will have 5,392,713 people (4.07% growth) and still will be ranked 126th.
By the year 2100, Costa Rica's population is projected to decline by 26.6% from its current level to 3.8M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | 1,000 |
| 2024 | - | - | 967 |
| 2023 | 25,104 | 24,109 | 995 |
| 2022 | 22,415 | 21,409 | 1,006 |
| 2021 | 21,137 | 20,119 | 1,018 |
| 2020 | 30,193 | 29,164 | 1,029 |
| 2019 | 39,335 | 37,682 | 1,653 |
| 2018 | 44,142 | 42,469 | 1,673 |
| 2017 | 45,142 | 43,471 | 1,671 |
| 2016 | 47,214 | 45,565 | 1,649 |
| 2015 | 50,694 | 49,077 | 1,617 |
| 2014 | 51,148 | 49,559 | 1,589 |
| 2013 | 50,806 | 49,227 | 1,579 |
| 2012 | 53,623 | 52,036 | 1,587 |
| 2011 | 54,579 | 52,884 | 1,695 |
| 2010 | 53,160 | 50,803 | 2,357 |
| 2009 | 59,189 | 55,757 | 3,432 |
| 2008 | 60,285 | 56,491 | 3,794 |
| 2007 | 59,324 | 55,244 | 4,080 |
| 2006 | 58,498 | 54,177 | 4,321 |
| 2005 | 61,706 | 57,139 | 4,567 |
| 2004 | 60,625 | 55,769 | 4,856 |
| 2003 | 61,959 | 56,743 | 5,216 |
| 2002 | 64,200 | 58,388 | 5,812 |
| 2001 | 69,318 | 62,199 | 7,119 |
| 2000 | 73,094 | 64,268 | 8,826 |
| 1999 | 78,175 | 64,922 | 13,253 |
| 1998 | 80,344 | 64,788 | 15,556 |
| 1997 | 81,908 | 64,954 | 16,954 |
| 1996 | 83,487 | 66,094 | 17,393 |
| 1995 | 84,194 | 67,585 | 16,609 |
| 1994 | 83,923 | 68,336 | 15,587 |
| 1993 | 83,447 | 69,016 | 14,431 |
| 1992 | 82,899 | 69,830 | 13,069 |
| 1991 | 81,263 | 70,506 | 10,757 |
| 1990 | 79,676 | 71,727 | 7,949 |
| 1989 | 76,085 | 72,327 | 3,758 |
| 1988 | 75,358 | 72,944 | 2,414 |
| 1987 | 75,455 | 73,188 | 2,267 |
| 1986 | 75,513 | 73,211 | 2,302 |
| 1985 | 75,133 | 72,776 | 2,357 |
| 1984 | 73,464 | 71,062 | 2,402 |
| 1983 | 71,421 | 68,972 | 2,449 |
| 1982 | 69,279 | 66,826 | 2,453 |
| 1981 | 67,063 | 64,632 | 2,431 |
| 1980 | 64,948 | 62,561 | 2,387 |
| 1979 | 63,333 | 60,984 | 2,349 |
| 1978 | 60,623 | 58,327 | 2,296 |
| 1977 | 58,350 | 56,122 | 2,228 |
| 1976 | 56,148 | 54,019 | 2,129 |
| 1975 | 53,971 | 51,979 | 1,992 |
| 1974 | 52,188 | 50,349 | 1,839 |
| 1973 | 50,411 | 48,943 | 1,468 |
| 1972 | 49,783 | 48,417 | 1,366 |
| 1971 | 49,637 | 48,341 | 1,296 |
| 1970 | 49,535 | 48,398 | 1,137 |
| 1969 | 49,807 | 48,790 | 1,017 |
| 1968 | 49,300 | 48,361 | 939 |
| 1967 | 51,119 | 50,193 | 926 |
| 1966 | 51,685 | 50,755 | 930 |
| 1965 | 52,128 | 51,196 | 932 |
| 1964 | 52,369 | 51,435 | 934 |
| 1963 | 52,341 | 51,403 | 938 |
| 1962 | 51,980 | 51,046 | 934 |
| 1961 | 51,073 | 50,149 | 924 |
| 1960 | 49,767 | 48,857 | 910 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 96.3% of the population change in Costa Rica 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, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 405,779 and 8.9% in 2010.
Costa Rica population clock
Costa Rica
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5181862
|
126/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.06% | 126/197 |
| One net population change |
21.6 minutes
|
122/197 |
| One birth every |
10.1 minutes
|
132/196 |
| One death every |
18.9 minutes
|
130/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +67 | 122/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +24,385 | 122/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.48% | 138/197 |
| One migration net change every |
8.78 hours
|
63/196 |
| Annual migration change | +1,000 | 63/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 628,404 | 75/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 12.2% | 55/195 |
Largest cities by population
|
Costa Rica
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| San Jose | 335K |
| Limon | 71.5K |
| Liberia | 65.9K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Costa Rica population statistics
|
Costa Rica
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 81.4 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 37 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 35.6 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.4:50.6 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 1.33 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 262.6 ppl/mi² | 144 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/costa-rica | CC BY
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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)
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