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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 3,866,200 people in Croatia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 3,812,193 in Croatia.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 1.36 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Croatia is the 129th.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.05% for Croatia.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs -0.82% in Croatia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Croatia has declined from 4.31M to 3.81M (11.6% decline).

Costa Rica vs Croatia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Croatia
2100 3,804,183 2,137,465
2099 3,842,423 2,155,186
2098 3,880,999 2,173,108
2097 3,919,996 2,190,995
2096 3,959,352 2,209,326
2095 3,999,084 2,227,698
2094 4,039,053 2,246,224
2093 4,079,349 2,264,550
2092 4,119,898 2,283,068
2091 4,160,663 2,301,556
2090 4,201,548 2,319,851
2089 4,242,452 2,338,604
2088 4,283,327 2,357,581
2087 4,324,225 2,376,274
2086 4,364,979 2,395,139
2085 4,405,520 2,414,304
2084 4,445,770 2,433,813
2083 4,485,644 2,453,361
2082 4,525,171 2,473,204
2081 4,564,265 2,493,128
2080 4,602,737 2,513,378
2079 4,640,677 2,534,101
2078 4,677,935 2,554,982
2077 4,714,527 2,576,370
2076 4,750,309 2,597,887
2075 4,785,359 2,619,688
2074 4,819,691 2,641,342
2073 4,853,137 2,663,253
2072 4,885,727 2,685,714
2071 4,917,445 2,708,053
2070 4,948,313 2,730,187
2069 4,978,425 2,753,302
2068 5,007,604 2,776,996
2067 5,035,877 2,800,742
2066 5,063,521 2,824,811
2065 5,090,474 2,848,913
2064 5,116,546 2,872,881
2063 5,141,922 2,897,651
2062 5,166,260 2,922,653
2061 5,189,836 2,947,832
2060 5,212,549 2,973,162
2059 5,234,066 2,998,389
2058 5,254,528 3,023,822
2057 5,273,844 3,049,085
2056 5,292,013 3,074,796
2055 5,308,829 3,100,195
2054 5,324,305 3,125,459
2053 5,338,417 3,151,016
2052 5,350,974 3,176,316
2051 5,361,865 3,201,973
2050 5,371,197 3,227,869
2049 5,378,904 3,253,597
2048 5,385,081 3,279,316
2047 5,389,678 3,305,051
2046 5,392,713 3,330,260
2045 5,394,209 3,355,638
2044 5,394,124 3,381,196
2043 5,392,590 3,406,105
2042 5,389,628 3,430,854
2041 5,385,101 3,455,487
2040 5,379,344 3,479,631
2039 5,372,186 3,503,577
2038 5,363,617 3,527,583
2037 5,353,928 3,551,581
2036 5,343,027 3,574,520
2035 5,330,994 3,596,996
2034 5,317,895 3,620,363
2033 5,303,634 3,643,692
2032 5,288,416 3,667,478
2031 5,272,215 3,691,842
2030 5,255,064 3,715,373
2029 5,236,901 3,739,203
2028 5,217,724 3,762,505
2027 5,197,413 3,787,023
2026 5,176,096 3,812,193
2025 5,153,634 3,838,346
2024 5,129,910 3,866,200
2023 5,105,525 3,859,686
2022 5,081,765 3,855,641
2021 5,059,988 3,878,981
2020 5,034,320 3,914,206
2019 4,999,553 3,949,390
2018 4,957,818 3,988,775
2017 4,913,177 4,041,407
2016 4,866,998 4,106,867
2015 4,818,038 4,151,725
2014 4,767,119 4,201,598
2013 4,716,147 4,233,922
2012 4,663,934 4,260,368
2011 4,609,833 4,280,622
2010 4,555,962 4,295,427
2009 4,499,791 4,305,181
2008 4,440,056 4,309,705
2007 4,380,248 4,310,217
2006 4,321,340 4,311,159
2005 4,261,240 4,310,145
2004 4,200,078 4,304,600
2003 4,138,784 4,303,399
2002 4,075,705 4,302,174
2001 4,008,947 4,299,642
2000 3,937,739 4,468,302
1999 3,862,101 4,512,597
1998 3,782,838 4,532,135
1997 3,701,711 4,534,920
1996 3,619,013 4,557,097
1995 3,535,176 4,620,030
1994 3,451,122 4,652,024
1993 3,367,434 4,600,463
1992 3,284,258 4,575,818
1991 3,202,176 4,689,022
1990 3,121,706 4,777,368
1989 3,043,827 4,767,260
1988 2,968,103 4,755,207
1987 2,892,699 4,739,745
1986 2,817,216 4,721,446
1985 2,741,894 4,701,417
1984 2,667,595 4,680,285
1983 2,595,153 4,658,254
1982 2,524,806 4,634,234
1981 2,456,637 4,611,509
1980 2,390,633 4,599,782
1979 2,326,490 4,594,778
1978 2,264,510 4,581,085
1977 2,205,025 4,559,571
1976 2,147,774 4,535,934
1975 2,092,719 4,512,082
1974 2,039,643 4,490,660
1973 1,988,343 4,470,161
1972 1,938,248 4,450,564
1971 1,888,539 4,431,275
1970 1,838,949 4,412,252
1969 1,789,276 4,391,490
1968 1,739,731 4,365,628
1967 1,689,523 4,338,683
1966 1,638,116 4,310,701
1965 1,586,208 4,280,923
1964 1,533,960 4,252,876
1963 1,481,604 4,225,675
1962 1,429,445 4,196,712
1961 1,377,920 4,167,292
1960 1,327,496 4,140,181

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/croatia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Croatia lost 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Croatia's population decreased by 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Croatia was ranked 120th in 2006 and ranked 129th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Costa Rica's population will grow by 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th. The population of Croatia will decrease by 15.3% to 3,227,869 people and rank change from 129th to 139th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Croatia's population already peaked in 1990 at 4.78M people and is projected to decrease to 2.14M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Croatia
2100 -1% -0.82%
2099 -0.99% -0.82%
2098 -0.99% -0.82%
2097 -0.99% -0.83%
2096 -0.99% -0.82%
2095 -0.99% -0.82%
2094 -0.99% -0.81%
2093 -0.98% -0.81%
2092 -0.98% -0.8%
2091 -0.97% -0.79%
2090 -0.96% -0.8%
2089 -0.95% -0.8%
2088 -0.95% -0.79%
2087 -0.93% -0.79%
2086 -0.92% -0.79%
2085 -0.91% -0.8%
2084 -0.89% -0.8%
2083 -0.87% -0.8%
2082 -0.86% -0.8%
2081 -0.84% -0.81%
2080 -0.82% -0.82%
2079 -0.8% -0.82%
2078 -0.78% -0.83%
2077 -0.75% -0.83%
2076 -0.73% -0.83%
2075 -0.71% -0.82%
2074 -0.69% -0.82%
2073 -0.67% -0.84%
2072 -0.65% -0.82%
2071 -0.62% -0.81%
2070 -0.6% -0.84%
2069 -0.58% -0.85%
2068 -0.56% -0.85%
2067 -0.55% -0.85%
2066 -0.53% -0.85%
2065 -0.51% -0.83%
2064 -0.49% -0.85%
2063 -0.47% -0.86%
2062 -0.45% -0.85%
2061 -0.44% -0.85%
2060 -0.41% -0.84%
2059 -0.39% -0.84%
2058 -0.37% -0.83%
2057 -0.34% -0.84%
2056 -0.32% -0.82%
2055 -0.29% -0.81%
2054 -0.26% -0.81%
2053 -0.23% -0.8%
2052 -0.2% -0.8%
2051 -0.17% -0.8%
2050 -0.14% -0.79%
2049 -0.11% -0.78%
2048 -0.09% -0.78%
2047 -0.06% -0.76%
2046 -0.03% -0.76%
2045 0.002% -0.76%
2044 0.03% -0.73%
2043 0.05% -0.72%
2042 0.08% -0.71%
2041 0.11% -0.69%
2040 0.13% -0.68%
2039 0.16% -0.68%
2038 0.18% -0.68%
2037 0.2% -0.64%
2036 0.23% -0.62%
2035 0.25% -0.65%
2034 0.27% -0.64%
2033 0.29% -0.65%
2032 0.31% -0.66%
2031 0.33% -0.63%
2030 0.35% -0.64%
2029 0.37% -0.62%
2028 0.39% -0.65%
2027 0.41% -0.66%
2026 0.44% -0.68%
2025 0.46% -0.72%
2024 0.48% 0.17%
2023 0.47% 0.1%
2022 0.43% -0.6%
2021 0.51% -0.9%
2020 0.7% -0.89%
2019 0.84% -0.99%
2018 0.91% -1.3%
2017 0.95% -1.59%
2016 1.02% -1.08%
2015 1.07% -1.19%
2014 1.08% -0.76%
2013 1.12% -0.62%
2012 1.17% -0.47%
2011 1.18% -0.34%
2010 1.25% -0.23%
2009 1.35% -0.1%
2008 1.37% -0.01%
2007 1.36% -0.02%
2006 1.41% 0.02%
2005 1.46% 0.13%
2004 1.48% 0.03%
2003 1.55% 0.03%
2002 1.67% 0.06%
2001 1.81% -3.77%
2000 1.96% -0.98%
1999 2.1% -0.43%
1998 2.19% -0.06%
1997 2.29% -0.49%
1996 2.37% -1.36%
1995 2.44% -0.69%
1994 2.49% 1.12%
1993 2.53% 0.54%
1992 2.56% -2.41%
1991 2.58% -1.85%
1990 2.56% 0.21%
1989 2.55% 0.25%
1988 2.61% 0.33%
1987 2.68% 0.39%
1986 2.75% 0.43%
1985 2.79% 0.45%
1984 2.79% 0.47%
1983 2.79% 0.52%
1982 2.77% 0.49%
1981 2.76% 0.25%
1980 2.76% 0.11%
1979 2.74% 0.3%
1978 2.7% 0.47%
1977 2.67% 0.52%
1976 2.63% 0.53%
1975 2.6% 0.48%
1974 2.58% 0.46%
1973 2.58% 0.44%
1972 2.63% 0.44%
1971 2.7% 0.43%
1970 2.78% 0.47%
1969 2.85% 0.59%
1968 2.97% 0.62%
1967 3.14% 0.65%
1966 3.27% 0.7%
1965 3.41% 0.66%
1964 3.53% 0.64%
1963 3.65% 0.69%
1962 3.74% 0.71%
1961 3.8% 0.65%

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/costa-rica/croatia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Croatia's population grew by 0.17%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Croatia
Current population
5181862
3812193
Population rank 126/197 129/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.05%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
1.34 hours
One birth every
10.1 minutes
16.4 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
10.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +18
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +6,514
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.17%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 157/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
2.52 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -3,481
Net migration rank 63/196 112/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 527,831
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 78/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 13.6%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 50/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Croatia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Croatia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -3,481
2024 - 967 - -5,186
2023 24,109 995 -19,298 10,202
2022 21,409 1,006 -23,134 11,681
2021 20,119 1,018 -26,377 -4,517
2020 29,164 1,029 -20,354 -8,552
2019 37,682 1,653 -15,008 -13,239
2018 42,469 1,673 -15,557 -25,016
2017 43,471 1,671 -16,570 -44,557
2016 45,565 1,649 -13,553 -32,144
2015 49,077 1,617 -16,607 -27,501
2014 49,559 1,589 -11,345 -13,127
2013 49,227 1,579 -10,162 -6,245
2012 52,036 1,587 -9,799 -4,794
2011 52,884 1,695 -9,846 -17,463
2010 50,803 2,357 -8,591 -3,995
2009 55,757 3,432 -7,319 1,358
2008 56,491 3,794 -8,188 6,495
2007 55,244 4,080 -10,335 8,893
2006 54,177 4,321 -8,669 10,852
2005 57,139 4,567 -9,022 10,629
2004 55,769 4,856 -9,040 15,445
2003 56,743 5,216 -12,480 12,556
2002 58,388 5,812 -10,325 10,306
2001 62,199 7,119 -8,599 19,298
2000 64,268 8,826 -6,255 -47,629
1999 64,922 13,253 -6,769 -47,418
1998 64,788 15,556 -4,985 -47,931
1997 64,954 16,954 3,175 -52,897
1996 66,094 17,393 3,190 -53,688
1995 67,585 16,609 0 -51,882
1994 68,336 15,587 -930 -50,444
1993 69,016 14,431 -2,301 -49,615
1992 69,830 13,069 -4,576 -47,865
1991 70,506 10,757 -2,813 -31,968
1990 71,727 7,949 3,344 9,538
1989 72,327 3,758 3,337 8,471
1988 72,944 2,414 5,707 7,242
1987 73,188 2,267 6,161 6,956
1986 73,211 2,302 8,499 6,261
1985 72,776 2,357 10,343 5,550
1984 71,062 2,402 10,764 5,757
1983 68,972 2,449 10,714 6,323
1982 66,826 2,453 15,756 7,475
1981 64,632 2,431 15,680 4,872
1980 62,561 2,387 17,939 -5,486
1979 60,984 2,349 21,136 -5,740
1978 58,327 2,296 20,157 -7,329
1977 56,122 2,228 22,798 -7,339
1976 54,019 2,129 22,226 -7,400
1975 51,979 1,992 21,658 -7,366
1974 50,349 1,839 22,453 -8,076
1973 48,943 1,468 21,904 -8,335
1972 48,417 1,366 17,802 -7,277
1971 48,341 1,296 19,941 -5,608
1970 48,398 1,137 16,767 -2,359
1969 48,790 1,017 16,688 -2,796
1968 48,361 939 21,828 -2,799
1967 50,193 926 26,032 -3,518
1966 50,755 930 33,192 -6,341
1965 51,196 932 31,251 -5,253
1964 51,435 934 25,942 -2,090
1963 51,403 938 31,270 -1,289
1962 51,046 934 30,216 -2,176
1961 50,149 924 36,255 -6,567
1960 48,857 910 34,778 -21,768

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/croatia | 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). In Croatia 54.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 177,803 people) and 45.2% is from migration (a loss of 146,770 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 527,831 people or 13.6% in Croatia.

Biggest cities by population

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
Croatia
City Population
Zagreb 767K
Split 161K
Rijeka 108K
Osijek 96.3K
Zadar 70.8K
Velika Gorica 61.1K
Pula 52.2K
Slavonski Brod 49.9K
Karlovac 49.4K
Sibenik 42.6K

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/costa-rica/croatia | 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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