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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 3,876,200 people in Croatia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 3,849,788 in Croatia.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 1.35 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Croatia is the 130th.
  • 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 +0.71% per year vs -0.73% in Croatia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Croatia has declined from 4.31M to 3.85M (10.7% decline).

Costa Rica vs Croatia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Croatia
2100 3,803,678 2,158,545
2099 3,841,913 2,176,440
2098 3,880,484 2,194,539
2097 3,919,475 2,212,602
2096 3,958,826 2,231,114
2095 3,998,552 2,249,667
2094 4,038,516 2,268,376
2093 4,078,807 2,286,882
2092 4,119,351 2,305,583
2091 4,160,111 2,324,254
2090 4,200,989 2,342,729
2089 4,241,888 2,361,668
2088 4,282,758 2,380,831
2087 4,323,650 2,399,709
2086 4,364,399 2,418,760
2085 4,404,935 2,438,113
2084 4,445,179 2,457,815
2083 4,485,048 2,477,556
2082 4,524,570 2,497,595
2081 4,563,658 2,517,715
2080 4,602,126 2,538,164
2079 4,640,060 2,559,092
2078 4,677,313 2,580,179
2077 4,713,901 2,601,778
2076 4,749,678 2,623,507
2075 4,784,723 2,645,523
2074 4,819,050 2,667,391
2073 4,852,492 2,689,518
2072 4,885,078 2,712,201
2071 4,916,792 2,734,759
2070 4,947,655 2,757,112
2069 4,977,764 2,780,455
2068 5,006,939 2,804,383
2067 5,035,207 2,828,363
2066 5,062,849 2,852,669
2065 5,089,797 2,877,009
2064 5,115,866 2,901,213
2063 5,141,239 2,926,228
2062 5,165,574 2,951,475
2061 5,189,146 2,976,903
2060 5,211,857 3,002,483
2059 5,233,370 3,027,959
2058 5,253,830 3,053,643
2057 5,273,143 3,079,155
2056 5,291,310 3,105,119
2055 5,308,124 3,130,769
2054 5,323,598 3,156,282
2053 5,337,707 3,182,091
2052 5,350,263 3,207,640
2051 5,361,152 3,233,551
2050 5,370,484 3,259,702
2049 5,378,189 3,285,684
2048 5,384,366 3,311,657
2047 5,388,962 3,337,645
2046 5,391,996 3,363,102
2045 5,393,493 3,388,731
2044 5,393,407 3,414,541
2043 5,391,873 3,439,695
2042 5,388,912 3,464,688
2041 5,384,386 3,489,565
2040 5,378,629 3,513,946
2039 5,371,473 3,538,129
2038 5,362,904 3,562,371
2037 5,353,217 3,586,606
2036 5,342,317 3,609,771
2035 5,330,286 3,632,470
2034 5,317,189 3,656,066
2033 5,302,930 3,679,626
2032 5,287,714 3,703,646
2031 5,271,514 3,728,250
2030 5,254,366 3,752,014
2029 5,236,206 3,776,079
2028 5,217,031 3,799,610
2027 5,196,723 3,824,370
2026 5,175,408 3,849,788
2025 5,152,950 3,876,200
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Croatia's population decreased by 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Croatia was ranked 120th in 2006 and ranked 130th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Costa Rica's population will grow by 3.55% to 5,370,484 people with a rank change from 126th to 127th. The population of Croatia will decrease by 15.3% to 3,259,702 people and rank change from 130th to 138th.

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 2.16M 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 0.45% 0.26%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Croatia's population grew by 0.26%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Croatia
Current population
5186356
3849788
Population rank 126/197 130/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.05%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
52.7 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
16.4 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
10.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +27
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +10,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +0.26%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 147/197
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 22,699 967 -18,944 -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 -21,137 -8,552
2019 37,682 1,653 -15,798 -13,239
2018 42,469 1,673 -15,556 -25,016
2017 43,471 1,671 -16,974 -44,557
2016 45,565 1,649 -14,374 -32,144
2015 49,077 1,617 -17,022 -27,501
2014 49,559 1,589 -11,344 -13,127
2013 49,227 1,579 -10,585 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 96.2% of the population change in Costa Rica is from natural causes (a gain of 335,764 people) and 3.8% is from migration (a gain of 13,278 people). In Croatia 57.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 188,614 people) and 42.4% is from migration (a loss of 138,829 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 (1960–2025, 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/costa-rica/croatia | 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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