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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 10,979,783 people in Cuba in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 10,894,785 in Cuba.

Population statistics:

  • Cuba's population is 2.1 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Cuba is the 90th.
  • The countries together account for 0.19% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.13% for Cuba.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs -0.26% in Cuba.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Cuba has declined from 11.3M to 10.9M (3.4% decline).

Costa Rica vs Cuba: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Cuba
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Cuba
2100 3,804,183 5,596,718
2099 3,842,423 5,657,375
2098 3,880,999 5,718,645
2097 3,919,996 5,780,569
2096 3,959,352 5,843,224
2095 3,999,084 5,906,751
2094 4,039,053 5,970,804
2093 4,079,349 6,035,854
2092 4,119,898 6,101,659
2091 4,160,663 6,168,154
2090 4,201,548 6,235,722
2089 4,242,452 6,304,222
2088 4,283,327 6,373,377
2087 4,324,225 6,443,413
2086 4,364,979 6,514,289
2085 4,405,520 6,585,780
2084 4,445,770 6,657,505
2083 4,485,644 6,729,522
2082 4,525,171 6,801,995
2081 4,564,265 6,874,468
2080 4,602,737 6,947,089
2079 4,640,677 7,019,723
2078 4,677,935 7,092,413
2077 4,714,527 7,165,274
2076 4,750,309 7,238,004
2075 4,785,359 7,311,071
2074 4,819,691 7,384,626
2073 4,853,137 7,458,600
2072 4,885,727 7,533,524
2071 4,917,445 7,609,105
2070 4,948,313 7,686,135
2069 4,978,425 7,764,393
2068 5,007,604 7,843,807
2067 5,035,877 7,924,753
2066 5,063,521 8,007,003
2065 5,090,474 8,090,881
2064 5,116,546 8,176,150
2063 5,141,922 8,262,542
2062 5,166,260 8,350,350
2061 5,189,836 8,439,080
2060 5,212,549 8,528,768
2059 5,234,066 8,618,786
2058 5,254,528 8,708,762
2057 5,273,844 8,798,693
2056 5,292,013 8,888,562
2055 5,308,829 8,977,652
2054 5,324,305 9,066,133
2053 5,338,417 9,153,249
2052 5,350,974 9,238,892
2051 5,361,865 9,323,021
2050 5,371,197 9,405,481
2049 5,378,904 9,486,566
2048 5,385,081 9,565,607
2047 5,389,678 9,643,403
2046 5,392,713 9,719,554
2045 5,394,209 9,793,859
2044 5,394,124 9,866,367
2043 5,392,590 9,937,436
2042 5,389,628 10,006,554
2041 5,385,101 10,073,994
2040 5,379,344 10,139,368
2039 5,372,186 10,203,016
2038 5,363,617 10,264,587
2037 5,353,928 10,325,061
2036 5,343,027 10,383,547
2035 5,330,994 10,440,509
2034 5,317,895 10,496,359
2033 5,303,634 10,550,821
2032 5,288,416 10,603,749
2031 5,272,215 10,655,312
2030 5,255,064 10,705,845
2029 5,236,901 10,755,262
2028 5,217,724 10,803,047
2027 5,197,413 10,849,321
2026 5,176,096 10,894,785
2025 5,153,634 10,938,241
2024 5,129,910 10,979,783
2023 5,105,525 11,019,931
2022 5,081,765 11,059,820
2021 5,059,988 11,122,168
2020 5,034,320 11,176,354
2019 4,999,553 11,202,846
2018 4,957,818 11,227,118
2017 4,913,177 11,247,829
2016 4,866,998 11,265,612
2015 4,818,038 11,275,065
2014 4,767,119 11,285,775
2013 4,716,147 11,298,167
2012 4,663,934 11,303,175
2011 4,609,833 11,301,571
2010 4,555,962 11,297,409
2009 4,499,791 11,294,719
2008 4,440,056 11,291,762
2007 4,380,248 11,287,272
2006 4,321,340 11,278,550
2005 4,261,240 11,262,554
2004 4,200,078 11,238,756
2003 4,138,784 11,209,383
2002 4,075,705 11,177,418
2001 4,008,947 11,144,132
2000 3,937,739 11,109,109
1999 3,862,101 11,072,230
1998 3,782,838 11,034,712
1997 3,701,711 10,997,934
1996 3,619,013 10,962,010
1995 3,535,176 10,925,362
1994 3,451,122 10,886,021
1993 3,367,434 10,841,031
1992 3,284,258 10,785,801
1991 3,202,176 10,717,640
1990 3,121,706 10,631,799
1989 3,043,827 10,533,243
1988 2,968,103 10,432,585
1987 2,892,699 10,335,342
1986 2,817,216 10,244,247
1985 2,741,894 10,157,228
1984 2,667,595 10,073,299
1983 2,595,153 9,991,026
1982 2,524,806 9,912,681
1981 2,456,637 9,849,320
1980 2,390,633 9,804,796
1979 2,326,490 9,763,355
1978 2,264,510 9,711,980
1977 2,205,025 9,648,440
1976 2,147,774 9,571,242
1975 2,092,719 9,479,726
1974 2,039,643 9,374,183
1973 1,988,343 9,255,328
1972 1,938,248 9,123,891
1971 1,888,539 8,979,085
1970 1,838,949 8,824,382
1969 1,789,276 8,666,640
1968 1,739,731 8,509,522
1967 1,689,523 8,352,625
1966 1,638,116 8,193,450
1965 1,586,208 8,030,797
1964 1,533,960 7,866,020
1963 1,481,604 7,701,660
1962 1,429,445 7,541,098
1961 1,377,920 7,387,117
1960 1,327,496 7,238,081

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/cuba | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Cuba lost 12,938 people (a 0.11% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Cuba's population decreased by 370,827 people (a 3.29% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Cuba was ranked 73rd in 2006 and ranked 90th 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 Cuba will decrease by 13.7% to 9,405,481 people and rank change from 90th to 104th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Cuba's population already peaked in 2012 at 11.3M people and is projected to decrease to 5.6M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Cuba
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Cuba
2100 -1% -1.07%
2099 -0.99% -1.07%
2098 -0.99% -1.07%
2097 -0.99% -1.07%
2096 -0.99% -1.08%
2095 -0.99% -1.07%
2094 -0.99% -1.08%
2093 -0.98% -1.08%
2092 -0.98% -1.08%
2091 -0.97% -1.08%
2090 -0.96% -1.09%
2089 -0.95% -1.09%
2088 -0.95% -1.09%
2087 -0.93% -1.09%
2086 -0.92% -1.09%
2085 -0.91% -1.08%
2084 -0.89% -1.07%
2083 -0.87% -1.07%
2082 -0.86% -1.05%
2081 -0.84% -1.05%
2080 -0.82% -1.03%
2079 -0.8% -1.02%
2078 -0.78% -1.02%
2077 -0.75% -1%
2076 -0.73% -1%
2075 -0.71% -1%
2074 -0.69% -0.99%
2073 -0.67% -0.99%
2072 -0.65% -0.99%
2071 -0.62% -1%
2070 -0.6% -1.01%
2069 -0.58% -1.01%
2068 -0.56% -1.02%
2067 -0.55% -1.03%
2066 -0.53% -1.04%
2065 -0.51% -1.04%
2064 -0.49% -1.05%
2063 -0.47% -1.05%
2062 -0.45% -1.05%
2061 -0.44% -1.05%
2060 -0.41% -1.04%
2059 -0.39% -1.03%
2058 -0.37% -1.02%
2057 -0.34% -1.01%
2056 -0.32% -0.99%
2055 -0.29% -0.98%
2054 -0.26% -0.95%
2053 -0.23% -0.93%
2052 -0.2% -0.9%
2051 -0.17% -0.88%
2050 -0.14% -0.85%
2049 -0.11% -0.83%
2048 -0.09% -0.81%
2047 -0.06% -0.78%
2046 -0.03% -0.76%
2045 0.002% -0.73%
2044 0.03% -0.72%
2043 0.05% -0.69%
2042 0.08% -0.67%
2041 0.11% -0.64%
2040 0.13% -0.62%
2039 0.16% -0.6%
2038 0.18% -0.59%
2037 0.2% -0.56%
2036 0.23% -0.55%
2035 0.25% -0.53%
2034 0.27% -0.52%
2033 0.29% -0.5%
2032 0.31% -0.48%
2031 0.33% -0.47%
2030 0.35% -0.46%
2029 0.37% -0.44%
2028 0.39% -0.43%
2027 0.41% -0.42%
2026 0.44% -0.4%
2025 0.46% -0.38%
2024 0.48% -0.36%
2023 0.47% -0.36%
2022 0.43% -0.56%
2021 0.51% -0.48%
2020 0.7% -0.24%
2019 0.84% -0.22%
2018 0.91% -0.18%
2017 0.95% -0.16%
2016 1.02% -0.08%
2015 1.07% -0.09%
2014 1.08% -0.11%
2013 1.12% -0.04%
2012 1.17% 0.01%
2011 1.18% 0.04%
2010 1.25% 0.02%
2009 1.35% 0.03%
2008 1.37% 0.04%
2007 1.36% 0.08%
2006 1.41% 0.14%
2005 1.46% 0.21%
2004 1.48% 0.26%
2003 1.55% 0.29%
2002 1.67% 0.3%
2001 1.81% 0.32%
2000 1.96% 0.33%
1999 2.1% 0.34%
1998 2.19% 0.33%
1997 2.29% 0.33%
1996 2.37% 0.34%
1995 2.44% 0.36%
1994 2.49% 0.41%
1993 2.53% 0.51%
1992 2.56% 0.64%
1991 2.58% 0.81%
1990 2.56% 0.94%
1989 2.55% 0.96%
1988 2.61% 0.94%
1987 2.68% 0.89%
1986 2.75% 0.86%
1985 2.79% 0.83%
1984 2.79% 0.82%
1983 2.79% 0.79%
1982 2.77% 0.64%
1981 2.76% 0.45%
1980 2.76% 0.42%
1979 2.74% 0.53%
1978 2.7% 0.66%
1977 2.67% 0.81%
1976 2.63% 0.97%
1975 2.6% 1.13%
1974 2.58% 1.28%
1973 2.58% 1.44%
1972 2.63% 1.61%
1971 2.7% 1.75%
1970 2.78% 1.82%
1969 2.85% 1.85%
1968 2.97% 1.88%
1967 3.14% 1.94%
1966 3.27% 2.03%
1965 3.41% 2.09%
1964 3.53% 2.13%
1963 3.65% 2.13%
1962 3.74% 2.08%
1961 3.8% 2.06%

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/cuba | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Cuba's population declined by 0.36%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Cuba
Current population
5181862
10894785
Population rank 126/197 90/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.13%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
13.1 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
5.48 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
4.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 -110
Annual growth/decline +24,385 -40,148
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% -0.36%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 182/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
23.7 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -22,244
Net migration rank 63/196 153/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 2,144
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 193/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.12%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 191/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Cuba
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Cuba
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -22,244
2024 - 967 - -22,356
2023 24,109 995 -15,880 -22,797
2022 21,409 1,006 -17,961 -23,149
2021 20,119 1,018 -71,616 -11,976
2020 29,164 1,029 -12,808 -11,976
2019 37,682 1,653 -4,245 -23,955
2018 42,469 1,673 3,436 -23,779
2017 43,471 1,671 2,306 -23,394
2016 45,565 1,649 9,677 -24,146
2015 49,077 1,617 20,464 -24,910
2014 49,559 1,589 22,448 -39,426
2013 49,227 1,579 29,827 -37,619
2012 52,036 1,587 33,864 -36,101
2011 52,884 1,695 40,753 -35,313
2010 50,803 2,357 37,021 -34,121
2009 55,757 3,432 37,543 -35,063
2008 56,491 3,794 32,848 -29,427
2007 55,244 4,080 24,617 -19,050
2006 54,177 4,321 24,508 -12,619
2005 57,139 4,567 36,660 -16,561
2004 55,769 4,856 44,258 -16,776
2003 56,743 5,216 56,170 -24,916
2002 58,388 5,812 58,212 -25,535
2001 62,199 7,119 57,325 -23,442
2000 64,268 8,826 61,133 -24,980
1999 64,922 13,253 69,069 -31,456
1998 64,788 15,556 71,284 -33,863
1997 64,954 16,954 71,828 -35,712
1996 66,094 17,393 61,837 -26,105
1995 67,585 16,609 66,809 -29,235
1994 68,336 15,587 68,604 -27,501
1993 69,016 14,431 73,221 -24,358
1992 69,830 13,069 83,461 -21,867
1991 70,506 10,757 95,398 -20,665
1990 71,727 7,949 112,378 -15,438
1989 72,327 3,758 114,865 -14,705
1988 72,944 2,414 116,626 -15,474
1987 73,188 2,267 109,617 -16,290
1986 73,211 2,302 105,997 -17,146
1985 72,776 2,357 103,228 -18,048
1984 71,062 2,402 101,670 -18,994
1983 68,972 2,449 101,858 -19,994
1982 66,826 2,453 95,866 -21,055
1981 64,632 2,431 74,067 -22,159
1980 62,561 2,387 74,271 -37,114
1979 60,984 2,349 81,192 -35,473
1978 58,327 2,296 86,864 -29,839
1977 56,122 2,228 106,875 -36,811
1976 54,019 2,129 125,383 -41,042
1975 51,979 1,992 144,964 -46,268
1974 50,349 1,839 165,099 -52,697
1973 48,943 1,468 177,387 -52,073
1972 48,417 1,366 187,588 -50,031
1971 48,341 1,296 195,106 -43,056
1970 48,398 1,137 201,823 -44,466
1969 48,790 1,017 205,581 -47,446
1968 48,361 939 205,487 -49,387
1967 50,193 926 207,245 -49,556
1966 50,755 930 209,179 -48,509
1965 51,196 932 211,322 -46,683
1964 51,435 934 209,315 -44,406
1963 51,403 938 205,788 -41,979
1962 51,046 934 196,423 -39,116
1961 50,149 924 183,806 -33,163
1960 48,857 910 172,816 -25,396

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/cuba | 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 Cuba 21.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 64,179 people) and 78.1% is from migration (a loss of 229,508 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 2,144 people or 0.12% in Cuba.

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
Cuba
City Population
Havana 2.49M
Santiago de Cuba 445K
Holguin 350K
Camaguey 322K
Santa Clara 247K
Bayamo 235K
Guantanamo 228K
Las Tunas 202K
Pinar del Rio 189K
Cienfuegos 165K

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/cuba | 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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