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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 156,263 people in Curacao in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 156,236 in Curacao.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 33.2 times bigger than Curacao's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Curacao is the 179th.
  • The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.002% for Curacao.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +0.02% in Curacao.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Curacao has grown from 141K to 156K (10.6% growth).

Costa Rica vs Curacao: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Curacao
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Curacao
2100 3,803,678 101,921
2099 3,841,913 102,830
2098 3,880,484 103,765
2097 3,919,475 104,709
2096 3,958,826 105,651
2095 3,998,552 106,631
2094 4,038,516 107,625
2093 4,078,807 108,623
2092 4,119,351 109,622
2091 4,160,111 110,660
2090 4,200,989 111,696
2089 4,241,888 112,755
2088 4,282,758 113,816
2087 4,323,650 114,885
2086 4,364,399 115,958
2085 4,404,935 117,017
2084 4,445,179 118,085
2083 4,485,048 119,113
2082 4,524,570 120,151
2081 4,563,658 121,123
2080 4,602,126 122,130
2079 4,640,060 123,118
2078 4,677,313 124,074
2077 4,713,901 125,003
2076 4,749,678 125,907
2075 4,784,723 126,797
2074 4,819,050 127,699
2073 4,852,492 128,564
2072 4,885,078 129,425
2071 4,916,792 130,254
2070 4,947,655 131,071
2069 4,977,764 131,897
2068 5,006,939 132,692
2067 5,035,207 133,483
2066 5,062,849 134,278
2065 5,089,797 135,062
2064 5,115,866 135,841
2063 5,141,239 136,634
2062 5,165,574 137,416
2061 5,189,146 138,203
2060 5,211,857 138,985
2059 5,233,370 139,775
2058 5,253,830 140,519
2057 5,273,143 141,301
2056 5,291,310 142,099
2055 5,308,124 142,881
2054 5,323,598 143,657
2053 5,337,707 144,401
2052 5,350,263 145,118
2051 5,361,152 145,815
2050 5,370,484 146,484
2049 5,378,189 147,138
2048 5,384,366 147,768
2047 5,388,962 148,407
2046 5,391,996 148,973
2045 5,393,493 149,552
2044 5,393,407 150,129
2043 5,391,873 150,664
2042 5,388,912 151,207
2041 5,384,386 151,711
2040 5,378,629 152,220
2039 5,371,473 152,718
2038 5,362,904 153,143
2037 5,353,217 153,570
2036 5,342,317 154,001
2035 5,330,286 154,356
2034 5,317,189 154,723
2033 5,302,930 155,042
2032 5,287,714 155,321
2031 5,271,514 155,574
2030 5,254,366 155,809
2029 5,236,206 155,988
2028 5,217,031 156,105
2027 5,196,723 156,184
2026 5,175,408 156,236
2025 5,152,950 156,263
2024 5,129,910 155,967
2023 5,105,525 154,654
2022 5,081,765 153,321
2021 5,059,988 153,948
2020 5,034,320 155,482
2019 4,999,553 157,441
2018 4,957,818 159,336
2017 4,913,177 160,175
2016 4,866,998 159,664
2015 4,818,038 157,980
2014 4,767,119 155,909
2013 4,716,147 153,822
2012 4,663,934 152,088
2011 4,609,833 150,831
2010 4,555,962 148,703
2009 4,499,791 146,833
2008 4,440,056 145,880
2007 4,380,248 144,056
2006 4,321,340 141,239
2005 4,261,240 137,658
2004 4,200,078 134,192
2003 4,138,784 131,897
2002 4,075,705 129,205
2001 4,008,947 129,047
2000 3,937,739 133,860
1999 3,862,101 139,428
1998 3,782,838 144,472
1997 3,701,711 146,956
1996 3,619,013 146,306
1995 3,535,176 145,139
1994 3,451,122 144,630
1993 3,367,434 144,299
1992 3,284,258 143,912
1991 3,202,176 144,403
1990 3,121,706 145,400
1989 3,043,827 146,937
1988 2,968,103 149,254
1987 2,892,699 151,456
1986 2,817,216 152,662
1985 2,741,894 152,711
1984 2,667,595 151,940
1983 2,595,153 151,159
1982 2,524,806 150,101
1981 2,456,637 148,629
1980 2,390,633 148,041
1979 2,326,490 147,851
1978 2,264,510 148,341
1977 2,205,025 149,459
1976 2,147,774 149,399
1975 2,092,719 149,129
1974 2,039,643 148,351
1973 1,988,343 146,912
1972 1,938,248 147,710
1971 1,888,539 147,389
1970 1,838,949 144,739
1969 1,789,276 142,581
1968 1,739,731 140,298
1967 1,689,523 138,140
1966 1,638,116 136,682
1965 1,586,208 135,266
1964 1,533,960 133,148
1963 1,481,604 130,860
1962 1,429,445 128,414
1961 1,377,920 126,125
1960 1,327,496 124,826

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/curacao | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Curacao gained 18,425 people (a 13% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Curacao's population decreased by 3,428 people (a 2.15% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Curacao was ranked 179th in 2006 and still ranked 179th 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 Curacao will decrease by 6.24% to 146,484 people and rank change from 179th to 180th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Curacao's population already peaked in 2017 at 160K people and is projected to decrease to 102K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Curacao
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Curacao
2100 -1% -0.88%
2099 -0.99% -0.9%
2098 -0.99% -0.9%
2097 -0.99% -0.89%
2096 -0.99% -0.92%
2095 -0.99% -0.92%
2094 -0.99% -0.92%
2093 -0.98% -0.91%
2092 -0.98% -0.94%
2091 -0.97% -0.93%
2090 -0.96% -0.94%
2089 -0.95% -0.93%
2088 -0.95% -0.93%
2087 -0.93% -0.93%
2086 -0.92% -0.9%
2085 -0.91% -0.9%
2084 -0.89% -0.86%
2083 -0.87% -0.86%
2082 -0.86% -0.8%
2081 -0.84% -0.82%
2080 -0.82% -0.8%
2079 -0.8% -0.77%
2078 -0.78% -0.74%
2077 -0.75% -0.72%
2076 -0.73% -0.7%
2075 -0.71% -0.71%
2074 -0.69% -0.67%
2073 -0.67% -0.67%
2072 -0.65% -0.64%
2071 -0.62% -0.62%
2070 -0.6% -0.63%
2069 -0.58% -0.6%
2068 -0.56% -0.59%
2067 -0.55% -0.59%
2066 -0.53% -0.58%
2065 -0.51% -0.57%
2064 -0.49% -0.58%
2063 -0.47% -0.57%
2062 -0.45% -0.57%
2061 -0.44% -0.56%
2060 -0.41% -0.57%
2059 -0.39% -0.53%
2058 -0.37% -0.55%
2057 -0.34% -0.56%
2056 -0.32% -0.55%
2055 -0.29% -0.54%
2054 -0.26% -0.52%
2053 -0.23% -0.49%
2052 -0.2% -0.48%
2051 -0.17% -0.46%
2050 -0.14% -0.44%
2049 -0.11% -0.43%
2048 -0.09% -0.43%
2047 -0.06% -0.38%
2046 -0.03% -0.39%
2045 0.002% -0.38%
2044 0.03% -0.36%
2043 0.05% -0.36%
2042 0.08% -0.33%
2041 0.11% -0.33%
2040 0.13% -0.33%
2039 0.16% -0.28%
2038 0.18% -0.28%
2037 0.2% -0.28%
2036 0.23% -0.23%
2035 0.25% -0.24%
2034 0.27% -0.21%
2033 0.29% -0.18%
2032 0.31% -0.16%
2031 0.33% -0.15%
2030 0.35% -0.11%
2029 0.37% -0.08%
2028 0.39% -0.05%
2027 0.41% -0.03%
2026 0.44% -0.02%
2025 0.45% 0.19%
2024 0.48% 0.85%
2023 0.47% 0.87%
2022 0.43% -0.41%
2021 0.51% -0.99%
2020 0.7% -1.24%
2019 0.84% -1.19%
2018 0.91% -0.52%
2017 0.95% 0.32%
2016 1.02% 1.07%
2015 1.07% 1.33%
2014 1.08% 1.36%
2013 1.12% 1.14%
2012 1.17% 0.83%
2011 1.18% 1.43%
2010 1.25% 1.27%
2009 1.35% 0.65%
2008 1.37% 1.27%
2007 1.36% 1.99%
2006 1.41% 2.6%
2005 1.46% 2.58%
2004 1.48% 1.74%
2003 1.55% 2.08%
2002 1.67% 0.12%
2001 1.81% -3.6%
2000 1.96% -3.99%
1999 2.1% -3.49%
1998 2.19% -1.69%
1997 2.29% 0.44%
1996 2.37% 0.8%
1995 2.44% 0.35%
1994 2.49% 0.23%
1993 2.53% 0.27%
1992 2.56% -0.34%
1991 2.58% -0.69%
1990 2.56% -1.05%
1989 2.55% -1.55%
1988 2.61% -1.45%
1987 2.68% -0.79%
1986 2.75% -0.03%
1985 2.79% 0.51%
1984 2.79% 0.52%
1983 2.79% 0.7%
1982 2.77% 0.99%
1981 2.76% 0.4%
1980 2.76% 0.13%
1979 2.74% -0.33%
1978 2.7% -0.75%
1977 2.67% 0.04%
1976 2.63% 0.18%
1975 2.6% 0.52%
1974 2.58% 0.98%
1973 2.58% -0.54%
1972 2.63% 0.22%
1971 2.7% 1.83%
1970 2.78% 1.51%
1969 2.85% 1.63%
1968 2.97% 1.56%
1967 3.14% 1.07%
1966 3.27% 1.05%
1965 3.41% 1.59%
1964 3.53% 1.75%
1963 3.65% 1.9%
1962 3.74% 1.81%
1961 3.8% 1.04%

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/curacao | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Curacao's population grew by 0.19%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Curacao
Current population
5186356
156236
Population rank 126/197 179/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.002%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
1.24 days
One birth every
10.3 minutes
7.81 hours
One death every
18.4 minutes
5.56 hours
Daily growth/decline +63 +1
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +296
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +0.19%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 151/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
18.7 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 +470
Net migration rank 63/196 68/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 80,020
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 138/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 43.1%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 12/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Curacao
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Curacao
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 470
2024 22,699 967 -453 513
2023 24,109 995 -340 518
2022 21,409 1,006 -353 518
2021 20,119 1,018 -385 503
2020 29,164 1,029 -93 992
2019 37,682 1,653 205 -9,595
2018 42,469 1,673 271 25,592
2017 43,471 1,671 128 537
2016 45,565 1,649 304 645
2015 49,077 1,617 489 842
2014 49,559 1,589 593 1,063
2013 49,227 1,579 708 1,283
2012 52,036 1,587 790 1,469
2011 52,884 1,695 693 1,516
2010 50,803 2,357 773 242
2009 55,757 3,432 749 484
2008 56,491 3,794 759 541
2007 55,244 4,080 792 533
2006 54,177 4,321 791 489
2005 57,139 4,567 693 438
2004 55,769 4,856 742 1,006
2003 56,743 5,216 827 1,014
2002 58,388 5,812 919 1,035
2001 62,199 7,119 1,066 -982
2000 64,268 8,826 1,136 -2,995
1999 64,922 13,253 1,207 -2,963
1998 64,788 15,556 1,358 -2,931
1997 64,954 16,954 1,517 -2,900
1996 66,094 17,393 1,628 -2,872
1995 67,585 16,609 1,715 -2,847
1994 68,336 15,587 1,805 -2,829
1993 69,016 14,431 1,894 -2,776
1992 69,830 13,069 1,980 -2,574
1991 70,506 10,757 1,989 -2,428
1990 71,727 7,949 1,985 -2,419
1989 72,327 3,758 2,013 -2,405
1988 72,944 2,414 2,085 -2,391
1987 73,188 2,267 2,143 -2,381
1986 73,211 2,302 2,186 -2,364
1985 72,776 2,357 2,206 -2,351
1984 71,062 2,402 2,193 -2,327
1983 68,972 2,449 2,175 -2,295
1982 66,826 2,453 2,142 -2,248
1981 64,632 2,431 2,102 -2,116
1980 62,561 2,387 2,079 -2,026
1979 60,984 2,349 2,077 -2,001
1978 58,327 2,296 2,112 -1,972
1977 56,122 2,228 2,171 -1,949
1976 54,019 2,129 2,220 -1,928
1975 51,979 1,992 2,279 -1,901
1974 50,349 1,839 2,331 -1,870
1973 48,943 1,468 2,355 -1,841
1972 48,417 1,366 2,421 -1,553
1971 48,341 1,296 2,558 -1,401
1970 48,398 1,137 2,679 -1,392
1969 48,790 1,017 2,792 -1,384
1968 48,361 939 2,904 -1,405
1967 50,193 926 3,015 -1,446
1966 50,755 930 3,109 -1,460
1965 51,196 932 3,202 -1,477
1964 51,435 934 3,240 -1,454
1963 51,403 938 3,271 -1,431
1962 51,046 934 3,286 -1,381
1961 50,149 924 3,305 -1,306
1960 48,857 910 3,336 -1,530

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/curacao | 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 Curacao 1.07% is from natural causes (a loss of 227 people) and 98.9% is from migration (a gain of 21,065 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 80,020 people or 43.1% in Curacao.

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
Curacao
City Population
Willemstad 137K
Barber 2.42K

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/curacao | 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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