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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 5,976,992 people in Denmark in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 6,032,403 in Denmark.

Population statistics:

  • Denmark's population is 1.16 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Denmark is the 114th.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.07% for Denmark.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.57% in Denmark.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Denmark has grown from 5.44M to 6.03M (10.9% growth).

Costa Rica vs Denmark: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Denmark
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Denmark
2100 3,804,183 5,879,692
2099 3,842,423 5,887,324
2098 3,880,999 5,894,688
2097 3,919,996 5,902,451
2096 3,959,352 5,909,729
2095 3,999,084 5,917,219
2094 4,039,053 5,925,288
2093 4,079,349 5,933,241
2092 4,119,898 5,941,337
2091 4,160,663 5,949,626
2090 4,201,548 5,958,205
2089 4,242,452 5,966,645
2088 4,283,327 5,974,290
2087 4,324,225 5,982,321
2086 4,364,979 5,989,976
2085 4,405,520 5,997,455
2084 4,445,770 6,004,175
2083 4,485,644 6,010,595
2082 4,525,171 6,016,013
2081 4,564,265 6,020,048
2080 4,602,737 6,023,906
2079 4,640,677 6,027,570
2078 4,677,935 6,030,553
2077 4,714,527 6,033,561
2076 4,750,309 6,037,007
2075 4,785,359 6,039,523
2074 4,819,691 6,041,944
2073 4,853,137 6,044,803
2072 4,885,727 6,046,641
2071 4,917,445 6,048,624
2070 4,948,313 6,051,078
2069 4,978,425 6,053,869
2068 5,007,604 6,056,924
2067 5,035,877 6,060,476
2066 5,063,521 6,064,191
2065 5,090,474 6,069,049
2064 5,116,546 6,073,904
2063 5,141,922 6,078,625
2062 5,166,260 6,083,792
2061 5,189,836 6,088,815
2060 5,212,549 6,094,310
2059 5,234,066 6,099,236
2058 5,254,528 6,103,864
2057 5,273,844 6,108,995
2056 5,292,013 6,114,524
2055 5,308,829 6,120,037
2054 5,324,305 6,124,581
2053 5,338,417 6,129,266
2052 5,350,974 6,132,944
2051 5,361,865 6,136,666
2050 5,371,197 6,139,893
2049 5,378,904 6,142,477
2048 5,385,081 6,144,414
2047 5,389,678 6,146,231
2046 5,392,713 6,147,918
2045 5,394,209 6,148,320
2044 5,394,124 6,149,066
2043 5,392,590 6,149,226
2042 5,389,628 6,149,216
2041 5,385,101 6,148,827
2040 5,379,344 6,147,418
2039 5,372,186 6,145,884
2038 5,363,617 6,142,758
2037 5,353,928 6,139,788
2036 5,343,027 6,135,708
2035 5,330,994 6,130,764
2034 5,317,895 6,124,513
2033 5,303,634 6,117,467
2032 5,288,416 6,110,061
2031 5,272,215 6,100,566
2030 5,255,064 6,090,119
2029 5,236,901 6,077,752
2028 5,217,724 6,063,214
2027 5,197,413 6,046,188
2026 5,176,096 6,027,292
2025 5,153,634 6,004,069
2024 5,129,910 5,976,992
2023 5,105,525 5,946,952
2022 5,081,765 5,903,037
2021 5,059,988 5,856,733
2020 5,034,320 5,831,404
2019 4,999,553 5,814,422
2018 4,957,818 5,793,636
2017 4,913,177 5,764,980
2016 4,866,998 5,728,010
2015 4,818,038 5,683,483
2014 4,767,119 5,643,475
2013 4,716,147 5,614,932
2012 4,663,934 5,591,572
2011 4,609,833 5,570,572
2010 4,555,962 5,547,683
2009 4,499,791 5,523,095
2008 4,440,056 5,493,621
2007 4,380,248 5,461,438
2006 4,321,340 5,437,272
2005 4,261,240 5,419,432
2004 4,200,078 5,404,523
2003 4,138,784 5,390,574
2002 4,075,705 5,375,931
2001 4,008,947 5,358,783
2000 3,937,739 5,339,616
1999 3,862,101 5,321,799
1998 3,782,838 5,304,219
1997 3,701,711 5,284,991
1996 3,619,013 5,263,074
1995 3,535,176 5,233,373
1994 3,451,122 5,206,180
1993 3,367,434 5,188,628
1992 3,284,258 5,171,370
1991 3,202,176 5,154,298
1990 3,121,706 5,140,939
1989 3,043,827 5,132,594
1988 2,968,103 5,129,516
1987 2,892,699 5,127,024
1986 2,817,216 5,120,534
1985 2,741,894 5,113,691
1984 2,667,595 5,111,619
1983 2,595,153 5,114,297
1982 2,524,806 5,117,810
1981 2,456,637 5,121,572
1980 2,390,633 5,123,027
1979 2,326,490 5,116,801
1978 2,264,510 5,104,248
1977 2,205,025 5,088,419
1976 2,147,774 5,072,596
1975 2,092,719 5,059,862
1974 2,039,643 5,045,297
1973 1,988,343 5,021,861
1972 1,938,248 4,991,596
1971 1,888,539 4,963,126
1970 1,838,949 4,928,757
1969 1,789,276 4,891,860
1968 1,739,731 4,864,883
1967 1,689,523 4,835,354
1966 1,638,116 4,797,381
1965 1,586,208 4,759,012
1964 1,533,960 4,722,072
1963 1,481,604 4,684,483
1962 1,429,445 4,647,727
1961 1,377,920 4,611,687
1960 1,327,496 4,579,603

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/denmark | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Denmark gained 290,738 people (a 5.35% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Denmark's population increased by 304,393 people (a 5.31% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Denmark was ranked 108th in 2006 and ranked 114th 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 Denmark will increase by 1.78% to 6,139,893 people and rank change from 114th to 120th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 6.15M people in 2043 for Denmark.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Denmark
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Denmark
2100 -1% -0.13%
2099 -0.99% -0.12%
2098 -0.99% -0.13%
2097 -0.99% -0.12%
2096 -0.99% -0.13%
2095 -0.99% -0.14%
2094 -0.99% -0.13%
2093 -0.98% -0.14%
2092 -0.98% -0.14%
2091 -0.97% -0.14%
2090 -0.96% -0.14%
2089 -0.95% -0.13%
2088 -0.95% -0.13%
2087 -0.93% -0.13%
2086 -0.92% -0.12%
2085 -0.91% -0.11%
2084 -0.89% -0.11%
2083 -0.87% -0.09%
2082 -0.86% -0.07%
2081 -0.84% -0.06%
2080 -0.82% -0.06%
2079 -0.8% -0.05%
2078 -0.78% -0.05%
2077 -0.75% -0.06%
2076 -0.73% -0.04%
2075 -0.71% -0.04%
2074 -0.69% -0.05%
2073 -0.67% -0.03%
2072 -0.65% -0.03%
2071 -0.62% -0.04%
2070 -0.6% -0.05%
2069 -0.58% -0.05%
2068 -0.56% -0.06%
2067 -0.55% -0.06%
2066 -0.53% -0.08%
2065 -0.51% -0.08%
2064 -0.49% -0.08%
2063 -0.47% -0.08%
2062 -0.45% -0.08%
2061 -0.44% -0.09%
2060 -0.41% -0.08%
2059 -0.39% -0.08%
2058 -0.37% -0.08%
2057 -0.34% -0.09%
2056 -0.32% -0.09%
2055 -0.29% -0.07%
2054 -0.26% -0.08%
2053 -0.23% -0.06%
2052 -0.2% -0.06%
2051 -0.17% -0.05%
2050 -0.14% -0.04%
2049 -0.11% -0.03%
2048 -0.09% -0.03%
2047 -0.06% -0.03%
2046 -0.03% -0.007%
2045 0.002% -0.01%
2044 0.03% -0.003%
2043 0.05% 0%
2042 0.08% 0.006%
2041 0.11% 0.02%
2040 0.13% 0.02%
2039 0.16% 0.05%
2038 0.18% 0.05%
2037 0.2% 0.07%
2036 0.23% 0.08%
2035 0.25% 0.1%
2034 0.27% 0.12%
2033 0.29% 0.12%
2032 0.31% 0.16%
2031 0.33% 0.17%
2030 0.35% 0.2%
2029 0.37% 0.24%
2028 0.39% 0.28%
2027 0.41% 0.31%
2026 0.44% 0.39%
2025 0.46% 0.45%
2024 0.48% 0.51%
2023 0.47% 0.74%
2022 0.43% 0.79%
2021 0.51% 0.43%
2020 0.7% 0.29%
2019 0.84% 0.36%
2018 0.91% 0.5%
2017 0.95% 0.65%
2016 1.02% 0.78%
2015 1.07% 0.71%
2014 1.08% 0.51%
2013 1.12% 0.42%
2012 1.17% 0.38%
2011 1.18% 0.41%
2010 1.25% 0.45%
2009 1.35% 0.54%
2008 1.37% 0.59%
2007 1.36% 0.44%
2006 1.41% 0.33%
2005 1.46% 0.28%
2004 1.48% 0.26%
2003 1.55% 0.27%
2002 1.67% 0.32%
2001 1.81% 0.36%
2000 1.96% 0.33%
1999 2.1% 0.33%
1998 2.19% 0.36%
1997 2.29% 0.42%
1996 2.37% 0.57%
1995 2.44% 0.52%
1994 2.49% 0.34%
1993 2.53% 0.33%
1992 2.56% 0.33%
1991 2.58% 0.26%
1990 2.56% 0.16%
1989 2.55% 0.06%
1988 2.61% 0.05%
1987 2.68% 0.13%
1986 2.75% 0.13%
1985 2.79% 0.04%
1984 2.79% -0.05%
1983 2.79% -0.07%
1982 2.77% -0.07%
1981 2.76% -0.03%
1980 2.76% 0.12%
1979 2.74% 0.25%
1978 2.7% 0.31%
1977 2.67% 0.31%
1976 2.63% 0.25%
1975 2.6% 0.29%
1974 2.58% 0.47%
1973 2.58% 0.61%
1972 2.63% 0.57%
1971 2.7% 0.7%
1970 2.78% 0.75%
1969 2.85% 0.55%
1968 2.97% 0.61%
1967 3.14% 0.79%
1966 3.27% 0.81%
1965 3.41% 0.78%
1964 3.53% 0.8%
1963 3.65% 0.79%
1962 3.74% 0.78%
1961 3.8% 0.7%

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/denmark | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Denmark's population grew by 0.51%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Denmark
Current population
5181862
6032403
Population rank 126/197 114/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.07%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
17.5 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
9.11 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
9.02 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +82
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +30,040
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.51%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 132/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
23.8 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +22,103
Net migration rank 63/196 32/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 847,475
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 65/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 14.2%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 46/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Denmark
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Denmark
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 22,103
2024 - 967 - 25,639
2023 24,109 995 -595 31,006
2022 21,409 1,006 -1,180 60,219
2021 20,119 1,018 5,857 26,887
2020 29,164 1,029 5,831 10,851
2019 37,682 1,653 6,977 9,488
2018 42,469 1,673 6,373 18,919
2017 43,471 1,671 8,071 24,561
2016 45,565 1,649 9,165 33,391
2015 49,077 1,617 5,683 42,284
2014 49,559 1,589 5,644 27,242
2013 49,227 1,579 3,931 21,359
2012 52,036 1,587 5,592 16,871
2011 52,884 1,695 6,685 13,495
2010 50,803 2,357 8,876 17,533
2009 55,757 3,432 8,285 15,551
2008 56,491 3,794 10,438 25,775
2007 55,244 4,080 8,192 20,560
2006 54,177 4,321 9,787 10,491
2005 57,139 4,567 9,755 6,887
2004 55,769 4,856 9,188 5,166
2003 56,743 5,216 7,007 7,228
2002 58,388 5,812 5,376 9,629
2001 62,199 7,119 6,967 12,192
2000 64,268 8,826 9,078 10,441
1999 64,922 13,253 6,919 9,520
1998 64,788 15,556 7,956 11,098
1997 64,954 16,954 7,927 12,269
1996 66,094 17,393 6,842 17,534
1995 67,585 16,609 6,280 28,958
1994 68,336 15,587 8,850 10,766
1993 69,016 14,431 4,670 11,411
1992 69,830 13,069 6,722 11,937
1991 70,506 10,757 4,639 10,827
1990 71,727 7,949 2,056 8,667
1989 72,327 3,758 2,053 3,720
1988 72,944 2,414 0 677
1987 73,188 2,267 -1,538 6,338
1986 73,211 2,302 -2,561 11,463
1985 72,776 2,357 -4,603 9,957
1984 71,062 2,402 -5,623 4,325
1983 68,972 2,449 -6,649 1,952
1982 66,826 2,453 -2,559 235
1981 64,632 2,431 -3,073 -1,741
1980 62,561 2,387 1,537 803
1979 60,984 2,349 4,605 5,808
1978 58,327 2,296 9,187 5,678
1977 56,122 2,228 11,703 5,548
1976 54,019 2,129 11,667 3,182
1975 51,979 1,992 20,746 -10,672
1974 50,349 1,839 19,676 -437
1973 48,943 1,468 21,092 7,107
1972 48,417 1,366 24,958 7,053
1971 48,341 1,296 26,801 -1,159
1970 48,398 1,137 22,673 20,947
1969 48,790 1,017 23,481 6,687
1968 48,361 939 27,243 -3,557
1967 50,193 926 33,363 1,623
1966 50,755 930 38,858 2,011
1965 51,196 932 37,596 -2,098
1964 51,435 934 36,832 1,333
1963 51,403 938 36,539 594
1962 51,046 934 32,070 3,900
1961 50,149 924 33,205 3,012
1960 48,857 910 32,515 -4,047

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/denmark | 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 Denmark 15.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 51,826 people) and 84.6% is from migration (a gain of 284,848 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 847,475 people or 14.2% in Denmark.

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
Denmark
City Population
Copenhagen 667K
Aarhus 291K
Odense 185K
Aalborg 122K
Frederiksberg 106K
Gentofte 75.8K
Esbjerg 71.6K
Randers 64.5K
Horsens 64.4K
Kolding 63.6K

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/denmark | 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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