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Population in Costa Rica compared to the Dominican Republic: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 11,427,557 people in the Dominican Republic in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 11,637,906 in the Dominican Republic.

Population statistics:

  • The Dominican Republic's population is 2.25 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while the Dominican Republic is the 85th.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.14% for the Dominican Republic.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.04% in the Dominican Republic.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while the Dominican Republic has grown from 9.34M to 11.6M (24.6% growth).

Costa Rica vs Dominican Republic: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Dominican Republic
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Dominican Republic
2100 3,804,183 11,755,442
2099 3,842,423 11,817,924
2098 3,880,999 11,879,803
2097 3,919,996 11,940,419
2096 3,959,352 12,000,555
2095 3,999,084 12,060,069
2094 4,039,053 12,118,654
2093 4,079,349 12,176,599
2092 4,119,898 12,233,202
2091 4,160,663 12,288,843
2090 4,201,548 12,343,449
2089 4,242,452 12,397,117
2088 4,283,327 12,448,937
2087 4,324,225 12,499,836
2086 4,364,979 12,549,728
2085 4,405,520 12,598,025
2084 4,445,770 12,644,824
2083 4,485,644 12,689,496
2082 4,525,171 12,733,459
2081 4,564,265 12,775,420
2080 4,602,737 12,815,910
2079 4,640,677 12,854,359
2078 4,677,935 12,890,869
2077 4,714,527 12,925,976
2076 4,750,309 12,958,723
2075 4,785,359 12,989,393
2074 4,819,691 13,018,904
2073 4,853,137 13,046,123
2072 4,885,727 13,071,419
2071 4,917,445 13,094,322
2070 4,948,313 13,115,831
2069 4,978,425 13,134,880
2068 5,007,604 13,152,005
2067 5,035,877 13,166,684
2066 5,063,521 13,179,129
2065 5,090,474 13,190,090
2064 5,116,546 13,198,640
2063 5,141,922 13,204,377
2062 5,166,260 13,207,634
2061 5,189,836 13,208,504
2060 5,212,549 13,206,457
2059 5,234,066 13,202,056
2058 5,254,528 13,193,952
2057 5,273,844 13,183,598
2056 5,292,013 13,171,348
2055 5,308,829 13,156,150
2054 5,324,305 13,138,158
2053 5,338,417 13,117,191
2052 5,350,974 13,093,170
2051 5,361,865 13,066,002
2050 5,371,197 13,035,234
2049 5,378,904 13,002,830
2048 5,385,081 12,967,608
2047 5,389,678 12,930,516
2046 5,392,713 12,890,728
2045 5,394,209 12,848,424
2044 5,394,124 12,803,661
2043 5,392,590 12,757,329
2042 5,389,628 12,708,719
2041 5,385,101 12,658,252
2040 5,379,344 12,605,551
2039 5,372,186 12,551,490
2038 5,363,617 12,494,079
2037 5,353,928 12,434,782
2036 5,343,027 12,372,929
2035 5,330,994 12,308,672
2034 5,317,895 12,241,776
2033 5,303,634 12,172,910
2032 5,288,416 12,101,471
2031 5,272,215 12,027,275
2030 5,255,064 11,950,238
2029 5,236,901 11,870,540
2028 5,217,724 11,787,795
2027 5,197,413 11,701,862
2026 5,176,096 11,614,193
2025 5,153,634 11,523,092
2024 5,129,910 11,427,557
2023 5,105,525 11,331,265
2022 5,081,765 11,230,734
2021 5,059,988 11,123,476
2020 5,034,320 11,008,300
2019 4,999,553 10,894,043
2018 4,957,818 10,782,053
2017 4,913,177 10,666,843
2016 4,866,998 10,551,430
2015 4,818,038 10,434,829
2014 4,767,119 10,315,528
2013 4,716,147 10,193,833
2012 4,663,934 10,070,411
2011 4,609,833 9,945,621
2010 4,555,962 9,820,175
2009 4,499,791 9,695,265
2008 4,440,056 9,573,130
2007 4,380,248 9,455,658
2006 4,321,340 9,341,183
2005 4,261,240 9,225,034
2004 4,200,078 9,104,892
2003 4,138,784 8,980,620
2002 4,075,705 8,852,235
2001 4,008,947 8,720,283
2000 3,937,739 8,584,190
1999 3,862,101 8,446,208
1998 3,782,838 8,310,362
1997 3,701,711 8,174,078
1996 3,619,013 8,032,894
1995 3,535,176 7,888,115
1994 3,451,122 7,741,694
1993 3,367,434 7,594,572
1992 3,284,258 7,447,474
1991 3,202,176 7,299,853
1990 3,121,706 7,151,166
1989 3,043,827 7,002,295
1988 2,968,103 6,855,734
1987 2,892,699 6,712,515
1986 2,817,216 6,571,208
1985 2,741,894 6,430,404
1984 2,667,595 6,289,040
1983 2,595,153 6,147,248
1982 2,524,806 6,007,114
1981 2,456,637 5,868,453
1980 2,390,633 5,729,037
1979 2,326,490 5,589,690
1978 2,264,510 5,451,882
1977 2,205,025 5,315,443
1976 2,147,774 5,180,404
1975 2,092,719 5,046,776
1974 2,039,643 4,914,197
1973 1,988,343 4,782,227
1972 1,938,248 4,651,883
1971 1,888,539 4,524,234
1970 1,838,949 4,399,290
1969 1,789,276 4,277,035
1968 1,739,731 4,157,189
1967 1,689,523 4,038,928
1966 1,638,116 3,921,847
1965 1,586,208 3,808,963
1964 1,533,960 3,698,559
1963 1,481,604 3,588,287
1962 1,429,445 3,479,936
1961 1,377,920 3,373,233
1960 1,327,496 3,268,336

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/dominican-republic | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while the Dominican Republic gained 1,210,247 people (a 13% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while the Dominican Republic's population increased by 1,086,476 people (a 10.3% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. The Dominican Republic was ranked 85th in 2006 and still ranked 85th 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 the Dominican Republic will increase by 12% to 13,035,234 people and rank change from 85th to 90th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 13.2M people in 2061 for the Dominican Republic.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Dominican Republic
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Dominican Republic
2100 -1% -0.53%
2099 -0.99% -0.52%
2098 -0.99% -0.51%
2097 -0.99% -0.5%
2096 -0.99% -0.49%
2095 -0.99% -0.48%
2094 -0.99% -0.48%
2093 -0.98% -0.46%
2092 -0.98% -0.45%
2091 -0.97% -0.44%
2090 -0.96% -0.43%
2089 -0.95% -0.42%
2088 -0.95% -0.41%
2087 -0.93% -0.4%
2086 -0.92% -0.38%
2085 -0.91% -0.37%
2084 -0.89% -0.35%
2083 -0.87% -0.35%
2082 -0.86% -0.33%
2081 -0.84% -0.32%
2080 -0.82% -0.3%
2079 -0.8% -0.28%
2078 -0.78% -0.27%
2077 -0.75% -0.25%
2076 -0.73% -0.24%
2075 -0.71% -0.23%
2074 -0.69% -0.21%
2073 -0.67% -0.19%
2072 -0.65% -0.17%
2071 -0.62% -0.16%
2070 -0.6% -0.15%
2069 -0.58% -0.13%
2068 -0.56% -0.11%
2067 -0.55% -0.09%
2066 -0.53% -0.08%
2065 -0.51% -0.06%
2064 -0.49% -0.04%
2063 -0.47% -0.02%
2062 -0.45% -0.007%
2061 -0.44% 0.02%
2060 -0.41% 0.03%
2059 -0.39% 0.06%
2058 -0.37% 0.08%
2057 -0.34% 0.09%
2056 -0.32% 0.12%
2055 -0.29% 0.14%
2054 -0.26% 0.16%
2053 -0.23% 0.18%
2052 -0.2% 0.21%
2051 -0.17% 0.24%
2050 -0.14% 0.25%
2049 -0.11% 0.27%
2048 -0.09% 0.29%
2047 -0.06% 0.31%
2046 -0.03% 0.33%
2045 0.002% 0.35%
2044 0.03% 0.36%
2043 0.05% 0.38%
2042 0.08% 0.4%
2041 0.11% 0.42%
2040 0.13% 0.43%
2039 0.16% 0.46%
2038 0.18% 0.48%
2037 0.2% 0.5%
2036 0.23% 0.52%
2035 0.25% 0.55%
2034 0.27% 0.57%
2033 0.29% 0.59%
2032 0.31% 0.62%
2031 0.33% 0.64%
2030 0.35% 0.67%
2029 0.37% 0.7%
2028 0.39% 0.73%
2027 0.41% 0.75%
2026 0.44% 0.79%
2025 0.46% 0.84%
2024 0.48% 0.85%
2023 0.47% 0.9%
2022 0.43% 0.96%
2021 0.51% 1.05%
2020 0.7% 1.05%
2019 0.84% 1.04%
2018 0.91% 1.08%
2017 0.95% 1.09%
2016 1.02% 1.12%
2015 1.07% 1.16%
2014 1.08% 1.19%
2013 1.12% 1.23%
2012 1.17% 1.25%
2011 1.18% 1.28%
2010 1.25% 1.29%
2009 1.35% 1.28%
2008 1.37% 1.24%
2007 1.36% 1.23%
2006 1.41% 1.26%
2005 1.46% 1.32%
2004 1.48% 1.38%
2003 1.55% 1.45%
2002 1.67% 1.51%
2001 1.81% 1.59%
2000 1.96% 1.63%
1999 2.1% 1.63%
1998 2.19% 1.67%
1997 2.29% 1.76%
1996 2.37% 1.84%
1995 2.44% 1.89%
1994 2.49% 1.94%
1993 2.53% 1.98%
1992 2.56% 2.02%
1991 2.58% 2.08%
1990 2.56% 2.13%
1989 2.55% 2.14%
1988 2.61% 2.13%
1987 2.68% 2.15%
1986 2.75% 2.19%
1985 2.79% 2.25%
1984 2.79% 2.31%
1983 2.79% 2.33%
1982 2.77% 2.36%
1981 2.76% 2.43%
1980 2.76% 2.49%
1979 2.74% 2.53%
1978 2.7% 2.57%
1977 2.67% 2.61%
1976 2.63% 2.65%
1975 2.6% 2.7%
1974 2.58% 2.76%
1973 2.58% 2.8%
1972 2.63% 2.82%
1971 2.7% 2.84%
1970 2.78% 2.86%
1969 2.85% 2.88%
1968 2.97% 2.93%
1967 3.14% 2.99%
1966 3.27% 2.96%
1965 3.41% 2.99%
1964 3.53% 3.07%
1963 3.65% 3.11%
1962 3.74% 3.16%
1961 3.8% 3.21%

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/dominican-republic | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while the Dominican Republic's population grew by 0.85%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Dominican Republic
Current population
5181862
11637906
Population rank 126/197 85/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.14%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
5.46 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
2.59 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
7.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +264
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +96,292
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.85%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 111/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
14.9 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -35,306
Net migration rank 63/196 170/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 738,667
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 69/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 6.5%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 81/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Dominican Republic
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Dominican Republic
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -35,306
2024 - 967 - -34,806
2023 24,109 995 132,360 -34,915
2022 21,409 1,006 138,767 -35,153
2021 20,119 1,018 128,866 -17,957
2020 29,164 1,029 137,417 -17,957
2019 37,682 1,653 144,869 -35,797
2018 42,469 1,673 150,852 -35,934
2017 43,471 1,671 151,565 -36,069
2016 45,565 1,649 151,550 -36,219
2015 49,077 1,617 154,258 -36,375
2014 49,559 1,589 157,260 -36,543
2013 49,227 1,579 159,330 -36,673
2012 52,036 1,587 160,915 -36,737
2011 52,884 1,695 162,094 -36,687
2010 50,803 2,357 162,072 -36,587
2009 55,757 3,432 160,893 -36,561
2008 56,491 3,794 156,664 -36,723
2007 55,244 4,080 152,066 -37,076
2006 54,177 4,321 151,122 -37,170
2005 57,139 4,567 155,405 -37,063
2004 55,769 4,856 158,789 -36,851
2003 56,743 5,216 163,267 -36,657
2002 58,388 5,812 166,740 -36,575
2001 62,199 7,119 170,193 -36,441
2000 64,268 8,826 171,684 -33,256
1999 64,922 13,253 167,742 -30,228
1998 64,788 15,556 164,287 -30,108
1997 64,954 16,954 168,419 -30,034
1996 66,094 17,393 174,008 -30,018
1995 67,585 16,609 175,439 -29,873
1994 68,336 15,587 176,882 -29,610
1993 69,016 14,431 177,691 -30,719
1992 69,830 13,069 177,481 -30,262
1991 70,506 10,757 177,371 -29,351
1990 71,727 7,949 176,748 -27,397
1989 72,327 3,758 175,365 -26,984
1988 72,944 2,414 171,291 -26,552
1987 73,188 2,267 167,552 -25,850
1986 73,211 2,302 165,674 -24,772
1985 72,776 2,357 164,091 -23,388
1984 71,062 2,402 164,263 -22,239
1983 68,972 2,449 163,136 -21,582
1982 66,826 2,453 159,597 -20,886
1981 64,632 2,431 158,419 -19,809
1980 62,561 2,387 157,697 -17,485
1979 60,984 2,349 154,779 -16,296
1978 58,327 2,296 154,043 -16,909
1977 56,122 2,228 152,825 -17,077
1976 54,019 2,129 151,201 -16,866
1975 51,979 1,992 149,339 -16,425
1974 50,349 1,839 147,652 -15,402
1973 48,943 1,468 146,283 -14,594
1972 48,417 1,366 143,255 -14,262
1971 48,341 1,296 140,473 -14,156
1970 48,398 1,137 137,835 -14,255
1969 48,790 1,017 135,445 -14,531
1968 48,361 939 133,666 -14,901
1967 50,193 926 133,091 -15,324
1966 50,755 930 132,096 -15,701
1965 51,196 932 125,345 -15,978
1964 51,435 934 127,504 -16,059
1963 51,403 938 124,994 -15,889
1962 51,046 934 122,977 -15,389
1961 50,149 924 120,316 -14,511
1960 48,857 910 117,346 -13,344

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/dominican-republic | 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 the Dominican Republic 81.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,447,764 people) and 18.2% is from migration (a loss of 322,919 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 738,667 people or 6.5% in the Dominican Republic.

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
Dominican Republic
City Population
Santo Domingo 2.2M
Santiago de los Caballeros 1.34M
Puerto Plata 338K
La Vega 282K
Higuey 251K
San Cristobal 233K
San Pedro de Macoris 217K
San Francisco de Macoris 188K
San Juan de la Maguana 169K
Bonao 158K

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/dominican-republic | 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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