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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 18,135,478 people in Ecuador in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 18,487,749 in Ecuador.

Population statistics:

  • Ecuador's population is 3.57 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Ecuador is the 71st.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.22% for Ecuador.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.26% in Ecuador.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Ecuador has grown from 14.1M to 18.5M (31.2% growth).

Costa Rica vs Ecuador: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Ecuador
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Ecuador
2100 3,804,183 19,229,713
2099 3,842,423 19,341,033
2098 3,880,999 19,451,634
2097 3,919,996 19,561,648
2096 3,959,352 19,670,931
2095 3,999,084 19,779,419
2094 4,039,053 19,887,014
2093 4,079,349 19,993,637
2092 4,119,898 20,099,245
2091 4,160,663 20,203,483
2090 4,201,548 20,306,051
2089 4,242,452 20,406,878
2088 4,283,327 20,505,637
2087 4,324,225 20,602,336
2086 4,364,979 20,696,910
2085 4,405,520 20,788,583
2084 4,445,770 20,877,503
2083 4,485,644 20,963,515
2082 4,525,171 21,046,396
2081 4,564,265 21,126,142
2080 4,602,737 21,202,360
2079 4,640,677 21,275,051
2078 4,677,935 21,343,714
2077 4,714,527 21,408,164
2076 4,750,309 21,468,178
2075 4,785,359 21,523,680
2074 4,819,691 21,575,092
2073 4,853,137 21,621,989
2072 4,885,727 21,664,137
2071 4,917,445 21,701,599
2070 4,948,313 21,734,495
2069 4,978,425 21,762,453
2068 5,007,604 21,785,682
2067 5,035,877 21,804,316
2066 5,063,521 21,818,306
2065 5,090,474 21,828,156
2064 5,116,546 21,833,185
2063 5,141,922 21,833,449
2062 5,166,260 21,828,963
2061 5,189,836 21,819,781
2060 5,212,549 21,805,954
2059 5,234,066 21,787,357
2058 5,254,528 21,764,005
2057 5,273,844 21,735,561
2056 5,292,013 21,702,294
2055 5,308,829 21,664,097
2054 5,324,305 21,620,873
2053 5,338,417 21,572,669
2052 5,350,974 21,519,295
2051 5,361,865 21,460,703
2050 5,371,197 21,396,494
2049 5,378,904 21,326,969
2048 5,385,081 21,251,792
2047 5,389,678 21,171,429
2046 5,392,713 21,085,795
2045 5,394,209 20,994,872
2044 5,394,124 20,898,682
2043 5,392,590 20,797,349
2042 5,389,628 20,691,071
2041 5,385,101 20,579,788
2040 5,379,344 20,463,641
2039 5,372,186 20,342,868
2038 5,363,617 20,217,211
2037 5,353,928 20,087,384
2036 5,343,027 19,953,661
2035 5,330,994 19,816,154
2034 5,317,895 19,674,920
2033 5,303,634 19,529,719
2032 5,288,416 19,381,178
2031 5,272,215 19,229,060
2030 5,255,064 19,073,682
2029 5,236,901 18,916,480
2028 5,217,724 18,758,598
2027 5,197,413 18,601,326
2026 5,176,096 18,445,637
2025 5,153,634 18,290,781
2024 5,129,910 18,135,478
2023 5,105,525 17,980,083
2022 5,081,765 17,823,897
2021 5,059,988 17,682,454
2020 5,034,320 17,546,065
2019 4,999,553 17,340,021
2018 4,957,818 17,049,547
2017 4,913,177 16,759,519
2016 4,866,998 16,505,139
2015 4,818,038 16,266,225
2014 4,767,119 16,035,124
2013 4,716,147 15,807,128
2012 4,663,934 15,572,194
2011 4,609,833 15,326,227
2010 4,555,962 15,076,695
2009 4,499,791 14,825,954
2008 4,440,056 14,575,202
2007 4,380,248 14,328,773
2006 4,321,340 14,086,131
2005 4,261,240 13,846,163
2004 4,200,078 13,608,701
2003 4,138,784 13,372,306
2002 4,075,705 13,138,472
2001 4,008,947 12,910,740
2000 3,937,739 12,689,206
1999 3,862,101 12,470,795
1998 3,782,838 12,251,184
1997 3,701,711 12,031,127
1996 3,619,013 11,810,950
1995 3,535,176 11,590,514
1994 3,451,122 11,372,197
1993 3,367,434 11,154,274
1992 3,284,258 10,930,128
1991 3,202,176 10,702,380
1990 3,121,706 10,473,673
1989 3,043,827 10,241,852
1988 2,968,103 10,010,808
1987 2,892,699 9,779,290
1986 2,817,216 9,545,998
1985 2,741,894 9,311,154
1984 2,667,595 9,074,782
1983 2,595,153 8,840,417
1982 2,524,806 8,611,298
1981 2,456,637 8,386,910
1980 2,390,633 8,165,877
1979 2,326,490 7,948,869
1978 2,264,510 7,736,167
1977 2,205,025 7,526,819
1976 2,147,774 7,320,912
1975 2,092,719 7,118,251
1974 2,039,643 6,918,573
1973 1,988,343 6,722,033
1972 1,938,248 6,529,034
1971 1,888,539 6,340,052
1970 1,838,949 6,155,387
1969 1,789,276 5,975,236
1968 1,739,731 5,799,680
1967 1,689,523 5,629,057
1966 1,638,116 5,463,748
1965 1,586,208 5,303,963
1964 1,533,960 5,149,918
1963 1,481,604 5,001,716
1962 1,429,445 4,859,269
1961 1,377,920 4,722,331
1960 1,327,496 4,590,891

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/ecuador | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Ecuador gained 2,419,008 people (a 17.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Ecuador's population increased by 1,982,610 people (a 12% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Ecuador was ranked 65th in 2006 and ranked 71st 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 Ecuador will increase by 15.7% to 21,396,494 people and rank change from 71st to 74th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 21.8M people in 2063 for Ecuador.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Ecuador
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Ecuador
2100 -1% -0.58%
2099 -0.99% -0.57%
2098 -0.99% -0.56%
2097 -0.99% -0.56%
2096 -0.99% -0.55%
2095 -0.99% -0.54%
2094 -0.99% -0.53%
2093 -0.98% -0.53%
2092 -0.98% -0.52%
2091 -0.97% -0.51%
2090 -0.96% -0.49%
2089 -0.95% -0.48%
2088 -0.95% -0.47%
2087 -0.93% -0.46%
2086 -0.92% -0.44%
2085 -0.91% -0.43%
2084 -0.89% -0.41%
2083 -0.87% -0.39%
2082 -0.86% -0.38%
2081 -0.84% -0.36%
2080 -0.82% -0.34%
2079 -0.8% -0.32%
2078 -0.78% -0.3%
2077 -0.75% -0.28%
2076 -0.73% -0.26%
2075 -0.71% -0.24%
2074 -0.69% -0.22%
2073 -0.67% -0.19%
2072 -0.65% -0.17%
2071 -0.62% -0.15%
2070 -0.6% -0.13%
2069 -0.58% -0.11%
2068 -0.56% -0.09%
2067 -0.55% -0.06%
2066 -0.53% -0.05%
2065 -0.51% -0.02%
2064 -0.49% -0.001%
2063 -0.47% 0.02%
2062 -0.45% 0.04%
2061 -0.44% 0.06%
2060 -0.41% 0.09%
2059 -0.39% 0.11%
2058 -0.37% 0.13%
2057 -0.34% 0.15%
2056 -0.32% 0.18%
2055 -0.29% 0.2%
2054 -0.26% 0.22%
2053 -0.23% 0.25%
2052 -0.2% 0.27%
2051 -0.17% 0.3%
2050 -0.14% 0.33%
2049 -0.11% 0.35%
2048 -0.09% 0.38%
2047 -0.06% 0.41%
2046 -0.03% 0.43%
2045 0.002% 0.46%
2044 0.03% 0.49%
2043 0.05% 0.51%
2042 0.08% 0.54%
2041 0.11% 0.57%
2040 0.13% 0.59%
2039 0.16% 0.62%
2038 0.18% 0.65%
2037 0.2% 0.67%
2036 0.23% 0.69%
2035 0.25% 0.72%
2034 0.27% 0.74%
2033 0.29% 0.77%
2032 0.31% 0.79%
2031 0.33% 0.81%
2030 0.35% 0.83%
2029 0.37% 0.84%
2028 0.39% 0.85%
2027 0.41% 0.84%
2026 0.44% 0.85%
2025 0.46% 0.86%
2024 0.48% 0.86%
2023 0.47% 0.88%
2022 0.43% 0.8%
2021 0.51% 0.78%
2020 0.7% 1.19%
2019 0.84% 1.7%
2018 0.91% 1.73%
2017 0.95% 1.54%
2016 1.02% 1.47%
2015 1.07% 1.44%
2014 1.08% 1.44%
2013 1.12% 1.51%
2012 1.17% 1.6%
2011 1.18% 1.66%
2010 1.25% 1.69%
2009 1.35% 1.72%
2008 1.37% 1.72%
2007 1.36% 1.72%
2006 1.41% 1.73%
2005 1.46% 1.74%
2004 1.48% 1.77%
2003 1.55% 1.78%
2002 1.67% 1.76%
2001 1.81% 1.75%
2000 1.96% 1.75%
1999 2.1% 1.79%
1998 2.19% 1.83%
1997 2.29% 1.86%
1996 2.37% 1.9%
1995 2.44% 1.92%
1994 2.49% 1.95%
1993 2.53% 2.05%
1992 2.56% 2.13%
1991 2.58% 2.18%
1990 2.56% 2.26%
1989 2.55% 2.31%
1988 2.61% 2.37%
1987 2.68% 2.44%
1986 2.75% 2.52%
1985 2.79% 2.6%
1984 2.79% 2.65%
1983 2.79% 2.66%
1982 2.77% 2.68%
1981 2.76% 2.71%
1980 2.76% 2.73%
1979 2.74% 2.75%
1978 2.7% 2.78%
1977 2.67% 2.81%
1976 2.63% 2.85%
1975 2.6% 2.89%
1974 2.58% 2.92%
1973 2.58% 2.96%
1972 2.63% 2.98%
1971 2.7% 3%
1970 2.78% 3.01%
1969 2.85% 3.03%
1968 2.97% 3.03%
1967 3.14% 3.03%
1966 3.27% 3.01%
1965 3.41% 2.99%
1964 3.53% 2.96%
1963 3.65% 2.93%
1962 3.74% 2.9%
1961 3.8% 2.86%

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/ecuador | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Ecuador's population grew by 0.86%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Ecuador
Current population
5181862
18487749
Population rank 126/197 71/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.22%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
3.38 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
1.94 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
5.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +426
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +155,395
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.86%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 109/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
30.6 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -17,219
Net migration rank 63/196 151/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 747,749
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 67/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 104/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Ecuador
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Ecuador
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -17,219
2024 - 967 - -19,704
2023 24,109 995 178,093 -21,948
2022 21,409 1,006 179,308 -23,090
2021 20,119 1,018 155,146 -28,503
2020 29,164 1,029 156,458 -10,320
2019 37,682 1,653 211,045 54,921
2018 42,469 1,673 219,513 95,482
2017 43,471 1,671 211,355 53,707
2016 45,565 1,649 208,245 35,461
2015 49,077 1,617 219,399 14,724
2014 49,559 1,589 225,790 2,273
2013 49,227 1,579 234,103 -6,182
2012 52,036 1,587 249,825 -7,883
2011 52,884 1,695 258,171 -8,167
2010 50,803 2,357 257,404 -8,330
2009 55,757 3,432 260,892 -8,491
2008 56,491 3,794 257,894 -8,799
2007 55,244 4,080 253,419 -9,644
2006 54,177 4,321 254,184 -12,679
2005 57,139 4,567 255,295 -16,855
2004 55,769 4,856 257,436 -20,940
2003 56,743 5,216 258,928 -22,641
2002 58,388 5,812 259,446 -28,090
2001 62,199 7,119 259,376 -35,275
2000 64,268 8,826 259,837 -40,859
1999 64,922 13,253 261,650 -43,813
1998 64,788 15,556 263,927 -42,550
1997 64,954 16,954 266,020 -47,287
1996 66,094 17,393 267,695 -46,082
1995 67,585 16,609 264,449 -45,201
1994 68,336 15,587 261,788 -44,399
1993 69,016 14,431 260,330 -41,867
1992 69,830 13,069 259,787 -29,958
1991 70,506 10,757 257,713 -32,064
1990 71,727 7,949 252,919 -21,164
1989 72,327 3,758 248,129 -16,240
1988 72,944 2,414 241,191 -10,977
1987 73,188 2,267 237,724 -4,886
1986 73,211 2,302 237,084 -3,345
1985 72,776 2,357 236,438 -494
1984 71,062 2,402 236,543 249
1983 68,972 2,449 231,336 578
1982 66,826 2,453 227,606 -1,282
1981 64,632 2,431 224,073 -1,605
1980 62,561 2,387 220,120 -517
1979 60,984 2,349 216,162 -1,749
1978 58,327 2,296 212,497 -1,518
1977 56,122 2,228 209,095 -1,377
1976 54,019 2,129 205,366 -1,264
1975 51,979 1,992 202,407 -1,189
1974 50,349 1,839 199,276 -1,133
1973 48,943 1,468 196,028 -1,090
1972 48,417 1,366 192,136 -1,078
1971 48,341 1,296 187,995 -1,096
1970 48,398 1,137 183,517 -1,091
1969 48,790 1,017 178,403 -518
1968 48,361 939 173,828 -582
1967 50,193 926 168,629 -623
1966 50,755 930 163,317 -710
1965 51,196 932 157,915 -957
1964 51,435 934 152,263 -1,130
1963 51,403 938 146,531 -1,254
1962 51,046 934 140,943 -1,315
1961 50,149 924 135,573 -1,317
1960 48,857 910 130,368 -1,746

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/ecuador | 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 Ecuador 91.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,964,352 people) and 8.08% is from migration (a gain of 172,707 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 747,749 people or 4.1% in Ecuador.

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
Ecuador
City Population
Guayaquil 2.65M
Quito 1.76M
Cuenca 362K
Santo Domingo 335K
Duran 295K
Machala 288K
Manta 259K
Portoviejo 244K
Loja 203K
Quevedo 178K

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/ecuador | 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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