Skip to content

Population in Costa Rica compared to El Salvador: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 6,338,193 people in El Salvador in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 6,399,793 in El Salvador.

Population statistics:

  • El Salvador's population is 1.24 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while El Salvador is the 111th.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.08% for El Salvador.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.29% in El Salvador.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while El Salvador has grown from 6M to 6.4M (6.62% growth).

Costa Rica vs El Salvador: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
El Salvador
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica El Salvador
2100 3,804,183 5,106,358
2099 3,842,423 5,150,403
2098 3,880,999 5,195,110
2097 3,919,996 5,240,164
2096 3,959,352 5,286,555
2095 3,999,084 5,333,357
2094 4,039,053 5,380,368
2093 4,079,349 5,427,291
2092 4,119,898 5,474,174
2091 4,160,663 5,521,257
2090 4,201,548 5,568,339
2089 4,242,452 5,615,550
2088 4,283,327 5,662,256
2087 4,324,225 5,709,072
2086 4,364,979 5,755,593
2085 4,405,520 5,801,778
2084 4,445,770 5,847,545
2083 4,485,644 5,891,829
2082 4,525,171 5,935,056
2081 4,564,265 5,977,631
2080 4,602,737 6,019,326
2079 4,640,677 6,059,817
2078 4,677,935 6,098,689
2077 4,714,527 6,136,133
2076 4,750,309 6,172,686
2075 4,785,359 6,206,865
2074 4,819,691 6,239,356
2073 4,853,137 6,272,337
2072 4,885,727 6,301,557
2071 4,917,445 6,330,086
2070 4,948,313 6,358,052
2069 4,978,425 6,384,863
2068 5,007,604 6,410,986
2067 5,035,877 6,435,437
2066 5,063,521 6,458,779
2065 5,090,474 6,481,938
2064 5,116,546 6,503,884
2063 5,141,922 6,524,373
2062 5,166,260 6,543,157
2061 5,189,836 6,560,419
2060 5,212,549 6,577,429
2059 5,234,066 6,592,662
2058 5,254,528 6,606,305
2057 5,273,844 6,620,473
2056 5,292,013 6,633,666
2055 5,308,829 6,645,594
2054 5,324,305 6,656,251
2053 5,338,417 6,664,115
2052 5,350,974 6,670,429
2051 5,361,865 6,676,658
2050 5,371,197 6,679,973
2049 5,378,904 6,683,494
2048 5,385,081 6,684,918
2047 5,389,678 6,684,723
2046 5,392,713 6,684,063
2045 5,394,209 6,681,948
2044 5,394,124 6,679,505
2043 5,392,590 6,674,197
2042 5,389,628 6,668,140
2041 5,385,101 6,660,323
2040 5,379,344 6,651,019
2039 5,372,186 6,641,112
2038 5,363,617 6,628,299
2037 5,353,928 6,615,428
2036 5,343,027 6,600,845
2035 5,330,994 6,585,074
2034 5,317,895 6,568,788
2033 5,303,634 6,549,941
2032 5,288,416 6,530,975
2031 5,272,215 6,511,064
2030 5,255,064 6,490,493
2029 5,236,901 6,467,381
2028 5,217,724 6,443,426
2027 5,197,413 6,418,289
2026 5,176,096 6,392,935
2025 5,153,634 6,366,672
2024 5,129,910 6,338,193
2023 5,105,525 6,309,624
2022 5,081,765 6,280,319
2021 5,059,988 6,255,782
2020 5,034,320 6,234,673
2019 4,999,553 6,222,318
2018 4,957,818 6,219,807
2017 4,913,177 6,213,533
2016 4,866,998 6,200,800
2015 4,818,038 6,183,676
2014 4,767,119 6,162,955
2013 4,716,147 6,138,839
2012 4,663,934 6,113,975
2011 4,609,833 6,090,127
2010 4,555,962 6,068,249
2009 4,499,791 6,048,279
2008 4,440,056 6,029,297
2007 4,380,248 6,009,824
2006 4,321,340 6,002,319
2005 4,261,240 6,005,578
2004 4,200,078 6,004,671
2003 4,138,784 5,998,599
2002 4,075,705 5,986,631
2001 4,008,947 5,968,060
2000 3,937,739 5,943,366
1999 3,862,101 5,913,900
1998 3,782,838 5,880,781
1997 3,701,711 5,844,578
1996 3,619,013 5,805,286
1995 3,535,176 5,762,131
1994 3,451,122 5,714,129
1993 3,367,434 5,659,957
1992 3,284,258 5,585,609
1991 3,202,176 5,495,077
1990 3,121,706 5,399,726
1989 3,043,827 5,298,979
1988 2,968,103 5,195,833
1987 2,892,699 5,092,441
1986 2,817,216 4,992,769
1985 2,741,894 4,894,706
1984 2,667,595 4,798,003
1983 2,595,153 4,707,367
1982 2,524,806 4,622,477
1981 2,456,637 4,570,599
1980 2,390,633 4,540,382
1979 2,326,490 4,480,388
1978 2,264,510 4,394,114
1977 2,205,025 4,301,256
1976 2,147,774 4,210,310
1975 2,092,719 4,120,449
1974 2,039,643 4,029,671
1973 1,988,343 3,938,068
1972 1,938,248 3,846,830
1971 1,888,539 3,757,523
1970 1,838,949 3,668,796
1969 1,789,276 3,576,485
1968 1,739,731 3,480,773
1967 1,689,523 3,385,184
1966 1,638,116 3,290,961
1965 1,586,208 3,199,466
1964 1,533,960 3,111,883
1963 1,481,604 3,028,679
1962 1,429,445 2,949,204
1961 1,377,920 2,870,016
1960 1,327,496 2,791,459

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/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while El Salvador gained 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while El Salvador's population increased by 198,993 people (a 3.21% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. El Salvador was ranked 103rd in 2006 and ranked 111th 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 El Salvador will increase by 4.38% to 6,679,973 people and rank change from 111th to 116th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 6.68M people in 2048 for El Salvador.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
El Salvador
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica El Salvador
2100 -1% -0.86%
2099 -0.99% -0.86%
2098 -0.99% -0.86%
2097 -0.99% -0.88%
2096 -0.99% -0.88%
2095 -0.99% -0.87%
2094 -0.99% -0.86%
2093 -0.98% -0.86%
2092 -0.98% -0.85%
2091 -0.97% -0.85%
2090 -0.96% -0.84%
2089 -0.95% -0.82%
2088 -0.95% -0.82%
2087 -0.93% -0.81%
2086 -0.92% -0.8%
2085 -0.91% -0.78%
2084 -0.89% -0.75%
2083 -0.87% -0.73%
2082 -0.86% -0.71%
2081 -0.84% -0.69%
2080 -0.82% -0.67%
2079 -0.8% -0.64%
2078 -0.78% -0.61%
2077 -0.75% -0.59%
2076 -0.73% -0.55%
2075 -0.71% -0.52%
2074 -0.69% -0.53%
2073 -0.67% -0.46%
2072 -0.65% -0.45%
2071 -0.62% -0.44%
2070 -0.6% -0.42%
2069 -0.58% -0.41%
2068 -0.56% -0.38%
2067 -0.55% -0.36%
2066 -0.53% -0.36%
2065 -0.51% -0.34%
2064 -0.49% -0.31%
2063 -0.47% -0.29%
2062 -0.45% -0.26%
2061 -0.44% -0.26%
2060 -0.41% -0.23%
2059 -0.39% -0.21%
2058 -0.37% -0.21%
2057 -0.34% -0.2%
2056 -0.32% -0.18%
2055 -0.29% -0.16%
2054 -0.26% -0.12%
2053 -0.23% -0.09%
2052 -0.2% -0.09%
2051 -0.17% -0.05%
2050 -0.14% -0.05%
2049 -0.11% -0.02%
2048 -0.09% 0.003%
2047 -0.06% 0.01%
2046 -0.03% 0.03%
2045 0.002% 0.04%
2044 0.03% 0.08%
2043 0.05% 0.09%
2042 0.08% 0.12%
2041 0.11% 0.14%
2040 0.13% 0.15%
2039 0.16% 0.19%
2038 0.18% 0.19%
2037 0.2% 0.22%
2036 0.23% 0.24%
2035 0.25% 0.25%
2034 0.27% 0.29%
2033 0.29% 0.29%
2032 0.31% 0.31%
2031 0.33% 0.32%
2030 0.35% 0.36%
2029 0.37% 0.37%
2028 0.39% 0.39%
2027 0.41% 0.4%
2026 0.44% 0.41%
2025 0.46% 0.45%
2024 0.48% 0.45%
2023 0.47% 0.47%
2022 0.43% 0.39%
2021 0.51% 0.34%
2020 0.7% 0.2%
2019 0.84% 0.04%
2018 0.91% 0.1%
2017 0.95% 0.21%
2016 1.02% 0.28%
2015 1.07% 0.34%
2014 1.08% 0.39%
2013 1.12% 0.41%
2012 1.17% 0.39%
2011 1.18% 0.36%
2010 1.25% 0.33%
2009 1.35% 0.31%
2008 1.37% 0.32%
2007 1.36% 0.13%
2006 1.41% -0.05%
2005 1.46% 0.02%
2004 1.48% 0.1%
2003 1.55% 0.2%
2002 1.67% 0.31%
2001 1.81% 0.42%
2000 1.96% 0.5%
1999 2.1% 0.56%
1998 2.19% 0.62%
1997 2.29% 0.68%
1996 2.37% 0.75%
1995 2.44% 0.84%
1994 2.49% 0.96%
1993 2.53% 1.33%
1992 2.56% 1.65%
1991 2.58% 1.77%
1990 2.56% 1.9%
1989 2.55% 1.99%
1988 2.61% 2.03%
1987 2.68% 2%
1986 2.75% 2%
1985 2.79% 2.02%
1984 2.79% 1.93%
1983 2.79% 1.84%
1982 2.77% 1.14%
1981 2.76% 0.67%
1980 2.76% 1.34%
1979 2.74% 1.96%
1978 2.7% 2.16%
1977 2.67% 2.16%
1976 2.63% 2.18%
1975 2.6% 2.25%
1974 2.58% 2.33%
1973 2.58% 2.37%
1972 2.63% 2.38%
1971 2.7% 2.42%
1970 2.78% 2.58%
1969 2.85% 2.75%
1968 2.97% 2.82%
1967 3.14% 2.86%
1966 3.27% 2.86%
1965 3.41% 2.81%
1964 3.53% 2.75%
1963 3.65% 2.69%
1962 3.74% 2.76%
1961 3.8% 2.81%

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/el-salvador | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while El Salvador's population grew by 0.45%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica El Salvador
Current population
5181862
6399793
Population rank 126/197 111/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.08%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
18.4 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
5.29 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
11.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +78
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +28,569
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.45%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 140/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
22 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -23,934
Net migration rank 63/196 155/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 43,342
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 155/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 164/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
El Salvador
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica El Salvador
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -23,934
2024 - 967 - -23,102
2023 24,109 995 51,985 -23,253
2022 21,409 1,006 53,138 -23,255
2021 20,119 1,018 46,530 -27,343
2020 29,164 1,029 48,244 -25,213
2019 37,682 1,653 56,816 -55,144
2018 42,469 1,673 57,509 -54,163
2017 43,471 1,671 59,824 -50,608
2016 45,565 1,649 63,751 -47,491
2015 49,077 1,617 69,263 -51,278
2014 49,559 1,589 72,581 -49,126
2013 49,227 1,579 73,869 -49,087
2012 52,036 1,587 75,495 -50,546
2011 52,884 1,695 76,182 -53,433
2010 50,803 2,357 75,695 -54,688
2009 55,757 3,432 74,908 -55,966
2008 56,491 3,794 75,107 -56,086
2007 55,244 4,080 76,776 -56,857
2006 54,177 4,321 80,887 -85,789
2005 57,139 4,567 84,883 -86,501
2004 55,769 4,856 90,905 -87,466
2003 56,743 5,216 97,849 -89,146
2002 58,388 5,812 106,137 -90,908
2001 62,199 7,119 114,313 -92,389
2000 64,268 8,826 122,315 -94,861
1999 64,922 13,253 128,947 -97,475
1998 64,788 15,556 134,065 -99,293
1997 64,954 16,954 134,448 -96,820
1996 66,094 17,393 136,929 -95,977
1995 67,585 16,609 138,268 -92,912
1994 68,336 15,587 137,974 -87,318
1993 69,016 14,431 138,432 -80,736
1992 69,830 13,069 139,221 -48,232
1991 70,506 10,757 140,691 -50,622
1990 71,727 7,949 140,311 -39,689
1989 72,327 3,758 139,093 -38,211
1988 72,944 2,414 136,230 -30,806
1987 73,188 2,267 133,667 -32,308
1986 73,211 2,302 130,177 -32,181
1985 72,776 2,357 127,248 -29,111
1984 71,062 2,402 125,036 -29,767
1983 68,972 2,449 121,700 -35,694
1982 66,826 2,453 120,938 -37,159
1981 64,632 2,431 117,346 -97,365
1980 62,561 2,387 111,771 -71,318
1979 60,984 2,349 123,838 -44,302
1978 58,327 2,296 124,468 -31,463
1977 56,122 2,228 121,446 -28,742
1976 54,019 2,129 120,511 -31,317
1975 51,979 1,992 116,737 -26,198
1974 50,349 1,839 113,846 -22,844
1973 48,943 1,468 111,546 -19,347
1972 48,417 1,366 107,604 -17,317
1971 48,341 1,296 104,714 -16,389
1970 48,398 1,137 100,499 -11,367
1969 48,790 1,017 99,848 -4,355
1968 48,361 939 98,851 -2,919
1967 50,193 926 98,424 -3,192
1966 50,755 930 97,156 -3,945
1965 51,196 932 95,341 -5,560
1964 51,435 934 93,328 -7,937
1963 51,403 938 90,794 -9,774
1962 51,046 934 88,237 -10,307
1961 50,149 924 84,614 -4,159
1960 48,857 910 81,544 -4,885

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/el-salvador | 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 El Salvador 58.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 579,641 people) and 41.2% is from migration (a loss of 406,874 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 43,342 people or 0.7% in El Salvador.

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
El Salvador
City Population
San Salvador 331K
Santa Ana 251K
San Miguel 233K
Soyapango 230K
Mejicanos 137K
Apopa 129K
Ahuachapan 127K
Santa Tecla 126K
Sonsonate 72.2K
Usulutan 66.1K

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/el-salvador | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.