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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 3,535,603 people in Eritrea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 3,700,586 in Eritrea.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 1.4 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Eritrea is the 130th.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.04% for Eritrea.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.28% in Eritrea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Eritrea has grown from 2.7M to 3.7M (36.9% growth).

Costa Rica vs Eritrea: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Eritrea
2100 3,804,183 8,514,681
2099 3,842,423 8,489,924
2098 3,880,999 8,466,983
2097 3,919,996 8,444,468
2096 3,959,352 8,422,323
2095 3,999,084 8,396,086
2094 4,039,053 8,370,114
2093 4,079,349 8,344,405
2092 4,119,898 8,309,034
2091 4,160,663 8,278,860
2090 4,201,548 8,243,905
2089 4,242,452 8,209,883
2088 4,283,327 8,172,664
2087 4,324,225 8,136,016
2086 4,364,979 8,093,065
2085 4,405,520 8,046,814
2084 4,445,770 7,999,706
2083 4,485,644 7,956,385
2082 4,525,171 7,911,764
2081 4,564,265 7,871,753
2080 4,602,737 7,815,766
2079 4,640,677 7,765,677
2078 4,677,935 7,711,886
2077 4,714,527 7,656,307
2076 4,750,309 7,600,951
2075 4,785,359 7,538,912
2074 4,819,691 7,484,322
2073 4,853,137 7,420,571
2072 4,885,727 7,358,500
2071 4,917,445 7,296,109
2070 4,948,313 7,231,198
2069 4,978,425 7,164,883
2068 5,007,604 7,094,530
2067 5,035,877 7,026,000
2066 5,063,521 6,952,514
2065 5,090,474 6,884,323
2064 5,116,546 6,814,893
2063 5,141,922 6,733,263
2062 5,166,260 6,659,531
2061 5,189,836 6,580,923
2060 5,212,549 6,500,944
2059 5,234,066 6,422,305
2058 5,254,528 6,343,070
2057 5,273,844 6,265,450
2056 5,292,013 6,194,123
2055 5,308,829 6,114,099
2054 5,324,305 6,039,801
2053 5,338,417 5,957,339
2052 5,350,974 5,871,954
2051 5,361,865 5,791,096
2050 5,371,197 5,711,061
2049 5,378,904 5,632,165
2048 5,385,081 5,549,890
2047 5,389,678 5,468,518
2046 5,392,713 5,387,267
2045 5,394,209 5,300,511
2044 5,394,124 5,215,831
2043 5,392,590 5,131,686
2042 5,389,628 5,044,262
2041 5,385,101 4,960,422
2040 5,379,344 4,870,981
2039 5,372,186 4,782,316
2038 5,363,617 4,693,015
2037 5,353,928 4,599,752
2036 5,343,027 4,506,879
2035 5,330,994 4,420,367
2034 5,317,895 4,332,828
2033 5,303,634 4,248,272
2032 5,288,416 4,165,241
2031 5,272,215 4,083,762
2030 5,255,064 3,998,903
2029 5,236,901 3,917,775
2028 5,217,724 3,836,693
2027 5,197,413 3,756,696
2026 5,176,096 3,679,782
2025 5,153,634 3,603,902
2024 5,129,910 3,535,603
2023 5,105,525 3,470,390
2022 5,081,765 3,409,447
2021 5,059,988 3,350,183
2020 5,034,320 3,291,271
2019 4,999,553 3,240,194
2018 4,957,818 3,192,760
2017 4,913,177 3,150,347
2016 4,866,998 3,124,698
2015 4,818,038 3,105,546
2014 4,767,119 3,095,173
2013 4,716,147 3,074,360
2012 4,663,934 3,036,988
2011 4,609,833 2,998,485
2010 4,555,962 2,945,186
2009 4,499,791 2,887,885
2008 4,440,056 2,816,327
2007 4,380,248 2,743,222
2006 4,321,340 2,703,502
2005 4,261,240 2,661,215
2004 4,200,078 2,598,284
2003 4,138,784 2,493,903
2002 4,075,705 2,392,978
2001 4,008,947 2,312,079
2000 3,937,739 2,247,031
1999 3,862,101 2,212,780
1998 3,782,838 2,180,419
1997 3,701,711 2,152,135
1996 3,619,013 2,128,464
1995 3,535,176 2,025,267
1994 3,451,122 1,913,915
1993 3,367,434 1,856,006
1992 3,284,258 1,798,748
1991 3,202,176 1,919,571
1990 3,121,706 2,032,737
1989 3,043,827 1,987,017
1988 2,968,103 1,938,255
1987 2,892,699 1,888,669
1986 2,817,216 1,845,164
1985 2,741,894 1,807,816
1984 2,667,595 1,771,730
1983 2,595,153 1,736,160
1982 2,524,806 1,695,461
1981 2,456,637 1,649,939
1980 2,390,633 1,605,797
1979 2,326,490 1,563,332
1978 2,264,510 1,522,378
1977 2,205,025 1,482,565
1976 2,147,774 1,443,807
1975 2,092,719 1,408,210
1974 2,039,643 1,375,688
1973 1,988,343 1,342,669
1972 1,938,248 1,309,235
1971 1,888,539 1,276,154
1970 1,838,949 1,243,453
1969 1,789,276 1,212,005
1968 1,739,731 1,181,737
1967 1,689,523 1,152,339
1966 1,638,116 1,124,957
1965 1,586,208 1,098,335
1964 1,533,960 1,071,287
1963 1,481,604 1,045,092
1962 1,429,445 1,019,788
1961 1,377,920 995,573
1960 1,327,496 972,547

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/eritrea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Eritrea gained 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Eritrea's population increased by 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Eritrea was ranked 135th in 2006 and ranked 130th 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 Eritrea will increase by 54.3% to 5,711,061 people and rank change from 130th to 123rd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 8.51M people in 2100 for Eritrea.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Eritrea
2100 -1% 0.29%
2099 -0.99% 0.27%
2098 -0.99% 0.27%
2097 -0.99% 0.26%
2096 -0.99% 0.31%
2095 -0.99% 0.31%
2094 -0.99% 0.31%
2093 -0.98% 0.43%
2092 -0.98% 0.36%
2091 -0.97% 0.42%
2090 -0.96% 0.41%
2089 -0.95% 0.46%
2088 -0.95% 0.45%
2087 -0.93% 0.53%
2086 -0.92% 0.57%
2085 -0.91% 0.59%
2084 -0.89% 0.54%
2083 -0.87% 0.56%
2082 -0.86% 0.51%
2081 -0.84% 0.72%
2080 -0.82% 0.65%
2079 -0.8% 0.7%
2078 -0.78% 0.73%
2077 -0.75% 0.73%
2076 -0.73% 0.82%
2075 -0.71% 0.73%
2074 -0.69% 0.86%
2073 -0.67% 0.84%
2072 -0.65% 0.86%
2071 -0.62% 0.9%
2070 -0.6% 0.93%
2069 -0.58% 0.99%
2068 -0.56% 0.98%
2067 -0.55% 1.06%
2066 -0.53% 0.99%
2065 -0.51% 1.02%
2064 -0.49% 1.21%
2063 -0.47% 1.11%
2062 -0.45% 1.19%
2061 -0.44% 1.23%
2060 -0.41% 1.22%
2059 -0.39% 1.25%
2058 -0.37% 1.24%
2057 -0.34% 1.15%
2056 -0.32% 1.31%
2055 -0.29% 1.23%
2054 -0.26% 1.38%
2053 -0.23% 1.45%
2052 -0.2% 1.4%
2051 -0.17% 1.4%
2050 -0.14% 1.4%
2049 -0.11% 1.48%
2048 -0.09% 1.49%
2047 -0.06% 1.51%
2046 -0.03% 1.64%
2045 0.002% 1.62%
2044 0.03% 1.64%
2043 0.05% 1.73%
2042 0.08% 1.69%
2041 0.11% 1.84%
2040 0.13% 1.85%
2039 0.16% 1.9%
2038 0.18% 2.03%
2037 0.2% 2.06%
2036 0.23% 1.96%
2035 0.25% 2.02%
2034 0.27% 1.99%
2033 0.29% 1.99%
2032 0.31% 2%
2031 0.33% 2.12%
2030 0.35% 2.07%
2029 0.37% 2.11%
2028 0.39% 2.13%
2027 0.41% 2.09%
2026 0.44% 2.11%
2025 0.46% 1.93%
2024 0.48% 1.88%
2023 0.47% 1.79%
2022 0.43% 1.77%
2021 0.51% 1.79%
2020 0.7% 1.58%
2019 0.84% 1.49%
2018 0.91% 1.35%
2017 0.95% 0.82%
2016 1.02% 0.62%
2015 1.07% 0.34%
2014 1.08% 0.68%
2013 1.12% 1.23%
2012 1.17% 1.28%
2011 1.18% 1.81%
2010 1.25% 1.98%
2009 1.35% 2.54%
2008 1.37% 2.66%
2007 1.36% 1.47%
2006 1.41% 1.59%
2005 1.46% 2.42%
2004 1.48% 4.19%
2003 1.55% 4.22%
2002 1.67% 3.5%
2001 1.81% 2.89%
2000 1.96% 1.55%
1999 2.1% 1.48%
1998 2.19% 1.31%
1997 2.29% 1.11%
1996 2.37% 5.1%
1995 2.44% 5.82%
1994 2.49% 3.12%
1993 2.53% 3.18%
1992 2.56% -6.29%
1991 2.58% -5.57%
1990 2.56% 2.3%
1989 2.55% 2.52%
1988 2.61% 2.63%
1987 2.68% 2.36%
1986 2.75% 2.07%
1985 2.79% 2.04%
1984 2.79% 2.05%
1983 2.79% 2.4%
1982 2.77% 2.76%
1981 2.76% 2.75%
1980 2.76% 2.72%
1979 2.74% 2.69%
1978 2.7% 2.69%
1977 2.67% 2.68%
1976 2.63% 2.53%
1975 2.6% 2.36%
1974 2.58% 2.46%
1973 2.58% 2.55%
1972 2.63% 2.59%
1971 2.7% 2.63%
1970 2.78% 2.59%
1969 2.85% 2.56%
1968 2.97% 2.55%
1967 3.14% 2.43%
1966 3.27% 2.42%
1965 3.41% 2.52%
1964 3.53% 2.51%
1963 3.65% 2.48%
1962 3.74% 2.43%
1961 3.8% 2.37%

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/eritrea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Eritrea's population grew by 1.88%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Eritrea
Current population
5181862
3700586
Population rank 126/197 130/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.04%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
8.06 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
5.31 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +179
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +65,213
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.88%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 58/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.31 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -6,698
Net migration rank 63/196 122/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 12,512
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 176/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 178/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Eritrea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Eritrea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -6,698
2024 - 967 - -12,696
2023 24,109 995 78,073 -15,284
2022 21,409 1,006 76,221 -17,134
2021 20,119 1,018 74,394 -14,966
2020 29,164 1,029 73,362 -14,967
2019 37,682 1,653 73,572 -29,818
2018 42,469 1,673 72,511 -21,403
2017 43,471 1,671 72,291 -38,579
2016 45,565 1,649 73,002 -55,431
2015 49,077 1,617 73,682 -52,965
2014 49,559 1,589 75,729 -75,696
2013 49,227 1,579 75,562 -33,974
2012 52,036 1,587 76,416 -43,269
2011 52,884 1,695 76,806 -32,949
2010 50,803 2,357 76,098 -13,361
2009 55,757 3,432 76,206 -24,348
2008 56,491 3,794 73,391 17,855
2007 55,244 4,080 73,101 -18,131
2006 54,177 4,321 74,470 -49,998
2005 57,139 4,567 72,930 -12,835
2004 55,769 4,856 72,147 -6,374
2003 56,743 5,216 66,291 76,703
2002 58,388 5,812 65,436 -6,574
2001 62,199 7,119 61,180 41,760
2000 64,268 8,826 60,274 -33,133
1999 64,922 13,253 45,120 -3,769
1998 64,788 15,556 55,332 -31,951
1997 64,954 16,954 63,953 -30,768
1996 66,094 17,393 66,557 -52,421
1995 67,585 16,609 56,157 136,105
1994 68,336 15,587 56,288 -25,841
1993 69,016 14,431 51,679 33,688
1992 69,830 13,069 51,443 -22,293
1991 70,506 10,757 57,741 -328,546
1990 71,727 7,949 56,903 -12,425
1989 72,327 3,758 54,299 -7,330
1988 72,944 2,414 54,163 -3,612
1987 73,188 2,267 52,229 -3,613
1986 73,211 2,302 39,470 -1,073
1985 72,776 2,357 37,362 -1,073
1984 71,062 2,402 35,101 772
1983 68,972 2,449 33,420 1,853
1982 66,826 2,453 44,146 1,985
1981 64,632 2,431 42,924 1,985
1980 62,561 2,387 41,392 1,985
1979 60,984 2,349 39,577 1,985
1978 58,327 2,296 38,353 1,985
1977 56,122 2,228 37,295 1,985
1976 54,019 2,129 36,250 1,985
1975 51,979 1,992 30,971 1,985
1974 50,349 1,839 30,111 1,985
1973 48,943 1,468 31,969 1,985
1972 48,417 1,366 30,951 1,953
1971 48,341 1,296 31,490 1,758
1970 48,398 1,137 30,686 1,480
1969 48,790 1,017 29,535 1,199
1968 48,361 939 28,777 1,013
1967 50,193 926 27,992 1,004
1966 50,755 930 24,713 1,063
1965 51,196 932 26,285 1,188
1964 51,435 934 25,327 1,300
1963 51,403 938 24,393 1,368
1962 51,046 934 23,478 1,364
1961 50,149 924 22,351 1,235
1960 48,857 910 21,424 1,045

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/eritrea | 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 Eritrea 68.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 742,837 people) and 31.2% is from migration (a loss of 336,243 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 12,512 people or 0.4% in Eritrea.

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
Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K

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/eritrea | 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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