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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 132,059,767 people in Ethiopia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 139,917,664 in Ethiopia.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 27 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Ethiopia is the 10th.
  • The countries together account for 1.75% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 1.69% for Ethiopia.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +2.71% in Ethiopia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Ethiopia has grown from 80.7M to 140M (73.4% growth).

Costa Rica vs Ethiopia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Ethiopia
2100 3,804,183 371,192,732
2099 3,842,423 369,452,188
2098 3,880,999 367,626,914
2097 3,919,996 365,680,268
2096 3,959,352 363,648,440
2095 3,999,084 361,707,589
2094 4,039,053 359,642,227
2093 4,079,349 357,570,752
2092 4,119,898 355,499,462
2091 4,160,663 353,327,595
2090 4,201,548 351,068,287
2089 4,242,452 348,859,203
2088 4,283,327 346,624,222
2087 4,324,225 344,268,493
2086 4,364,979 341,777,395
2085 4,405,520 339,272,558
2084 4,445,770 336,753,372
2083 4,485,644 334,186,307
2082 4,525,171 331,503,693
2081 4,564,265 328,816,892
2080 4,602,737 326,114,551
2079 4,640,677 323,382,593
2078 4,677,935 320,521,381
2077 4,714,527 317,590,857
2076 4,750,309 314,615,353
2075 4,785,359 311,583,813
2074 4,819,691 308,511,275
2073 4,853,137 305,477,711
2072 4,885,727 302,351,806
2071 4,917,445 299,211,554
2070 4,948,313 296,054,535
2069 4,978,425 292,847,034
2068 5,007,604 289,612,061
2067 5,035,877 286,279,975
2066 5,063,521 282,992,981
2065 5,090,474 279,662,528
2064 5,116,546 276,283,161
2063 5,141,922 272,866,834
2062 5,166,260 269,424,014
2061 5,189,836 265,885,347
2060 5,212,549 262,350,260
2059 5,234,066 258,772,570
2058 5,254,528 255,284,371
2057 5,273,844 251,733,988
2056 5,292,013 248,079,002
2055 5,308,829 244,501,471
2054 5,324,305 240,868,686
2053 5,338,417 237,228,269
2052 5,350,974 233,551,340
2051 5,361,865 229,804,463
2050 5,371,197 226,124,819
2049 5,378,904 222,420,063
2048 5,385,081 218,694,640
2047 5,389,678 214,950,242
2046 5,392,713 211,226,920
2045 5,394,209 207,525,986
2044 5,394,124 203,812,674
2043 5,392,590 200,097,321
2042 5,389,628 196,411,774
2041 5,385,101 192,749,114
2040 5,379,344 189,081,695
2039 5,372,186 185,422,958
2038 5,363,617 181,789,129
2037 5,353,928 178,179,942
2036 5,343,027 174,569,201
2035 5,330,994 170,957,061
2034 5,317,895 167,367,920
2033 5,303,634 163,813,895
2032 5,288,416 160,216,774
2031 5,272,215 156,638,324
2030 5,255,064 153,070,380
2029 5,236,901 149,507,684
2028 5,217,724 145,989,372
2027 5,197,413 142,463,827
2026 5,176,096 138,973,582
2025 5,153,634 135,513,842
2024 5,129,910 132,059,767
2023 5,105,525 128,691,692
2022 5,081,765 125,384,287
2021 5,059,988 122,138,588
2020 5,034,320 118,917,671
2019 4,999,553 115,737,383
2018 4,957,818 112,664,152
2017 4,913,177 109,666,481
2016 4,866,998 106,718,162
2015 4,818,038 103,867,135
2014 4,767,119 101,115,610
2013 4,716,147 98,438,751
2012 4,663,934 95,798,767
2011 4,609,833 93,149,970
2010 4,555,962 90,538,514
2009 4,499,791 88,007,636
2008 4,440,056 85,543,668
2007 4,380,248 83,103,217
2006 4,321,340 80,703,490
2005 4,261,240 78,367,470
2004 4,200,078 76,077,206
2003 4,138,784 73,832,663
2002 4,075,705 71,635,517
2001 4,008,947 69,487,762
2000 3,937,739 67,411,494
1999 3,862,101 65,374,561
1998 3,782,838 63,363,524
1997 3,701,711 61,404,539
1996 3,619,013 59,467,635
1995 3,535,176 57,537,335
1994 3,451,122 55,611,508
1993 3,367,434 53,708,891
1992 3,284,258 51,853,747
1991 3,202,176 49,717,198
1990 3,121,706 47,609,755
1989 3,043,827 45,879,690
1988 2,968,103 44,150,825
1987 2,892,699 42,460,039
1986 2,817,216 41,037,656
1985 2,741,894 39,842,136
1984 2,667,595 38,735,722
1983 2,595,153 37,740,817
1982 2,524,806 36,701,290
1981 2,456,637 35,304,012
1980 2,390,633 34,428,514
1979 2,326,490 34,238,652
1978 2,264,510 33,734,592
1977 2,205,025 33,167,272
1976 2,147,774 32,534,418
1975 2,092,719 31,723,252
1974 2,039,643 30,957,273
1973 1,988,343 30,166,785
1972 1,938,248 29,374,608
1971 1,888,539 28,600,106
1970 1,838,949 27,829,128
1969 1,789,276 27,072,571
1968 1,739,731 26,337,930
1967 1,689,523 25,620,276
1966 1,638,116 24,952,689
1965 1,586,208 24,310,612
1964 1,533,960 23,666,548
1963 1,481,604 23,051,637
1962 1,429,445 22,465,126
1961 1,377,920 21,906,102
1960 1,327,496 21,376,693

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/ethiopia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Ethiopia gained 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Ethiopia's population increased by 33,199,502 people (a 31.1% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Ethiopia was ranked 16th in 2006 and ranked 10th 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 Ethiopia will increase by 61.6% to 226,124,819 people and rank change from 10th to 7th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 371M people in 2100 for Ethiopia.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Ethiopia
2100 -1% 0.47%
2099 -0.99% 0.5%
2098 -0.99% 0.53%
2097 -0.99% 0.56%
2096 -0.99% 0.54%
2095 -0.99% 0.57%
2094 -0.99% 0.58%
2093 -0.98% 0.58%
2092 -0.98% 0.61%
2091 -0.97% 0.64%
2090 -0.96% 0.63%
2089 -0.95% 0.64%
2088 -0.95% 0.68%
2087 -0.93% 0.73%
2086 -0.92% 0.74%
2085 -0.91% 0.75%
2084 -0.89% 0.77%
2083 -0.87% 0.81%
2082 -0.86% 0.82%
2081 -0.84% 0.83%
2080 -0.82% 0.84%
2079 -0.8% 0.89%
2078 -0.78% 0.92%
2077 -0.75% 0.95%
2076 -0.73% 0.97%
2075 -0.71% 1%
2074 -0.69% 0.99%
2073 -0.67% 1.03%
2072 -0.65% 1.05%
2071 -0.62% 1.07%
2070 -0.6% 1.1%
2069 -0.58% 1.12%
2068 -0.56% 1.16%
2067 -0.55% 1.16%
2066 -0.53% 1.19%
2065 -0.51% 1.22%
2064 -0.49% 1.25%
2063 -0.47% 1.28%
2062 -0.45% 1.33%
2061 -0.44% 1.35%
2060 -0.41% 1.38%
2059 -0.39% 1.37%
2058 -0.37% 1.41%
2057 -0.34% 1.47%
2056 -0.32% 1.46%
2055 -0.29% 1.51%
2054 -0.26% 1.53%
2053 -0.23% 1.57%
2052 -0.2% 1.63%
2051 -0.17% 1.63%
2050 -0.14% 1.67%
2049 -0.11% 1.7%
2048 -0.09% 1.74%
2047 -0.06% 1.76%
2046 -0.03% 1.78%
2045 0.002% 1.82%
2044 0.03% 1.86%
2043 0.05% 1.88%
2042 0.08% 1.9%
2041 0.11% 1.94%
2040 0.13% 1.97%
2039 0.16% 2%
2038 0.18% 2.03%
2037 0.2% 2.07%
2036 0.23% 2.11%
2035 0.25% 2.14%
2034 0.27% 2.17%
2033 0.29% 2.25%
2032 0.31% 2.28%
2031 0.33% 2.33%
2030 0.35% 2.38%
2029 0.37% 2.41%
2028 0.39% 2.47%
2027 0.41% 2.51%
2026 0.44% 2.55%
2025 0.46% 2.62%
2024 0.48% 2.62%
2023 0.47% 2.64%
2022 0.43% 2.66%
2021 0.51% 2.71%
2020 0.7% 2.75%
2019 0.84% 2.73%
2018 0.91% 2.73%
2017 0.95% 2.76%
2016 1.02% 2.74%
2015 1.07% 2.72%
2014 1.08% 2.72%
2013 1.12% 2.76%
2012 1.17% 2.84%
2011 1.18% 2.88%
2010 1.25% 2.88%
2009 1.35% 2.88%
2008 1.37% 2.94%
2007 1.36% 2.97%
2006 1.41% 2.98%
2005 1.46% 3.01%
2004 1.48% 3.04%
2003 1.55% 3.07%
2002 1.67% 3.09%
2001 1.81% 3.08%
2000 1.96% 3.12%
1999 2.1% 3.17%
1998 2.19% 3.19%
1997 2.29% 3.26%
1996 2.37% 3.35%
1995 2.44% 3.46%
1994 2.49% 3.54%
1993 2.53% 3.58%
1992 2.56% 4.3%
1991 2.58% 4.43%
1990 2.56% 3.77%
1989 2.55% 3.92%
1988 2.61% 3.98%
1987 2.68% 3.47%
1986 2.75% 3%
1985 2.79% 2.86%
1984 2.79% 2.64%
1983 2.79% 2.83%
1982 2.77% 3.96%
1981 2.76% 2.54%
1980 2.76% 0.55%
1979 2.74% 1.49%
1978 2.7% 1.71%
1977 2.67% 1.95%
1976 2.63% 2.56%
1975 2.6% 2.47%
1974 2.58% 2.62%
1973 2.58% 2.7%
1972 2.63% 2.71%
1971 2.7% 2.77%
1970 2.78% 2.79%
1969 2.85% 2.79%
1968 2.97% 2.8%
1967 3.14% 2.68%
1966 3.27% 2.64%
1965 3.41% 2.72%
1964 3.53% 2.67%
1963 3.65% 2.61%
1962 3.74% 2.55%
1961 3.8% 2.48%

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/ethiopia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Ethiopia's population grew by 2.62%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Ethiopia
Current population
5181862
139917664
Population rank 126/197 10/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 1.69%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
9.36 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
7.68 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
41.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +67 +9,228
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +3,368,075
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.62%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 25/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
21.9 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +24,054
Net migration rank 63/196 31/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 1,168,455
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 53/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 157/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Ethiopia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 24,054
2024 - 967 - 30,069
2023 24,109 995 3,338,649 -11,996
2022 21,409 1,006 3,300,114 -11,996
2021 20,119 1,018 3,204,673 -1,377
2020 29,164 1,029 3,199,718 38,866
2019 37,682 1,653 3,132,780 -10,807
2018 42,469 1,673 3,015,231 9,302
2017 43,471 1,671 2,899,143 71,766
2016 45,565 1,649 2,809,889 115,823
2015 49,077 1,617 2,713,529 62,785
2014 49,559 1,589 2,623,647 103,122
2013 49,227 1,579 2,546,020 80,955
2012 52,036 1,587 2,533,398 119,517
2011 52,884 1,695 2,527,811 116,793
2010 50,803 2,357 2,498,048 80,213
2009 55,757 3,432 2,467,118 16,315
2008 56,491 3,794 2,465,283 -20,780
2007 55,244 4,080 2,436,753 -381
2006 54,177 4,321 2,393,585 -30,512
2005 57,139 4,567 2,353,375 -44,421
2004 55,769 4,856 2,296,999 -25,430
2003 56,743 5,216 2,231,223 -13,744
2002 58,388 5,812 2,189,683 -12,925
2001 62,199 7,119 2,137,791 -19,063
2000 64,268 8,826 2,083,622 -49,891
1999 64,922 13,253 2,010,987 29,142
1998 64,788 15,556 1,984,989 -3,011
1997 64,954 16,954 1,945,112 -9,119
1996 66,094 17,393 1,896,364 41,456
1995 67,585 16,609 1,831,068 91,727
1994 68,336 15,587 1,788,133 140,715
1993 69,016 14,431 1,734,851 141,545
1992 69,830 13,069 1,673,839 160,106
1991 70,506 10,757 1,579,416 859,737
1990 71,727 7,949 1,479,663 296,014
1989 72,327 3,758 1,441,769 242,614
1988 72,944 2,414 1,393,356 379,966
1987 73,188 2,267 1,356,853 251,387
1986 73,211 2,302 1,050,277 186,227
1985 72,776 2,357 997,050 157,476
1984 71,062 2,402 920,670 137,632
1983 68,972 2,449 863,472 68,022
1982 66,826 2,453 1,080,853 66,702
1981 64,632 2,431 1,018,838 628,135
1980 62,561 2,387 1,007,516 -903,529
1979 60,984 2,349 987,203 -711,455
1978 58,327 2,296 943,388 -210,991
1977 56,122 2,228 929,381 -527,133
1976 54,019 2,129 899,577 -36,125
1975 51,979 1,992 801,425 -42,540
1974 50,349 1,839 777,306 -4,232
1973 48,943 1,468 807,535 347
1972 48,417 1,366 779,808 -3,375
1971 48,341 1,296 787,047 -14,510
1970 48,398 1,137 760,821 8,589
1969 48,790 1,017 736,428 7,258
1968 48,361 939 715,602 9,992
1967 50,193 926 695,283 14,437
1966 50,755 930 616,281 9,160
1965 51,196 932 642,359 16,348
1964 51,435 934 618,667 10,749
1963 51,403 938 590,998 9,418
1962 51,046 934 563,650 8,960
1961 50,149 924 538,518 6,938
1960 48,857 910 511,694 1,696

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/ethiopia | 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 Ethiopia 98.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,237,373 people) and 1.19% is from migration (a gain of 365,488 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 1,168,455 people or 0.9% in Ethiopia.

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
Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K

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/ethiopia | 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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