Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 135,472,051 people in Ethiopia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 140,722,974 in Ethiopia.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 27.1 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 1.76% 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 +0.71% per year vs +2.69% in Ethiopia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Ethiopia has grown from 80.7M to 141M (74.4% growth).

Costa Rica vs Ethiopia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Ethiopia
2100 3,803,678 371,078,260
2099 3,841,913 369,338,252
2098 3,880,484 367,513,542
2097 3,919,475 365,567,496
2096 3,958,826 363,536,294
2095 3,998,552 361,596,042
2094 4,038,516 359,531,317
2093 4,078,807 357,460,480
2092 4,119,351 355,389,829
2091 4,160,111 353,218,632
2090 4,200,989 350,960,021
2089 4,241,888 348,751,618
2088 4,282,758 346,517,326
2087 4,323,650 344,162,324
2086 4,364,399 341,671,994
2085 4,404,935 339,167,930
2084 4,445,179 336,649,520
2083 4,485,048 334,083,247
2082 4,524,570 331,401,460
2081 4,563,658 328,715,487
2080 4,602,126 326,013,981
2079 4,640,060 323,282,865
2078 4,677,313 320,422,535
2077 4,713,901 317,492,915
2076 4,749,678 314,518,328
2075 4,784,723 311,487,723
2074 4,819,050 308,416,133
2073 4,852,492 305,383,505
2072 4,885,078 302,258,564
2071 4,916,792 299,119,280
2070 4,947,655 295,963,235
2069 4,977,764 292,756,723
2068 5,006,939 289,522,748
2067 5,035,207 286,191,689
2066 5,062,849 282,905,709
2065 5,089,797 279,576,283
2064 5,115,866 276,197,958
2063 5,141,239 272,782,685
2062 5,165,574 269,340,926
2061 5,189,146 265,803,351
2060 5,211,857 262,269,354
2059 5,233,370 258,692,767
2058 5,253,830 255,205,644
2057 5,273,143 251,656,356
2056 5,291,310 248,002,497
2055 5,308,124 244,426,069
2054 5,323,598 240,794,405
2053 5,337,707 237,155,110
2052 5,350,263 233,479,314
2051 5,361,152 229,733,593
2050 5,370,484 226,055,085
2049 5,378,189 222,351,471
2048 5,384,366 218,627,197
2047 5,388,962 214,883,954
2046 5,391,996 211,161,780
2045 5,393,493 207,461,987
2044 5,393,407 203,749,820
2043 5,391,873 200,035,613
2042 5,388,912 196,351,202
2041 5,384,386 192,689,672
2040 5,378,629 189,023,384
2039 5,371,473 185,365,776
2038 5,362,904 181,733,067
2037 5,353,217 178,124,993
2036 5,342,317 174,515,366
2035 5,330,286 170,904,339
2034 5,317,189 167,316,305
2033 5,302,930 163,763,376
2032 5,287,714 160,167,364
2031 5,271,514 156,590,018
2030 5,254,366 153,023,174
2029 5,236,206 149,461,578
2028 5,217,031 145,944,350
2027 5,196,723 142,419,893
2026 5,175,408 138,930,724
2025 5,152,950 135,472,051
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Ethiopia's population increased by 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% 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 3.55% to 5,370,484 people with a rank change from 126th to 127th. The population of Ethiopia will increase by 60.6% to 226,055,085 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 0.45% 2.58%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/ethiopia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Ethiopia's population grew by 2.58%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Ethiopia
Current population
5186356
140722974
Population rank 126/197 10/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 1.69%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
9.27 seconds
One birth every
10.3 minutes
7.59 seconds
One death every
18.4 minutes
40.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +63 +9,349
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +3,412,284
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +2.58%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 24/197
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 22,699 967 3,379,409 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/ethiopia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 96.2% of the population change in Costa Rica is from natural causes (a gain of 335,764 people) and 3.8% is from migration (a gain of 13,278 people). In Ethiopia 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/ethiopia | 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 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.