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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 68,551,653 people in France in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 68,788,006 in France.

Population statistics:

  • France's population is 13.3 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while France is the 23rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.89% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.83% for France.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.35% in France.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while France has grown from 63.6M to 68.8M (8.12% growth).

Costa Rica vs France: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
France
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica France
2100 3,804,183 70,613,012
2099 3,842,423 70,629,584
2098 3,880,999 70,639,488
2097 3,919,996 70,644,570
2096 3,959,352 70,651,179
2095 3,999,084 70,644,818
2094 4,039,053 70,628,949
2093 4,079,349 70,603,242
2092 4,119,898 70,580,656
2091 4,160,663 70,553,277
2090 4,201,548 70,520,528
2089 4,242,452 70,486,909
2088 4,283,327 70,447,851
2087 4,324,225 70,408,245
2086 4,364,979 70,365,710
2085 4,405,520 70,328,248
2084 4,445,770 70,285,895
2083 4,485,644 70,234,175
2082 4,525,171 70,193,367
2081 4,564,265 70,148,354
2080 4,602,737 70,107,021
2079 4,640,677 70,065,621
2078 4,677,935 70,025,358
2077 4,714,527 69,983,383
2076 4,750,309 69,940,036
2075 4,785,359 69,897,457
2074 4,819,691 69,862,353
2073 4,853,137 69,830,973
2072 4,885,727 69,804,981
2071 4,917,445 69,777,127
2070 4,948,313 69,764,791
2069 4,978,425 69,754,867
2068 5,007,604 69,756,896
2067 5,035,877 69,764,705
2066 5,063,521 69,773,902
2065 5,090,474 69,794,612
2064 5,116,546 69,818,938
2063 5,141,922 69,848,255
2062 5,166,260 69,886,879
2061 5,189,836 69,926,483
2060 5,212,549 69,968,809
2059 5,234,066 70,014,435
2058 5,254,528 70,057,256
2057 5,273,844 70,102,722
2056 5,292,013 70,146,920
2055 5,308,829 70,196,482
2054 5,324,305 70,236,369
2053 5,338,417 70,270,537
2052 5,350,974 70,295,830
2051 5,361,865 70,321,018
2050 5,371,197 70,335,872
2049 5,378,904 70,345,142
2048 5,385,081 70,343,943
2047 5,389,678 70,332,332
2046 5,392,713 70,314,243
2045 5,394,209 70,283,430
2044 5,394,124 70,244,405
2043 5,392,590 70,198,284
2042 5,389,628 70,137,343
2041 5,385,101 70,071,925
2040 5,379,344 70,006,064
2039 5,372,186 69,936,874
2038 5,363,617 69,858,693
2037 5,353,928 69,770,244
2036 5,343,027 69,681,800
2035 5,330,994 69,590,103
2034 5,317,895 69,496,656
2033 5,303,634 69,406,955
2032 5,288,416 69,316,572
2031 5,272,215 69,227,320
2030 5,255,064 69,136,856
2029 5,236,901 69,043,072
2028 5,217,724 68,951,924
2027 5,197,413 68,856,735
2026 5,176,096 68,762,523
2025 5,153,634 68,659,633
2024 5,129,910 68,551,653
2023 5,105,525 68,372,286
2022 5,081,765 68,184,457
2021 5,059,988 67,842,811
2020 5,034,320 67,601,110
2019 4,999,553 67,382,061
2018 4,957,818 67,158,348
2017 4,913,177 66,918,020
2016 4,866,998 66,724,104
2015 4,818,038 66,548,272
2014 4,767,119 66,312,067
2013 4,716,147 65,997,932
2012 4,663,934 65,657,659
2011 4,609,833 65,340,830
2010 4,555,962 65,026,211
2009 4,499,791 64,706,436
2008 4,440,056 64,375,116
2007 4,380,248 64,016,890
2006 4,321,340 63,622,342
2005 4,261,240 63,180,854
2004 4,200,078 62,707,588
2003 4,138,784 62,249,855
2002 4,075,705 61,812,142
2001 4,008,947 61,364,377
2000 3,937,739 60,918,661
1999 3,862,101 60,501,986
1998 3,782,838 60,190,684
1997 3,701,711 59,968,066
1996 3,619,013 59,754,504
1995 3,535,176 59,541,294
1994 3,451,122 59,324,863
1993 3,367,434 59,103,094
1992 3,284,258 58,846,584
1991 3,202,176 58,554,242
1990 3,121,706 58,261,012
1989 3,043,827 57,943,062
1988 2,968,103 57,598,186
1987 2,892,699 57,266,167
1986 2,817,216 56,956,002
1985 2,741,894 56,665,619
1984 2,667,595 56,383,085
1983 2,595,153 56,108,330
1982 2,524,806 55,806,789
1981 2,456,637 55,603,353
1980 2,390,633 55,274,184
1979 2,326,490 54,979,851
1978 2,264,510 54,734,030
1977 2,205,025 54,486,467
1976 2,147,774 54,232,383
1975 2,092,719 54,002,853
1974 2,039,643 53,746,571
1973 1,988,343 53,392,161
1972 1,938,248 52,962,356
1971 1,888,539 52,499,553
1970 1,838,949 52,007,169
1969 1,789,276 51,536,014
1968 1,739,731 51,112,980
1967 1,689,523 50,722,791
1966 1,638,116 50,311,637
1965 1,586,208 49,877,725
1964 1,533,960 49,401,492
1963 1,481,604 48,877,567
1962 1,429,445 48,389,516
1961 1,377,920 47,905,982
1960 1,327,496 47,412,964

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/france | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while France gained 3,101,762 people (a 4.88% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while France's population increased by 2,063,902 people (a 3.09% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. France was ranked 20th in 2006 and ranked 23rd 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 France will increase by 2.25% to 70,335,872 people and rank change from 23rd to 30th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 70.7M people in 2096 for France.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
France
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica France
2100 -1% -0.02%
2099 -0.99% -0.01%
2098 -0.99% -0.007%
2097 -0.99% -0.009%
2096 -0.99% 0.009%
2095 -0.99% 0.02%
2094 -0.99% 0.04%
2093 -0.98% 0.03%
2092 -0.98% 0.04%
2091 -0.97% 0.05%
2090 -0.96% 0.05%
2089 -0.95% 0.06%
2088 -0.95% 0.06%
2087 -0.93% 0.06%
2086 -0.92% 0.05%
2085 -0.91% 0.06%
2084 -0.89% 0.07%
2083 -0.87% 0.06%
2082 -0.86% 0.06%
2081 -0.84% 0.06%
2080 -0.82% 0.06%
2079 -0.8% 0.06%
2078 -0.78% 0.06%
2077 -0.75% 0.06%
2076 -0.73% 0.06%
2075 -0.71% 0.05%
2074 -0.69% 0.04%
2073 -0.67% 0.04%
2072 -0.65% 0.04%
2071 -0.62% 0.02%
2070 -0.6% 0.01%
2069 -0.58% -0.003%
2068 -0.56% -0.01%
2067 -0.55% -0.01%
2066 -0.53% -0.03%
2065 -0.51% -0.03%
2064 -0.49% -0.04%
2063 -0.47% -0.06%
2062 -0.45% -0.06%
2061 -0.44% -0.06%
2060 -0.41% -0.07%
2059 -0.39% -0.06%
2058 -0.37% -0.06%
2057 -0.34% -0.06%
2056 -0.32% -0.07%
2055 -0.29% -0.06%
2054 -0.26% -0.05%
2053 -0.23% -0.04%
2052 -0.2% -0.04%
2051 -0.17% -0.02%
2050 -0.14% -0.01%
2049 -0.11% 0.002%
2048 -0.09% 0.02%
2047 -0.06% 0.03%
2046 -0.03% 0.04%
2045 0.002% 0.06%
2044 0.03% 0.07%
2043 0.05% 0.09%
2042 0.08% 0.09%
2041 0.11% 0.09%
2040 0.13% 0.1%
2039 0.16% 0.11%
2038 0.18% 0.13%
2037 0.2% 0.13%
2036 0.23% 0.13%
2035 0.25% 0.13%
2034 0.27% 0.13%
2033 0.29% 0.13%
2032 0.31% 0.13%
2031 0.33% 0.13%
2030 0.35% 0.14%
2029 0.37% 0.13%
2028 0.39% 0.14%
2027 0.41% 0.14%
2026 0.44% 0.15%
2025 0.46% 0.16%
2024 0.48% 0.26%
2023 0.47% 0.28%
2022 0.43% 0.5%
2021 0.51% 0.36%
2020 0.7% 0.33%
2019 0.84% 0.33%
2018 0.91% 0.36%
2017 0.95% 0.29%
2016 1.02% 0.26%
2015 1.07% 0.36%
2014 1.08% 0.48%
2013 1.12% 0.52%
2012 1.17% 0.48%
2011 1.18% 0.48%
2010 1.25% 0.49%
2009 1.35% 0.51%
2008 1.37% 0.56%
2007 1.36% 0.62%
2006 1.41% 0.7%
2005 1.46% 0.75%
2004 1.48% 0.74%
2003 1.55% 0.71%
2002 1.67% 0.73%
2001 1.81% 0.73%
2000 1.96% 0.69%
1999 2.1% 0.52%
1998 2.19% 0.37%
1997 2.29% 0.36%
1996 2.37% 0.36%
1995 2.44% 0.36%
1994 2.49% 0.38%
1993 2.53% 0.44%
1992 2.56% 0.5%
1991 2.58% 0.5%
1990 2.56% 0.55%
1989 2.55% 0.6%
1988 2.61% 0.58%
1987 2.68% 0.54%
1986 2.75% 0.51%
1985 2.79% 0.5%
1984 2.79% 0.49%
1983 2.79% 0.54%
1982 2.77% 0.37%
1981 2.76% 0.6%
1980 2.76% 0.54%
1979 2.74% 0.45%
1978 2.7% 0.45%
1977 2.67% 0.47%
1976 2.63% 0.43%
1975 2.6% 0.48%
1974 2.58% 0.66%
1973 2.58% 0.81%
1972 2.63% 0.88%
1971 2.7% 0.95%
1970 2.78% 0.91%
1969 2.85% 0.83%
1968 2.97% 0.77%
1967 3.14% 0.82%
1966 3.27% 0.87%
1965 3.41% 0.96%
1964 3.53% 1.07%
1963 3.65% 1.01%
1962 3.74% 1.01%
1961 3.8% 1.04%

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/france | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while France's population grew by 0.26%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica France
Current population
5181862
68788006
Population rank 126/197 23/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.83%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
2.93 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
46.6 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
50.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +67 +491
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +179,367
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.26%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 152/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
5.75 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +91,737
Net migration rank 63/196 18/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 9,186,757
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 5/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 13.8%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 49/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
France
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica France
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 91,737
2024 - 967 - 90,527
2023 24,109 995 47,860 91,862
2022 21,409 1,006 54,547 179,377
2021 20,119 1,018 74,627 131,465
2020 29,164 1,029 67,602 145,593
2019 37,682 1,653 141,503 71,972
2018 42,469 1,673 147,749 132,925
2017 43,471 1,671 160,604 102,984
2016 45,565 1,649 193,500 15,548
2015 49,077 1,617 206,300 -345
2014 49,559 1,589 265,248 52,342
2013 49,227 1,579 244,192 116,297
2012 52,036 1,587 256,065 103,287
2011 52,884 1,695 280,966 70,178
2010 50,803 2,357 286,116 52,644
2009 55,757 3,432 278,238 58,032
2008 56,491 3,794 283,250 79,528
2007 55,244 4,080 288,076 91,973
2006 54,177 4,321 305,387 132,512
2005 57,139 4,567 271,677 191,417
2004 55,769 4,856 282,185 200,629
2003 56,743 5,216 230,325 195,616
2002 58,388 5,812 253,430 191,373
2001 62,199 7,119 263,867 179,476
2000 64,268 8,826 268,042 171,637
1999 64,922 13,253 229,907 169,448
1998 64,788 15,556 222,705 20,216
1997 64,954 16,954 215,885 -15,255
1996 66,094 17,393 221,092 -21,463
1995 67,585 16,609 220,303 -17,128
1994 68,336 15,587 201,704 -4,232
1993 69,016 14,431 224,592 16,892
1992 69,830 13,069 229,502 61,964
1991 70,506 10,757 234,216 35,201
1990 71,727 7,949 238,870 43,323
1989 72,327 3,758 243,361 82,052
1988 72,944 2,414 247,672 69,935
1987 73,188 2,267 251,971 59,890
1986 73,211 2,302 250,606 51,642
1985 72,776 2,357 249,328 66,149
1984 71,062 2,402 248,086 76,175
1983 68,972 2,449 235,655 88,166
1982 66,826 2,453 234,389 81,084
1981 64,632 2,431 222,414 69,365
1980 62,561 2,387 210,042 54,718
1979 60,984 2,349 208,923 34,295
1978 58,327 2,296 213,462 18,692
1977 56,122 2,228 217,946 44,918
1976 54,019 2,129 227,776 59,515
1975 51,979 1,992 248,413 16,139
1974 50,349 1,839 268,733 26,203
1973 48,943 1,468 282,979 103,910
1972 48,417 1,366 296,589 101,223
1971 48,341 1,296 309,747 144,321
1970 48,398 1,137 322,444 182,941
1969 48,790 1,017 329,831 160,403
1968 48,361 939 337,346 113,115
1967 50,193 926 339,843 63,018
1966 50,755 930 352,181 96,097
1965 51,196 932 354,132 82,879
1964 51,435 934 360,631 163,039
1963 51,403 938 361,694 190,925
1962 51,046 934 358,082 141,634
1961 50,149 924 354,504 128,618
1960 48,857 910 346,115 143,032

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/france | 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 France 59.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,359,540 people) and 40.5% is from migration (a gain of 923,723 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 9,186,757 people or 13.8% in France.

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
France
City Population
Paris 2.11M
Marseille 886K
Lyon 519K
Toulouse 515K
Nice 358K
Nantes 328K
Montpellier 310K
Strasbourg 294K
Bordeaux 268K
Lille 238K

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/france | 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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