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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 2,593,130 people in Gabon in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 2,676,097 in Gabon.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 1.94 times bigger than Gabon's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Gabon is the 141st.
  • The countries together account for 0.09% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.03% for Gabon.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +2.49% in Gabon.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Gabon has grown from 1.51M to 2.68M (77.4% growth).

Costa Rica vs Gabon: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Gabon
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Gabon
2100 3,803,678 6,954,294
2099 3,841,913 6,910,493
2098 3,880,484 6,866,307
2097 3,919,475 6,820,547
2096 3,958,826 6,773,966
2095 3,998,552 6,726,296
2094 4,038,516 6,678,568
2093 4,078,807 6,629,929
2092 4,119,351 6,580,775
2091 4,160,111 6,530,868
2090 4,200,989 6,480,029
2089 4,241,888 6,428,505
2088 4,282,758 6,375,420
2087 4,323,650 6,321,768
2086 4,364,399 6,267,763
2085 4,404,935 6,213,719
2084 4,445,179 6,158,629
2083 4,485,048 6,102,442
2082 4,524,570 6,045,631
2081 4,563,658 5,988,064
2080 4,602,126 5,930,182
2079 4,640,060 5,871,726
2078 4,677,313 5,812,947
2077 4,713,901 5,753,559
2076 4,749,678 5,694,479
2075 4,784,723 5,634,771
2074 4,819,050 5,575,361
2073 4,852,492 5,515,257
2072 4,885,078 5,455,007
2071 4,916,792 5,394,448
2070 4,947,655 5,334,065
2069 4,977,764 5,273,626
2068 5,006,939 5,213,228
2067 5,035,207 5,152,264
2066 5,062,849 5,091,437
2065 5,089,797 5,030,629
2064 5,115,866 4,969,636
2063 5,141,239 4,908,522
2062 5,165,574 4,847,599
2061 5,189,146 4,786,626
2060 5,211,857 4,725,275
2059 5,233,370 4,663,235
2058 5,253,830 4,601,048
2057 5,273,143 4,539,043
2056 5,291,310 4,476,231
2055 5,308,124 4,413,481
2054 5,323,598 4,349,956
2053 5,337,707 4,286,663
2052 5,350,263 4,223,303
2051 5,361,152 4,159,520
2050 5,370,484 4,095,784
2049 5,378,189 4,032,066
2048 5,384,366 3,968,081
2047 5,388,962 3,903,843
2046 5,391,996 3,839,466
2045 5,393,493 3,774,934
2044 5,393,407 3,710,854
2043 5,391,873 3,647,133
2042 5,388,912 3,583,886
2041 5,384,386 3,520,765
2040 5,378,629 3,458,116
2039 5,371,473 3,396,244
2038 5,362,904 3,335,082
2037 5,353,217 3,274,559
2036 5,342,317 3,214,394
2035 5,330,286 3,155,079
2034 5,317,189 3,096,672
2033 5,302,930 3,038,828
2032 5,287,714 2,981,674
2031 5,271,514 2,925,030
2030 5,254,366 2,868,829
2029 5,236,206 2,813,220
2028 5,217,031 2,757,931
2027 5,196,723 2,702,815
2026 5,175,408 2,647,878
2025 5,152,950 2,593,130
2024 5,129,910 2,538,952
2023 5,105,525 2,484,789
2022 5,081,765 2,430,747
2021 5,059,988 2,376,722
2020 5,034,320 2,322,539
2019 4,999,553 2,267,706
2018 4,957,818 2,212,318
2017 4,913,177 2,156,900
2016 4,866,998 2,100,306
2015 4,818,038 2,040,989
2014 4,767,119 1,978,399
2013 4,716,147 1,913,059
2012 4,663,934 1,846,889
2011 4,609,833 1,781,985
2010 4,555,962 1,719,879
2009 4,499,791 1,661,556
2008 4,440,056 1,607,175
2007 4,380,248 1,556,237
2006 4,321,340 1,508,337
2005 4,261,240 1,463,495
2004 4,200,078 1,421,609
2003 4,138,784 1,382,350
2002 4,075,705 1,345,135
2001 4,008,947 1,309,589
2000 3,937,739 1,275,572
1999 3,862,101 1,243,016
1998 3,782,838 1,211,736
1997 3,701,711 1,181,439
1996 3,619,013 1,152,015
1995 3,535,176 1,123,213
1994 3,451,122 1,094,720
1993 3,367,434 1,066,405
1992 3,284,258 1,038,380
1991 3,202,176 1,010,818
1990 3,121,706 983,734
1989 3,043,827 957,138
1988 2,968,103 931,020
1987 2,892,699 905,479
1986 2,817,216 880,705
1985 2,741,894 856,726
1984 2,667,595 833,501
1983 2,595,153 811,005
1982 2,524,806 789,286
1981 2,456,637 768,385
1980 2,390,633 748,389
1979 2,326,490 729,375
1978 2,264,510 711,245
1977 2,205,025 693,984
1976 2,147,774 677,628
1975 2,092,719 662,197
1974 2,039,643 647,691
1973 1,988,343 633,995
1972 1,938,248 620,960
1971 1,888,539 608,348
1970 1,838,949 595,846
1969 1,789,276 583,276
1968 1,739,731 572,257
1967 1,689,523 563,108
1966 1,638,116 554,463
1965 1,586,208 546,308
1964 1,533,960 538,657
1963 1,481,604 531,452
1962 1,429,445 524,649
1961 1,377,920 518,266
1960 1,327,496 512,316

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/gabon | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Gabon gained 591,969 people (a 39.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Gabon's population increased by 575,791 people (a 27.4% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Gabon was ranked 147th in 2006 and ranked 141st 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 Gabon will increase by 53.1% to 4,095,784 people and rank change from 141st to 133rd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 6.95M people in 2100 for Gabon.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Gabon
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Gabon
2100 -1% 0.63%
2099 -0.99% 0.64%
2098 -0.99% 0.67%
2097 -0.99% 0.69%
2096 -0.99% 0.71%
2095 -0.99% 0.71%
2094 -0.99% 0.73%
2093 -0.98% 0.75%
2092 -0.98% 0.76%
2091 -0.97% 0.78%
2090 -0.96% 0.8%
2089 -0.95% 0.83%
2088 -0.95% 0.85%
2087 -0.93% 0.86%
2086 -0.92% 0.87%
2085 -0.91% 0.89%
2084 -0.89% 0.92%
2083 -0.87% 0.94%
2082 -0.86% 0.96%
2081 -0.84% 0.98%
2080 -0.82% 1%
2079 -0.8% 1.01%
2078 -0.78% 1.03%
2077 -0.75% 1.04%
2076 -0.73% 1.06%
2075 -0.71% 1.07%
2074 -0.69% 1.09%
2073 -0.67% 1.1%
2072 -0.65% 1.12%
2071 -0.62% 1.13%
2070 -0.6% 1.15%
2069 -0.58% 1.16%
2068 -0.56% 1.18%
2067 -0.55% 1.19%
2066 -0.53% 1.21%
2065 -0.51% 1.23%
2064 -0.49% 1.25%
2063 -0.47% 1.26%
2062 -0.45% 1.27%
2061 -0.44% 1.3%
2060 -0.41% 1.33%
2059 -0.39% 1.35%
2058 -0.37% 1.37%
2057 -0.34% 1.4%
2056 -0.32% 1.42%
2055 -0.29% 1.46%
2054 -0.26% 1.48%
2053 -0.23% 1.5%
2052 -0.2% 1.53%
2051 -0.17% 1.56%
2050 -0.14% 1.58%
2049 -0.11% 1.61%
2048 -0.09% 1.65%
2047 -0.06% 1.68%
2046 -0.03% 1.71%
2045 0.002% 1.73%
2044 0.03% 1.75%
2043 0.05% 1.76%
2042 0.08% 1.79%
2041 0.11% 1.81%
2040 0.13% 1.82%
2039 0.16% 1.83%
2038 0.18% 1.85%
2037 0.2% 1.87%
2036 0.23% 1.88%
2035 0.25% 1.89%
2034 0.27% 1.9%
2033 0.29% 1.92%
2032 0.31% 1.94%
2031 0.33% 1.96%
2030 0.35% 1.98%
2029 0.37% 2%
2028 0.39% 2.04%
2027 0.41% 2.07%
2026 0.44% 2.11%
2025 0.45% 2.13%
2024 0.48% 2.18%
2023 0.47% 2.22%
2022 0.43% 2.27%
2021 0.51% 2.33%
2020 0.7% 2.42%
2019 0.84% 2.5%
2018 0.91% 2.57%
2017 0.95% 2.69%
2016 1.02% 2.91%
2015 1.07% 3.16%
2014 1.08% 3.42%
2013 1.12% 3.58%
2012 1.17% 3.64%
2011 1.18% 3.61%
2010 1.25% 3.51%
2009 1.35% 3.38%
2008 1.37% 3.27%
2007 1.36% 3.18%
2006 1.41% 3.06%
2005 1.46% 2.95%
2004 1.48% 2.84%
2003 1.55% 2.77%
2002 1.67% 2.71%
2001 1.81% 2.67%
2000 1.96% 2.62%
1999 2.1% 2.58%
1998 2.19% 2.56%
1997 2.29% 2.55%
1996 2.37% 2.56%
1995 2.44% 2.6%
1994 2.49% 2.66%
1993 2.53% 2.7%
1992 2.56% 2.73%
1991 2.58% 2.75%
1990 2.56% 2.78%
1989 2.55% 2.81%
1988 2.61% 2.82%
1987 2.68% 2.81%
1986 2.75% 2.8%
1985 2.79% 2.79%
1984 2.79% 2.77%
1983 2.79% 2.75%
1982 2.77% 2.72%
1981 2.76% 2.67%
1980 2.76% 2.61%
1979 2.74% 2.55%
1978 2.7% 2.49%
1977 2.67% 2.41%
1976 2.63% 2.33%
1975 2.6% 2.24%
1974 2.58% 2.16%
1973 2.58% 2.1%
1972 2.63% 2.07%
1971 2.7% 2.1%
1970 2.78% 2.16%
1969 2.85% 1.93%
1968 2.97% 1.62%
1967 3.14% 1.56%
1966 3.27% 1.49%
1965 3.41% 1.42%
1964 3.53% 1.36%
1963 3.65% 1.3%
1962 3.74% 1.23%
1961 3.8% 1.16%

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/gabon | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Gabon's population grew by 2.13%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Gabon
Current population
5186356
2676097
Population rank 126/197 141/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.03%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
9.73 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
7.63 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
33.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +148
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +54,178
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +2.13%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 42/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
7.87 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 +1,116
Net migration rank 63/196 62/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 449,746
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 84/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 17.7%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 34/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Gabon
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Gabon
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 1,116
2024 22,699 967 53,067 1,105
2023 24,109 995 53,167 987
2022 21,409 1,006 52,944 987
2021 20,119 1,018 52,611 1,503
2020 29,164 1,029 52,745 1,506
2019 37,682 1,653 53,185 2,233
2018 42,469 1,673 52,476 2,886
2017 43,471 1,671 51,455 4,013
2016 45,565 1,649 50,321 7,398
2015 49,077 1,617 48,876 12,041
2014 49,559 1,589 47,704 16,565
2013 49,227 1,579 46,829 19,587
2012 52,036 1,587 45,941 19,973
2011 52,884 1,695 44,922 18,967
2010 50,803 2,357 43,061 17,274
2009 55,757 3,432 41,037 15,277
2008 56,491 3,794 39,002 13,441
2007 55,244 4,080 37,394 12,045
2006 54,177 4,321 35,984 10,382
2005 57,139 4,567 34,766 8,555
2004 55,769 4,856 33,615 6,830
2003 56,743 5,216 32,633 5,434
2002 58,388 5,812 31,777 4,582
2001 62,199 7,119 30,941 3,801
2000 64,268 8,826 30,210 3,086
1999 64,922 13,253 29,330 2,480
1998 64,788 15,556 28,697 2,055
1997 64,954 16,954 28,053 1,786
1996 66,094 17,393 27,450 1,555
1995 67,585 16,609 27,290 1,314
1994 68,336 15,587 27,271 1,110
1993 69,016 14,431 27,235 1,009
1992 69,830 13,069 26,810 990
1991 70,506 10,757 26,334 990
1990 71,727 7,949 25,858 990
1989 72,327 3,758 25,359 990
1988 72,944 2,414 24,888 990
1987 73,188 2,267 24,212 990
1986 73,211 2,302 23,362 990
1985 72,776 2,357 22,617 990
1984 71,062 2,402 21,851 990
1983 68,972 2,449 21,162 990
1982 66,826 2,453 20,292 990
1981 64,632 2,431 19,528 990
1980 62,561 2,387 18,503 990
1979 60,984 2,349 17,553 990
1978 58,327 2,296 16,714 990
1977 56,122 2,228 15,842 972
1976 54,019 2,129 14,998 899
1975 51,979 1,992 14,162 792
1974 50,349 1,839 13,381 680
1973 48,943 1,468 12,731 608
1972 48,417 1,366 12,095 639
1971 48,341 1,296 11,357 1,130
1970 48,398 1,137 10,635 1,882
1969 48,790 1,017 9,969 2,650
1968 48,361 939 9,417 0
1967 50,193 926 8,883 0
1966 50,755 930 8,410 0
1965 51,196 932 7,902 0
1964 51,435 934 7,402 0
1963 51,403 938 7,001 0
1962 51,046 934 6,609 0
1961 50,149 924 6,161 0
1960 48,857 910 5,732 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/gabon | 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 Gabon 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 520,847 people) and 6.24% is from migration (a gain of 34,659 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 449,746 people or 17.7% in Gabon.

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
Gabon
City Population
Libreville 899K
Port-Gentil 155K

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/gabon | CC BY

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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)

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