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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 2,538,952 people in Gabon in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 2,663,339 in Gabon.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 1.95 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 +0.77% per year vs +2.61% in Gabon.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Gabon has grown from 1.51M to 2.66M (76.6% growth).

Costa Rica vs Gabon: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Gabon
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Gabon
2100 3,804,183 6,955,864
2099 3,842,423 6,912,052
2098 3,880,999 6,867,857
2097 3,919,996 6,822,087
2096 3,959,352 6,775,495
2095 3,999,084 6,727,815
2094 4,039,053 6,680,075
2093 4,079,349 6,631,425
2092 4,119,898 6,582,261
2091 4,160,663 6,532,342
2090 4,201,548 6,481,491
2089 4,242,452 6,429,956
2088 4,283,327 6,376,859
2087 4,324,225 6,323,194
2086 4,364,979 6,269,178
2085 4,405,520 6,215,121
2084 4,445,770 6,160,019
2083 4,485,644 6,103,820
2082 4,525,171 6,046,995
2081 4,564,265 5,989,415
2080 4,602,737 5,931,520
2079 4,640,677 5,873,052
2078 4,677,935 5,814,259
2077 4,714,527 5,754,857
2076 4,750,309 5,695,764
2075 4,785,359 5,636,043
2074 4,819,691 5,576,620
2073 4,853,137 5,516,502
2072 4,885,727 5,456,238
2071 4,917,445 5,395,666
2070 4,948,313 5,335,269
2069 4,978,425 5,274,817
2068 5,007,604 5,214,405
2067 5,035,877 5,153,427
2066 5,063,521 5,092,586
2065 5,090,474 5,031,764
2064 5,116,546 4,970,757
2063 5,141,922 4,909,630
2062 5,166,260 4,848,693
2061 5,189,836 4,787,706
2060 5,212,549 4,726,341
2059 5,234,066 4,664,287
2058 5,254,528 4,602,087
2057 5,273,844 4,540,068
2056 5,292,013 4,477,242
2055 5,308,829 4,414,477
2054 5,324,305 4,350,938
2053 5,338,417 4,287,630
2052 5,350,974 4,224,256
2051 5,361,865 4,160,459
2050 5,371,197 4,096,708
2049 5,378,904 4,032,976
2048 5,385,081 3,968,977
2047 5,389,678 3,904,724
2046 5,392,713 3,840,333
2045 5,394,209 3,775,786
2044 5,394,124 3,711,691
2043 5,392,590 3,647,956
2042 5,389,628 3,584,695
2041 5,385,101 3,521,560
2040 5,379,344 3,458,896
2039 5,372,186 3,397,011
2038 5,363,617 3,335,835
2037 5,353,928 3,275,298
2036 5,343,027 3,215,119
2035 5,330,994 3,155,791
2034 5,317,895 3,097,371
2033 5,303,634 3,039,514
2032 5,288,416 2,982,347
2031 5,272,215 2,925,690
2030 5,255,064 2,869,476
2029 5,236,901 2,813,855
2028 5,217,724 2,758,554
2027 5,197,413 2,703,425
2026 5,176,096 2,648,476
2025 5,153,634 2,593,715
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Gabon's population increased by 563,033 people (a 26.8% 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 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th. The population of Gabon will increase by 53.8% to 4,096,708 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 6.96M 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 0.46% 2.16%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Gabon's population grew by 2.18%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Gabon
Current population
5181862
2663339
Population rank 126/197 141/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.03%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
9.7 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
7.65 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
33.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +148
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +54,163
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.18%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 44/197
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 - 967 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/gabon | 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 Gabon 91.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 515,484 people) and 8.86% is from migration (a gain of 50,119 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 (1960–2024, 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/gabon | 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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