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Population in Costa Rica compared to the Gambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 2,759,988 people in the Gambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 2,902,554 in the Gambia.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 1.79 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while the Gambia is the 138th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.04% for the Gambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +2.5% in the Gambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while the Gambia has grown from 1.72M to 2.9M (69.2% growth).

Costa Rica vs Gambia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Gambia
2100 3,804,183 5,767,668
2099 3,842,423 5,765,660
2098 3,880,999 5,762,971
2097 3,919,996 5,759,632
2096 3,959,352 5,755,430
2095 3,999,084 5,750,385
2094 4,039,053 5,744,540
2093 4,079,349 5,737,026
2092 4,119,898 5,728,594
2091 4,160,663 5,719,408
2090 4,201,548 5,708,875
2089 4,242,452 5,697,140
2088 4,283,327 5,684,094
2087 4,324,225 5,669,958
2086 4,364,979 5,655,091
2085 4,405,520 5,638,646
2084 4,445,770 5,621,067
2083 4,485,644 5,602,456
2082 4,525,171 5,582,581
2081 4,564,265 5,561,294
2080 4,602,737 5,538,819
2079 4,640,677 5,515,086
2078 4,677,935 5,489,750
2077 4,714,527 5,463,305
2076 4,750,309 5,435,859
2075 4,785,359 5,406,946
2074 4,819,691 5,376,718
2073 4,853,137 5,345,328
2072 4,885,727 5,313,201
2071 4,917,445 5,279,975
2070 4,948,313 5,245,200
2069 4,978,425 5,209,379
2068 5,007,604 5,172,146
2067 5,035,877 5,134,037
2066 5,063,521 5,094,458
2065 5,090,474 5,053,246
2064 5,116,546 5,011,122
2063 5,141,922 4,968,038
2062 5,166,260 4,923,683
2061 5,189,836 4,877,966
2060 5,212,549 4,831,631
2059 5,234,066 4,784,535
2058 5,254,528 4,736,846
2057 5,273,844 4,688,039
2056 5,292,013 4,638,482
2055 5,308,829 4,588,184
2054 5,324,305 4,536,562
2053 5,338,417 4,484,692
2052 5,350,974 4,431,827
2051 5,361,865 4,378,133
2050 5,371,197 4,323,657
2049 5,378,904 4,268,536
2048 5,385,081 4,212,677
2047 5,389,678 4,155,975
2046 5,392,713 4,098,930
2045 5,394,209 4,041,218
2044 5,394,124 3,982,976
2043 5,392,590 3,924,126
2042 5,389,628 3,864,662
2041 5,385,101 3,805,317
2040 5,379,344 3,745,312
2039 5,372,186 3,685,048
2038 5,363,617 3,624,271
2037 5,353,928 3,563,745
2036 5,343,027 3,502,991
2035 5,330,994 3,442,074
2034 5,317,895 3,381,008
2033 5,303,634 3,319,646
2032 5,288,416 3,258,080
2031 5,272,215 3,196,605
2030 5,255,064 3,134,968
2029 5,236,901 3,072,981
2028 5,217,724 3,010,624
2027 5,197,413 2,948,246
2026 5,176,096 2,885,613
2025 5,153,634 2,822,861
2024 5,129,910 2,759,988
2023 5,105,525 2,697,845
2022 5,081,765 2,636,470
2021 5,059,988 2,576,010
2020 5,034,320 2,515,733
2019 4,999,553 2,456,844
2018 4,957,818 2,399,632
2017 4,913,177 2,342,189
2016 4,866,998 2,283,769
2015 4,818,038 2,224,529
2014 4,767,119 2,164,528
2013 4,716,147 2,103,820
2012 4,663,934 2,043,094
2011 4,609,833 1,983,784
2010 4,555,962 1,926,630
2009 4,499,791 1,871,422
2008 4,440,056 1,817,852
2007 4,380,248 1,765,774
2006 4,321,340 1,715,275
2005 4,261,240 1,667,037
2004 4,200,078 1,621,312
2003 4,138,784 1,577,611
2002 4,075,705 1,535,691
2001 4,008,947 1,495,011
2000 3,937,739 1,455,084
1999 3,862,101 1,415,779
1998 3,782,838 1,376,987
1997 3,701,711 1,338,889
1996 3,619,013 1,301,410
1995 3,535,176 1,264,313
1994 3,451,122 1,227,226
1993 3,367,434 1,188,365
1992 3,284,258 1,145,582
1991 3,202,176 1,099,959
1990 3,121,706 1,054,696
1989 3,043,827 1,011,357
1988 2,968,103 970,160
1987 2,892,699 931,091
1986 2,817,216 894,019
1985 2,741,894 858,874
1984 2,667,595 825,631
1983 2,595,153 794,525
1982 2,524,806 765,753
1981 2,456,637 739,125
1980 2,390,633 713,913
1979 2,326,490 689,781
1978 2,264,510 667,103
1977 2,205,025 645,770
1976 2,147,774 625,667
1975 2,092,719 606,821
1974 2,039,643 589,085
1973 1,988,343 571,991
1972 1,938,248 555,370
1971 1,888,539 539,388
1970 1,838,949 524,105
1969 1,789,276 509,440
1968 1,739,731 495,269
1967 1,689,523 481,588
1966 1,638,116 468,516
1965 1,586,208 455,952
1964 1,533,960 443,687
1963 1,481,604 431,757
1962 1,429,445 420,163
1961 1,377,920 408,930
1960 1,327,496 398,060

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/gambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while the Gambia gained 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while the Gambia's population increased by 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. The Gambia was ranked 146th in 2006 and ranked 138th 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 the Gambia will increase by 49% to 4,323,657 people and rank change from 138th to 132nd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 5.77M people in 2100 for the Gambia.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Gambia
2100 -1% 0.03%
2099 -0.99% 0.05%
2098 -0.99% 0.06%
2097 -0.99% 0.07%
2096 -0.99% 0.09%
2095 -0.99% 0.1%
2094 -0.99% 0.13%
2093 -0.98% 0.15%
2092 -0.98% 0.16%
2091 -0.97% 0.18%
2090 -0.96% 0.21%
2089 -0.95% 0.23%
2088 -0.95% 0.25%
2087 -0.93% 0.26%
2086 -0.92% 0.29%
2085 -0.91% 0.31%
2084 -0.89% 0.33%
2083 -0.87% 0.36%
2082 -0.86% 0.38%
2081 -0.84% 0.41%
2080 -0.82% 0.43%
2079 -0.8% 0.46%
2078 -0.78% 0.48%
2077 -0.75% 0.5%
2076 -0.73% 0.53%
2075 -0.71% 0.56%
2074 -0.69% 0.59%
2073 -0.67% 0.6%
2072 -0.65% 0.63%
2071 -0.62% 0.66%
2070 -0.6% 0.69%
2069 -0.58% 0.72%
2068 -0.56% 0.74%
2067 -0.55% 0.78%
2066 -0.53% 0.82%
2065 -0.51% 0.84%
2064 -0.49% 0.87%
2063 -0.47% 0.9%
2062 -0.45% 0.94%
2061 -0.44% 0.96%
2060 -0.41% 0.98%
2059 -0.39% 1.01%
2058 -0.37% 1.04%
2057 -0.34% 1.07%
2056 -0.32% 1.1%
2055 -0.29% 1.14%
2054 -0.26% 1.16%
2053 -0.23% 1.19%
2052 -0.2% 1.23%
2051 -0.17% 1.26%
2050 -0.14% 1.29%
2049 -0.11% 1.33%
2048 -0.09% 1.36%
2047 -0.06% 1.39%
2046 -0.03% 1.43%
2045 0.002% 1.46%
2044 0.03% 1.5%
2043 0.05% 1.54%
2042 0.08% 1.56%
2041 0.11% 1.6%
2040 0.13% 1.64%
2039 0.16% 1.68%
2038 0.18% 1.7%
2037 0.2% 1.73%
2036 0.23% 1.77%
2035 0.25% 1.81%
2034 0.27% 1.85%
2033 0.29% 1.89%
2032 0.31% 1.92%
2031 0.33% 1.97%
2030 0.35% 2.02%
2029 0.37% 2.07%
2028 0.39% 2.12%
2027 0.41% 2.17%
2026 0.44% 2.22%
2025 0.46% 2.28%
2024 0.48% 2.3%
2023 0.47% 2.33%
2022 0.43% 2.35%
2021 0.51% 2.4%
2020 0.7% 2.4%
2019 0.84% 2.38%
2018 0.91% 2.45%
2017 0.95% 2.56%
2016 1.02% 2.66%
2015 1.07% 2.77%
2014 1.08% 2.89%
2013 1.12% 2.97%
2012 1.17% 2.99%
2011 1.18% 2.97%
2010 1.25% 2.95%
2009 1.35% 2.95%
2008 1.37% 2.95%
2007 1.36% 2.94%
2006 1.41% 2.89%
2005 1.46% 2.82%
2004 1.48% 2.77%
2003 1.55% 2.73%
2002 1.67% 2.72%
2001 1.81% 2.74%
2000 1.96% 2.78%
1999 2.1% 2.82%
1998 2.19% 2.85%
1997 2.29% 2.88%
1996 2.37% 2.93%
1995 2.44% 3.02%
1994 2.49% 3.27%
1993 2.53% 3.73%
1992 2.56% 4.15%
1991 2.58% 4.29%
1990 2.56% 4.29%
1989 2.55% 4.25%
1988 2.61% 4.2%
1987 2.68% 4.15%
1986 2.75% 4.09%
1985 2.79% 4.03%
1984 2.79% 3.92%
1983 2.79% 3.76%
1982 2.77% 3.6%
1981 2.76% 3.53%
1980 2.76% 3.5%
1979 2.74% 3.4%
1978 2.7% 3.3%
1977 2.67% 3.21%
1976 2.63% 3.11%
1975 2.6% 3.01%
1974 2.58% 2.99%
1973 2.58% 2.99%
1972 2.63% 2.96%
1971 2.7% 2.92%
1970 2.78% 2.88%
1969 2.85% 2.86%
1968 2.97% 2.84%
1967 3.14% 2.79%
1966 3.27% 2.76%
1965 3.41% 2.76%
1964 3.53% 2.76%
1963 3.65% 2.76%
1962 3.74% 2.75%
1961 3.8% 2.73%

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/gambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while the Gambia's population grew by 2.3%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Gambia
Current population
5181862
2902554
Population rank 126/197 138/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.04%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
8.46 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
6.4 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
31 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +170
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +62,143
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.3%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 37/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
2.94 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -2,984
Net migration rank 63/196 107/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 236,137
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 107/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 8.6%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 72/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Gambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Gambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -2,984
2024 - 967 - -2,989
2023 24,109 995 65,118 -3,000
2022 21,409 1,006 63,634 -3,000
2021 20,119 1,018 62,239 -1,949
2020 29,164 1,029 62,209 -1,949
2019 37,682 1,653 61,701 -4,186
2018 42,469 1,673 60,854 -3,944
2017 43,471 1,671 61,665 -3,696
2016 45,565 1,649 62,358 -3,486
2015 49,077 1,617 62,832 -3,224
2014 49,559 1,589 63,185 -2,793
2013 49,227 1,579 63,510 -2,476
2012 52,036 1,587 62,745 -2,332
2011 52,884 1,695 60,571 -2,360
2010 50,803 2,357 58,554 -2,456
2009 55,757 3,432 56,575 -2,259
2008 56,491 3,794 55,032 -2,204
2007 55,244 4,080 53,653 -2,320
2006 54,177 4,321 52,335 -2,666
2005 57,139 4,567 50,010 -3,209
2004 55,769 4,856 48,276 -3,636
2003 56,743 5,216 46,473 -3,713
2002 58,388 5,812 45,156 -4,067
2001 62,199 7,119 44,154 -3,882
2000 64,268 8,826 43,249 -3,670
1999 64,922 13,253 42,533 -3,493
1998 64,788 15,556 41,842 -3,291
1997 64,954 16,954 40,742 -3,098
1996 66,094 17,393 40,253 -2,948
1995 67,585 16,609 39,681 -2,797
1994 68,336 15,587 38,880 -1,586
1993 69,016 14,431 37,302 3,131
1992 69,830 13,069 35,951 9,182
1991 70,506 10,757 34,584 11,530
1990 71,727 7,949 33,163 11,242
1989 72,327 3,758 31,504 10,765
1988 72,944 2,414 29,938 10,187
1987 73,188 2,267 28,452 9,563
1986 73,211 2,302 27,195 8,934
1985 72,776 2,357 25,795 8,373
1984 71,062 2,402 24,586 7,733
1983 68,972 2,449 23,175 6,713
1982 66,826 2,453 21,894 5,757
1981 64,632 2,431 20,156 5,438
1980 62,561 2,387 19,566 5,268
1979 60,984 2,349 18,543 4,898
1978 58,327 2,296 17,424 4,493
1977 56,122 2,228 16,773 3,969
1976 54,019 2,129 16,032 3,436
1975 51,979 1,992 15,256 2,979
1974 50,349 1,839 14,628 2,610
1973 48,943 1,468 14,046 2,907
1972 48,417 1,366 13,432 2,861
1971 48,341 1,296 12,842 2,817
1970 48,398 1,137 12,128 2,777
1969 48,790 1,017 11,670 2,757
1968 48,361 939 11,215 2,705
1967 50,193 926 10,823 2,617
1966 50,755 930 10,422 2,272
1965 51,196 932 10,162 2,272
1964 51,435 934 9,825 2,272
1963 51,403 938 9,493 2,272
1962 51,046 934 9,150 2,272
1961 50,149 924 8,778 2,272
1960 48,857 910 8,420 2,272

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/gambia | 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 the Gambia 95.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 625,795 people) and 4.75% is from migration (a loss of 31,227 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 236,137 people or 8.6% in the Gambia.

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
Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K

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/gambia | 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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