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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 83,516,593 people in Germany in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 82,575,542 in Germany.

Population statistics:

  • Germany's population is 15.9 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Germany is the 19th.
  • The countries together account for 1.06% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 1% for Germany.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.32% in Germany.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Germany has grown from 82.4M to 82.6M (0.24% growth).

Costa Rica vs Germany: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Germany
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Germany
2100 3,804,183 69,929,981
2099 3,842,423 69,956,854
2098 3,880,999 69,973,838
2097 3,919,996 70,015,834
2096 3,959,352 70,046,713
2095 3,999,084 70,067,131
2094 4,039,053 70,085,911
2093 4,079,349 70,106,718
2092 4,119,898 70,132,132
2091 4,160,663 70,178,440
2090 4,201,548 70,240,137
2089 4,242,452 70,294,005
2088 4,283,327 70,352,443
2087 4,324,225 70,434,814
2086 4,364,979 70,532,124
2085 4,405,520 70,627,602
2084 4,445,770 70,722,960
2083 4,485,644 70,829,392
2082 4,525,171 70,932,273
2081 4,564,265 71,045,881
2080 4,602,737 71,171,519
2079 4,640,677 71,305,544
2078 4,677,935 71,445,484
2077 4,714,527 71,601,117
2076 4,750,309 71,757,525
2075 4,785,359 71,891,567
2074 4,819,691 72,046,795
2073 4,853,137 72,206,145
2072 4,885,727 72,356,324
2071 4,917,445 72,517,749
2070 4,948,313 72,664,462
2069 4,978,425 72,828,330
2068 5,007,604 72,993,859
2067 5,035,877 73,178,408
2066 5,063,521 73,370,207
2065 5,090,474 73,561,648
2064 5,116,546 73,762,096
2063 5,141,922 73,971,537
2062 5,166,260 74,198,775
2061 5,189,836 74,426,082
2060 5,212,549 74,678,280
2059 5,234,066 74,932,496
2058 5,254,528 75,206,278
2057 5,273,844 75,482,742
2056 5,292,013 75,756,281
2055 5,308,829 76,041,477
2054 5,324,305 76,325,196
2053 5,338,417 76,595,801
2052 5,350,974 76,839,962
2051 5,361,865 77,084,029
2050 5,371,197 77,325,459
2049 5,378,904 77,569,721
2048 5,385,081 77,818,888
2047 5,389,678 78,049,343
2046 5,392,713 78,272,834
2045 5,394,209 78,497,690
2044 5,394,124 78,722,126
2043 5,392,590 78,936,540
2042 5,389,628 79,130,312
2041 5,385,101 79,324,161
2040 5,379,344 79,536,735
2039 5,372,186 79,754,631
2038 5,363,617 79,978,474
2037 5,353,928 80,194,225
2036 5,343,027 80,425,162
2035 5,330,994 80,640,951
2034 5,317,895 80,844,719
2033 5,303,634 81,069,119
2032 5,288,416 81,286,326
2031 5,272,215 81,520,272
2030 5,255,064 81,736,996
2029 5,236,901 81,963,002
2028 5,217,724 82,178,048
2027 5,197,413 82,384,302
2026 5,176,096 82,575,542
2025 5,153,634 83,233,941
2024 5,129,910 83,516,593
2023 5,105,525 83,287,273
2022 5,081,765 83,177,813
2021 5,059,988 83,196,078
2020 5,034,320 83,160,871
2019 4,999,553 83,092,962
2018 4,957,818 82,905,782
2017 4,913,177 82,657,002
2016 4,866,998 82,348,669
2015 4,818,038 81,686,611
2014 4,767,119 80,982,500
2013 4,716,147 80,645,605
2012 4,663,934 80,425,823
2011 4,609,833 80,274,983
2010 4,555,962 81,776,930
2009 4,499,791 81,902,307
2008 4,440,056 82,110,097
2007 4,380,248 82,266,372
2006 4,321,340 82,376,451
2005 4,261,240 82,469,422
2004 4,200,078 82,516,260
2003 4,138,784 82,534,176
2002 4,075,705 82,488,495
2001 4,008,947 82,349,925
2000 3,937,739 82,211,508
1999 3,862,101 82,100,243
1998 3,782,838 82,047,195
1997 3,701,711 82,034,771
1996 3,619,013 81,914,831
1995 3,535,176 81,678,051
1994 3,451,122 81,438,348
1993 3,367,434 81,156,363
1992 3,284,258 80,624,598
1991 3,202,176 80,013,896
1990 3,121,706 79,433,029
1989 3,043,827 78,751,283
1988 2,968,103 78,144,619
1987 2,892,699 77,839,920
1986 2,817,216 77,720,436
1985 2,741,894 77,684,873
1984 2,667,595 77,858,685
1983 2,595,153 78,128,282
1982 2,524,806 78,333,366
1981 2,456,637 78,407,907
1980 2,390,633 78,288,576
1979 2,326,490 78,126,350
1978 2,264,510 78,091,820
1977 2,205,025 78,159,814
1976 2,147,774 78,336,950
1975 2,092,719 78,673,554
1974 2,039,643 78,967,433
1973 1,988,343 78,936,666
1972 1,938,248 78,688,452
1971 1,888,539 78,312,842
1970 1,838,949 78,169,289
1969 1,789,276 77,909,682
1968 1,739,731 77,294,314
1967 1,689,523 76,951,336
1966 1,638,116 76,600,311
1965 1,586,208 75,963,695
1964 1,533,960 75,318,337
1963 1,481,604 74,714,353
1962 1,429,445 74,025,784
1961 1,377,920 73,377,632
1960 1,327,496 72,814,900

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/germany | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Germany lost 27,782 people (a 0.03% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Germany's population increased by 226,873 people (a 0.28% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Germany was ranked 14th in 2006 and ranked 19th 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 Germany will decrease by 6.36% to 77,325,459 people and rank change from 19th to 25th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Germany's population already peaked in 2024 at 83.5M people and is projected to decrease to 69.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Germany
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Germany
2100 -1% -0.04%
2099 -0.99% -0.02%
2098 -0.99% -0.06%
2097 -0.99% -0.04%
2096 -0.99% -0.03%
2095 -0.99% -0.03%
2094 -0.99% -0.03%
2093 -0.98% -0.04%
2092 -0.98% -0.07%
2091 -0.97% -0.09%
2090 -0.96% -0.08%
2089 -0.95% -0.08%
2088 -0.95% -0.12%
2087 -0.93% -0.14%
2086 -0.92% -0.14%
2085 -0.91% -0.13%
2084 -0.89% -0.15%
2083 -0.87% -0.15%
2082 -0.86% -0.16%
2081 -0.84% -0.18%
2080 -0.82% -0.19%
2079 -0.8% -0.2%
2078 -0.78% -0.22%
2077 -0.75% -0.22%
2076 -0.73% -0.19%
2075 -0.71% -0.22%
2074 -0.69% -0.22%
2073 -0.67% -0.21%
2072 -0.65% -0.22%
2071 -0.62% -0.2%
2070 -0.6% -0.23%
2069 -0.58% -0.23%
2068 -0.56% -0.25%
2067 -0.55% -0.26%
2066 -0.53% -0.26%
2065 -0.51% -0.27%
2064 -0.49% -0.28%
2063 -0.47% -0.31%
2062 -0.45% -0.31%
2061 -0.44% -0.34%
2060 -0.41% -0.34%
2059 -0.39% -0.36%
2058 -0.37% -0.37%
2057 -0.34% -0.36%
2056 -0.32% -0.38%
2055 -0.29% -0.37%
2054 -0.26% -0.35%
2053 -0.23% -0.32%
2052 -0.2% -0.32%
2051 -0.17% -0.31%
2050 -0.14% -0.31%
2049 -0.11% -0.32%
2048 -0.09% -0.3%
2047 -0.06% -0.29%
2046 -0.03% -0.29%
2045 0.002% -0.29%
2044 0.03% -0.27%
2043 0.05% -0.24%
2042 0.08% -0.24%
2041 0.11% -0.27%
2040 0.13% -0.27%
2039 0.16% -0.28%
2038 0.18% -0.27%
2037 0.2% -0.29%
2036 0.23% -0.27%
2035 0.25% -0.25%
2034 0.27% -0.28%
2033 0.29% -0.27%
2032 0.31% -0.29%
2031 0.33% -0.27%
2030 0.35% -0.28%
2029 0.37% -0.26%
2028 0.39% -0.25%
2027 0.41% -0.23%
2026 0.44% -0.79%
2025 0.46% -0.34%
2024 0.48% 0.28%
2023 0.47% 0.13%
2022 0.43% -0.02%
2021 0.51% 0.04%
2020 0.7% 0.08%
2019 0.84% 0.23%
2018 0.91% 0.3%
2017 0.95% 0.37%
2016 1.02% 0.81%
2015 1.07% 0.87%
2014 1.08% 0.42%
2013 1.12% 0.27%
2012 1.17% 0.19%
2011 1.18% -1.84%
2010 1.25% -0.15%
2009 1.35% -0.25%
2008 1.37% -0.19%
2007 1.36% -0.13%
2006 1.41% -0.11%
2005 1.46% -0.06%
2004 1.48% -0.02%
2003 1.55% 0.06%
2002 1.67% 0.17%
2001 1.81% 0.17%
2000 1.96% 0.14%
1999 2.1% 0.06%
1998 2.19% 0.02%
1997 2.29% 0.15%
1996 2.37% 0.29%
1995 2.44% 0.29%
1994 2.49% 0.35%
1993 2.53% 0.66%
1992 2.56% 0.76%
1991 2.58% 0.73%
1990 2.56% 0.87%
1989 2.55% 0.78%
1988 2.61% 0.39%
1987 2.68% 0.15%
1986 2.75% 0.05%
1985 2.79% -0.22%
1984 2.79% -0.35%
1983 2.79% -0.26%
1982 2.77% -0.1%
1981 2.76% 0.15%
1980 2.76% 0.21%
1979 2.74% 0.04%
1978 2.7% -0.09%
1977 2.67% -0.23%
1976 2.63% -0.43%
1975 2.6% -0.37%
1974 2.58% 0.04%
1973 2.58% 0.32%
1972 2.63% 0.48%
1971 2.7% 0.18%
1970 2.78% 0.33%
1969 2.85% 0.8%
1968 2.97% 0.45%
1967 3.14% 0.46%
1966 3.27% 0.84%
1965 3.41% 0.86%
1964 3.53% 0.81%
1963 3.65% 0.93%
1962 3.74% 0.88%
1961 3.8% 0.77%

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/germany | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Germany's population grew by 0.28%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Germany
Current population
5181862
82575542
Population rank 126/197 19/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 1%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
2.29 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
45.6 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
30.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +67 +628
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +229,320
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.28%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 151/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.58 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -334,072
Net migration rank 63/196 192/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 16,750,084
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 2/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 19.8%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 31/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Germany
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Germany
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -334,072
2024 - 967 - 36,954
2023 24,109 995 -333,149 609,553
2022 21,409 1,006 -324,394 981,552
2021 20,119 1,018 -224,629 310,264
2020 29,164 1,029 -216,218 203,468
2019 37,682 1,653 -157,877 319,082
2018 42,469 1,673 -165,812 403,908
2017 43,471 1,671 -148,783 452,988
2016 45,565 1,649 -123,523 517,480
2015 49,077 1,617 -187,879 1,175,283
2014 49,559 1,589 -153,866 592,338
2013 49,227 1,579 -209,679 462,384
2012 52,036 1,587 -193,022 199,143
2011 52,884 1,695 -184,632 295,282
2010 50,803 2,357 -179,909 130,116
2009 55,757 3,432 -188,375 46,533
2008 56,491 3,794 -164,220 -23,341
2007 55,244 4,080 -148,080 -24,772
2006 54,177 4,321 -148,278 -489,056
2005 57,139 4,567 -148,445 81,351
2004 55,769 4,856 -107,271 81,735
2003 56,743 5,216 -140,309 142,009
2002 58,388 5,812 -123,733 218,795
2001 62,199 7,119 -98,820 272,875
2000 64,268 8,826 -73,990 174,594
1999 64,922 13,253 -73,890 219,280
1998 64,788 15,556 -65,637 -754,469
1997 64,954 16,954 -49,221 93,281
1996 66,094 17,393 -90,107 281,280
1995 67,585 16,609 -114,349 398,077
1994 68,336 15,587 -114,013 315,585
1993 69,016 14,431 -105,503 462,096
1992 69,830 13,069 -80,625 811,606
1991 70,506 10,757 -80,014 602,638
1990 71,727 7,949 -15,887 679,702
1989 72,327 3,758 -23,625 761,002
1988 72,944 2,414 -7,815 515,962
1987 73,188 2,267 -31,136 174,272
1986 73,211 2,302 -77,721 212,822
1985 72,776 2,357 -116,527 103,556
1984 71,062 2,402 -109,002 -150,771
1983 68,972 2,449 -109,380 -81,349
1982 66,826 2,453 -78,333 -58,121
1981 64,632 2,431 -94,090 130,713
1980 62,561 2,387 -86,117 324,203
1979 60,984 2,349 -125,002 237,705
1978 58,327 2,296 -140,566 117,167
1977 56,122 2,228 -125,055 33,881
1976 54,019 2,129 -164,508 -79,761
1975 51,979 1,992 -212,418 -207,740
1974 50,349 1,839 -150,038 -15,126
1973 48,943 1,468 -149,980 386,881
1972 48,417 1,366 -62,950 336,015
1971 48,341 1,296 46,988 450,328
1970 48,398 1,137 70,352 -273,498
1969 48,790 1,017 155,820 584,017
1968 48,361 939 239,612 293,307
1967 50,193 926 353,977 -174,155
1966 50,755 930 405,982 134,107
1965 51,196 932 410,204 338,258
1964 51,435 934 482,038 69,825
1963 51,403 938 455,757 205,976
1962 51,046 934 436,752 276,505
1961 50,149 924 462,279 27,534
1960 48,857 910 385,919 212,666

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/germany | 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 Germany 26.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,036,130 people) and 73.2% is from migration (a gain of 5,565,916 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 16,750,084 people or 19.8% in Germany.

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
Germany
City Population
Berlin 3.78M
Hamburg 1.91M
Munich 1.51M
Cologne 1.09M
Frankfurt 776K
Stuttgart 633K
Dusseldorf 631K
Leipzig 620K
Dortmund 595K
Essen 587K

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/germany | 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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