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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 35,064,272 people in Ghana in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 36,032,857 in Ghana.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 6.95 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Ghana is the 46th.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.43% for Ghana.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +2.05% in Ghana.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Ghana has grown from 23M to 36M (56.4% growth).

Costa Rica vs Ghana: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Ghana
2100 3,803,678 68,117,614
2099 3,841,913 68,008,028
2098 3,880,484 67,888,410
2097 3,919,475 67,759,128
2096 3,958,826 67,625,262
2095 3,998,552 67,481,344
2094 4,038,516 67,325,992
2093 4,078,807 67,162,890
2092 4,119,351 66,991,846
2091 4,160,111 66,804,098
2090 4,200,989 66,605,276
2089 4,241,888 66,395,029
2088 4,282,758 66,173,453
2087 4,323,650 65,937,323
2086 4,364,399 65,699,827
2085 4,404,935 65,451,666
2084 4,445,179 65,196,037
2083 4,485,048 64,922,457
2082 4,524,570 64,638,242
2081 4,563,658 64,342,209
2080 4,602,126 64,034,249
2079 4,640,060 63,717,528
2078 4,677,313 63,384,648
2077 4,713,901 63,046,955
2076 4,749,678 62,699,375
2075 4,784,723 62,337,964
2074 4,819,050 61,974,725
2073 4,852,492 61,604,458
2072 4,885,078 61,227,111
2071 4,916,792 60,835,024
2070 4,947,655 60,442,399
2069 4,977,764 60,041,679
2068 5,006,939 59,627,097
2067 5,035,207 59,203,373
2066 5,062,849 58,774,846
2065 5,089,797 58,341,378
2064 5,115,866 57,893,305
2063 5,141,239 57,439,982
2062 5,165,574 56,974,922
2061 5,189,146 56,500,340
2060 5,211,857 56,019,906
2059 5,233,370 55,529,609
2058 5,253,830 55,031,460
2057 5,273,143 54,524,491
2056 5,291,310 54,007,205
2055 5,308,124 53,481,428
2054 5,323,598 52,949,003
2053 5,337,707 52,407,089
2052 5,350,263 51,859,418
2051 5,361,152 51,300,839
2050 5,370,484 50,730,296
2049 5,378,189 50,153,221
2048 5,384,366 49,567,895
2047 5,388,962 48,972,414
2046 5,391,996 48,373,367
2045 5,393,493 47,766,811
2044 5,393,407 47,154,486
2043 5,391,873 46,538,892
2042 5,388,912 45,916,531
2041 5,384,386 45,291,657
2040 5,378,629 44,660,573
2039 5,371,473 44,029,228
2038 5,362,904 43,393,321
2037 5,353,217 42,752,045
2036 5,342,317 42,112,269
2035 5,330,286 41,470,624
2034 5,317,189 40,823,789
2033 5,302,930 40,176,026
2032 5,287,714 39,532,216
2031 5,271,514 38,892,407
2030 5,254,366 38,251,174
2029 5,236,206 37,616,078
2028 5,217,031 36,978,847
2027 5,196,723 36,342,429
2026 5,175,408 35,705,894
2025 5,152,950 35,064,272
2024 5,129,910 34,427,414
2023 5,105,525 33,787,914
2022 5,081,765 33,149,152
2021 5,059,988 32,518,665
2020 5,034,320 31,887,809
2019 4,999,553 31,258,945
2018 4,957,818 30,637,585
2017 4,913,177 30,008,354
2016 4,866,998 29,356,742
2015 4,818,038 28,696,068
2014 4,767,119 28,041,592
2013 4,716,147 27,386,193
2012 4,663,934 26,734,268
2011 4,609,833 26,095,088
2010 4,555,962 25,474,995
2009 4,499,791 24,862,664
2008 4,440,056 24,249,946
2007 4,380,248 23,642,279
2006 4,321,340 23,040,702
2005 4,261,240 22,449,438
2004 4,200,078 21,868,298
2003 4,138,784 21,296,705
2002 4,075,705 20,729,388
2001 4,008,947 20,167,069
2000 3,937,739 19,637,087
1999 3,862,101 19,149,864
1998 3,782,838 18,688,036
1997 3,701,711 18,238,958
1996 3,619,013 17,810,181
1995 3,535,176 17,399,017
1994 3,451,122 16,993,190
1993 3,367,434 16,589,519
1992 3,284,258 16,184,855
1991 3,202,176 15,787,496
1990 3,121,706 15,394,648
1989 3,043,827 15,006,813
1988 2,968,103 14,636,568
1987 2,892,699 14,289,108
1986 2,817,216 13,965,217
1985 2,741,894 13,661,229
1984 2,667,595 13,370,590
1983 2,595,153 13,029,836
1982 2,524,806 12,643,819
1981 2,456,637 12,281,712
1980 2,390,633 11,941,448
1979 2,326,490 11,597,255
1978 2,264,510 11,248,450
1977 2,205,025 10,911,871
1976 2,147,774 10,594,913
1975 2,092,719 10,294,308
1974 2,039,643 10,000,523
1973 1,988,343 9,714,617
1972 1,938,248 9,438,187
1971 1,888,539 9,176,264
1970 1,838,949 8,925,813
1969 1,789,276 8,690,383
1968 1,739,731 8,475,729
1967 1,689,523 8,271,913
1966 1,638,116 8,074,521
1965 1,586,208 7,882,606
1964 1,533,960 7,695,739
1963 1,481,604 7,514,714
1962 1,429,445 7,337,375
1961 1,377,920 7,162,667
1960 1,327,496 6,961,215

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/ghana | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Ghana gained 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Ghana's population increased by 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Ghana was ranked 48th in 2006 and ranked 46th 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 Ghana will increase by 40.8% to 50,730,296 people and rank change from 46th to 43rd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 68.1M people in 2100 for Ghana.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Ghana
2100 -1% 0.16%
2099 -0.99% 0.18%
2098 -0.99% 0.19%
2097 -0.99% 0.2%
2096 -0.99% 0.21%
2095 -0.99% 0.23%
2094 -0.99% 0.24%
2093 -0.98% 0.26%
2092 -0.98% 0.28%
2091 -0.97% 0.3%
2090 -0.96% 0.32%
2089 -0.95% 0.33%
2088 -0.95% 0.36%
2087 -0.93% 0.36%
2086 -0.92% 0.38%
2085 -0.91% 0.39%
2084 -0.89% 0.42%
2083 -0.87% 0.44%
2082 -0.86% 0.46%
2081 -0.84% 0.48%
2080 -0.82% 0.5%
2079 -0.8% 0.53%
2078 -0.78% 0.54%
2077 -0.75% 0.55%
2076 -0.73% 0.58%
2075 -0.71% 0.59%
2074 -0.69% 0.6%
2073 -0.67% 0.62%
2072 -0.65% 0.64%
2071 -0.62% 0.65%
2070 -0.6% 0.67%
2069 -0.58% 0.7%
2068 -0.56% 0.72%
2067 -0.55% 0.73%
2066 -0.53% 0.74%
2065 -0.51% 0.77%
2064 -0.49% 0.79%
2063 -0.47% 0.82%
2062 -0.45% 0.84%
2061 -0.44% 0.86%
2060 -0.41% 0.88%
2059 -0.39% 0.91%
2058 -0.37% 0.93%
2057 -0.34% 0.96%
2056 -0.32% 0.98%
2055 -0.29% 1.01%
2054 -0.26% 1.03%
2053 -0.23% 1.06%
2052 -0.2% 1.09%
2051 -0.17% 1.12%
2050 -0.14% 1.15%
2049 -0.11% 1.18%
2048 -0.09% 1.22%
2047 -0.06% 1.24%
2046 -0.03% 1.27%
2045 0.002% 1.3%
2044 0.03% 1.32%
2043 0.05% 1.36%
2042 0.08% 1.38%
2041 0.11% 1.41%
2040 0.13% 1.43%
2039 0.16% 1.47%
2038 0.18% 1.5%
2037 0.2% 1.52%
2036 0.23% 1.55%
2035 0.25% 1.58%
2034 0.27% 1.61%
2033 0.29% 1.63%
2032 0.31% 1.65%
2031 0.33% 1.68%
2030 0.35% 1.69%
2029 0.37% 1.72%
2028 0.39% 1.75%
2027 0.41% 1.78%
2026 0.44% 1.83%
2025 0.45% 1.85%
2024 0.48% 1.89%
2023 0.47% 1.93%
2022 0.43% 1.94%
2021 0.51% 1.98%
2020 0.7% 2.01%
2019 0.84% 2.03%
2018 0.91% 2.1%
2017 0.95% 2.22%
2016 1.02% 2.3%
2015 1.07% 2.33%
2014 1.08% 2.39%
2013 1.12% 2.44%
2012 1.17% 2.45%
2011 1.18% 2.43%
2010 1.25% 2.46%
2009 1.35% 2.53%
2008 1.37% 2.57%
2007 1.36% 2.61%
2006 1.41% 2.63%
2005 1.46% 2.66%
2004 1.48% 2.68%
2003 1.55% 2.74%
2002 1.67% 2.79%
2001 1.81% 2.7%
2000 1.96% 2.54%
1999 2.1% 2.47%
1998 2.19% 2.46%
1997 2.29% 2.41%
1996 2.37% 2.36%
1995 2.44% 2.39%
1994 2.49% 2.43%
1993 2.53% 2.5%
1992 2.56% 2.52%
1991 2.58% 2.55%
1990 2.56% 2.58%
1989 2.55% 2.53%
1988 2.61% 2.43%
1987 2.68% 2.32%
1986 2.75% 2.23%
1985 2.79% 2.17%
1984 2.79% 2.62%
1983 2.79% 3.05%
1982 2.77% 2.95%
1981 2.76% 2.85%
1980 2.76% 2.97%
1979 2.74% 3.1%
1978 2.7% 3.08%
1977 2.67% 2.99%
1976 2.63% 2.92%
1975 2.6% 2.94%
1974 2.58% 2.94%
1973 2.58% 2.93%
1972 2.63% 2.85%
1971 2.7% 2.81%
1970 2.78% 2.71%
1969 2.85% 2.53%
1968 2.97% 2.46%
1967 3.14% 2.44%
1966 3.27% 2.43%
1965 3.41% 2.43%
1964 3.53% 2.41%
1963 3.65% 2.42%
1962 3.74% 2.44%
1961 3.8% 2.89%

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/ghana | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Ghana's population grew by 1.85%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Ghana
Current population
5186356
36032857
Population rank 126/197 46/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.43%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
49.7 seconds
One birth every
10.3 minutes
35.3 seconds
One death every
18.4 minutes
2.18 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +1,745
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +636,858
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +1.85%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 57/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
30.9 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -17,079
Net migration rank 63/196 150/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 532,286
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 77/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 1.5%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 145/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Ghana
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Ghana
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -17,079
2024 22,699 967 651,057 -13,114
2023 24,109 995 651,094 -10,003
2022 21,409 1,006 646,441 -10,003
2021 20,119 1,018 635,805 -11,259
2020 29,164 1,029 637,469 -291
2019 37,682 1,653 642,403 -21,857
2018 42,469 1,673 641,551 -19,375
2017 43,471 1,671 641,218 -4,913
2016 45,565 1,649 659,910 7,009
2015 49,077 1,617 667,729 -13,306
2014 49,559 1,589 660,829 -6,312
2013 49,227 1,579 658,638 -2,377
2012 52,036 1,587 646,595 1,005
2011 52,884 1,695 631,501 -720
2010 50,803 2,357 613,133 -3,726
2009 55,757 3,432 592,825 22,416
2008 56,491 3,794 579,695 30,506
2007 55,244 4,080 572,332 32,813
2006 54,177 4,321 569,474 28,536
2005 57,139 4,567 563,234 21,272
2004 55,769 4,856 543,339 34,433
2003 56,743 5,216 536,656 28,768
2002 58,388 5,812 528,620 40,573
2001 62,199 7,119 519,382 36,050
2000 64,268 8,826 508,738 -4,206
1999 64,922 13,253 487,210 -17,304
1998 64,788 15,556 471,313 -17,564
1997 64,954 16,954 459,822 -15,409
1996 66,094 17,393 450,259 -37,113
1995 67,585 16,609 451,748 -42,558
1994 68,336 15,587 449,589 -47,120
1993 69,016 14,431 454,669 -49,792
1992 69,830 13,069 452,156 -47,736
1991 70,506 10,757 448,159 -57,878
1990 71,727 7,949 442,211 -46,789
1989 72,327 3,758 432,541 -52,293
1988 72,944 2,414 425,031 -64,810
1987 73,188 2,267 419,328 -84,648
1986 73,211 2,302 411,191 -98,099
1985 72,776 2,357 401,722 -106,855
1984 71,062 2,402 392,053 -105,655
1983 68,972 2,449 379,846 15,276
1982 66,826 2,453 369,061 7,863
1981 64,632 2,431 359,572 -12,296
1980 62,561 2,387 346,816 -13,564
1979 60,984 2,349 334,848 20,291
1978 58,327 2,296 324,428 18,041
1977 56,122 2,228 315,429 15,243
1976 54,019 2,129 305,769 -2,528
1975 51,979 1,992 298,267 -292
1974 50,349 1,839 290,796 -1,197
1973 48,943 1,468 283,385 -1,168
1972 48,417 1,366 275,236 -4,589
1971 48,341 1,296 265,442 -12,238
1970 48,398 1,137 257,938 -10,233
1969 48,790 1,017 251,925 -28,752
1968 48,361 939 242,821 -36,683
1967 50,193 926 237,156 -35,666
1966 50,755 930 231,440 -38,143
1965 51,196 932 229,061 -38,519
1964 51,435 934 226,685 -43,480
1963 51,403 938 225,367 -46,516
1962 51,046 934 223,842 -48,017
1961 50,149 924 222,372 -48,777
1960 48,857 910 217,134 12,181

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/ghana | 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 Ghana 98.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,474,677 people) and 1.48% is from migration (a loss of 97,112 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 532,286 people or 1.5% in Ghana.

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
Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K

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/ghana | 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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