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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 34,427,414 people in Ghana in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 35,885,254 in Ghana.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 6.93 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 +0.77% per year vs +2.1% in Ghana.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Ghana has grown from 23M to 35.9M (55.7% growth).

Costa Rica vs Ghana: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Ghana
2100 3,804,183 68,131,252
2099 3,842,423 68,021,644
2098 3,880,999 67,902,002
2097 3,919,996 67,772,694
2096 3,959,352 67,638,801
2095 3,999,084 67,494,855
2094 4,039,053 67,339,471
2093 4,079,349 67,176,337
2092 4,119,898 67,005,259
2091 4,160,663 66,817,473
2090 4,201,548 66,618,611
2089 4,242,452 66,408,323
2088 4,283,327 66,186,701
2087 4,324,225 65,950,524
2086 4,364,979 65,712,980
2085 4,405,520 65,464,770
2084 4,445,770 65,209,090
2083 4,485,644 64,935,455
2082 4,525,171 64,651,183
2081 4,564,265 64,355,091
2080 4,602,737 64,047,069
2079 4,640,677 63,730,285
2078 4,677,935 63,397,338
2077 4,714,527 63,059,578
2076 4,750,309 62,711,928
2075 4,785,359 62,350,445
2074 4,819,691 61,987,133
2073 4,853,137 61,616,792
2072 4,885,727 61,239,369
2071 4,917,445 60,847,204
2070 4,948,313 60,454,501
2069 4,978,425 60,053,700
2068 5,007,604 59,639,035
2067 5,035,877 59,215,226
2066 5,063,521 58,786,613
2065 5,090,474 58,353,059
2064 5,116,546 57,904,896
2063 5,141,922 57,451,482
2062 5,166,260 56,986,329
2061 5,189,836 56,511,652
2060 5,212,549 56,031,122
2059 5,234,066 55,540,726
2058 5,254,528 55,042,478
2057 5,273,844 54,535,407
2056 5,292,013 54,018,018
2055 5,308,829 53,492,136
2054 5,324,305 52,959,604
2053 5,338,417 52,417,582
2052 5,350,974 51,869,801
2051 5,361,865 51,311,110
2050 5,371,197 50,740,453
2049 5,378,904 50,163,262
2048 5,385,081 49,577,819
2047 5,389,678 48,982,219
2046 5,392,713 48,383,052
2045 5,394,209 47,776,375
2044 5,394,124 47,163,926
2043 5,392,590 46,548,210
2042 5,389,628 45,925,724
2041 5,385,101 45,300,725
2040 5,379,344 44,669,515
2039 5,372,186 44,038,043
2038 5,363,617 43,402,009
2037 5,353,928 42,760,604
2036 5,343,027 42,120,700
2035 5,330,994 41,478,927
2034 5,317,895 40,831,962
2033 5,303,634 40,184,070
2032 5,288,416 39,540,131
2031 5,272,215 38,900,194
2030 5,255,064 38,258,832
2029 5,236,901 37,623,609
2028 5,217,724 36,986,250
2027 5,197,413 36,349,705
2026 5,176,096 35,713,042
2025 5,153,634 35,071,292
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Ghana's population increased by 6,528,512 people (a 22.2% 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 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th. The population of Ghana will increase by 41.4% to 50,740,453 people and rank change from 46th to 42nd.

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 0.46% 1.87%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Ghana's population grew by 1.89%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Ghana
Current population
5181862
35885254
Population rank 126/197 46/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.43%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
49.3 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
35.5 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
2.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +1,752
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +639,500
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.89%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 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 - 967 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/ghana | 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 Ghana 98.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,484,449 people) and 1.37% is from migration (a loss of 90,310 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 (1960–2024, 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/ghana | 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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