Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 10,405,134 people in Greece in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 10,181,414 in Greece.

Population statistics:

  • Greece's population is 1.96 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Greece is the 96th.
  • The countries together account for 0.19% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.12% for Greece.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs -0.47% in Greece.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Greece has declined from 11M to 10.2M (7.61% decline).

Costa Rica vs Greece: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Greece
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Greece
2100 3,804,183 6,463,085
2099 3,842,423 6,505,287
2098 3,880,999 6,547,164
2097 3,919,996 6,589,081
2096 3,959,352 6,630,487
2095 3,999,084 6,671,006
2094 4,039,053 6,710,734
2093 4,079,349 6,749,510
2092 4,119,898 6,787,596
2091 4,160,663 6,824,775
2090 4,201,548 6,862,164
2089 4,242,452 6,900,089
2088 4,283,327 6,937,116
2087 4,324,225 6,973,450
2086 4,364,979 7,010,676
2085 4,405,520 7,048,751
2084 4,445,770 7,086,818
2083 4,485,644 7,124,743
2082 4,525,171 7,164,627
2081 4,564,265 7,205,487
2080 4,602,737 7,248,512
2079 4,640,677 7,292,836
2078 4,677,935 7,338,859
2077 4,714,527 7,387,671
2076 4,750,309 7,437,562
2075 4,785,359 7,489,139
2074 4,819,691 7,543,259
2073 4,853,137 7,600,155
2072 4,885,727 7,659,253
2071 4,917,445 7,719,672
2070 4,948,313 7,782,317
2069 4,978,425 7,847,153
2068 5,007,604 7,913,682
2067 5,035,877 7,980,659
2066 5,063,521 8,047,692
2065 5,090,474 8,114,348
2064 5,116,546 8,181,923
2063 5,141,922 8,250,274
2062 5,166,260 8,318,463
2061 5,189,836 8,386,919
2060 5,212,549 8,454,179
2059 5,234,066 8,522,250
2058 5,254,528 8,589,200
2057 5,273,844 8,655,428
2056 5,292,013 8,720,012
2055 5,308,829 8,783,558
2054 5,324,305 8,844,935
2053 5,338,417 8,903,834
2052 5,350,974 8,961,755
2051 5,361,865 9,018,494
2050 5,371,197 9,072,676
2049 5,378,904 9,126,801
2048 5,385,081 9,177,973
2047 5,389,678 9,228,605
2046 5,392,713 9,275,381
2045 5,394,209 9,321,349
2044 5,394,124 9,367,130
2043 5,392,590 9,411,608
2042 5,389,628 9,454,837
2041 5,385,101 9,499,098
2040 5,379,344 9,543,726
2039 5,372,186 9,588,298
2038 5,363,617 9,633,708
2037 5,353,928 9,679,362
2036 5,343,027 9,724,905
2035 5,330,994 9,771,397
2034 5,317,895 9,817,355
2033 5,303,634 9,863,589
2032 5,288,416 9,911,215
2031 5,272,215 9,956,924
2030 5,255,064 10,002,298
2029 5,236,901 10,047,641
2028 5,217,724 10,092,845
2027 5,197,413 10,137,354
2026 5,176,096 10,181,414
2025 5,153,634 10,223,023
2024 5,129,910 10,405,134
2023 5,105,525 10,407,351
2022 5,081,765 10,436,882
2021 5,059,988 10,569,207
2020 5,034,320 10,698,599
2019 4,999,553 10,721,582
2018 4,957,818 10,732,882
2017 4,913,177 10,754,679
2016 4,866,998 10,775,971
2015 4,818,038 10,820,883
2014 4,767,119 10,892,413
2013 4,716,147 10,965,211
2012 4,663,934 11,045,011
2011 4,609,833 11,104,899
2010 4,555,962 11,121,341
2009 4,499,791 11,107,017
2008 4,440,056 11,077,841
2007 4,380,248 11,048,473
2006 4,321,340 11,020,362
2005 4,261,240 10,987,314
2004 4,200,078 10,955,141
2003 4,138,784 10,928,070
2002 4,075,705 10,902,022
2001 4,008,947 10,862,132
2000 3,937,739 10,805,808
1999 3,862,101 10,761,698
1998 3,782,838 10,720,509
1997 3,701,711 10,661,259
1996 3,619,013 10,608,800
1995 3,535,176 10,562,153
1994 3,451,122 10,512,922
1993 3,367,434 10,460,415
1992 3,284,258 10,399,061
1991 3,202,176 10,319,927
1990 3,121,706 10,196,792
1989 3,043,827 10,089,498
1988 2,968,103 10,036,983
1987 2,892,699 10,000,595
1986 2,817,216 9,967,213
1985 2,741,894 9,934,300
1984 2,667,595 9,895,801
1983 2,595,153 9,846,627
1982 2,524,806 9,789,513
1981 2,456,637 9,729,350
1980 2,390,633 9,642,505
1979 2,326,490 9,548,258
1978 2,264,510 9,429,959
1977 2,205,025 9,308,479
1976 2,147,774 9,188,150
1975 2,092,719 9,046,541
1974 2,039,643 8,962,022
1973 1,988,343 8,929,086
1972 1,938,248 8,888,628
1971 1,888,539 8,831,036
1970 1,838,949 8,792,806
1969 1,789,276 8,772,764
1968 1,739,731 8,740,765
1967 1,689,523 8,684,088
1966 1,638,116 8,613,651
1965 1,586,208 8,550,333
1964 1,533,960 8,510,429
1963 1,481,604 8,479,625
1962 1,429,445 8,448,233
1961 1,377,920 8,398,050
1960 1,327,496 8,331,725

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/greece | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Greece lost 244,391 people (a 2.22% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Greece's population decreased by 594,557 people (a 5.52% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Greece was ranked 74th in 2006 and ranked 96th 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 Greece will decrease by 10.9% to 9,072,676 people and rank change from 96th to 106th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Greece's population already peaked in 2010 at 11.1M people and is projected to decrease to 6.46M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Greece
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Greece
2100 -1% -0.65%
2099 -0.99% -0.64%
2098 -0.99% -0.64%
2097 -0.99% -0.62%
2096 -0.99% -0.61%
2095 -0.99% -0.59%
2094 -0.99% -0.57%
2093 -0.98% -0.56%
2092 -0.98% -0.54%
2091 -0.97% -0.54%
2090 -0.96% -0.55%
2089 -0.95% -0.53%
2088 -0.95% -0.52%
2087 -0.93% -0.53%
2086 -0.92% -0.54%
2085 -0.91% -0.54%
2084 -0.89% -0.53%
2083 -0.87% -0.56%
2082 -0.86% -0.57%
2081 -0.84% -0.59%
2080 -0.82% -0.61%
2079 -0.8% -0.63%
2078 -0.78% -0.66%
2077 -0.75% -0.67%
2076 -0.73% -0.69%
2075 -0.71% -0.72%
2074 -0.69% -0.75%
2073 -0.67% -0.77%
2072 -0.65% -0.78%
2071 -0.62% -0.8%
2070 -0.6% -0.83%
2069 -0.58% -0.84%
2068 -0.56% -0.84%
2067 -0.55% -0.83%
2066 -0.53% -0.82%
2065 -0.51% -0.83%
2064 -0.49% -0.83%
2063 -0.47% -0.82%
2062 -0.45% -0.82%
2061 -0.44% -0.8%
2060 -0.41% -0.8%
2059 -0.39% -0.78%
2058 -0.37% -0.77%
2057 -0.34% -0.74%
2056 -0.32% -0.72%
2055 -0.29% -0.69%
2054 -0.26% -0.66%
2053 -0.23% -0.65%
2052 -0.2% -0.63%
2051 -0.17% -0.6%
2050 -0.14% -0.59%
2049 -0.11% -0.56%
2048 -0.09% -0.55%
2047 -0.06% -0.5%
2046 -0.03% -0.49%
2045 0.002% -0.49%
2044 0.03% -0.47%
2043 0.05% -0.46%
2042 0.08% -0.47%
2041 0.11% -0.47%
2040 0.13% -0.46%
2039 0.16% -0.47%
2038 0.18% -0.47%
2037 0.2% -0.47%
2036 0.23% -0.48%
2035 0.25% -0.47%
2034 0.27% -0.47%
2033 0.29% -0.48%
2032 0.31% -0.46%
2031 0.33% -0.45%
2030 0.35% -0.45%
2029 0.37% -0.45%
2028 0.39% -0.44%
2027 0.41% -0.43%
2026 0.44% -0.41%
2025 0.46% -1.75%
2024 0.48% -0.02%
2023 0.47% -0.28%
2022 0.43% -1.25%
2021 0.51% -1.21%
2020 0.7% -0.21%
2019 0.84% -0.11%
2018 0.91% -0.2%
2017 0.95% -0.2%
2016 1.02% -0.42%
2015 1.07% -0.66%
2014 1.08% -0.66%
2013 1.12% -0.72%
2012 1.17% -0.54%
2011 1.18% -0.15%
2010 1.25% 0.13%
2009 1.35% 0.26%
2008 1.37% 0.27%
2007 1.36% 0.26%
2006 1.41% 0.3%
2005 1.46% 0.29%
2004 1.48% 0.25%
2003 1.55% 0.24%
2002 1.67% 0.37%
2001 1.81% 0.52%
2000 1.96% 0.41%
1999 2.1% 0.38%
1998 2.19% 0.56%
1997 2.29% 0.49%
1996 2.37% 0.44%
1995 2.44% 0.47%
1994 2.49% 0.5%
1993 2.53% 0.59%
1992 2.56% 0.77%
1991 2.58% 1.21%
1990 2.56% 1.06%
1989 2.55% 0.52%
1988 2.61% 0.36%
1987 2.68% 0.33%
1986 2.75% 0.33%
1985 2.79% 0.39%
1984 2.79% 0.5%
1983 2.79% 0.58%
1982 2.77% 0.62%
1981 2.76% 0.9%
1980 2.76% 0.99%
1979 2.74% 1.25%
1978 2.7% 1.31%
1977 2.67% 1.31%
1976 2.63% 1.57%
1975 2.6% 0.94%
1974 2.58% 0.37%
1973 2.58% 0.46%
1972 2.63% 0.65%
1971 2.7% 0.43%
1970 2.78% 0.23%
1969 2.85% 0.37%
1968 2.97% 0.65%
1967 3.14% 0.82%
1966 3.27% 0.74%
1965 3.41% 0.47%
1964 3.53% 0.36%
1963 3.65% 0.37%
1962 3.74% 0.6%
1961 3.8% 0.8%

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/greece | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Greece's population declined by 0.02%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Greece
Current population
5181862
10181414
Population rank 126/197 96/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.12%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
3.95 hours
One birth every
10.1 minutes
7.43 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
4.14 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 -6
Annual growth/decline +24,385 -2,217
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% -0.02%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 165/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
31.7 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +16,636
Net migration rank 63/196 37/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 1,423,964
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 46/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 14.2%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 47/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Greece
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Greece
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 16,636
2024 - 967 - -122,772
2023 24,109 995 -56,200 -159,430
2022 21,409 1,006 -63,665 -53,997
2021 20,119 1,018 -58,131 -160,277
2020 29,164 1,029 -46,004 6,353
2019 37,682 1,653 -41,814 36,762
2018 42,469 1,673 -33,272 17,938
2017 43,471 1,671 -36,566 10,483
2016 45,565 1,649 -25,862 10,484
2015 49,077 1,617 -29,216 -43,462
2014 49,559 1,589 -20,696 -46,678
2013 49,227 1,579 -17,545 -59,323
2012 52,036 1,587 -16,568 -65,364
2011 52,884 1,695 -4,441 -31,786
2010 50,803 2,357 5,560 2,001
2009 55,757 3,432 8,886 18,182
2008 56,491 3,794 11,077 27,081
2007 55,244 4,080 2,210 25,400
2006 54,177 4,321 6,612 27,621
2005 57,139 4,567 2,197 33,297
2004 55,769 4,856 0 29,039
2003 56,743 5,216 -1,093 25,323
2002 58,388 5,812 0 25,692
2001 62,199 7,119 0 60,387
2000 64,268 8,826 -1,081 54,661
1999 64,922 13,253 -2,153 49,930
1998 64,788 15,556 -2,144 47,856
1997 64,954 16,954 2,133 45,671
1996 66,094 17,393 0 43,444
1995 67,585 16,609 1,056 42,674
1994 68,336 15,587 6,307 42,897
1993 69,016 14,431 4,185 39,829
1992 69,830 13,069 6,239 41,000
1991 70,506 10,757 6,192 37,917
1990 71,727 7,949 8,157 26,294
1989 72,327 3,758 9,080 18,862
1988 72,944 2,414 15,055 20,557
1987 73,188 2,267 10,001 19,005
1986 73,211 2,302 20,931 19,064
1985 72,776 2,357 22,849 16,093
1984 71,062 2,402 37,604 19,767
1983 68,972 2,449 42,341 18,655
1982 66,826 2,453 50,906 19,675
1981 64,632 2,431 54,484 25,061
1980 62,561 2,387 60,748 47,460
1979 60,984 2,349 65,882 72,184
1978 58,327 2,296 64,124 60,775
1977 56,122 2,228 59,574 19,193
1976 54,019 2,129 65,236 89,601
1975 51,979 1,992 61,516 61,265
1974 50,349 1,839 68,111 -22,590
1973 48,943 1,468 59,824 -42,387
1972 48,417 1,366 64,887 -3,589
1971 48,341 1,296 67,116 -12,747
1970 48,398 1,137 71,222 -54,166
1969 48,790 1,017 82,464 -118,544
1968 48,361 939 87,408 -429
1967 50,193 926 91,183 -55,853
1966 50,755 930 86,998 21,206
1965 51,196 932 83,793 -81,576
1964 51,435 934 83,402 -76,678
1963 51,403 938 81,404 -77,345
1962 51,046 934 85,327 -74,972
1961 50,149 924 86,500 -61,102
1960 48,857 910 96,648 -15,996

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/greece | 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 Greece 51.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 411,426 people) and 48.1% is from migration (a loss of 381,824 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 1,423,964 people or 14.2% in Greece.

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
Greece
City Population
Athens 643K
Crete 623K
Thessaloniki 310K
Patras 174K
Piraeus 168K
Larissa 146K
Heraklion 145K
Peristeri 134K
Kallithea 97.6K
Glyfada 89.6K

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/greece | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.