Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 18,687,881 people in Guatemala in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 19,115,361 in Guatemala.

Population statistics:

  • Guatemala's population is 3.69 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Guatemala is the 69th.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.23% for Guatemala.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +1.61% in Guatemala.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Guatemala has grown from 13.4M to 19.1M (43% growth).

Costa Rica vs Guatemala: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Guatemala
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Guatemala
2100 3,803,678 26,153,266
2099 3,841,913 26,241,436
2098 3,880,484 26,327,401
2097 3,919,475 26,411,858
2096 3,958,826 26,493,721
2095 3,998,552 26,573,173
2094 4,038,516 26,650,279
2093 4,078,807 26,724,630
2092 4,119,351 26,796,433
2091 4,160,111 26,864,799
2090 4,200,989 26,929,431
2089 4,241,888 26,990,069
2088 4,282,758 27,047,391
2087 4,323,650 27,101,383
2086 4,364,399 27,151,393
2085 4,404,935 27,195,895
2084 4,445,179 27,235,718
2083 4,485,048 27,270,266
2082 4,524,570 27,300,227
2081 4,563,658 27,323,897
2080 4,602,126 27,341,942
2079 4,640,060 27,354,464
2078 4,677,313 27,360,327
2077 4,713,901 27,359,161
2076 4,749,678 27,351,838
2075 4,784,723 27,338,895
2074 4,819,050 27,319,989
2073 4,852,492 27,293,820
2072 4,885,078 27,260,434
2071 4,916,792 27,219,778
2070 4,947,655 27,172,642
2069 4,977,764 27,117,335
2068 5,006,939 27,053,945
2067 5,035,207 26,983,495
2066 5,062,849 26,905,666
2065 5,089,797 26,821,312
2064 5,115,866 26,729,190
2063 5,141,239 26,630,176
2062 5,165,574 26,525,287
2061 5,189,146 26,414,086
2060 5,211,857 26,295,830
2059 5,233,370 26,171,105
2058 5,253,830 26,039,738
2057 5,273,143 25,901,372
2056 5,291,310 25,757,288
2055 5,308,124 25,607,244
2054 5,323,598 25,451,264
2053 5,337,707 25,288,335
2052 5,350,263 25,120,056
2051 5,361,152 24,946,634
2050 5,370,484 24,768,464
2049 5,378,189 24,584,225
2048 5,384,366 24,394,931
2047 5,388,962 24,201,532
2046 5,391,996 24,001,405
2045 5,393,493 23,795,751
2044 5,393,407 23,584,131
2043 5,391,873 23,366,974
2042 5,388,912 23,144,034
2041 5,384,386 22,915,420
2040 5,378,629 22,680,768
2039 5,371,473 22,440,281
2038 5,362,904 22,193,352
2037 5,353,217 21,942,046
2036 5,342,317 21,686,309
2035 5,330,286 21,425,958
2034 5,317,189 21,162,245
2033 5,302,930 20,895,809
2032 5,287,714 20,626,813
2031 5,271,514 20,355,744
2030 5,254,366 20,082,472
2029 5,236,206 19,807,478
2028 5,217,031 19,530,983
2027 5,196,723 19,252,313
2026 5,175,408 18,970,716
2025 5,152,950 18,687,881
2024 5,129,910 18,406,359
2023 5,105,525 18,124,838
2022 5,081,765 17,847,877
2021 5,059,988 17,598,650
2020 5,034,320 17,357,325
2019 4,999,553 17,103,803
2018 4,957,818 16,845,685
2017 4,913,177 16,567,357
2016 4,866,998 16,268,760
2015 4,818,038 15,971,743
2014 4,767,119 15,681,725
2013 4,716,147 15,387,337
2012 4,663,934 15,089,647
2011 4,609,833 14,792,126
2010 4,555,962 14,500,112
2009 4,499,791 14,215,611
2008 4,440,056 13,935,174
2007 4,380,248 13,652,040
2006 4,321,340 13,367,459
2005 4,261,240 13,087,629
2004 4,200,078 12,807,402
2003 4,138,784 12,525,842
2002 4,075,705 12,246,915
2001 4,008,947 11,969,422
2000 3,937,739 11,697,592
1999 3,862,101 11,422,965
1998 3,782,838 11,139,145
1997 3,701,711 10,857,754
1996 3,619,013 10,583,526
1995 3,535,176 10,312,996
1994 3,451,122 10,043,718
1993 3,367,434 9,779,761
1992 3,284,258 9,522,266
1991 3,202,176 9,272,584
1990 3,121,706 9,024,773
1989 3,043,827 8,775,546
1988 2,968,103 8,532,099
1987 2,892,699 8,296,485
1986 2,817,216 8,070,818
1985 2,741,894 7,849,693
1984 2,667,595 7,630,682
1983 2,595,153 7,419,642
1982 2,524,806 7,240,241
1981 2,456,637 7,075,648
1980 2,390,633 6,900,212
1979 2,326,490 6,727,797
1978 2,264,510 6,561,534
1977 2,205,025 6,401,515
1976 2,147,774 6,262,404
1975 2,092,719 6,128,731
1974 2,039,643 5,981,197
1973 1,988,343 5,831,631
1972 1,938,248 5,682,833
1971 1,888,539 5,538,355
1970 1,838,949 5,396,966
1969 1,789,276 5,257,081
1968 1,739,731 5,118,111
1967 1,689,523 4,978,862
1966 1,638,116 4,840,958
1965 1,586,208 4,704,965
1964 1,533,960 4,571,109
1963 1,481,604 4,440,264
1962 1,429,445 4,312,044
1961 1,377,920 4,186,201
1960 1,327,496 4,063,655

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/guatemala | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Guatemala gained 2,901,301 people (a 21.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Guatemala's population increased by 2,846,601 people (a 17.5% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Guatemala was ranked 68th in 2006 and ranked 69th 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 Guatemala will increase by 29.6% to 24,768,464 people and rank change from 69th to 67th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 27.4M people in 2078 for Guatemala.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Guatemala
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Guatemala
2100 -1% -0.34%
2099 -0.99% -0.33%
2098 -0.99% -0.32%
2097 -0.99% -0.31%
2096 -0.99% -0.3%
2095 -0.99% -0.29%
2094 -0.99% -0.28%
2093 -0.98% -0.27%
2092 -0.98% -0.25%
2091 -0.97% -0.24%
2090 -0.96% -0.22%
2089 -0.95% -0.21%
2088 -0.95% -0.2%
2087 -0.93% -0.18%
2086 -0.92% -0.16%
2085 -0.91% -0.15%
2084 -0.89% -0.13%
2083 -0.87% -0.11%
2082 -0.86% -0.09%
2081 -0.84% -0.07%
2080 -0.82% -0.05%
2079 -0.8% -0.02%
2078 -0.78% 0.004%
2077 -0.75% 0.03%
2076 -0.73% 0.05%
2075 -0.71% 0.07%
2074 -0.69% 0.1%
2073 -0.67% 0.12%
2072 -0.65% 0.15%
2071 -0.62% 0.17%
2070 -0.6% 0.2%
2069 -0.58% 0.23%
2068 -0.56% 0.26%
2067 -0.55% 0.29%
2066 -0.53% 0.31%
2065 -0.51% 0.34%
2064 -0.49% 0.37%
2063 -0.47% 0.4%
2062 -0.45% 0.42%
2061 -0.44% 0.45%
2060 -0.41% 0.48%
2059 -0.39% 0.5%
2058 -0.37% 0.53%
2057 -0.34% 0.56%
2056 -0.32% 0.59%
2055 -0.29% 0.61%
2054 -0.26% 0.64%
2053 -0.23% 0.67%
2052 -0.2% 0.7%
2051 -0.17% 0.72%
2050 -0.14% 0.75%
2049 -0.11% 0.78%
2048 -0.09% 0.8%
2047 -0.06% 0.83%
2046 -0.03% 0.86%
2045 0.002% 0.9%
2044 0.03% 0.93%
2043 0.05% 0.96%
2042 0.08% 1%
2041 0.11% 1.03%
2040 0.13% 1.07%
2039 0.16% 1.11%
2038 0.18% 1.15%
2037 0.2% 1.18%
2036 0.23% 1.22%
2035 0.25% 1.25%
2034 0.27% 1.28%
2033 0.29% 1.3%
2032 0.31% 1.33%
2031 0.33% 1.36%
2030 0.35% 1.39%
2029 0.37% 1.42%
2028 0.39% 1.45%
2027 0.41% 1.48%
2026 0.44% 1.51%
2025 0.45% 1.53%
2024 0.48% 1.55%
2023 0.47% 1.55%
2022 0.43% 1.42%
2021 0.51% 1.39%
2020 0.7% 1.48%
2019 0.84% 1.53%
2018 0.91% 1.68%
2017 0.95% 1.84%
2016 1.02% 1.86%
2015 1.07% 1.85%
2014 1.08% 1.91%
2013 1.12% 1.97%
2012 1.17% 2.01%
2011 1.18% 2.01%
2010 1.25% 2%
2009 1.35% 2.01%
2008 1.37% 2.07%
2007 1.36% 2.13%
2006 1.41% 2.14%
2005 1.46% 2.19%
2004 1.48% 2.25%
2003 1.55% 2.28%
2002 1.67% 2.32%
2001 1.81% 2.32%
2000 1.96% 2.4%
1999 2.1% 2.55%
1998 2.19% 2.59%
1997 2.29% 2.59%
1996 2.37% 2.62%
1995 2.44% 2.68%
1994 2.49% 2.7%
1993 2.53% 2.7%
1992 2.56% 2.69%
1991 2.58% 2.75%
1990 2.56% 2.84%
1989 2.55% 2.85%
1988 2.61% 2.84%
1987 2.68% 2.8%
1986 2.75% 2.82%
1985 2.79% 2.87%
1984 2.79% 2.84%
1983 2.79% 2.48%
1982 2.77% 2.33%
1981 2.76% 2.54%
1980 2.76% 2.56%
1979 2.74% 2.53%
1978 2.7% 2.5%
1977 2.67% 2.22%
1976 2.63% 2.18%
1975 2.6% 2.47%
1974 2.58% 2.56%
1973 2.58% 2.62%
1972 2.63% 2.61%
1971 2.7% 2.62%
1970 2.78% 2.66%
1969 2.85% 2.72%
1968 2.97% 2.8%
1967 3.14% 2.85%
1966 3.27% 2.89%
1965 3.41% 2.93%
1964 3.53% 2.95%
1963 3.65% 2.97%
1962 3.74% 3.01%
1961 3.8% 3.02%

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/guatemala | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Guatemala's population grew by 1.53%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Guatemala
Current population
5186356
19115361
Population rank 126/197 69/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.23%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
1.87 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
1.38 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
5.88 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +771
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +281,522
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +1.53%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 69/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.1 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -7,959
Net migration rank 63/196 128/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 92,732
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 133/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.5%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 176/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Guatemala
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Guatemala
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -7,959
2024 22,699 967 290,066 -7,725
2023 24,109 995 289,635 -8,940
2022 21,409 1,006 281,675 -8,463
2021 20,119 1,018 255,145 -29,908
2020 29,164 1,029 281,328 -23,927
2019 37,682 1,653 307,389 -57,746
2018 42,469 1,673 323,100 -56,487
2017 43,471 1,671 332,838 -42,779
2016 45,565 1,649 338,114 -30,980
2015 49,077 1,617 335,072 -48,179
2014 49,559 1,589 333,551 -40,409
2013 49,227 1,579 331,321 -35,698
2012 52,036 1,587 332,365 -32,624
2011 52,884 1,695 328,548 -33,238
2010 50,803 2,357 324,802 -36,076
2009 55,757 3,432 323,320 -43,046
2008 56,491 3,794 323,226 -42,624
2007 55,244 4,080 326,298 -40,632
2006 54,177 4,321 325,604 -42,118
2005 57,139 4,567 325,816 -49,636
2004 55,769 4,856 331,699 -47,409
2003 56,743 5,216 333,539 -54,701
2002 58,388 5,812 334,255 -55,247
2001 62,199 7,119 335,503 -59,536
2000 64,268 8,826 332,891 -65,197
1999 64,922 13,253 328,890 -47,325
1998 64,788 15,556 325,174 -39,104
1997 64,954 16,954 320,087 -43,377
1996 66,094 17,393 315,252 -43,501
1995 67,585 16,609 309,236 -39,917
1994 68,336 15,587 302,708 -33,462
1993 69,016 14,431 295,515 -36,848
1992 69,830 13,069 288,411 -32,093
1991 70,506 10,757 283,917 -40,868
1990 71,727 7,949 280,318 -27,735
1989 72,327 3,758 276,736 -30,860
1988 72,944 2,414 271,466 -30,450
1987 73,188 2,267 261,746 -31,539
1986 73,211 2,302 252,754 -31,631
1985 72,776 2,357 246,119 -24,991
1984 71,062 2,402 241,892 -25,010
1983 68,972 2,449 238,059 -32,877
1982 66,826 2,453 199,809 -46,174
1981 64,632 2,431 221,044 -45,490
1980 62,561 2,387 218,460 -43,144
1979 60,984 2,349 216,810 -47,278
1978 58,327 2,296 211,301 -48,309
1977 56,122 2,228 203,299 -46,249
1976 54,019 2,129 171,903 -50,745
1975 51,979 1,992 188,501 -42,329
1974 50,349 1,839 184,992 -36,089
1973 48,943 1,468 179,871 -29,641
1972 48,417 1,366 173,162 -25,807
1971 48,341 1,296 165,104 -23,513
1970 48,398 1,137 155,946 -14,755
1969 48,790 1,017 149,516 -10,937
1968 48,361 939 146,946 -7,589
1967 50,193 926 143,859 -4,715
1966 50,755 930 140,494 -3,824
1965 51,196 932 135,997 -681
1964 51,435 934 132,832 -440
1963 51,403 938 129,065 240
1962 51,046 934 126,429 713
1961 50,149 924 123,753 797
1960 48,857 910 120,728 -186

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/guatemala | 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 Guatemala 90.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,034,362 people) and 9.41% is from migration (a loss of 315,134 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 92,732 people or 0.5% in Guatemala.

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
Guatemala
City Population
Guatemala 995K
Mixco 528K
Coban 229K
Quetzaltenango 208K
Jalapa 193K
San Miguel Petapa 151K
Momostenango 140K
Mazatenango 83.8K
Flores 44.7K
Panajachel 16.1K

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/guatemala | 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 2026-07-08)
  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)

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.