The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 386,506 people in Iceland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 397,129 in Iceland.
Population statistics:
- Costa Rica's population is 13 times bigger than Iceland's.
- Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Iceland is the 173rd.
- The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.005% for Iceland.
- For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.63% in Iceland.
- Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Iceland has grown from 304K to 397K (30.7% growth).
Costa Rica vs Iceland: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Costa Rica
|
Iceland
|
|
| 2100 | 3,804,183 | 359,553 |
| 2099 | 3,842,423 | 361,331 |
| 2098 | 3,880,999 | 363,133 |
| 2097 | 3,919,996 | 364,957 |
| 2096 | 3,959,352 | 366,850 |
| 2095 | 3,999,084 | 368,746 |
| 2094 | 4,039,053 | 370,650 |
| 2093 | 4,079,349 | 372,614 |
| 2092 | 4,119,898 | 374,717 |
| 2091 | 4,160,663 | 376,803 |
| 2090 | 4,201,548 | 378,807 |
| 2089 | 4,242,452 | 380,812 |
| 2088 | 4,283,327 | 382,997 |
| 2087 | 4,324,225 | 385,164 |
| 2086 | 4,364,979 | 387,257 |
| 2085 | 4,405,520 | 389,362 |
| 2084 | 4,445,770 | 391,416 |
| 2083 | 4,485,644 | 393,481 |
| 2082 | 4,525,171 | 395,438 |
| 2081 | 4,564,265 | 397,470 |
| 2080 | 4,602,737 | 399,499 |
| 2079 | 4,640,677 | 401,462 |
| 2078 | 4,677,935 | 403,324 |
| 2077 | 4,714,527 | 405,255 |
| 2076 | 4,750,309 | 406,954 |
| 2075 | 4,785,359 | 408,546 |
| 2074 | 4,819,691 | 410,015 |
| 2073 | 4,853,137 | 411,402 |
| 2072 | 4,885,727 | 412,903 |
| 2071 | 4,917,445 | 414,245 |
| 2070 | 4,948,313 | 415,521 |
| 2069 | 4,978,425 | 416,683 |
| 2068 | 5,007,604 | 417,749 |
| 2067 | 5,035,877 | 418,899 |
| 2066 | 5,063,521 | 419,918 |
| 2065 | 5,090,474 | 420,941 |
| 2064 | 5,116,546 | 421,814 |
| 2063 | 5,141,922 | 422,695 |
| 2062 | 5,166,260 | 423,614 |
| 2061 | 5,189,836 | 424,319 |
| 2060 | 5,212,549 | 425,096 |
| 2059 | 5,234,066 | 425,721 |
| 2058 | 5,254,528 | 426,288 |
| 2057 | 5,273,844 | 426,844 |
| 2056 | 5,292,013 | 427,304 |
| 2055 | 5,308,829 | 427,695 |
| 2054 | 5,324,305 | 427,915 |
| 2053 | 5,338,417 | 428,108 |
| 2052 | 5,350,974 | 428,300 |
| 2051 | 5,361,865 | 428,278 |
| 2050 | 5,371,197 | 428,323 |
| 2049 | 5,378,904 | 428,289 |
| 2048 | 5,385,081 | 428,213 |
| 2047 | 5,389,678 | 428,102 |
| 2046 | 5,392,713 | 427,911 |
| 2045 | 5,394,209 | 427,683 |
| 2044 | 5,394,124 | 427,236 |
| 2043 | 5,392,590 | 426,580 |
| 2042 | 5,389,628 | 425,915 |
| 2041 | 5,385,101 | 425,212 |
| 2040 | 5,379,344 | 424,385 |
| 2039 | 5,372,186 | 423,407 |
| 2038 | 5,363,617 | 422,302 |
| 2037 | 5,353,928 | 421,094 |
| 2036 | 5,343,027 | 419,738 |
| 2035 | 5,330,994 | 418,238 |
| 2034 | 5,317,895 | 416,721 |
| 2033 | 5,303,634 | 415,006 |
| 2032 | 5,288,416 | 413,150 |
| 2031 | 5,272,215 | 411,039 |
| 2030 | 5,255,064 | 408,677 |
| 2029 | 5,236,901 | 406,109 |
| 2028 | 5,217,724 | 403,085 |
| 2027 | 5,197,413 | 399,797 |
| 2026 | 5,176,096 | 396,141 |
| 2025 | 5,153,634 | 391,759 |
| 2024 | 5,129,910 | 386,506 |
| 2023 | 5,105,525 | 385,663 |
| 2022 | 5,081,765 | 382,003 |
| 2021 | 5,059,988 | 372,520 |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 | 366,463 |
| 2019 | 4,999,553 | 360,563 |
| 2018 | 4,957,818 | 352,721 |
| 2017 | 4,913,177 | 343,400 |
| 2016 | 4,866,998 | 335,439 |
| 2015 | 4,818,038 | 330,815 |
| 2014 | 4,767,119 | 327,386 |
| 2013 | 4,716,147 | 323,764 |
| 2012 | 4,663,934 | 320,716 |
| 2011 | 4,609,833 | 319,014 |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 | 318,041 |
| 2009 | 4,499,791 | 318,499 |
| 2008 | 4,440,056 | 317,414 |
| 2007 | 4,380,248 | 311,566 |
| 2006 | 4,321,340 | 303,782 |
| 2005 | 4,261,240 | 296,734 |
| 2004 | 4,200,078 | 292,074 |
| 2003 | 4,138,784 | 289,521 |
| 2002 | 4,075,705 | 287,523 |
| 2001 | 4,008,947 | 284,968 |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 | 281,205 |
| 1999 | 3,862,101 | 277,381 |
| 1998 | 3,782,838 | 274,047 |
| 1997 | 3,701,711 | 271,128 |
| 1996 | 3,619,013 | 268,916 |
| 1995 | 3,535,176 | 267,468 |
| 1994 | 3,451,122 | 266,021 |
| 1993 | 3,367,434 | 263,725 |
| 1992 | 3,284,258 | 261,057 |
| 1991 | 3,202,176 | 257,797 |
| 1990 | 3,121,706 | 254,826 |
| 1989 | 3,043,827 | 252,852 |
| 1988 | 2,968,103 | 249,740 |
| 1987 | 2,892,699 | 245,859 |
| 1986 | 2,817,216 | 243,180 |
| 1985 | 2,741,894 | 241,405 |
| 1984 | 2,667,595 | 239,511 |
| 1983 | 2,595,153 | 236,977 |
| 1982 | 2,524,806 | 233,860 |
| 1981 | 2,456,637 | 230,755 |
| 1980 | 2,390,633 | 228,138 |
| 1979 | 2,326,490 | 225,735 |
| 1978 | 2,264,510 | 223,537 |
| 1977 | 2,205,025 | 221,799 |
| 1976 | 2,147,774 | 220,154 |
| 1975 | 2,092,719 | 217,979 |
| 1974 | 2,039,643 | 215,209 |
| 1973 | 1,988,343 | 212,317 |
| 1972 | 1,938,248 | 209,137 |
| 1971 | 1,888,539 | 206,098 |
| 1970 | 1,838,949 | 204,438 |
| 1969 | 1,789,276 | 203,369 |
| 1968 | 1,739,731 | 201,488 |
| 1967 | 1,689,523 | 198,751 |
| 1966 | 1,638,116 | 195,570 |
| 1965 | 1,586,208 | 192,286 |
| 1964 | 1,533,960 | 188,983 |
| 1963 | 1,481,604 | 185,653 |
| 1962 | 1,429,445 | 182,378 |
| 1961 | 1,377,920 | 179,029 |
| 1960 | 1,327,496 | 175,574 |
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/iceland | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Iceland gained 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Iceland's population increased by 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth).
Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Iceland was ranked 172nd in 2006 and ranked 173rd 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 Iceland will increase by 7.85% to 428,323 people and will still be ranked 173rd.
Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 428K people in 2050 for Iceland.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Costa Rica
|
Iceland
|
|
| 2100 | -1% | -0.49% |
| 2099 | -0.99% | -0.5% |
| 2098 | -0.99% | -0.5% |
| 2097 | -0.99% | -0.52% |
| 2096 | -0.99% | -0.51% |
| 2095 | -0.99% | -0.51% |
| 2094 | -0.99% | -0.53% |
| 2093 | -0.98% | -0.56% |
| 2092 | -0.98% | -0.55% |
| 2091 | -0.97% | -0.53% |
| 2090 | -0.96% | -0.53% |
| 2089 | -0.95% | -0.57% |
| 2088 | -0.95% | -0.56% |
| 2087 | -0.93% | -0.54% |
| 2086 | -0.92% | -0.54% |
| 2085 | -0.91% | -0.52% |
| 2084 | -0.89% | -0.52% |
| 2083 | -0.87% | -0.49% |
| 2082 | -0.86% | -0.51% |
| 2081 | -0.84% | -0.51% |
| 2080 | -0.82% | -0.49% |
| 2079 | -0.8% | -0.46% |
| 2078 | -0.78% | -0.48% |
| 2077 | -0.75% | -0.42% |
| 2076 | -0.73% | -0.39% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | -0.36% |
| 2074 | -0.69% | -0.34% |
| 2073 | -0.67% | -0.36% |
| 2072 | -0.65% | -0.32% |
| 2071 | -0.62% | -0.31% |
| 2070 | -0.6% | -0.28% |
| 2069 | -0.58% | -0.26% |
| 2068 | -0.56% | -0.27% |
| 2067 | -0.55% | -0.24% |
| 2066 | -0.53% | -0.24% |
| 2065 | -0.51% | -0.21% |
| 2064 | -0.49% | -0.21% |
| 2063 | -0.47% | -0.22% |
| 2062 | -0.45% | -0.17% |
| 2061 | -0.44% | -0.18% |
| 2060 | -0.41% | -0.15% |
| 2059 | -0.39% | -0.13% |
| 2058 | -0.37% | -0.13% |
| 2057 | -0.34% | -0.11% |
| 2056 | -0.32% | -0.09% |
| 2055 | -0.29% | -0.05% |
| 2054 | -0.26% | -0.05% |
| 2053 | -0.23% | -0.04% |
| 2052 | -0.2% | 0.005% |
| 2051 | -0.17% | -0.01% |
| 2050 | -0.14% | 0.008% |
| 2049 | -0.11% | 0.02% |
| 2048 | -0.09% | 0.03% |
| 2047 | -0.06% | 0.04% |
| 2046 | -0.03% | 0.05% |
| 2045 | 0.002% | 0.1% |
| 2044 | 0.03% | 0.15% |
| 2043 | 0.05% | 0.16% |
| 2042 | 0.08% | 0.17% |
| 2041 | 0.11% | 0.2% |
| 2040 | 0.13% | 0.23% |
| 2039 | 0.16% | 0.26% |
| 2038 | 0.18% | 0.29% |
| 2037 | 0.2% | 0.32% |
| 2036 | 0.23% | 0.36% |
| 2035 | 0.25% | 0.36% |
| 2034 | 0.27% | 0.41% |
| 2033 | 0.29% | 0.45% |
| 2032 | 0.31% | 0.51% |
| 2031 | 0.33% | 0.58% |
| 2030 | 0.35% | 0.63% |
| 2029 | 0.37% | 0.75% |
| 2028 | 0.39% | 0.82% |
| 2027 | 0.41% | 0.92% |
| 2026 | 0.44% | 1.12% |
| 2025 | 0.46% | 1.36% |
| 2024 | 0.48% | 0.22% |
| 2023 | 0.47% | 0.96% |
| 2022 | 0.43% | 2.55% |
| 2021 | 0.51% | 1.65% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | 0.84% | 2.22% |
| 2018 | 0.91% | 2.71% |
| 2017 | 0.95% | 2.37% |
| 2016 | 1.02% | 1.4% |
| 2015 | 1.07% | 1.05% |
| 2014 | 1.08% | 1.12% |
| 2013 | 1.12% | 0.95% |
| 2012 | 1.17% | 0.53% |
| 2011 | 1.18% | 0.31% |
| 2010 | 1.25% | -0.14% |
| 2009 | 1.35% | 0.34% |
| 2008 | 1.37% | 1.88% |
| 2007 | 1.36% | 2.56% |
| 2006 | 1.41% | 2.38% |
| 2005 | 1.46% | 1.6% |
| 2004 | 1.48% | 0.88% |
| 2003 | 1.55% | 0.69% |
| 2002 | 1.67% | 0.9% |
| 2001 | 1.81% | 1.34% |
| 2000 | 1.96% | 1.38% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | 1.22% |
| 1998 | 2.19% | 1.08% |
| 1997 | 2.29% | 0.82% |
| 1996 | 2.37% | 0.54% |
| 1995 | 2.44% | 0.54% |
| 1994 | 2.49% | 0.87% |
| 1993 | 2.53% | 1.02% |
| 1992 | 2.56% | 1.26% |
| 1991 | 2.58% | 1.17% |
| 1990 | 2.56% | 0.78% |
| 1989 | 2.55% | 1.25% |
| 1988 | 2.61% | 1.58% |
| 1987 | 2.68% | 1.1% |
| 1986 | 2.75% | 0.74% |
| 1985 | 2.79% | 0.79% |
| 1984 | 2.79% | 1.07% |
| 1983 | 2.79% | 1.33% |
| 1982 | 2.77% | 1.35% |
| 1981 | 2.76% | 1.15% |
| 1980 | 2.76% | 1.06% |
| 1979 | 2.74% | 0.98% |
| 1978 | 2.7% | 0.78% |
| 1977 | 2.67% | 0.75% |
| 1976 | 2.63% | 1% |
| 1975 | 2.6% | 1.29% |
| 1974 | 2.58% | 1.36% |
| 1973 | 2.58% | 1.52% |
| 1972 | 2.63% | 1.47% |
| 1971 | 2.7% | 0.81% |
| 1970 | 2.78% | 0.53% |
| 1969 | 2.85% | 0.93% |
| 1968 | 2.97% | 1.38% |
| 1967 | 3.14% | 1.63% |
| 1966 | 3.27% | 1.71% |
| 1965 | 3.41% | 1.75% |
| 1964 | 3.53% | 1.79% |
| 1963 | 3.65% | 1.8% |
| 1962 | 3.74% | 1.87% |
| 1961 | 3.8% | 1.97% |
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/iceland | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Iceland's population grew by 0.22%.
Live population counters
|
Costa Rica
|
Iceland
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5181862
|
397129
|
| Population rank | 126/197 | 173/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.06% | 0.005% |
| One net population change |
21.6 minutes
|
10.4 hours
|
| One birth every |
10.1 minutes
|
2.07 hours
|
| One death every |
18.9 minutes
|
3.44 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +67 | +2 |
| Annual growth/decline | +24,385 | +843 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.48% | +0.22% |
| Population growth rate rank | 138/197 | 155/197 |
| One migration net change every |
8.78 hours
|
3.24 hours
|
| Annual migration change | +1,000 | +2,709 |
| Net migration rank | 63/196 | 56/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 628,404 | 98,818 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 75/195 | 130/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 12.2% | 25.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 55/195 | 23/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Costa Rica
|
Iceland
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 1,000 | - | 2,709 |
| 2024 | - | 967 | - | 3,543 |
| 2023 | 24,109 | 995 | 1,697 | 4,630 |
| 2022 | 21,409 | 1,006 | 1,719 | 6,535 |
| 2021 | 20,119 | 1,018 | 2,534 | 4,911 |
| 2020 | 29,164 | 1,029 | 2,199 | 2,498 |
| 2019 | 37,682 | 1,653 | 2,163 | 5,030 |
| 2018 | 42,469 | 1,673 | 1,975 | 6,638 |
| 2017 | 43,471 | 1,671 | 1,854 | 8,348 |
| 2016 | 45,565 | 1,649 | 1,711 | 4,128 |
| 2015 | 49,077 | 1,617 | 1,952 | 1,499 |
| 2014 | 49,559 | 1,589 | 2,324 | 1,139 |
| 2013 | 49,227 | 1,579 | 2,169 | 1,666 |
| 2012 | 52,036 | 1,587 | 2,566 | -277 |
| 2011 | 52,884 | 1,695 | 2,521 | -1,393 |
| 2010 | 50,803 | 2,357 | 2,862 | -2,055 |
| 2009 | 55,757 | 3,432 | 3,026 | -4,785 |
| 2008 | 56,491 | 3,794 | 2,825 | 1,138 |
| 2007 | 55,244 | 4,080 | 2,617 | 5,254 |
| 2006 | 54,177 | 4,321 | 2,491 | 5,300 |
| 2005 | 57,139 | 4,567 | 2,433 | 3,925 |
| 2004 | 55,769 | 4,856 | 2,425 | 610 |
| 2003 | 56,743 | 5,216 | 2,317 | -204 |
| 2002 | 58,388 | 5,812 | 2,243 | -333 |
| 2001 | 62,199 | 7,119 | 2,365 | 867 |
| 2000 | 64,268 | 8,826 | 2,475 | 1,877 |
| 1999 | 64,922 | 13,253 | 2,192 | 1,165 |
| 1998 | 64,788 | 15,556 | 2,357 | 1,014 |
| 1997 | 64,954 | 16,954 | 2,305 | 225 |
| 1996 | 66,094 | 17,393 | 2,447 | -511 |
| 1995 | 67,585 | 16,609 | 2,354 | -1,354 |
| 1994 | 68,336 | 15,587 | 2,713 | -804 |
| 1993 | 69,016 | 14,431 | 2,875 | -194 |
| 1992 | 69,830 | 13,069 | 2,898 | -225 |
| 1991 | 70,506 | 10,757 | 2,733 | 1,145 |
| 1990 | 71,727 | 7,949 | 3,058 | -971 |
| 1989 | 72,327 | 3,758 | 2,832 | -994 |
| 1988 | 72,944 | 2,414 | 2,847 | 1,572 |
| 1987 | 73,188 | 2,267 | 2,360 | 944 |
| 1986 | 73,211 | 2,302 | 2,384 | -335 |
| 1985 | 72,776 | 2,357 | 2,221 | -628 |
| 1984 | 71,062 | 2,402 | 2,539 | -328 |
| 1983 | 68,972 | 2,449 | 2,702 | 170 |
| 1982 | 66,826 | 2,453 | 2,736 | 616 |
| 1981 | 64,632 | 2,431 | 2,677 | 157 |
| 1980 | 62,561 | 2,387 | 2,966 | -629 |
| 1979 | 60,984 | 2,349 | 2,980 | -572 |
| 1978 | 58,327 | 2,296 | 2,727 | -781 |
| 1977 | 56,122 | 2,228 | 2,551 | -1,079 |
| 1976 | 54,019 | 2,129 | 2,951 | -1,181 |
| 1975 | 51,979 | 1,992 | 2,965 | -388 |
| 1974 | 50,349 | 1,839 | 2,776 | 209 |
| 1973 | 48,943 | 1,468 | 3,121 | -310 |
| 1972 | 48,417 | 1,366 | 3,241 | 362 |
| 1971 | 48,341 | 1,296 | 2,782 | -231 |
| 1970 | 48,398 | 1,137 | 2,576 | -1,754 |
| 1969 | 48,790 | 1,017 | 2,766 | -1,414 |
| 1968 | 48,361 | 939 | 2,841 | -448 |
| 1967 | 50,193 | 926 | 3,021 | 47 |
| 1966 | 50,755 | 930 | 3,305 | 39 |
| 1965 | 51,196 | 932 | 3,442 | -194 |
| 1964 | 51,435 | 934 | 3,459 | -67 |
| 1963 | 51,403 | 938 | 3,490 | -113 |
| 1962 | 51,046 | 934 | 3,465 | -228 |
| 1961 | 50,149 | 924 | 3,312 | 164 |
| 1960 | 48,857 | 910 | 3,758 | -269 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/iceland | 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 Iceland 30.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 20,128 people) and 69.3% is from migration (a gain of 45,356 people).
As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 98,818 people or 25.1% in Iceland.
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 |
|
Iceland
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Reykjavik | 139K |
| Kopavogur | 40K |
| Hafnarfjorur | 31.5K |
| Keflavik | 23.3K |
| Akureyri | 20K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Costa Rica and Iceland
|
Costa Rica
|
Iceland
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 81.4 years | 83.3 years |
| Average age | 37 years | 38.8 years |
| Median age | 35.6 years | 37.1 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.4:50.6 | 51.2:48.8 |
| Fertility rate | 1.33 births per woman | 1.59 births per woman |
| Population density | 262.6 ppl/mi² | 10.2 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/iceland | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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