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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 91,567,738 people in Iran in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 93,468,444 in Iran.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 18 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Iran is the 17th.
  • The countries together account for 1.19% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 1.13% for Iran.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.19% in Iran.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Iran has grown from 73.4M to 93.5M (27.4% growth).

Costa Rica vs Iran: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Iran
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Iran
2100 3,804,183 80,713,760
2099 3,842,423 81,246,718
2098 3,880,999 81,770,953
2097 3,919,996 82,295,714
2096 3,959,352 82,818,575
2095 3,999,084 83,338,446
2094 4,039,053 83,854,648
2093 4,079,349 84,371,569
2092 4,119,898 84,888,626
2091 4,160,663 85,410,099
2090 4,201,548 85,934,675
2089 4,242,452 86,466,409
2088 4,283,327 87,004,165
2087 4,324,225 87,549,685
2086 4,364,979 88,105,571
2085 4,405,520 88,668,329
2084 4,445,770 89,239,709
2083 4,485,644 89,817,194
2082 4,525,171 90,402,538
2081 4,564,265 90,995,822
2080 4,602,737 91,595,122
2079 4,640,677 92,196,842
2078 4,677,935 92,801,160
2077 4,714,527 93,405,954
2076 4,750,309 94,007,669
2075 4,785,359 94,606,607
2074 4,819,691 95,197,577
2073 4,853,137 95,783,994
2072 4,885,727 96,355,853
2071 4,917,445 96,915,335
2070 4,948,313 97,460,813
2069 4,978,425 97,988,897
2068 5,007,604 98,496,927
2067 5,035,877 98,978,509
2066 5,063,521 99,439,391
2065 5,090,474 99,877,457
2064 5,116,546 100,288,977
2063 5,141,922 100,668,199
2062 5,166,260 101,017,348
2061 5,189,836 101,332,810
2060 5,212,549 101,612,261
2059 5,234,066 101,858,931
2058 5,254,528 102,061,144
2057 5,273,844 102,228,085
2056 5,292,013 102,358,266
2055 5,308,829 102,449,092
2054 5,324,305 102,498,594
2053 5,338,417 102,508,245
2052 5,350,974 102,480,373
2051 5,361,865 102,417,847
2050 5,371,197 102,318,917
2049 5,378,904 102,189,816
2048 5,385,081 102,024,233
2047 5,389,678 101,832,213
2046 5,392,713 101,613,554
2045 5,394,209 101,371,784
2044 5,394,124 101,104,998
2043 5,392,590 100,818,045
2042 5,389,628 100,512,032
2041 5,385,101 100,188,214
2040 5,379,344 99,849,875
2039 5,372,186 99,501,869
2038 5,363,617 99,137,385
2037 5,353,928 98,759,167
2036 5,343,027 98,366,612
2035 5,330,994 97,963,082
2034 5,317,895 97,546,148
2033 5,303,634 97,118,106
2032 5,288,416 96,671,440
2031 5,272,215 96,204,118
2030 5,255,064 95,718,604
2029 5,236,901 95,195,996
2028 5,217,724 94,623,034
2027 5,197,413 93,987,260
2026 5,176,096 93,276,075
2025 5,153,634 92,478,162
2024 5,129,910 91,567,738
2023 5,105,525 90,608,707
2022 5,081,765 89,524,246
2021 5,059,988 88,455,488
2020 5,034,320 87,723,443
2019 4,999,553 87,051,648
2018 4,957,818 86,117,998
2017 4,913,177 85,026,754
2016 4,866,998 83,812,228
2015 4,818,038 82,619,362
2014 4,767,119 81,502,045
2013 4,716,147 80,414,686
2012 4,663,934 79,370,580
2011 4,609,833 78,383,598
2010 4,555,962 77,420,842
2009 4,499,791 76,457,825
2008 4,440,056 75,514,204
2007 4,380,248 74,602,648
2006 4,321,340 73,392,747
2005 4,261,240 71,828,455
2004 4,200,078 70,256,316
2003 4,138,784 68,769,340
2002 4,075,705 68,011,317
2001 4,008,947 67,452,005
2000 3,937,739 66,418,659
1999 3,862,101 65,445,391
1998 3,782,838 64,519,859
1997 3,701,711 63,639,638
1996 3,619,013 62,881,300
1995 3,535,176 62,205,567
1994 3,451,122 61,520,598
1993 3,367,434 61,403,543
1992 3,284,258 61,184,983
1991 3,202,176 59,986,931
1990 3,121,706 58,380,092
1989 3,043,827 56,704,914
1988 2,968,103 55,072,694
1987 2,892,699 53,323,493
1986 2,817,216 51,446,045
1985 2,741,894 49,582,289
1984 2,667,595 47,793,998
1983 2,595,153 46,029,535
1982 2,524,806 44,272,141
1981 2,456,637 41,989,312
1980 2,390,633 39,842,324
1979 2,326,490 38,424,952
1978 2,264,510 37,126,535
1977 2,205,025 35,933,181
1976 2,147,774 34,837,271
1975 2,092,719 33,802,973
1974 2,039,643 32,796,463
1973 1,988,343 31,839,838
1972 1,938,248 30,921,179
1971 1,888,539 30,029,071
1970 1,838,949 29,145,100
1969 1,789,276 28,273,482
1968 1,739,731 27,437,391
1967 1,689,523 26,628,432
1966 1,638,116 25,829,270
1965 1,586,208 25,036,978
1964 1,533,960 24,262,859
1963 1,481,604 23,519,005
1962 1,429,445 22,807,907
1961 1,377,920 22,125,726
1960 1,327,496 21,470,434

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/iran | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Iran gained 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Iran's population increased by 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Iran was ranked 17th in 2006 and still ranked 17th 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 Iran will increase by 9.47% to 102,318,917 people and rank change from 17th to 18th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 103M people in 2053 for Iran.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Iran
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Iran
2100 -1% -0.66%
2099 -0.99% -0.64%
2098 -0.99% -0.64%
2097 -0.99% -0.63%
2096 -0.99% -0.62%
2095 -0.99% -0.62%
2094 -0.99% -0.61%
2093 -0.98% -0.61%
2092 -0.98% -0.61%
2091 -0.97% -0.61%
2090 -0.96% -0.61%
2089 -0.95% -0.62%
2088 -0.95% -0.62%
2087 -0.93% -0.63%
2086 -0.92% -0.63%
2085 -0.91% -0.64%
2084 -0.89% -0.64%
2083 -0.87% -0.65%
2082 -0.86% -0.65%
2081 -0.84% -0.65%
2080 -0.82% -0.65%
2079 -0.8% -0.65%
2078 -0.78% -0.65%
2077 -0.75% -0.64%
2076 -0.73% -0.63%
2075 -0.71% -0.62%
2074 -0.69% -0.61%
2073 -0.67% -0.59%
2072 -0.65% -0.58%
2071 -0.62% -0.56%
2070 -0.6% -0.54%
2069 -0.58% -0.52%
2068 -0.56% -0.49%
2067 -0.55% -0.46%
2066 -0.53% -0.44%
2065 -0.51% -0.41%
2064 -0.49% -0.38%
2063 -0.47% -0.35%
2062 -0.45% -0.31%
2061 -0.44% -0.28%
2060 -0.41% -0.24%
2059 -0.39% -0.2%
2058 -0.37% -0.16%
2057 -0.34% -0.13%
2056 -0.32% -0.09%
2055 -0.29% -0.05%
2054 -0.26% -0.009%
2053 -0.23% 0.03%
2052 -0.2% 0.06%
2051 -0.17% 0.1%
2050 -0.14% 0.13%
2049 -0.11% 0.16%
2048 -0.09% 0.19%
2047 -0.06% 0.22%
2046 -0.03% 0.24%
2045 0.002% 0.26%
2044 0.03% 0.28%
2043 0.05% 0.3%
2042 0.08% 0.32%
2041 0.11% 0.34%
2040 0.13% 0.35%
2039 0.16% 0.37%
2038 0.18% 0.38%
2037 0.2% 0.4%
2036 0.23% 0.41%
2035 0.25% 0.43%
2034 0.27% 0.44%
2033 0.29% 0.46%
2032 0.31% 0.49%
2031 0.33% 0.51%
2030 0.35% 0.55%
2029 0.37% 0.61%
2028 0.39% 0.68%
2027 0.41% 0.76%
2026 0.44% 0.86%
2025 0.46% 0.99%
2024 0.48% 1.06%
2023 0.47% 1.21%
2022 0.43% 1.21%
2021 0.51% 0.83%
2020 0.7% 0.77%
2019 0.84% 1.08%
2018 0.91% 1.28%
2017 0.95% 1.45%
2016 1.02% 1.44%
2015 1.07% 1.37%
2014 1.08% 1.35%
2013 1.12% 1.32%
2012 1.17% 1.26%
2011 1.18% 1.24%
2010 1.25% 1.26%
2009 1.35% 1.25%
2008 1.37% 1.22%
2007 1.36% 1.65%
2006 1.41% 2.18%
2005 1.46% 2.24%
2004 1.48% 2.16%
2003 1.55% 1.11%
2002 1.67% 0.83%
2001 1.81% 1.56%
2000 1.96% 1.49%
1999 2.1% 1.43%
1998 2.19% 1.38%
1997 2.29% 1.21%
1996 2.37% 1.09%
1995 2.44% 1.11%
1994 2.49% 0.19%
1993 2.53% 0.36%
1992 2.56% 2%
1991 2.58% 2.75%
1990 2.56% 2.95%
1989 2.55% 2.96%
1988 2.61% 3.28%
1987 2.68% 3.65%
1986 2.75% 3.76%
1985 2.79% 3.74%
1984 2.79% 3.83%
1983 2.79% 3.97%
1982 2.77% 5.44%
1981 2.76% 5.39%
1980 2.76% 3.69%
1979 2.74% 3.5%
1978 2.7% 3.32%
1977 2.67% 3.15%
1976 2.63% 3.06%
1975 2.6% 3.07%
1974 2.58% 3%
1973 2.58% 2.97%
1972 2.63% 2.97%
1971 2.7% 3.03%
1970 2.78% 3.08%
1969 2.85% 3.05%
1968 2.97% 3.04%
1967 3.14% 3.09%
1966 3.27% 3.16%
1965 3.41% 3.19%
1964 3.53% 3.16%
1963 3.65% 3.12%
1962 3.74% 3.08%
1961 3.8% 3.05%

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/iran | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Iran's population grew by 1.06%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Iran
Current population
5181862
93468444
Population rank 126/197 17/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 1.13%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
32.9 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
26.9 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
1.24 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +2,627
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +959,031
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.06%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 98/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
4.51 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +116,786
Net migration rank 63/196 14/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 3,840,654
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 17/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 4.2%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 103/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Iran
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Iran
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 116,786
2024 - 967 - 190,156
2023 24,109 995 750,150 262,044
2022 21,409 1,006 753,525 403,190
2021 20,119 1,018 645,725 334,967
2020 29,164 1,029 663,978 -180,680
2019 37,682 1,653 893,063 -32,794
2018 42,469 1,673 1,035,052 -27,946
2017 43,471 1,671 1,140,549 34,849
2016 45,565 1,649 1,186,949 66,630
2015 49,077 1,617 1,178,317 -46,239
2014 49,559 1,589 1,158,552 -56,042
2013 49,227 1,579 1,119,533 -47,322
2012 52,036 1,587 1,073,804 -57,823
2011 52,884 1,695 1,023,925 -65,924
2010 50,803 2,357 980,380 -12,849
2009 55,757 3,432 958,322 211
2008 56,491 3,794 940,983 -12,184
2007 55,244 4,080 919,254 -24,950
2006 54,177 4,321 884,529 640,932
2005 57,139 4,567 837,305 765,873
2004 55,769 4,856 801,203 739,996
2003 56,743 5,216 732,600 700,222
2002 58,388 5,812 752,205 -668,962
2001 62,199 7,119 743,658 291,692
2000 64,268 8,826 731,203 300,133
1999 64,922 13,253 723,237 191,988
1998 64,788 15,556 717,655 218,171
1997 64,954 16,954 726,574 98,009
1996 66,094 17,393 784,508 -92,435
1995 67,585 16,609 879,648 -220,258
1994 68,336 15,587 1,008,076 -297,487
1993 69,016 14,431 1,219,658 -1,696,091
1992 69,830 13,069 1,365,466 -451,945
1991 70,506 10,757 1,495,594 -13,059
1990 71,727 7,949 1,530,434 200,711
1989 72,327 3,758 1,609,739 9,460
1988 72,944 2,414 1,614,512 30,688
1987 73,188 2,267 1,639,644 213,524
1986 73,211 2,302 1,659,289 242,411
1985 72,776 2,357 1,661,750 163,999
1984 71,062 2,402 1,653,051 97,748
1983 68,972 2,449 1,573,612 204,544
1982 66,826 2,453 1,514,240 222,390
1981 64,632 2,431 1,376,830 1,452,169
1980 62,561 2,387 1,361,293 103,674
1979 60,984 2,349 1,294,306 75,451
1978 58,327 2,296 1,156,974 70,088
1977 56,122 2,228 1,091,542 68,093
1976 54,019 2,129 1,013,347 18,825
1975 51,979 1,992 929,481 106,921
1974 50,349 1,839 873,369 103,252
1973 48,943 1,468 831,880 104,779
1972 48,417 1,366 804,043 96,614
1971 48,341 1,296 805,830 77,717
1970 48,398 1,137 794,612 89,757
1969 48,790 1,017 780,660 78,196
1968 48,361 939 743,992 69,342
1967 50,193 926 727,276 77,313
1966 50,755 930 695,040 98,709
1965 51,196 932 663,029 127,808
1964 51,435 934 635,589 121,817
1963 51,403 938 620,126 110,190
1962 51,046 934 595,538 96,332
1961 50,149 924 594,674 77,811
1960 48,857 910 584,060 54,041

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/iran | 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 Iran 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,405,860 people) and 7.46% is from migration (a gain of 757,979 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 3,840,654 people or 4.2% in Iran.

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
Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K

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/iran | 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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