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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 46,042,015 people in Iraq in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 48,289,334 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 9.32 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +2.45% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.3M (68.7% growth).

Costa Rica vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Iraq
2100 3,804,183 101,632,594
2099 3,842,423 101,421,266
2098 3,880,999 101,212,536
2097 3,919,996 100,980,835
2096 3,959,352 100,724,441
2095 3,999,084 100,464,590
2094 4,039,053 100,194,041
2093 4,079,349 99,876,174
2092 4,119,898 99,532,041
2091 4,160,663 99,203,830
2090 4,201,548 98,886,956
2089 4,242,452 98,513,025
2088 4,283,327 98,144,039
2087 4,324,225 97,767,537
2086 4,364,979 97,325,026
2085 4,405,520 96,873,007
2084 4,445,770 96,448,602
2083 4,485,644 95,991,166
2082 4,525,171 95,509,663
2081 4,564,265 95,009,326
2080 4,602,737 94,507,216
2079 4,640,677 93,960,228
2078 4,677,935 93,417,384
2077 4,714,527 92,903,983
2076 4,750,309 92,359,592
2075 4,785,359 91,825,254
2074 4,819,691 91,229,266
2073 4,853,137 90,571,021
2072 4,885,727 89,918,374
2071 4,917,445 89,265,548
2070 4,948,313 88,596,492
2069 4,978,425 87,909,474
2068 5,007,604 87,220,494
2067 5,035,877 86,513,996
2066 5,063,521 85,734,530
2065 5,090,474 84,971,898
2064 5,116,546 84,191,350
2063 5,141,922 83,387,951
2062 5,166,260 82,604,577
2061 5,189,836 81,800,637
2060 5,212,549 80,951,008
2059 5,234,066 80,141,868
2058 5,254,528 79,319,543
2057 5,273,844 78,477,339
2056 5,292,013 77,609,202
2055 5,308,829 76,739,924
2054 5,324,305 75,857,125
2053 5,338,417 74,952,948
2052 5,350,974 74,072,580
2051 5,361,865 73,150,234
2050 5,371,197 72,235,938
2049 5,378,904 71,272,122
2048 5,385,081 70,316,860
2047 5,389,678 69,347,823
2046 5,392,713 68,400,664
2045 5,394,209 67,435,953
2044 5,394,124 66,447,309
2043 5,392,590 65,453,565
2042 5,389,628 64,433,831
2041 5,385,101 63,408,709
2040 5,379,344 62,360,117
2039 5,372,186 61,289,355
2038 5,363,617 60,253,073
2037 5,353,928 59,221,658
2036 5,343,027 58,155,990
2035 5,330,994 57,127,999
2034 5,317,895 56,087,695
2033 5,303,634 55,051,140
2032 5,288,416 54,002,289
2031 5,272,215 52,991,443
2030 5,255,064 51,986,773
2029 5,236,901 50,982,563
2028 5,217,724 50,001,133
2027 5,197,413 49,014,822
2026 5,176,096 48,020,334
2025 5,153,634 47,020,527
2024 5,129,910 46,042,015
2023 5,105,525 45,074,049
2022 5,081,765 44,070,551
2021 5,059,988 43,071,211
2020 5,034,320 42,116,605
2019 4,999,553 41,192,171
2018 4,957,818 40,265,624
2017 4,913,177 39,337,353
2016 4,866,998 38,469,627
2015 4,818,038 37,560,535
2014 4,767,119 36,550,059
2013 4,716,147 35,281,989
2012 4,663,934 33,654,842
2011 4,609,833 32,161,424
2010 4,555,962 31,045,366
2009 4,499,791 30,058,206
2008 4,440,056 28,971,036
2007 4,380,248 28,391,607
2006 4,321,340 28,616,515
2005 4,261,240 28,407,448
2004 4,200,078 27,577,878
2003 4,138,784 26,802,659
2002 4,075,705 26,006,559
2001 4,008,947 25,197,840
2000 3,937,739 24,424,056
1999 3,862,101 23,636,527
1998 3,782,838 22,884,399
1997 3,701,711 22,176,593
1996 3,619,013 21,501,321
1995 3,535,176 20,825,860
1994 3,451,122 20,139,807
1993 3,367,434 19,201,195
1992 3,284,258 18,300,845
1991 3,202,176 17,767,253
1990 3,121,706 17,581,206
1989 3,043,827 17,364,542
1988 2,968,103 16,908,819
1987 2,892,699 16,521,049
1986 2,817,216 16,074,145
1985 2,741,894 15,683,430
1984 2,667,595 15,310,733
1983 2,595,153 14,840,555
1982 2,524,806 14,406,083
1981 2,456,637 14,006,381
1980 2,390,633 13,591,992
1979 2,326,490 13,170,365
1978 2,264,510 12,753,355
1977 2,205,025 12,331,046
1976 2,147,774 11,927,651
1975 2,092,719 11,543,639
1974 2,039,643 11,167,761
1973 1,988,343 10,795,869
1972 1,938,248 10,430,164
1971 1,888,539 10,077,809
1970 1,838,949 9,735,611
1969 1,789,276 9,403,356
1968 1,739,731 9,085,016
1967 1,689,523 8,778,869
1966 1,638,116 8,485,104
1965 1,586,208 8,202,140
1964 1,533,960 7,929,566
1963 1,481,604 7,667,928
1962 1,429,445 7,413,875
1961 1,377,920 7,194,553
1960 1,327,496 7,022,052

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/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd 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 Iraq will increase by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 102M people in 2100 for Iraq.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Iraq
2100 -1% 0.21%
2099 -0.99% 0.21%
2098 -0.99% 0.23%
2097 -0.99% 0.25%
2096 -0.99% 0.26%
2095 -0.99% 0.27%
2094 -0.99% 0.32%
2093 -0.98% 0.35%
2092 -0.98% 0.33%
2091 -0.97% 0.32%
2090 -0.96% 0.38%
2089 -0.95% 0.38%
2088 -0.95% 0.39%
2087 -0.93% 0.45%
2086 -0.92% 0.47%
2085 -0.91% 0.44%
2084 -0.89% 0.48%
2083 -0.87% 0.5%
2082 -0.86% 0.53%
2081 -0.84% 0.53%
2080 -0.82% 0.58%
2079 -0.8% 0.58%
2078 -0.78% 0.55%
2077 -0.75% 0.59%
2076 -0.73% 0.58%
2075 -0.71% 0.65%
2074 -0.69% 0.73%
2073 -0.67% 0.73%
2072 -0.65% 0.73%
2071 -0.62% 0.76%
2070 -0.6% 0.78%
2069 -0.58% 0.79%
2068 -0.56% 0.82%
2067 -0.55% 0.91%
2066 -0.53% 0.9%
2065 -0.51% 0.93%
2064 -0.49% 0.96%
2063 -0.47% 0.95%
2062 -0.45% 0.98%
2061 -0.44% 1.05%
2060 -0.41% 1.01%
2059 -0.39% 1.04%
2058 -0.37% 1.07%
2057 -0.34% 1.12%
2056 -0.32% 1.13%
2055 -0.29% 1.16%
2054 -0.26% 1.21%
2053 -0.23% 1.19%
2052 -0.2% 1.26%
2051 -0.17% 1.27%
2050 -0.14% 1.35%
2049 -0.11% 1.36%
2048 -0.09% 1.4%
2047 -0.06% 1.38%
2046 -0.03% 1.43%
2045 0.002% 1.49%
2044 0.03% 1.52%
2043 0.05% 1.58%
2042 0.08% 1.62%
2041 0.11% 1.68%
2040 0.13% 1.75%
2039 0.16% 1.72%
2038 0.18% 1.74%
2037 0.2% 1.83%
2036 0.23% 1.8%
2035 0.25% 1.85%
2034 0.27% 1.88%
2033 0.29% 1.94%
2032 0.31% 1.91%
2031 0.33% 1.93%
2030 0.35% 1.97%
2029 0.37% 1.96%
2028 0.39% 2.01%
2027 0.41% 2.07%
2026 0.44% 2.13%
2025 0.46% 2.13%
2024 0.48% 2.15%
2023 0.47% 2.28%
2022 0.43% 2.32%
2021 0.51% 2.27%
2020 0.7% 2.24%
2019 0.84% 2.3%
2018 0.91% 2.36%
2017 0.95% 2.26%
2016 1.02% 2.42%
2015 1.07% 2.76%
2014 1.08% 3.59%
2013 1.12% 4.83%
2012 1.17% 4.64%
2011 1.18% 3.59%
2010 1.25% 3.28%
2009 1.35% 3.75%
2008 1.37% 2.04%
2007 1.36% -0.79%
2006 1.41% 0.74%
2005 1.46% 3.01%
2004 1.48% 2.89%
2003 1.55% 3.06%
2002 1.67% 3.21%
2001 1.81% 3.17%
2000 1.96% 3.33%
1999 2.1% 3.29%
1998 2.19% 3.19%
1997 2.29% 3.14%
1996 2.37% 3.24%
1995 2.44% 3.41%
1994 2.49% 4.89%
1993 2.53% 4.92%
1992 2.56% 3%
1991 2.58% 1.06%
1990 2.56% 1.25%
1989 2.55% 2.7%
1988 2.61% 2.35%
1987 2.68% 2.78%
1986 2.75% 2.49%
1985 2.79% 2.43%
1984 2.79% 3.17%
1983 2.79% 3.02%
1982 2.77% 2.85%
1981 2.76% 3.05%
1980 2.76% 3.2%
1979 2.74% 3.27%
1978 2.7% 3.42%
1977 2.67% 3.38%
1976 2.63% 3.33%
1975 2.6% 3.37%
1974 2.58% 3.44%
1973 2.58% 3.51%
1972 2.63% 3.5%
1971 2.7% 3.51%
1970 2.78% 3.53%
1969 2.85% 3.5%
1968 2.97% 3.49%
1967 3.14% 3.46%
1966 3.27% 3.45%
1965 3.41% 3.44%
1964 3.53% 3.41%
1963 3.65% 3.43%
1962 3.74% 3.05%
1961 3.8% 2.46%

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/iraq | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Iraq
Current population
5181862
48289334
Population rank 126/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.58%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
32.6 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
27.2 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
2.82 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +2,652
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +967,966
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 46/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
8.26 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -1,064
Net migration rank 63/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -1,064
2024 - 967 - -17,735
2023 24,109 995 973,420 -5,710
2022 21,409 1,006 962,501 76,821
2021 20,119 1,018 941,924 17,474
2020 29,164 1,029 919,953 29,858
2019 37,682 1,653 942,972 -43,919
2018 42,469 1,673 938,310 15,775
2017 43,471 1,671 924,507 -21,998
2016 45,565 1,649 946,968 -113,980
2015 49,077 1,617 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 49,559 1,589 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 49,227 1,579 1,026,036 474,379
2012 52,036 1,587 999,987 753,907
2011 52,884 1,695 971,082 261,880
2010 50,803 2,357 906,369 92,779
2009 55,757 3,432 855,096 120,092
2008 56,491 3,794 802,382 396,792
2007 55,244 4,080 784,119 -824,428
2006 54,177 4,321 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 57,139 4,567 776,603 51,019
2004 55,769 4,856 761,563 69,948
2003 56,743 5,216 746,159 -27,236
2002 58,388 5,812 739,419 133,839
2001 62,199 7,119 729,704 14,451
2000 64,268 8,826 715,771 87,624
1999 64,922 13,253 702,170 69,491
1998 64,788 15,556 684,152 48,446
1997 64,954 16,954 667,582 15,429
1996 66,094 17,393 652,866 14,652
1995 67,585 16,609 642,977 40,424
1994 68,336 15,587 634,344 54,355
1993 69,016 14,431 606,700 581,818
1992 69,830 13,069 591,886 20,292
1991 70,506 10,757 550,146 -95,155
1990 71,727 7,949 518,575 -601,469
1989 72,327 3,758 496,852 19,392
1988 72,944 2,414 476,778 -81,562
1987 73,188 2,267 488,742 -108,426
1986 73,211 2,302 474,348 39,136
1985 72,776 2,357 467,445 -199,505
1984 71,062 2,402 455,740 21,709
1983 68,972 2,449 439,800 23,115
1982 66,826 2,453 428,336 -22,302
1981 64,632 2,431 416,998 -23,640
1980 62,561 2,387 419,653 15,757
1979 60,984 2,349 428,458 -20,617
1978 58,327 2,296 418,756 7,434
1977 56,122 2,228 410,229 8,204
1976 54,019 2,129 402,260 -13,915
1975 51,979 1,992 385,916 -6,237
1974 50,349 1,839 376,197 -4,090
1973 48,943 1,468 373,191 -1,507
1972 48,417 1,366 362,334 -2,600
1971 48,341 1,296 351,464 -6,479
1970 48,398 1,137 338,030 1,377
1969 48,790 1,017 324,792 312
1968 48,361 939 310,644 928
1967 50,193 926 298,192 2,531
1966 50,755 930 285,507 1,298
1965 51,196 932 274,551 4,555
1964 51,435 934 262,825 3,224
1963 51,403 938 254,046 3,197
1962 51,046 934 247,520 3,343
1961 50,149 924 184,792 2,981
1960 48,857 910 155,651 1,573

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

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
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

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/iraq | 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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