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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 58,952,704 people in Italy in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 58,562,681 in Italy.

Population statistics:

  • Italy's population is 11.3 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Italy is the 26th.
  • The countries together account for 0.77% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.71% for Italy.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs -0.21% in Italy.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Italy has grown from 58.4M to 58.6M (0.28% growth).

Costa Rica vs Italy: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Italy
2100 3,804,183 35,208,261
2099 3,842,423 35,444,989
2098 3,880,999 35,676,340
2097 3,919,996 35,914,345
2096 3,959,352 36,150,501
2095 3,999,084 36,386,787
2094 4,039,053 36,619,396
2093 4,079,349 36,850,181
2092 4,119,898 37,089,746
2091 4,160,663 37,323,400
2090 4,201,548 37,560,976
2089 4,242,452 37,802,157
2088 4,283,327 38,040,056
2087 4,324,225 38,280,439
2086 4,364,979 38,517,279
2085 4,405,520 38,761,126
2084 4,445,770 39,008,873
2083 4,485,644 39,255,273
2082 4,525,171 39,509,964
2081 4,564,265 39,767,732
2080 4,602,737 40,030,977
2079 4,640,677 40,302,924
2078 4,677,935 40,579,648
2077 4,714,527 40,860,952
2076 4,750,309 41,151,772
2075 4,785,359 41,455,646
2074 4,819,691 41,779,503
2073 4,853,137 42,111,664
2072 4,885,727 42,459,257
2071 4,917,445 42,814,908
2070 4,948,313 43,187,953
2069 4,978,425 43,571,469
2068 5,007,604 43,964,515
2067 5,035,877 44,361,273
2066 5,063,521 44,771,926
2065 5,090,474 45,197,177
2064 5,116,546 45,628,630
2063 5,141,922 46,066,216
2062 5,166,260 46,517,561
2061 5,189,836 46,971,598
2060 5,212,549 47,424,830
2059 5,234,066 47,879,711
2058 5,254,528 48,332,818
2057 5,273,844 48,778,066
2056 5,292,013 49,222,515
2055 5,308,829 49,653,326
2054 5,324,305 50,073,600
2053 5,338,417 50,488,203
2052 5,350,974 50,886,354
2051 5,361,865 51,276,616
2050 5,371,197 51,663,176
2049 5,378,904 52,034,983
2048 5,385,081 52,392,012
2047 5,389,678 52,745,310
2046 5,392,713 53,080,828
2045 5,394,209 53,408,660
2044 5,394,124 53,723,325
2043 5,392,590 54,042,322
2042 5,389,628 54,342,628
2041 5,385,101 54,629,496
2040 5,379,344 54,916,374
2039 5,372,186 55,205,078
2038 5,363,617 55,481,637
2037 5,353,928 55,757,394
2036 5,343,027 56,025,224
2035 5,330,994 56,295,613
2034 5,317,895 56,562,648
2033 5,303,634 56,822,364
2032 5,288,416 57,078,534
2031 5,272,215 57,345,322
2030 5,255,064 57,606,120
2029 5,236,901 57,851,091
2028 5,217,724 58,091,760
2027 5,197,413 58,333,039
2026 5,176,096 58,562,681
2025 5,153,634 58,769,653
2024 5,129,910 58,952,704
2023 5,105,525 58,984,216
2022 5,081,765 59,013,667
2021 5,059,988 59,133,173
2020 5,034,320 59,438,851
2019 4,999,553 59,729,081
2018 4,957,818 60,148,658
2017 4,913,177 60,002,252
2016 4,866,998 60,115,223
2015 4,818,038 60,229,605
2014 4,767,119 60,320,707
2013 4,716,147 60,311,613
2012 4,663,934 60,191,247
2011 4,609,833 60,026,841
2010 4,555,962 59,819,407
2009 4,499,791 59,555,454
2008 4,440,056 59,211,181
2007 4,380,248 58,756,247
2006 4,321,340 58,399,861
2005 4,261,240 58,166,682
2004 4,200,078 57,828,179
2003 4,138,784 57,399,184
2002 4,075,705 57,089,824
2001 4,008,947 56,976,981
2000 3,937,739 56,942,108
1999 3,862,101 56,916,317
1998 3,782,838 56,906,744
1997 3,701,711 56,890,372
1996 3,619,013 56,860,281
1995 3,535,176 56,844,303
1994 3,451,122 56,843,400
1993 3,367,434 56,831,821
1992 3,284,258 56,797,087
1991 3,202,176 56,758,521
1990 3,121,706 56,719,240
1989 3,043,827 56,671,781
1988 2,968,103 56,629,288
1987 2,892,699 56,601,931
1986 2,817,216 56,596,155
1985 2,741,894 56,593,071
1984 2,667,595 56,576,718
1983 2,595,153 56,564,074
1982 2,524,806 56,543,548
1981 2,456,637 56,501,675
1980 2,390,633 56,433,883
1979 2,326,490 56,317,749
1978 2,264,510 56,155,143
1977 2,205,025 55,955,411
1976 2,147,774 55,718,260
1975 2,092,719 55,441,001
1974 2,039,643 55,110,868
1973 1,988,343 54,751,406
1972 1,938,248 54,381,345
1971 1,888,539 54,073,490
1970 1,838,949 53,821,850
1969 1,789,276 53,537,950
1968 1,739,731 53,235,750
1967 1,689,523 52,900,500
1966 1,638,116 52,519,000
1965 1,586,208 52,112,350
1964 1,533,960 51,675,350
1963 1,481,604 51,252,000
1962 1,429,445 50,879,450
1961 1,377,920 50,536,350
1960 1,327,496 50,199,700

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/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Italy gained 1,715,362 people (a 2.94% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Italy's population decreased by 1,552,542 people (a 2.58% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Italy was ranked 23rd in 2006 and ranked 26th 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 Italy will decrease by 11.8% to 51,663,176 people and rank change from 26th to 40th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Italy's population already peaked in 2014 at 60.3M people and is projected to decrease to 35.2M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Italy
2100 -1% -0.67%
2099 -0.99% -0.65%
2098 -0.99% -0.66%
2097 -0.99% -0.65%
2096 -0.99% -0.65%
2095 -0.99% -0.64%
2094 -0.99% -0.63%
2093 -0.98% -0.65%
2092 -0.98% -0.63%
2091 -0.97% -0.63%
2090 -0.96% -0.64%
2089 -0.95% -0.63%
2088 -0.95% -0.63%
2087 -0.93% -0.61%
2086 -0.92% -0.63%
2085 -0.91% -0.64%
2084 -0.89% -0.63%
2083 -0.87% -0.64%
2082 -0.86% -0.65%
2081 -0.84% -0.66%
2080 -0.82% -0.67%
2079 -0.8% -0.68%
2078 -0.78% -0.69%
2077 -0.75% -0.71%
2076 -0.73% -0.73%
2075 -0.71% -0.78%
2074 -0.69% -0.79%
2073 -0.67% -0.82%
2072 -0.65% -0.83%
2071 -0.62% -0.86%
2070 -0.6% -0.88%
2069 -0.58% -0.89%
2068 -0.56% -0.89%
2067 -0.55% -0.92%
2066 -0.53% -0.94%
2065 -0.51% -0.95%
2064 -0.49% -0.95%
2063 -0.47% -0.97%
2062 -0.45% -0.97%
2061 -0.44% -0.96%
2060 -0.41% -0.95%
2059 -0.39% -0.94%
2058 -0.37% -0.91%
2057 -0.34% -0.9%
2056 -0.32% -0.87%
2055 -0.29% -0.84%
2054 -0.26% -0.82%
2053 -0.23% -0.78%
2052 -0.2% -0.76%
2051 -0.17% -0.75%
2050 -0.14% -0.71%
2049 -0.11% -0.68%
2048 -0.09% -0.67%
2047 -0.06% -0.63%
2046 -0.03% -0.61%
2045 0.002% -0.59%
2044 0.03% -0.59%
2043 0.05% -0.55%
2042 0.08% -0.53%
2041 0.11% -0.52%
2040 0.13% -0.52%
2039 0.16% -0.5%
2038 0.18% -0.49%
2037 0.2% -0.48%
2036 0.23% -0.48%
2035 0.25% -0.47%
2034 0.27% -0.46%
2033 0.29% -0.45%
2032 0.31% -0.47%
2031 0.33% -0.45%
2030 0.35% -0.42%
2029 0.37% -0.41%
2028 0.39% -0.41%
2027 0.41% -0.39%
2026 0.44% -0.35%
2025 0.46% -0.31%
2024 0.48% -0.05%
2023 0.47% -0.05%
2022 0.43% -0.2%
2021 0.51% -0.51%
2020 0.7% -0.49%
2019 0.84% -0.7%
2018 0.91% 0.24%
2017 0.95% -0.19%
2016 1.02% -0.19%
2015 1.07% -0.15%
2014 1.08% 0.02%
2013 1.12% 0.2%
2012 1.17% 0.27%
2011 1.18% 0.35%
2010 1.25% 0.44%
2009 1.35% 0.58%
2008 1.37% 0.77%
2007 1.36% 0.61%
2006 1.41% 0.4%
2005 1.46% 0.59%
2004 1.48% 0.75%
2003 1.55% 0.54%
2002 1.67% 0.2%
2001 1.81% 0.06%
2000 1.96% 0.05%
1999 2.1% 0.02%
1998 2.19% 0.03%
1997 2.29% 0.05%
1996 2.37% 0.03%
1995 2.44% 0.002%
1994 2.49% 0.02%
1993 2.53% 0.06%
1992 2.56% 0.07%
1991 2.58% 0.07%
1990 2.56% 0.08%
1989 2.55% 0.08%
1988 2.61% 0.05%
1987 2.68% 0.01%
1986 2.75% 0.005%
1985 2.79% 0.03%
1984 2.79% 0.02%
1983 2.79% 0.04%
1982 2.77% 0.07%
1981 2.76% 0.12%
1980 2.76% 0.21%
1979 2.74% 0.29%
1978 2.7% 0.36%
1977 2.67% 0.43%
1976 2.63% 0.5%
1975 2.6% 0.6%
1974 2.58% 0.66%
1973 2.58% 0.68%
1972 2.63% 0.57%
1971 2.7% 0.47%
1970 2.78% 0.53%
1969 2.85% 0.57%
1968 2.97% 0.63%
1967 3.14% 0.73%
1966 3.27% 0.78%
1965 3.41% 0.85%
1964 3.53% 0.83%
1963 3.65% 0.73%
1962 3.74% 0.68%
1961 3.8% 0.67%

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/italy | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Italy's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Italy
Current population
5181862
58562681
Population rank 126/197 26/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.71%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
16.7 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
1.39 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
47.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +67 -86
Annual growth/decline +24,385 -31,512
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 170/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
6.99 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +75,448
Net migration rank 63/196 19/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 6,553,671
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 12/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 11%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 59/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Italy
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Italy
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 75,448
2024 - 967 - 95,246
2023 24,109 995 -283,125 150,189
2022 21,409 1,006 -318,674 231,228
2021 20,119 1,018 -301,579 157,327
2020 29,164 1,029 -338,801 85,281
2019 37,682 1,653 -215,025 46,634
2018 42,469 1,673 -192,475 83,686
2017 43,471 1,671 -192,007 95,147
2016 45,565 1,649 -138,265 84,568
2015 49,077 1,617 -162,620 39,389
2014 49,559 1,589 -96,513 52,679
2013 49,227 1,579 -90,468 158,090
2012 52,036 1,587 -78,248 252,524
2011 52,884 1,695 -48,021 198,544
2010 50,803 2,357 -23,928 274,387
2009 55,757 3,432 -17,866 283,676
2008 56,491 3,794 -11,842 422,534
2007 55,244 4,080 -5,876 495,092
2006 54,177 4,321 0 215,995
2005 57,139 4,567 -17,450 258,702
2004 55,769 4,856 11,566 417,970
2003 56,743 5,216 -40,179 478,578
2002 58,388 5,812 -22,836 223,861
2001 62,199 7,119 -11,396 48,903
2000 64,268 8,826 -17,082 56,065
1999 64,922 13,253 -22,766 54,405
1998 64,788 15,556 -39,835 67,985
1997 64,954 16,954 -22,756 50,539
1996 66,094 17,393 -22,744 53,450
1995 67,585 16,609 -34,107 -460,287
1994 68,336 15,587 -17,053 502,750
1993 69,016 14,431 0 24,321
1992 69,830 13,069 22,718 51,747
1991 70,506 10,757 11,352 19,721
1990 71,727 7,949 22,688 35,317
1989 72,327 3,758 28,336 19,540
1988 72,944 2,414 33,977 18,553
1987 73,188 2,267 16,980 7,825
1986 73,211 2,302 11,319 -6,206
1985 72,776 2,357 28,297 6,911
1984 71,062 2,402 50,919 203
1983 68,972 2,449 33,939 -3,733
1982 66,826 2,453 79,161 -24,223
1981 64,632 2,431 73,452 7,182
1980 62,561 2,387 84,650 295,642
1979 60,984 2,349 129,531 42,637
1978 58,327 2,296 168,465 43,932
1977 56,122 2,228 190,248 42,246
1976 54,019 2,129 228,445 40,885
1975 51,979 1,992 271,660 43,051
1974 50,349 1,839 336,176 42,487
1973 48,943 1,468 328,508 41,631
1972 48,417 1,366 364,355 43,182
1971 48,341 1,296 383,922 -58,627
1970 48,398 1,137 376,753 -62,216
1969 48,790 1,017 390,827 -45,346
1968 48,361 939 399,268 -50,149
1967 50,193 926 439,074 -37,992
1966 50,755 930 488,427 -35,352
1965 51,196 932 474,222 -36,267
1964 51,435 934 527,089 -27,368
1963 51,403 938 440,767 -28,198
1962 51,046 934 427,387 -25,840
1961 50,149 924 459,880 -129,761
1960 48,857 910 426,697 -140,765

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/italy | 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 Italy 68.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,239,084 people) and 31.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,026,128 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 6,553,671 people or 11% in Italy.

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
Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K

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/italy | 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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