Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 2,837,077 people in Jamaica in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 2,834,177 in Jamaica.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 1.83 times bigger than Jamaica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Jamaica is the 140th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.03% for Jamaica.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +0.14% in Jamaica.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Jamaica has grown from 2.7M to 2.83M (4.93% growth).

Costa Rica vs Jamaica: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Jamaica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Jamaica
2100 3,803,678 1,075,631
2099 3,841,913 1,095,039
2098 3,880,484 1,114,926
2097 3,919,475 1,135,331
2096 3,958,826 1,156,197
2095 3,998,552 1,177,632
2094 4,038,516 1,199,705
2093 4,078,807 1,222,447
2092 4,119,351 1,245,845
2091 4,160,111 1,269,943
2090 4,200,989 1,294,621
2089 4,241,888 1,319,987
2088 4,282,758 1,345,908
2087 4,323,650 1,372,420
2086 4,364,399 1,399,559
2085 4,404,935 1,427,403
2084 4,445,179 1,455,598
2083 4,485,048 1,483,973
2082 4,524,570 1,513,113
2081 4,563,658 1,542,698
2080 4,602,126 1,572,954
2079 4,640,060 1,603,471
2078 4,677,313 1,634,036
2077 4,713,901 1,665,130
2076 4,749,678 1,696,282
2075 4,784,723 1,727,653
2074 4,819,050 1,759,538
2073 4,852,492 1,791,310
2072 4,885,078 1,823,277
2071 4,916,792 1,855,059
2070 4,947,655 1,886,784
2069 4,977,764 1,918,215
2068 5,006,939 1,949,604
2067 5,035,207 1,980,685
2066 5,062,849 2,011,465
2065 5,089,797 2,042,697
2064 5,115,866 2,073,400
2063 5,141,239 2,103,669
2062 5,165,574 2,133,903
2061 5,189,146 2,163,699
2060 5,211,857 2,193,436
2059 5,233,370 2,222,680
2058 5,253,830 2,251,648
2057 5,273,143 2,279,932
2056 5,291,310 2,308,282
2055 5,308,124 2,336,168
2054 5,323,598 2,363,575
2053 5,337,707 2,390,213
2052 5,350,263 2,416,056
2051 5,361,152 2,441,297
2050 5,370,484 2,466,072
2049 5,378,189 2,490,883
2048 5,384,366 2,514,954
2047 5,388,962 2,538,499
2046 5,391,996 2,561,597
2045 5,393,493 2,583,931
2044 5,393,407 2,605,750
2043 5,391,873 2,626,741
2042 5,388,912 2,646,740
2041 5,384,386 2,665,673
2040 5,378,629 2,683,790
2039 5,371,473 2,701,261
2038 5,362,904 2,717,604
2037 5,353,217 2,733,406
2036 5,342,317 2,747,946
2035 5,330,286 2,761,103
2034 5,317,189 2,773,511
2033 5,302,930 2,784,591
2032 5,287,714 2,794,827
2031 5,271,514 2,803,535
2030 5,254,366 2,811,500
2029 5,236,206 2,818,414
2028 5,217,031 2,824,434
2027 5,196,723 2,829,732
2026 5,175,408 2,834,177
2025 5,152,950 2,837,077
2024 5,129,910 2,839,175
2023 5,105,525 2,839,786
2022 5,081,765 2,839,144
2021 5,059,988 2,837,682
2020 5,034,320 2,830,739
2019 4,999,553 2,823,271
2018 4,957,818 2,820,097
2017 4,913,177 2,815,764
2016 4,866,998 2,809,915
2015 4,818,038 2,802,534
2014 4,767,119 2,793,749
2013 4,716,147 2,783,687
2012 4,663,934 2,772,430
2011 4,609,833 2,760,494
2010 4,555,962 2,748,568
2009 4,499,791 2,736,995
2008 4,440,056 2,725,635
2007 4,380,248 2,713,800
2006 4,321,340 2,700,968
2005 4,261,240 2,687,066
2004 4,200,078 2,672,225
2003 4,138,784 2,656,623
2002 4,075,705 2,640,572
2001 4,008,947 2,624,403
2000 3,937,739 2,607,826
1999 3,862,101 2,589,795
1998 3,782,838 2,569,736
1997 3,701,711 2,547,848
1996 3,619,013 2,524,463
1995 3,535,176 2,500,151
1994 3,451,122 2,475,220
1993 3,367,434 2,449,916
1992 3,284,258 2,424,701
1991 3,202,176 2,400,869
1990 3,121,706 2,379,877
1989 3,043,827 2,361,916
1988 2,968,103 2,345,777
1987 2,892,699 2,329,813
1986 2,817,216 2,312,125
1985 2,741,894 2,290,656
1984 2,667,595 2,264,562
1983 2,595,153 2,234,832
1982 2,524,806 2,203,889
1981 2,456,637 2,173,818
1980 2,390,633 2,145,658
1979 2,326,490 2,119,486
1978 2,264,510 2,094,836
1977 2,205,025 2,070,657
1976 2,147,774 2,045,578
1975 2,092,719 2,018,981
1974 2,039,643 1,990,906
1973 1,988,343 1,961,219
1972 1,938,248 1,931,542
1971 1,888,539 1,903,728
1970 1,838,949 1,878,196
1969 1,789,276 1,855,127
1968 1,739,731 1,833,765
1967 1,689,523 1,812,865
1966 1,638,116 1,791,475
1965 1,586,208 1,769,192
1964 1,533,960 1,745,568
1963 1,481,604 1,721,099
1962 1,429,445 1,696,932
1961 1,377,920 1,673,261
1960 1,327,496 1,650,005

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/jamaica | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Jamaica gained 108,947 people (a 4.03% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Jamaica's population increased by 24,262 people (a 0.86% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Jamaica was ranked 136th in 2006 and ranked 140th 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 Jamaica will decrease by 13% to 2,466,072 people and rank change from 140th to 143rd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Jamaica's population already peaked in 2023 at 2.84M people and is projected to decrease to 1.08M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Jamaica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Jamaica
2100 -1% -1.77%
2099 -0.99% -1.78%
2098 -0.99% -1.8%
2097 -0.99% -1.8%
2096 -0.99% -1.82%
2095 -0.99% -1.84%
2094 -0.99% -1.86%
2093 -0.98% -1.88%
2092 -0.98% -1.9%
2091 -0.97% -1.91%
2090 -0.96% -1.92%
2089 -0.95% -1.93%
2088 -0.95% -1.93%
2087 -0.93% -1.94%
2086 -0.92% -1.95%
2085 -0.91% -1.94%
2084 -0.89% -1.91%
2083 -0.87% -1.93%
2082 -0.86% -1.92%
2081 -0.84% -1.92%
2080 -0.82% -1.9%
2079 -0.8% -1.87%
2078 -0.78% -1.87%
2077 -0.75% -1.84%
2076 -0.73% -1.82%
2075 -0.71% -1.81%
2074 -0.69% -1.77%
2073 -0.67% -1.75%
2072 -0.65% -1.71%
2071 -0.62% -1.68%
2070 -0.6% -1.64%
2069 -0.58% -1.61%
2068 -0.56% -1.57%
2067 -0.55% -1.53%
2066 -0.53% -1.53%
2065 -0.51% -1.48%
2064 -0.49% -1.44%
2063 -0.47% -1.42%
2062 -0.45% -1.38%
2061 -0.44% -1.36%
2060 -0.41% -1.32%
2059 -0.39% -1.29%
2058 -0.37% -1.24%
2057 -0.34% -1.23%
2056 -0.32% -1.19%
2055 -0.29% -1.16%
2054 -0.26% -1.11%
2053 -0.23% -1.07%
2052 -0.2% -1.03%
2051 -0.17% -1%
2050 -0.14% -1%
2049 -0.11% -0.96%
2048 -0.09% -0.93%
2047 -0.06% -0.9%
2046 -0.03% -0.86%
2045 0.002% -0.84%
2044 0.03% -0.8%
2043 0.05% -0.76%
2042 0.08% -0.71%
2041 0.11% -0.68%
2040 0.13% -0.65%
2039 0.16% -0.6%
2038 0.18% -0.58%
2037 0.2% -0.53%
2036 0.23% -0.48%
2035 0.25% -0.45%
2034 0.27% -0.4%
2033 0.29% -0.37%
2032 0.31% -0.31%
2031 0.33% -0.28%
2030 0.35% -0.25%
2029 0.37% -0.21%
2028 0.39% -0.19%
2027 0.41% -0.16%
2026 0.44% -0.1%
2025 0.45% -0.07%
2024 0.48% -0.02%
2023 0.47% 0.02%
2022 0.43% 0.05%
2021 0.51% 0.25%
2020 0.7% 0.26%
2019 0.84% 0.11%
2018 0.91% 0.15%
2017 0.95% 0.21%
2016 1.02% 0.26%
2015 1.07% 0.31%
2014 1.08% 0.36%
2013 1.12% 0.41%
2012 1.17% 0.43%
2011 1.18% 0.43%
2010 1.25% 0.42%
2009 1.35% 0.42%
2008 1.37% 0.44%
2007 1.36% 0.48%
2006 1.41% 0.52%
2005 1.46% 0.56%
2004 1.48% 0.59%
2003 1.55% 0.61%
2002 1.67% 0.62%
2001 1.81% 0.64%
2000 1.96% 0.7%
1999 2.1% 0.78%
1998 2.19% 0.86%
1997 2.29% 0.93%
1996 2.37% 0.97%
1995 2.44% 1.01%
1994 2.49% 1.03%
1993 2.53% 1.04%
1992 2.56% 0.99%
1991 2.58% 0.88%
1990 2.56% 0.76%
1989 2.55% 0.69%
1988 2.61% 0.69%
1987 2.68% 0.77%
1986 2.75% 0.94%
1985 2.79% 1.15%
1984 2.79% 1.33%
1983 2.79% 1.4%
1982 2.77% 1.38%
1981 2.76% 1.31%
1980 2.76% 1.23%
1979 2.74% 1.18%
1978 2.7% 1.17%
1977 2.67% 1.23%
1976 2.63% 1.32%
1975 2.6% 1.41%
1974 2.58% 1.51%
1973 2.58% 1.54%
1972 2.63% 1.46%
1971 2.7% 1.36%
1970 2.78% 1.24%
1969 2.85% 1.16%
1968 2.97% 1.15%
1967 3.14% 1.19%
1966 3.27% 1.26%
1965 3.41% 1.35%
1964 3.53% 1.42%
1963 3.65% 1.42%
1962 3.74% 1.41%
1961 3.8% 1.41%

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/jamaica | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Jamaica's population declined by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Jamaica
Current population
5186356
2834177
Population rank 126/197 140/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.03%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
4.19 hours
One birth every
10.3 minutes
16.2 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
22.6 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 -6
Annual growth/decline +23,040 -2,098
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% -0.07%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 165/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
47.7 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -11,053
Net migration rank 63/196 135/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 24,007
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 168/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 161/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Jamaica
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Jamaica
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -11,053
2024 22,699 967 9,210 -10,506
2023 24,109 995 10,072 -10,003
2022 21,409 1,006 11,215 -10,003
2021 20,119 1,018 6,382 -4,665
2020 29,164 1,029 12,170 0
2019 37,682 1,653 13,094 -10,335
2018 42,469 1,673 13,929 -10,335
2017 43,471 1,671 15,419 -10,335
2016 45,565 1,649 16,944 -10,335
2015 49,077 1,617 18,489 -10,335
2014 49,559 1,589 19,751 -10,335
2013 49,227 1,579 21,037 -10,335
2012 52,036 1,587 22,320 -10,498
2011 52,884 1,695 23,627 -11,577
2010 50,803 2,357 25,031 -13,248
2009 55,757 3,432 26,311 -14,941
2008 56,491 3,794 27,553 -16,191
2007 55,244 4,080 28,886 -16,588
2006 54,177 4,321 30,213 -16,840
2005 57,139 4,567 31,506 -17,071
2004 55,769 4,856 32,500 -17,256
2003 56,743 5,216 33,340 -17,380
2002 58,388 5,812 33,572 -17,428
2001 62,199 7,119 33,666 -17,466
2000 64,268 8,826 34,452 -17,498
1999 64,922 13,253 36,649 -17,542
1998 64,788 15,556 38,628 -17,623
1997 64,954 16,954 40,521 -17,756
1996 66,094 17,393 42,297 -18,285
1995 67,585 16,609 43,705 -19,092
1994 68,336 15,587 45,210 -19,960
1993 69,016 14,431 46,090 -20,731
1992 69,830 13,069 46,494 -21,426
1991 70,506 10,757 45,617 -23,014
1990 71,727 7,949 44,465 -25,085
1989 72,327 3,758 43,591 -27,049
1988 72,944 2,414 43,978 -28,247
1987 73,188 2,267 44,155 -27,958
1986 73,211 2,302 44,520 -25,339
1985 72,776 2,357 45,122 -21,371
1984 71,062 2,402 45,644 -17,211
1983 68,972 2,449 45,095 -14,065
1982 66,826 2,453 43,816 -12,952
1981 64,632 2,431 42,898 -13,619
1980 62,561 2,387 42,316 -15,277
1979 60,984 2,349 42,449 -17,143
1978 58,327 2,296 42,475 -18,483
1977 56,122 2,228 42,999 -18,630
1976 54,019 2,129 43,878 -18,084
1975 51,979 1,992 44,736 -17,340
1974 50,349 1,839 45,526 -16,769
1973 48,943 1,468 47,438 -16,822
1972 48,417 1,366 46,676 -17,934
1971 48,341 1,296 47,206 -20,322
1970 48,398 1,137 47,547 -23,371
1969 48,790 1,017 48,258 -26,304
1968 48,361 939 49,189 -28,424
1967 50,193 926 50,187 -29,147
1966 50,755 930 50,808 -29,065
1965 51,196 932 51,423 -28,611
1964 51,435 934 52,501 -28,066
1963 51,403 938 52,277 -27,757
1962 51,046 934 51,758 -27,936
1961 50,149 924 51,931 -28,416
1960 48,857 910 51,944 -28,952

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/jamaica | 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 Jamaica 59.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 126,924 people) and 40.6% is from migration (a loss of 86,852 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 24,007 people or 0.8% in Jamaica.

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
Jamaica
City Population
Kingston 938K
Spanish Town 131K
Montego Bay 124K
May Pen 61.5K
Mandeville 48.3K
Old Harbour 28.7K
Linstead 22.8K
Savanna-la-Mar 22.6K
Port Antonio 14.8K

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/jamaica | 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.