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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 23.7 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.54% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Costa Rica vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Japan
2100 3,804,183 76,978,998
2099 3,842,423 77,363,458
2098 3,880,999 77,742,445
2097 3,919,996 78,118,375
2096 3,959,352 78,498,614
2095 3,999,084 78,875,245
2094 4,039,053 79,250,325
2093 4,079,349 79,628,057
2092 4,119,898 80,007,967
2091 4,160,663 80,383,529
2090 4,201,548 80,760,724
2089 4,242,452 81,140,553
2088 4,283,327 81,521,696
2087 4,324,225 81,908,373
2086 4,364,979 82,304,497
2085 4,405,520 82,709,534
2084 4,445,770 83,123,058
2083 4,485,644 83,544,006
2082 4,525,171 83,980,325
2081 4,564,265 84,429,305
2080 4,602,737 84,899,768
2079 4,640,677 85,387,247
2078 4,677,935 85,897,934
2077 4,714,527 86,434,291
2076 4,750,309 86,993,007
2075 4,785,359 87,577,777
2074 4,819,691 88,190,392
2073 4,853,137 88,834,763
2072 4,885,727 89,499,356
2071 4,917,445 90,184,464
2070 4,948,313 90,899,136
2069 4,978,425 91,625,421
2068 5,007,604 92,367,969
2067 5,035,877 93,113,499
2066 5,063,521 93,869,240
2065 5,090,474 94,633,430
2064 5,116,546 95,391,433
2063 5,141,922 96,148,081
2062 5,166,260 96,902,907
2061 5,189,836 97,654,031
2060 5,212,549 98,400,894
2059 5,234,066 99,144,216
2058 5,254,528 99,868,968
2057 5,273,844 100,585,601
2056 5,292,013 101,295,868
2055 5,308,829 101,989,736
2054 5,324,305 102,683,462
2053 5,338,417 103,359,083
2052 5,350,974 104,036,901
2051 5,361,865 104,706,698
2050 5,371,197 105,377,283
2049 5,378,904 106,053,011
2048 5,385,081 106,731,207
2047 5,389,678 107,419,237
2046 5,392,713 108,115,358
2045 5,394,209 108,820,982
2044 5,394,124 109,529,333
2043 5,392,590 110,245,586
2042 5,389,628 110,968,174
2041 5,385,101 111,704,629
2040 5,379,344 112,438,759
2039 5,372,186 113,175,948
2038 5,363,617 113,915,783
2037 5,353,928 114,662,374
2036 5,343,027 115,410,956
2035 5,330,994 116,162,381
2034 5,317,895 116,911,001
2033 5,303,634 117,652,676
2032 5,288,416 118,393,188
2031 5,272,215 119,127,425
2030 5,255,064 119,856,131
2029 5,236,901 120,574,242
2028 5,217,724 121,287,543
2027 5,197,413 121,989,133
2026 5,176,096 122,677,250
2025 5,153,634 123,339,586
2024 5,129,910 123,975,371
2023 5,105,525 124,516,650
2022 5,081,765 125,124,989
2021 5,059,988 125,681,593
2020 5,034,320 126,261,000
2019 4,999,553 126,633,000
2018 4,957,818 126,811,000
2017 4,913,177 126,972,000
2016 4,866,998 127,076,000
2015 4,818,038 127,141,000
2014 4,767,119 127,276,000
2013 4,716,147 127,445,000
2012 4,663,934 127,629,000
2011 4,609,833 127,833,000
2010 4,555,962 128,070,000
2009 4,499,791 128,047,000
2008 4,440,056 128,063,000
2007 4,380,248 128,001,000
2006 4,321,340 127,854,000
2005 4,261,240 127,773,000
2004 4,200,078 127,761,000
2003 4,138,784 127,718,000
2002 4,075,705 127,445,000
2001 4,008,947 127,149,000
2000 3,937,739 126,843,000
1999 3,862,101 126,631,000
1998 3,782,838 126,400,000
1997 3,701,711 126,057,000
1996 3,619,013 125,757,000
1995 3,535,176 125,472,000
1994 3,451,122 125,178,000
1993 3,367,434 124,829,000
1992 3,284,258 124,425,000
1991 3,202,176 123,964,000
1990 3,121,706 123,478,000
1989 3,043,827 123,069,000
1988 2,968,103 122,578,000
1987 2,892,699 122,069,000
1986 2,817,216 121,482,000
1985 2,741,894 120,837,000
1984 2,667,595 120,083,000
1983 2,595,153 119,307,000
1982 2,524,806 118,480,000
1981 2,456,637 117,661,000
1980 2,390,633 116,807,000
1979 2,326,490 115,890,000
1978 2,264,510 114,913,000
1977 2,205,025 113,872,000
1976 2,147,774 112,775,000
1975 2,092,719 111,573,000
1974 2,039,643 110,162,000
1973 1,988,343 108,707,000
1972 1,938,248 107,188,000
1971 1,888,539 105,697,000
1970 1,838,949 103,403,000
1969 1,789,276 102,219,000
1968 1,739,731 101,011,000
1967 1,689,523 99,879,000
1966 1,638,116 98,851,000
1965 1,586,208 97,952,000
1964 1,533,960 96,903,000
1963 1,481,604 95,900,000
1962 1,429,445 94,933,000
1961 1,377,920 94,055,000
1960 1,327,496 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Japan
2100 -1% -0.5%
2099 -0.99% -0.49%
2098 -0.99% -0.48%
2097 -0.99% -0.48%
2096 -0.99% -0.48%
2095 -0.99% -0.47%
2094 -0.99% -0.47%
2093 -0.98% -0.47%
2092 -0.98% -0.47%
2091 -0.97% -0.47%
2090 -0.96% -0.47%
2089 -0.95% -0.47%
2088 -0.95% -0.47%
2087 -0.93% -0.48%
2086 -0.92% -0.49%
2085 -0.91% -0.5%
2084 -0.89% -0.5%
2083 -0.87% -0.52%
2082 -0.86% -0.53%
2081 -0.84% -0.55%
2080 -0.82% -0.57%
2079 -0.8% -0.59%
2078 -0.78% -0.62%
2077 -0.75% -0.64%
2076 -0.73% -0.67%
2075 -0.71% -0.69%
2074 -0.69% -0.73%
2073 -0.67% -0.74%
2072 -0.65% -0.76%
2071 -0.62% -0.79%
2070 -0.6% -0.79%
2069 -0.58% -0.8%
2068 -0.56% -0.8%
2067 -0.55% -0.81%
2066 -0.53% -0.81%
2065 -0.51% -0.79%
2064 -0.49% -0.79%
2063 -0.47% -0.78%
2062 -0.45% -0.77%
2061 -0.44% -0.76%
2060 -0.41% -0.75%
2059 -0.39% -0.73%
2058 -0.37% -0.71%
2057 -0.34% -0.7%
2056 -0.32% -0.68%
2055 -0.29% -0.68%
2054 -0.26% -0.65%
2053 -0.23% -0.65%
2052 -0.2% -0.64%
2051 -0.17% -0.64%
2050 -0.14% -0.64%
2049 -0.11% -0.64%
2048 -0.09% -0.64%
2047 -0.06% -0.64%
2046 -0.03% -0.65%
2045 0.002% -0.65%
2044 0.03% -0.65%
2043 0.05% -0.65%
2042 0.08% -0.66%
2041 0.11% -0.65%
2040 0.13% -0.65%
2039 0.16% -0.65%
2038 0.18% -0.65%
2037 0.2% -0.65%
2036 0.23% -0.65%
2035 0.25% -0.64%
2034 0.27% -0.63%
2033 0.29% -0.63%
2032 0.31% -0.62%
2031 0.33% -0.61%
2030 0.35% -0.6%
2029 0.37% -0.59%
2028 0.39% -0.58%
2027 0.41% -0.56%
2026 0.44% -0.54%
2025 0.46% -0.51%
2024 0.48% -0.43%
2023 0.47% -0.49%
2022 0.43% -0.44%
2021 0.51% -0.46%
2020 0.7% -0.29%
2019 0.84% -0.14%
2018 0.91% -0.13%
2017 0.95% -0.08%
2016 1.02% -0.05%
2015 1.07% -0.11%
2014 1.08% -0.13%
2013 1.12% -0.14%
2012 1.17% -0.16%
2011 1.18% -0.19%
2010 1.25% 0.02%
2009 1.35% -0.01%
2008 1.37% 0.05%
2007 1.36% 0.11%
2006 1.41% 0.06%
2005 1.46% 0.009%
2004 1.48% 0.03%
2003 1.55% 0.21%
2002 1.67% 0.23%
2001 1.81% 0.24%
2000 1.96% 0.17%
1999 2.1% 0.18%
1998 2.19% 0.27%
1997 2.29% 0.24%
1996 2.37% 0.23%
1995 2.44% 0.23%
1994 2.49% 0.28%
1993 2.53% 0.32%
1992 2.56% 0.37%
1991 2.58% 0.39%
1990 2.56% 0.33%
1989 2.55% 0.4%
1988 2.61% 0.42%
1987 2.68% 0.48%
1986 2.75% 0.53%
1985 2.79% 0.63%
1984 2.79% 0.65%
1983 2.79% 0.7%
1982 2.77% 0.7%
1981 2.76% 0.73%
1980 2.76% 0.79%
1979 2.74% 0.85%
1978 2.7% 0.91%
1977 2.67% 0.97%
1976 2.63% 1.08%
1975 2.6% 1.28%
1974 2.58% 1.34%
1973 2.58% 1.42%
1972 2.63% 1.41%
1971 2.7% 2.22%
1970 2.78% 1.16%
1969 2.85% 1.2%
1968 2.97% 1.13%
1967 3.14% 1.04%
1966 3.27% 0.92%
1965 3.41% 1.08%
1964 3.53% 1.05%
1963 3.65% 1.02%
1962 3.74% 0.93%
1961 3.8% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Japan
Current population
5181862
122677250
Population rank 126/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 1.48%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
58.3 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
42.2 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +67 -1,483
Annual growth/decline +24,385 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 185/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +140,579
Net migration rank 63/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 140,579
2024 - 967 - 153,357
2023 24,109 995 -871,617 175,003
2022 21,409 1,006 -825,825 175,003
2021 20,119 1,018 -640,976 -34,996
2020 29,164 1,029 -542,923 42,001
2019 37,682 1,653 -531,858 318,190
2018 42,469 1,673 -456,520 320,601
2017 43,471 1,671 -406,310 322,564
2016 45,565 1,649 -343,106 314,732
2015 49,077 1,617 -292,424 168,896
2014 49,559 1,589 -267,279 58,109
2013 49,227 1,579 -242,146 66,449
2012 52,036 1,587 -229,733 67,904
2011 52,884 1,695 -204,533 97,720
2010 50,803 2,357 -128,070 131,860
2009 55,757 3,432 -76,828 125,450
2008 56,491 3,794 -51,225 142,605
2007 55,244 4,080 -25,600 138,024
2006 54,177 4,321 12,785 130,065
2005 57,139 4,567 -25,554 113,017
2004 55,769 4,856 76,656 69,014
2003 56,743 5,216 114,946 74,875
2002 58,388 5,812 178,423 60,864
2001 62,199 7,119 203,438 59,563
2000 64,268 8,826 228,317 23,468
1999 64,922 13,253 202,610 56,901
1998 64,788 15,556 265,440 45,912
1997 64,954 16,954 277,325 43,366
1996 66,094 17,393 314,392 25,030
1995 67,585 16,609 276,039 87,714
1994 68,336 15,587 363,017 154,214
1993 69,016 14,431 312,073 168,836
1992 69,830 13,069 360,833 170,878
1991 70,506 10,757 396,685 161,331
1990 71,727 7,949 407,478 124,582
1989 72,327 3,758 467,662 31,202
1988 72,944 2,414 527,085 51,154
1987 73,188 2,267 598,138 28,001
1986 73,211 2,302 631,706 27,987
1985 72,776 2,357 676,687 -141,323
1984 71,062 2,402 756,523 -273,686
1983 68,972 2,449 775,495 -269,755
1982 66,826 2,453 805,664 -288,550
1981 64,632 2,431 811,861 -278,525
1980 62,561 2,387 864,372 -92,314
1979 60,984 2,349 950,298 -57,692
1978 58,327 2,296 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 56,122 2,228 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 54,019 2,129 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 51,979 1,992 1,204,989 107
1974 50,349 1,839 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 48,943 1,468 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 48,417 1,366 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 48,341 1,296 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 48,398 1,137 1,230,496 33,731
1969 48,790 1,017 1,195,962 49,447
1968 48,361 939 1,191,930 43,593
1967 50,193 926 1,258,475 29,632
1966 50,755 930 682,072 68,934
1965 51,196 932 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 51,435 934 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 51,403 938 987,770 -100,742
1962 51,046 934 901,864 -57,075
1961 50,149 924 893,522 -58,882
1960 48,857 910 894,874 -150,371

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/japan | 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 Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

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
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | 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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