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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 56,432,944 people in Kenya in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 58,955,623 in Kenya.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 11.4 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Kenya is the 25th.
  • The countries together account for 0.77% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.71% for Kenya.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +2.08% in Kenya.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Kenya has grown from 36.9M to 59M (59.8% growth).

Costa Rica vs Kenya: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Kenya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Kenya
2100 3,804,183 105,238,162
2099 3,842,423 105,257,438
2098 3,880,999 105,257,489
2097 3,919,996 105,250,948
2096 3,959,352 105,220,085
2095 3,999,084 105,175,623
2094 4,039,053 105,118,372
2093 4,079,349 105,046,907
2092 4,119,898 104,955,024
2091 4,160,663 104,846,805
2090 4,201,548 104,718,130
2089 4,242,452 104,573,271
2088 4,283,327 104,414,197
2087 4,324,225 104,243,505
2086 4,364,979 104,056,143
2085 4,405,520 103,854,891
2084 4,445,770 103,640,244
2083 4,485,644 103,407,124
2082 4,525,171 103,158,580
2081 4,564,265 102,889,291
2080 4,602,737 102,594,978
2079 4,640,677 102,286,967
2078 4,677,935 101,961,280
2077 4,714,527 101,613,181
2076 4,750,309 101,239,843
2075 4,785,359 100,849,423
2074 4,819,691 100,436,632
2073 4,853,137 100,001,277
2072 4,885,727 99,533,234
2071 4,917,445 99,042,264
2070 4,948,313 98,529,166
2069 4,978,425 97,992,232
2068 5,007,604 97,428,138
2067 5,035,877 96,842,744
2066 5,063,521 96,230,345
2065 5,090,474 95,598,937
2064 5,116,546 94,942,874
2063 5,141,922 94,266,124
2062 5,166,260 93,561,519
2061 5,189,836 92,837,768
2060 5,212,549 92,098,717
2059 5,234,066 91,343,602
2058 5,254,528 90,569,828
2057 5,273,844 89,783,087
2056 5,292,013 88,994,126
2055 5,308,829 88,192,182
2054 5,324,305 87,379,992
2053 5,338,417 86,552,281
2052 5,350,974 85,710,403
2051 5,361,865 84,850,558
2050 5,371,197 83,976,685
2049 5,378,904 83,090,517
2048 5,385,081 82,191,119
2047 5,389,678 81,274,836
2046 5,392,713 80,340,592
2045 5,394,209 79,389,433
2044 5,394,124 78,414,158
2043 5,392,590 77,418,567
2042 5,389,628 76,399,781
2041 5,385,101 75,363,853
2040 5,379,344 74,308,480
2039 5,372,186 73,241,028
2038 5,363,617 72,153,876
2037 5,353,928 71,058,753
2036 5,343,027 69,949,421
2035 5,330,994 68,831,151
2034 5,317,895 67,705,051
2033 5,303,634 66,569,532
2032 5,288,416 65,431,402
2031 5,272,215 64,289,540
2030 5,255,064 63,153,520
2029 5,236,901 62,021,378
2028 5,217,724 60,894,078
2027 5,197,413 59,770,115
2026 5,176,096 58,653,621
2025 5,153,634 57,540,609
2024 5,129,910 56,432,944
2023 5,105,525 55,339,003
2022 5,081,765 54,252,461
2021 5,059,988 53,219,166
2020 5,034,320 52,217,334
2019 4,999,553 51,202,827
2018 4,957,818 50,207,107
2017 4,913,177 49,197,766
2016 4,866,998 48,139,687
2015 4,818,038 47,088,526
2014 4,767,119 46,051,440
2013 4,716,147 44,986,791
2012 4,663,934 43,888,303
2011 4,609,833 42,758,461
2010 4,555,962 41,598,567
2009 4,499,791 40,408,891
2008 4,440,056 39,206,351
2007 4,380,248 38,036,349
2006 4,321,340 36,904,008
2005 4,261,240 35,796,484
2004 4,200,078 34,713,455
2003 4,138,784 33,652,223
2002 4,075,705 32,629,808
2001 4,008,947 31,619,170
2000 3,937,739 30,642,890
1999 3,862,101 29,733,408
1998 3,782,838 28,888,057
1997 3,701,711 28,101,768
1996 3,619,013 27,344,211
1995 3,535,176 26,601,751
1994 3,451,122 25,857,130
1993 3,367,434 25,117,188
1992 3,284,258 24,382,460
1991 3,202,176 23,646,514
1990 3,121,706 22,892,651
1989 3,043,827 22,118,434
1988 2,968,103 21,356,219
1987 2,892,699 20,616,096
1986 2,817,216 19,901,646
1985 2,741,894 19,201,768
1984 2,667,595 18,514,906
1983 2,595,153 17,846,374
1982 2,524,806 17,206,175
1981 2,456,637 16,601,507
1980 2,390,633 16,018,459
1979 2,326,490 15,460,666
1978 2,264,510 14,934,126
1977 2,205,025 14,428,819
1976 2,147,774 13,957,623
1975 2,092,719 13,511,671
1974 2,039,643 13,070,078
1973 1,988,343 12,634,835
1972 1,938,248 12,206,060
1971 1,888,539 11,788,904
1970 1,838,949 11,368,791
1969 1,789,276 10,939,695
1968 1,739,731 10,518,823
1967 1,689,523 10,111,057
1966 1,638,116 9,717,816
1965 1,586,208 9,338,078
1964 1,533,960 8,973,535
1963 1,481,604 8,627,971
1962 1,429,445 8,299,308
1961 1,377,920 7,987,770
1960 1,327,496 7,695,307

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/kenya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Kenya gained 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Kenya's population increased by 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Kenya was ranked 33rd in 2006 and ranked 25th 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 Kenya will increase by 42.4% to 83,976,685 people and rank change from 25th to 22nd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 105M people in 2098 for Kenya.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Kenya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Kenya
2100 -1% -0.02%
2099 -0.99% -0%
2098 -0.99% 0.006%
2097 -0.99% 0.03%
2096 -0.99% 0.04%
2095 -0.99% 0.05%
2094 -0.99% 0.07%
2093 -0.98% 0.09%
2092 -0.98% 0.1%
2091 -0.97% 0.12%
2090 -0.96% 0.14%
2089 -0.95% 0.15%
2088 -0.95% 0.16%
2087 -0.93% 0.18%
2086 -0.92% 0.19%
2085 -0.91% 0.21%
2084 -0.89% 0.23%
2083 -0.87% 0.24%
2082 -0.86% 0.26%
2081 -0.84% 0.29%
2080 -0.82% 0.3%
2079 -0.8% 0.32%
2078 -0.78% 0.34%
2077 -0.75% 0.37%
2076 -0.73% 0.39%
2075 -0.71% 0.41%
2074 -0.69% 0.44%
2073 -0.67% 0.47%
2072 -0.65% 0.5%
2071 -0.62% 0.52%
2070 -0.6% 0.55%
2069 -0.58% 0.58%
2068 -0.56% 0.6%
2067 -0.55% 0.64%
2066 -0.53% 0.66%
2065 -0.51% 0.69%
2064 -0.49% 0.72%
2063 -0.47% 0.75%
2062 -0.45% 0.78%
2061 -0.44% 0.8%
2060 -0.41% 0.83%
2059 -0.39% 0.85%
2058 -0.37% 0.88%
2057 -0.34% 0.89%
2056 -0.32% 0.91%
2055 -0.29% 0.93%
2054 -0.26% 0.96%
2053 -0.23% 0.98%
2052 -0.2% 1.01%
2051 -0.17% 1.04%
2050 -0.14% 1.07%
2049 -0.11% 1.09%
2048 -0.09% 1.13%
2047 -0.06% 1.16%
2046 -0.03% 1.2%
2045 0.002% 1.24%
2044 0.03% 1.29%
2043 0.05% 1.33%
2042 0.08% 1.37%
2041 0.11% 1.42%
2040 0.13% 1.46%
2039 0.16% 1.51%
2038 0.18% 1.54%
2037 0.2% 1.59%
2036 0.23% 1.62%
2035 0.25% 1.66%
2034 0.27% 1.71%
2033 0.29% 1.74%
2032 0.31% 1.78%
2031 0.33% 1.8%
2030 0.35% 1.83%
2029 0.37% 1.85%
2028 0.39% 1.88%
2027 0.41% 1.9%
2026 0.44% 1.93%
2025 0.46% 1.96%
2024 0.48% 1.98%
2023 0.47% 2%
2022 0.43% 1.94%
2021 0.51% 1.92%
2020 0.7% 1.98%
2019 0.84% 1.98%
2018 0.91% 2.05%
2017 0.95% 2.2%
2016 1.02% 2.23%
2015 1.07% 2.25%
2014 1.08% 2.37%
2013 1.12% 2.5%
2012 1.17% 2.64%
2011 1.18% 2.79%
2010 1.25% 2.94%
2009 1.35% 3.07%
2008 1.37% 3.08%
2007 1.36% 3.07%
2006 1.41% 3.09%
2005 1.46% 3.12%
2004 1.48% 3.15%
2003 1.55% 3.13%
2002 1.67% 3.2%
2001 1.81% 3.19%
2000 1.96% 3.06%
1999 2.1% 2.93%
1998 2.19% 2.8%
1997 2.29% 2.77%
1996 2.37% 2.79%
1995 2.44% 2.88%
1994 2.49% 2.95%
1993 2.53% 3.01%
1992 2.56% 3.11%
1991 2.58% 3.29%
1990 2.56% 3.5%
1989 2.55% 3.57%
1988 2.61% 3.59%
1987 2.68% 3.59%
1986 2.75% 3.64%
1985 2.79% 3.71%
1984 2.79% 3.75%
1983 2.79% 3.72%
1982 2.77% 3.64%
1981 2.76% 3.64%
1980 2.76% 3.61%
1979 2.74% 3.53%
1978 2.7% 3.5%
1977 2.67% 3.38%
1976 2.63% 3.3%
1975 2.6% 3.38%
1974 2.58% 3.44%
1973 2.58% 3.51%
1972 2.63% 3.54%
1971 2.7% 3.7%
1970 2.78% 3.92%
1969 2.85% 4%
1968 2.97% 4.03%
1967 3.14% 4.05%
1966 3.27% 4.07%
1965 3.41% 4.06%
1964 3.53% 4.01%
1963 3.65% 3.96%
1962 3.74% 3.9%
1961 3.8% 3.8%

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/kenya | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Kenya's population grew by 1.98%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Kenya
Current population
5181862
58955623
Population rank 126/197 25/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.71%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
28.8 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
21 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
1.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +2,997
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +1,093,941
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.98%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 53/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -27,330
Net migration rank 63/196 160/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 992,536
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 61/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 1.8%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 136/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Kenya
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Kenya
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -27,330
2024 - 967 - -19,781
2023 24,109 995 1,100,970 -10,003
2022 21,409 1,006 1,092,102 -10,003
2021 20,119 1,018 1,037,082 -52,552
2020 29,164 1,029 1,036,253 -17,111
2019 37,682 1,653 1,071,777 -61,949
2018 42,469 1,673 1,097,075 -115,436
2017 43,471 1,671 1,105,769 -68,702
2016 45,565 1,649 1,108,801 -29,728
2015 49,077 1,617 1,119,200 -95,977
2014 49,559 1,589 1,123,333 -72,415
2013 49,227 1,579 1,136,006 -57,634
2012 52,036 1,587 1,161,548 -42,928
2011 52,884 1,695 1,185,863 -44,795
2010 50,803 2,357 1,199,786 -21,069
2009 55,757 3,432 1,193,598 7,096
2008 56,491 3,794 1,174,818 29,612
2007 55,244 4,080 1,147,063 -11,495
2006 54,177 4,321 1,113,357 15,767
2005 57,139 4,567 1,080,446 5,501
2004 55,769 4,856 1,048,590 31,525
2003 56,743 5,216 1,018,182 24,175
2002 58,388 5,812 992,044 10,431
2001 62,199 7,119 963,721 55,052
2000 64,268 8,826 928,357 5,407
1999 64,922 13,253 898,484 -13,257
1998 64,788 15,556 875,511 -70,023
1997 64,954 16,954 847,493 -80,443
1996 66,094 17,393 827,326 -79,276
1995 67,585 16,609 812,391 -75,506
1994 68,336 15,587 792,702 -40,367
1993 69,016 14,431 788,579 -61,054
1992 69,830 13,069 785,018 -43,085
1991 70,506 10,757 790,030 -60,087
1990 71,727 7,949 789,087 -11,338
1989 72,327 3,758 795,622 -24,949
1988 72,944 2,414 785,652 -31,894
1987 73,188 2,267 775,124 -48,633
1986 73,211 2,302 755,606 -53,183
1985 72,776 2,357 732,739 -35,400
1984 71,062 2,402 709,639 -33,253
1983 68,972 2,449 684,587 -23,905
1982 66,826 2,453 663,109 -43,382
1981 64,632 2,431 642,379 -52,761
1980 62,561 2,387 616,390 -39,920
1979 60,984 2,349 595,390 -56,280
1978 58,327 2,296 574,695 -60,718
1977 56,122 2,228 554,124 -57,493
1976 54,019 2,129 536,740 -90,990
1975 51,979 1,992 517,579 -71,421
1974 50,349 1,839 500,008 -62,973
1973 48,943 1,468 485,556 -52,102
1972 48,417 1,366 472,557 -48,466
1971 48,341 1,296 459,897 -49,671
1970 48,398 1,137 443,065 -13,064
1969 48,790 1,017 427,819 369
1968 48,361 939 411,948 1,611
1967 50,193 926 396,920 5,060
1966 50,755 930 382,891 1,616
1965 51,196 932 366,444 8,524
1964 51,435 934 349,322 4,788
1963 51,403 938 332,763 4,246
1962 51,046 934 315,797 4,521
1961 50,149 924 298,463 4,296
1960 48,857 910 280,032 2,134

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/kenya | 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 Kenya 95.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 10,892,362 people) and 4.67% is from migration (a loss of 533,876 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 992,536 people or 1.8% in Kenya.

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
Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K
Meru 42.7K

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/kenya | 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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