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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 136,488 people in Kiribati in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 139,471 in Kiribati.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 37.2 times bigger than Kiribati's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Kiribati is the 180th.
  • The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.002% for Kiribati.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +1.54% in Kiribati.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Kiribati has grown from 100K to 139K (39.4% growth).

Costa Rica vs Kiribati: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Kiribati
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Kiribati
2100 3,803,678 224,260
2099 3,841,913 224,254
2098 3,880,484 224,229
2097 3,919,475 224,174
2096 3,958,826 224,085
2095 3,998,552 223,967
2094 4,038,516 223,780
2093 4,078,807 223,566
2092 4,119,351 223,301
2091 4,160,111 222,947
2090 4,200,989 222,560
2089 4,241,888 222,192
2088 4,282,758 221,771
2087 4,323,650 221,299
2086 4,364,399 220,824
2085 4,404,935 220,313
2084 4,445,179 219,763
2083 4,485,048 219,182
2082 4,524,570 218,584
2081 4,563,658 217,980
2080 4,602,126 217,336
2079 4,640,060 216,656
2078 4,677,313 215,964
2077 4,713,901 215,293
2076 4,749,678 214,551
2075 4,784,723 213,772
2074 4,819,050 212,966
2073 4,852,492 212,150
2072 4,885,078 211,321
2071 4,916,792 210,433
2070 4,947,655 209,514
2069 4,977,764 208,590
2068 5,006,939 207,578
2067 5,035,207 206,500
2066 5,062,849 205,437
2065 5,089,797 204,305
2064 5,115,866 203,169
2063 5,141,239 201,971
2062 5,165,574 200,805
2061 5,189,146 199,579
2060 5,211,857 198,300
2059 5,233,370 196,920
2058 5,253,830 195,512
2057 5,273,143 194,057
2056 5,291,310 192,565
2055 5,308,124 191,068
2054 5,323,598 189,537
2053 5,337,707 188,014
2052 5,350,263 186,393
2051 5,361,152 184,788
2050 5,370,484 183,093
2049 5,378,189 181,341
2048 5,384,366 179,541
2047 5,388,962 177,797
2046 5,391,996 175,976
2045 5,393,493 174,160
2044 5,393,407 172,343
2043 5,391,873 170,465
2042 5,388,912 168,618
2041 5,384,386 166,788
2040 5,378,629 164,991
2039 5,371,473 163,140
2038 5,362,904 161,276
2037 5,353,217 159,395
2036 5,342,317 157,498
2035 5,330,286 155,626
2034 5,317,189 153,791
2033 5,302,930 151,928
2032 5,287,714 150,051
2031 5,271,514 148,135
2030 5,254,366 146,228
2029 5,236,206 144,310
2028 5,217,031 142,397
2027 5,196,723 140,429
2026 5,175,408 138,461
2025 5,152,950 136,488
2024 5,129,910 134,518
2023 5,105,525 132,530
2022 5,081,765 130,469
2021 5,059,988 128,377
2020 5,034,320 126,099
2019 4,999,553 123,921
2018 4,957,818 122,084
2017 4,913,177 120,275
2016 4,866,998 118,478
2015 4,818,038 116,815
2014 4,767,119 115,326
2013 4,716,147 113,838
2012 4,663,934 112,284
2011 4,609,833 110,647
2010 4,555,962 108,704
2009 4,499,791 106,467
2008 4,440,056 104,222
2007 4,380,248 102,068
2006 4,321,340 100,017
2005 4,261,240 98,035
2004 4,200,078 96,085
2003 4,138,784 94,175
2002 4,075,705 92,264
2001 4,008,947 90,335
2000 3,937,739 88,613
1999 3,862,101 87,126
1998 3,782,838 85,657
1997 3,701,711 84,147
1996 3,619,013 82,623
1995 3,535,176 81,234
1994 3,451,122 80,021
1993 3,367,434 78,841
1992 3,284,258 77,641
1991 3,202,176 76,367
1990 3,121,706 74,855
1989 3,043,827 73,147
1988 2,968,103 71,427
1987 2,892,699 69,733
1986 2,817,216 68,059
1985 2,741,894 66,496
1984 2,667,595 65,228
1983 2,595,153 64,169
1982 2,524,806 63,134
1981 2,456,637 62,121
1980 2,390,633 61,148
1979 2,326,490 60,172
1978 2,264,510 59,864
1977 2,205,025 60,267
1976 2,147,774 60,661
1975 2,092,719 60,987
1974 2,039,643 61,219
1973 1,988,343 60,824
1972 1,938,248 59,778
1971 1,888,539 58,652
1970 1,838,949 57,510
1969 1,789,276 56,360
1968 1,739,731 55,529
1967 1,689,523 54,996
1966 1,638,116 54,425
1965 1,586,208 53,439
1964 1,533,960 52,088
1963 1,481,604 50,791
1962 1,429,445 49,538
1961 1,377,920 48,323
1960 1,327,496 47,157

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/kiribati | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Kiribati gained 18,461 people (a 18.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Kiribati's population increased by 20,993 people (a 17.7% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Kiribati was ranked 183rd in 2006 and ranked 180th 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 Kiribati will increase by 31.3% to 183,093 people and rank change from 180th to 178th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 224K people in 2100 for Kiribati.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Kiribati
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Kiribati
2100 -1% 0.003%
2099 -0.99% 0.01%
2098 -0.99% 0.02%
2097 -0.99% 0.04%
2096 -0.99% 0.05%
2095 -0.99% 0.08%
2094 -0.99% 0.1%
2093 -0.98% 0.12%
2092 -0.98% 0.16%
2091 -0.97% 0.17%
2090 -0.96% 0.17%
2089 -0.95% 0.19%
2088 -0.95% 0.21%
2087 -0.93% 0.21%
2086 -0.92% 0.23%
2085 -0.91% 0.25%
2084 -0.89% 0.27%
2083 -0.87% 0.27%
2082 -0.86% 0.28%
2081 -0.84% 0.3%
2080 -0.82% 0.31%
2079 -0.8% 0.32%
2078 -0.78% 0.31%
2077 -0.75% 0.35%
2076 -0.73% 0.36%
2075 -0.71% 0.38%
2074 -0.69% 0.38%
2073 -0.67% 0.39%
2072 -0.65% 0.42%
2071 -0.62% 0.44%
2070 -0.6% 0.44%
2069 -0.58% 0.49%
2068 -0.56% 0.52%
2067 -0.55% 0.52%
2066 -0.53% 0.55%
2065 -0.51% 0.56%
2064 -0.49% 0.59%
2063 -0.47% 0.58%
2062 -0.45% 0.61%
2061 -0.44% 0.65%
2060 -0.41% 0.7%
2059 -0.39% 0.72%
2058 -0.37% 0.75%
2057 -0.34% 0.78%
2056 -0.32% 0.78%
2055 -0.29% 0.81%
2054 -0.26% 0.81%
2053 -0.23% 0.87%
2052 -0.2% 0.87%
2051 -0.17% 0.93%
2050 -0.14% 0.97%
2049 -0.11% 1%
2048 -0.09% 0.98%
2047 -0.06% 1.03%
2046 -0.03% 1.04%
2045 0.002% 1.05%
2044 0.03% 1.1%
2043 0.05% 1.1%
2042 0.08% 1.1%
2041 0.11% 1.09%
2040 0.13% 1.13%
2039 0.16% 1.16%
2038 0.18% 1.18%
2037 0.2% 1.2%
2036 0.23% 1.2%
2035 0.25% 1.19%
2034 0.27% 1.23%
2033 0.29% 1.25%
2032 0.31% 1.29%
2031 0.33% 1.3%
2030 0.35% 1.33%
2029 0.37% 1.34%
2028 0.39% 1.4%
2027 0.41% 1.42%
2026 0.44% 1.45%
2025 0.45% 1.46%
2024 0.48% 1.5%
2023 0.47% 1.58%
2022 0.43% 1.63%
2021 0.51% 1.81%
2020 0.7% 1.76%
2019 0.84% 1.5%
2018 0.91% 1.5%
2017 0.95% 1.52%
2016 1.02% 1.42%
2015 1.07% 1.29%
2014 1.08% 1.31%
2013 1.12% 1.38%
2012 1.17% 1.48%
2011 1.18% 1.79%
2010 1.25% 2.1%
2009 1.35% 2.15%
2008 1.37% 2.11%
2007 1.36% 2.05%
2006 1.41% 2.02%
2005 1.46% 2.03%
2004 1.48% 2.03%
2003 1.55% 2.07%
2002 1.67% 2.14%
2001 1.81% 1.94%
2000 1.96% 1.71%
1999 2.1% 1.71%
1998 2.19% 1.79%
1997 2.29% 1.84%
1996 2.37% 1.71%
1995 2.44% 1.52%
1994 2.49% 1.5%
1993 2.53% 1.55%
1992 2.56% 1.67%
1991 2.58% 2.02%
1990 2.56% 2.34%
1989 2.55% 2.41%
1988 2.61% 2.43%
1987 2.68% 2.46%
1986 2.75% 2.35%
1985 2.79% 1.94%
1984 2.79% 1.65%
1983 2.79% 1.64%
1982 2.77% 1.63%
1981 2.76% 1.59%
1980 2.76% 1.62%
1979 2.74% 0.51%
1978 2.7% -0.67%
1977 2.67% -0.65%
1976 2.63% -0.53%
1975 2.6% -0.38%
1974 2.58% 0.65%
1973 2.58% 1.75%
1972 2.63% 1.92%
1971 2.7% 1.99%
1970 2.78% 2.04%
1969 2.85% 1.5%
1968 2.97% 0.97%
1967 3.14% 1.05%
1966 3.27% 1.85%
1965 3.41% 2.59%
1964 3.53% 2.55%
1963 3.65% 2.53%
1962 3.74% 2.51%
1961 3.8% 2.47%

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/kiribati | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Kiribati's population grew by 1.46%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Kiribati
Current population
5186356
139471
Population rank 126/197 180/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.002%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
4.46 hours
One birth every
10.3 minutes
2.57 hours
One death every
18.4 minutes
9.23 hours
Daily growth/decline +63 +5
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +1,970
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +1.46%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 72/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
19 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -462
Net migration rank 63/196 88/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 3,302
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 190/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 2.5%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 128/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Kiribati
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Kiribati
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -462
2024 22,699 967 2,455 -471
2023 24,109 995 2,487 -485
2022 21,409 1,006 2,522 -395
2021 20,119 1,018 2,408 -348
2020 29,164 1,029 2,497 0
2019 37,682 1,653 2,560 -705
2018 42,469 1,673 2,561 -741
2017 43,471 1,671 2,549 -750
2016 45,565 1,649 2,546 -756
2015 49,077 1,617 2,555 -1,022
2014 49,559 1,589 2,577 -1,128
2013 49,227 1,579 2,629 -1,101
2012 52,036 1,587 2,678 -1,093
2011 52,884 1,695 2,709 -1,019
2010 50,803 2,357 2,644 -456
2009 55,757 3,432 2,573 -289
2008 56,491 3,794 2,493 -289
2007 55,244 4,080 2,393 -290
2006 54,177 4,321 2,285 -290
2005 57,139 4,567 2,188 -226
2004 55,769 4,856 2,118 -181
2003 56,743 5,216 2,045 -157
2002 58,388 5,812 2,074 -137
2001 62,199 7,119 2,121 -201
2000 64,268 8,826 2,153 -629
1999 64,922 13,253 2,186 -733
1998 64,788 15,556 2,210 -716
1997 64,954 16,954 2,220 -693
1996 66,094 17,393 2,217 -701
1995 67,585 16,609 2,183 -928
1994 68,336 15,587 2,168 -996
1993 69,016 14,431 2,161 -975
1992 69,830 13,069 2,173 -951
1991 70,506 10,757 2,176 -844
1990 71,727 7,949 2,127 -441
1989 72,327 3,758 2,073 -338
1988 72,944 2,414 2,022 -321
1987 73,188 2,267 1,982 -298
1986 73,211 2,302 1,933 -273
1985 72,776 2,357 1,881 -419
1984 71,062 2,402 1,813 -730
1983 68,972 2,449 1,748 -702
1982 66,826 2,453 1,697 -674
1981 64,632 2,431 1,635 -645
1980 62,561 2,387 1,571 -610
1979 60,984 2,349 1,509 -516
1978 58,327 2,296 1,480 -1,858
1977 56,122 2,228 1,426 -1,854
1976 54,019 2,129 1,425 -1,795
1975 51,979 1,992 1,423 -1,706
1974 50,349 1,839 1,430 -1,605
1973 48,943 1,468 1,409 -440
1972 48,417 1,366 1,406 -290
1971 48,341 1,296 1,406 -265
1970 48,398 1,137 1,388 -233
1969 48,790 1,017 1,367 -222
1968 48,361 939 1,393 -876
1967 50,193 926 1,417 -873
1966 50,755 930 1,437 -840
1965 51,196 932 1,376 0
1964 51,435 934 1,318 0
1963 51,403 938 1,273 0
1962 51,046 934 1,233 0
1961 50,149 924 1,199 0
1960 48,857 910 1,141 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/kiribati | 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 Kiribati 81.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 25,140 people) and 18.4% is from migration (a loss of 5,673 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 3,302 people or 2.5% in Kiribati.

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
Kiribati
City Population
South Tarawa 63.4K
London 1.9K

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/kiribati | CC BY

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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)

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