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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 134,518 people in Kiribati in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 139,020 in Kiribati.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 37.3 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 +0.77% per year vs +1.53% in Kiribati.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Kiribati has grown from 100K to 139K (39% growth).

Costa Rica vs Kiribati: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Kiribati
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Kiribati
2100 3,804,183 224,304
2099 3,842,423 224,298
2098 3,880,999 224,273
2097 3,919,996 224,218
2096 3,959,352 224,129
2095 3,999,084 224,011
2094 4,039,053 223,823
2093 4,079,349 223,610
2092 4,119,898 223,345
2091 4,160,663 222,990
2090 4,201,548 222,603
2089 4,242,452 222,236
2088 4,283,327 221,815
2087 4,324,225 221,342
2086 4,364,979 220,868
2085 4,405,520 220,356
2084 4,445,770 219,806
2083 4,485,644 219,225
2082 4,525,171 218,627
2081 4,564,265 218,023
2080 4,602,737 217,379
2079 4,640,677 216,698
2078 4,677,935 216,006
2077 4,714,527 215,335
2076 4,750,309 214,593
2075 4,785,359 213,814
2074 4,819,691 213,008
2073 4,853,137 212,192
2072 4,885,727 211,363
2071 4,917,445 210,474
2070 4,948,313 209,555
2069 4,978,425 208,630
2068 5,007,604 207,619
2067 5,035,877 206,540
2066 5,063,521 205,477
2065 5,090,474 204,345
2064 5,116,546 203,209
2063 5,141,922 202,011
2062 5,166,260 200,844
2061 5,189,836 199,618
2060 5,212,549 198,339
2059 5,234,066 196,959
2058 5,254,528 195,550
2057 5,273,844 194,095
2056 5,292,013 192,602
2055 5,308,829 191,105
2054 5,324,305 189,574
2053 5,338,417 188,051
2052 5,350,974 186,430
2051 5,361,865 184,824
2050 5,371,197 183,129
2049 5,378,904 181,377
2048 5,385,081 179,576
2047 5,389,678 177,832
2046 5,392,713 176,010
2045 5,394,209 174,194
2044 5,394,124 172,376
2043 5,392,590 170,499
2042 5,389,628 168,651
2041 5,385,101 166,820
2040 5,379,344 165,023
2039 5,372,186 163,172
2038 5,363,617 161,308
2037 5,353,928 159,426
2036 5,343,027 157,529
2035 5,330,994 155,656
2034 5,317,895 153,821
2033 5,303,634 151,958
2032 5,288,416 150,080
2031 5,272,215 148,164
2030 5,255,064 146,257
2029 5,236,901 144,338
2028 5,217,724 142,425
2027 5,197,413 140,456
2026 5,176,096 138,488
2025 5,153,634 136,514
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Kiribati's population increased by 20,542 people (a 17.3% 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 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th. The population of Kiribati will increase by 31.7% to 183,129 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 0.46% 1.48%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/kiribati | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Kiribati's population grew by 1.5%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Kiribati
Current population
5181862
139020
Population rank 126/197 180/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.002%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
4.41 hours
One birth every
10.1 minutes
2.56 hours
One death every
18.9 minutes
9.39 hours
Daily growth/decline +67 +5
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +1,988
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.5%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 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 - 967 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/kiribati | 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 Kiribati 80% is from natural causes (a gain of 25,262 people) and 20% is from migration (a loss of 6,330 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 (1960–2024, 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/kiribati | 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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