Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 4,897,263 people in Kuwait in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 5,100,145 in Kuwait.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 1.02 times bigger than Kuwait's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Kuwait is the 127th.
  • The countries together account for 0.12% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.06% for Kuwait.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +3.1% in Kuwait.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Kuwait has grown from 2.36M to 5.1M (115.7% growth).

Costa Rica vs Kuwait: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Kuwait
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Kuwait
2100 3,804,183 9,589,440
2099 3,842,423 9,513,152
2098 3,880,999 9,437,521
2097 3,919,996 9,362,225
2096 3,959,352 9,287,200
2095 3,999,084 9,212,523
2094 4,039,053 9,138,210
2093 4,079,349 9,064,241
2092 4,119,898 8,990,676
2091 4,160,663 8,917,547
2090 4,201,548 8,844,888
2089 4,242,452 8,772,503
2088 4,283,327 8,700,563
2087 4,324,225 8,629,117
2086 4,364,979 8,558,199
2085 4,405,520 8,487,764
2084 4,445,770 8,417,828
2083 4,485,644 8,348,353
2082 4,525,171 8,279,354
2081 4,564,265 8,210,772
2080 4,602,737 8,142,636
2079 4,640,677 8,075,101
2078 4,677,935 8,008,036
2077 4,714,527 7,941,463
2076 4,750,309 7,875,406
2075 4,785,359 7,809,930
2074 4,819,691 7,745,028
2073 4,853,137 7,680,639
2072 4,885,727 7,616,806
2071 4,917,445 7,553,744
2070 4,948,313 7,491,390
2069 4,978,425 7,429,571
2068 5,007,604 7,368,423
2067 5,035,877 7,307,932
2066 5,063,521 7,248,116
2065 5,090,474 7,188,899
2064 5,116,546 7,130,298
2063 5,141,922 7,072,099
2062 5,166,260 7,014,494
2061 5,189,836 6,957,511
2060 5,212,549 6,901,153
2059 5,234,066 6,845,293
2058 5,254,528 6,789,909
2057 5,273,844 6,734,955
2056 5,292,013 6,680,523
2055 5,308,829 6,626,403
2054 5,324,305 6,572,580
2053 5,338,417 6,518,885
2052 5,350,974 6,465,284
2051 5,361,865 6,411,692
2050 5,371,197 6,358,029
2049 5,378,904 6,304,394
2048 5,385,081 6,250,650
2047 5,389,678 6,196,914
2046 5,392,713 6,143,120
2045 5,394,209 6,089,197
2044 5,394,124 6,035,156
2043 5,392,590 5,981,241
2042 5,389,628 5,927,307
2041 5,385,101 5,873,587
2040 5,379,344 5,820,161
2039 5,372,186 5,767,029
2038 5,363,617 5,714,211
2037 5,353,928 5,661,929
2036 5,343,027 5,610,194
2035 5,330,994 5,559,069
2034 5,317,895 5,508,623
2033 5,303,634 5,458,935
2032 5,288,416 5,410,081
2031 5,272,215 5,362,063
2030 5,255,064 5,314,935
2029 5,236,901 5,265,492
2028 5,217,724 5,212,438
2027 5,197,413 5,152,065
2026 5,176,096 5,080,894
2025 5,153,634 4,998,262
2024 5,129,910 4,897,263
2023 5,105,525 4,853,420
2022 5,081,765 4,589,643
2021 5,059,988 4,360,865
2020 5,034,320 4,400,267
2019 4,999,553 4,442,316
2018 4,957,818 4,323,515
2017 4,913,177 4,154,812
2016 4,866,998 4,004,096
2015 4,818,038 3,834,574
2014 4,767,119 3,665,876
2013 4,716,147 3,507,844
2012 4,663,934 3,337,109
2011 4,609,833 3,132,814
2010 4,555,962 2,943,372
2009 4,499,791 2,795,484
2008 4,440,056 2,651,421
2007 4,380,248 2,507,887
2006 4,321,340 2,364,733
2005 4,261,240 2,236,788
2004 4,200,078 2,157,320
2003 4,138,784 2,109,881
2002 4,075,705 2,059,974
2001 4,008,947 2,008,121
2000 3,937,739 1,954,709
1999 3,862,101 1,900,030
1998 3,782,838 1,844,302
1997 3,701,711 1,787,683
1996 3,619,013 1,730,246
1995 3,535,176 1,681,513
1994 3,451,122 1,664,361
1993 3,367,434 1,672,151
1992 3,284,258 1,634,961
1991 3,202,176 1,351,399
1990 3,121,706 1,684,819
1989 3,043,827 2,217,468
1988 2,968,103 2,134,707
1987 2,892,699 2,052,994
1986 2,817,216 1,972,520
1985 2,741,894 1,894,242
1984 2,667,595 1,820,688
1983 2,595,153 1,744,295
1982 2,524,806 1,662,480
1981 2,456,637 1,583,426
1980 2,390,633 1,504,782
1979 2,326,490 1,423,514
1978 2,264,510 1,340,319
1977 2,205,025 1,258,023
1976 2,147,774 1,178,711
1975 2,092,719 1,104,863
1974 2,039,643 1,038,346
1973 1,988,343 977,654
1972 1,938,248 920,352
1971 1,888,539 865,076
1970 1,838,949 809,114
1969 1,789,276 749,452
1968 1,739,731 687,716
1967 1,689,523 628,089
1966 1,638,116 572,590
1965 1,586,208 521,174
1964 1,533,960 473,115
1963 1,481,604 427,694
1962 1,429,445 384,995
1961 1,377,920 345,945
1960 1,327,496 311,060

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/kuwait | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Kuwait gained 1,639,363 people (a 69.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Kuwait's population increased by 1,096,049 people (a 27.4% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Kuwait was ranked 139th in 2006 and ranked 127th 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 Kuwait will increase by 24.7% to 6,358,029 people and rank change from 127th to 117th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 9.59M people in 2100 for Kuwait.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Kuwait
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Kuwait
2100 -1% 0.8%
2099 -0.99% 0.8%
2098 -0.99% 0.8%
2097 -0.99% 0.81%
2096 -0.99% 0.81%
2095 -0.99% 0.81%
2094 -0.99% 0.82%
2093 -0.98% 0.82%
2092 -0.98% 0.82%
2091 -0.97% 0.82%
2090 -0.96% 0.83%
2089 -0.95% 0.83%
2088 -0.95% 0.83%
2087 -0.93% 0.83%
2086 -0.92% 0.83%
2085 -0.91% 0.83%
2084 -0.89% 0.83%
2083 -0.87% 0.83%
2082 -0.86% 0.84%
2081 -0.84% 0.84%
2080 -0.82% 0.84%
2079 -0.8% 0.84%
2078 -0.78% 0.84%
2077 -0.75% 0.84%
2076 -0.73% 0.84%
2075 -0.71% 0.84%
2074 -0.69% 0.84%
2073 -0.67% 0.84%
2072 -0.65% 0.83%
2071 -0.62% 0.83%
2070 -0.6% 0.83%
2069 -0.58% 0.83%
2068 -0.56% 0.83%
2067 -0.55% 0.83%
2066 -0.53% 0.82%
2065 -0.51% 0.82%
2064 -0.49% 0.82%
2063 -0.47% 0.82%
2062 -0.45% 0.82%
2061 -0.44% 0.82%
2060 -0.41% 0.82%
2059 -0.39% 0.82%
2058 -0.37% 0.82%
2057 -0.34% 0.81%
2056 -0.32% 0.82%
2055 -0.29% 0.82%
2054 -0.26% 0.82%
2053 -0.23% 0.83%
2052 -0.2% 0.84%
2051 -0.17% 0.84%
2050 -0.14% 0.85%
2049 -0.11% 0.86%
2048 -0.09% 0.87%
2047 -0.06% 0.88%
2046 -0.03% 0.89%
2045 0.002% 0.9%
2044 0.03% 0.9%
2043 0.05% 0.91%
2042 0.08% 0.91%
2041 0.11% 0.92%
2040 0.13% 0.92%
2039 0.16% 0.92%
2038 0.18% 0.92%
2037 0.2% 0.92%
2036 0.23% 0.92%
2035 0.25% 0.92%
2034 0.27% 0.91%
2033 0.29% 0.9%
2032 0.31% 0.9%
2031 0.33% 0.89%
2030 0.35% 0.94%
2029 0.37% 1.02%
2028 0.39% 1.17%
2027 0.41% 1.4%
2026 0.44% 1.65%
2025 0.46% 2.06%
2024 0.48% 0.9%
2023 0.47% 5.75%
2022 0.43% 5.25%
2021 0.51% -0.9%
2020 0.7% -0.95%
2019 0.84% 2.75%
2018 0.91% 4.06%
2017 0.95% 3.76%
2016 1.02% 4.42%
2015 1.07% 4.6%
2014 1.08% 4.51%
2013 1.12% 5.12%
2012 1.17% 6.52%
2011 1.18% 6.44%
2010 1.25% 5.29%
2009 1.35% 5.43%
2008 1.37% 5.72%
2007 1.36% 6.05%
2006 1.41% 5.72%
2005 1.46% 3.68%
2004 1.48% 2.25%
2003 1.55% 2.42%
2002 1.67% 2.58%
2001 1.81% 2.73%
2000 1.96% 2.88%
1999 2.1% 3.02%
1998 2.19% 3.17%
1997 2.29% 3.32%
1996 2.37% 2.9%
1995 2.44% 1.03%
1994 2.49% -0.47%
1993 2.53% 2.27%
1992 2.56% 21%
1991 2.58% -19.8%
1990 2.56% -24%
1989 2.55% 3.88%
1988 2.61% 3.98%
1987 2.68% 4.08%
1986 2.75% 4.13%
1985 2.79% 4.04%
1984 2.79% 4.38%
1983 2.79% 4.92%
1982 2.77% 4.99%
1981 2.76% 5.23%
1980 2.76% 5.71%
1979 2.74% 6.21%
1978 2.7% 6.54%
1977 2.67% 6.73%
1976 2.63% 6.68%
1975 2.6% 6.41%
1974 2.58% 6.21%
1973 2.58% 6.23%
1972 2.63% 6.39%
1971 2.7% 6.92%
1970 2.78% 7.96%
1969 2.85% 8.98%
1968 2.97% 9.49%
1967 3.14% 9.69%
1966 3.27% 9.87%
1965 3.41% 10.2%
1964 3.53% 10.6%
1963 3.65% 11.1%
1962 3.74% 11.3%
1961 3.8% 11.2%

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/kuwait | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Kuwait's population grew by 0.9%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Kuwait
Current population
5181862
5100145
Population rank 126/197 127/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.06%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
12 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
10.5 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
1.18 hours
Daily growth/decline +67 +120
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +43,843
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.9%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 106/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
12.3 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +42,775
Net migration rank 63/196 24/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 3,323,191
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 20/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 67.3%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 5/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Kuwait
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Kuwait
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 42,775
2024 - 967 - 61,624
2023 24,109 995 42,568 50,008
2022 21,409 1,006 41,752 368,560
2021 20,119 1,018 42,057 19,678
2020 29,164 1,029 41,083 -168,379
2019 37,682 1,653 46,268 181
2018 42,469 1,673 47,222 145,973
2017 43,471 1,671 51,498 92,717
2016 45,565 1,649 51,397 105,818
2015 49,077 1,617 52,127 129,695
2014 49,559 1,589 54,673 100,891
2013 49,227 1,579 52,666 107,821
2012 52,036 1,587 53,181 127,777
2011 52,884 1,695 50,733 176,732
2010 50,803 2,357 49,838 101,566
2009 55,757 3,432 48,879 95,483
2008 56,491 3,794 47,505 96,268
2007 55,244 4,080 46,539 96,765
2006 54,177 4,321 45,911 97,087
2005 57,139 4,567 45,243 67,638
2004 55,769 4,856 44,341 1,713
2003 56,743 5,216 42,934 5,895
2002 58,388 5,812 41,651 9,335
2001 62,199 7,119 40,662 12,055
2000 64,268 8,826 39,811 14,296
1999 64,922 13,253 39,342 15,912
1998 64,788 15,556 39,324 16,878
1997 64,954 16,954 39,581 17,457
1996 66,094 17,393 39,920 17,914
1995 67,585 16,609 39,198 438
1994 68,336 15,587 36,533 -41,862
1993 69,016 14,431 33,239 -43,501
1992 69,830 13,069 32,016 52,620
1991 70,506 10,757 21,867 460,628
1990 71,727 7,949 46,720 -1,196,050
1989 72,327 3,758 49,390 34,643
1988 72,944 2,414 50,037 31,455
1987 73,188 2,267 50,690 31,243
1986 73,211 2,302 51,824 27,187
1985 72,776 2,357 51,772 25,777
1984 71,062 2,402 52,539 17,020
1983 68,972 2,449 51,460 31,758
1982 66,826 2,453 49,981 30,437
1981 64,632 2,431 48,098 29,600
1980 62,561 2,387 47,096 32,483
1979 60,984 2,349 45,569 37,383
1978 58,327 2,296 44,277 39,159
1977 56,122 2,228 42,922 38,225
1976 54,019 2,129 41,439 36,050
1975 51,979 1,992 39,295 30,909
1974 50,349 1,839 37,425 25,398
1973 48,943 1,468 35,741 22,830
1972 48,417 1,366 34,045 21,984
1971 48,341 1,296 32,339 22,182
1970 48,398 1,137 30,789 26,614
1969 48,790 1,017 28,774 33,143
1968 48,361 939 26,161 35,399
1967 50,193 926 23,520 34,177
1966 50,755 930 20,914 32,383
1965 51,196 932 18,952 30,580
1964 51,435 934 17,064 29,537
1963 51,403 938 15,357 28,889
1962 51,046 934 13,730 27,417
1961 50,149 924 12,327 24,618
1960 48,857 910 11,054 21,769

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/kuwait | 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 Kuwait 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 470,645 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 845,142 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 3,323,191 people or 67.3% in Kuwait.

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
Kuwait
City Population
Kuwait 2.99M
Al Wafrah 10K

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/kuwait | 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 2026-04-06)
  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)

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.