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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 7,769,819 people in Laos in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 8,004,838 in Laos.

Population statistics:

  • Laos' population is 1.54 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Laos is the 103rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.1% for Laos.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.48% in Laos.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Laos has grown from 5.96M to 8M (34.2% growth).

Costa Rica vs Laos: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Laos
2100 3,804,183 9,342,607
2099 3,842,423 9,389,481
2098 3,880,999 9,435,427
2097 3,919,996 9,480,219
2096 3,959,352 9,524,052
2095 3,999,084 9,567,045
2094 4,039,053 9,609,471
2093 4,079,349 9,651,065
2092 4,119,898 9,691,590
2091 4,160,663 9,731,446
2090 4,201,548 9,770,116
2089 4,242,452 9,807,690
2088 4,283,327 9,844,143
2087 4,324,225 9,879,110
2086 4,364,979 9,912,903
2085 4,405,520 9,945,223
2084 4,445,770 9,975,614
2083 4,485,644 10,005,023
2082 4,525,171 10,032,558
2081 4,564,265 10,058,731
2080 4,602,737 10,083,222
2079 4,640,677 10,106,703
2078 4,677,935 10,128,372
2077 4,714,527 10,148,533
2076 4,750,309 10,165,829
2075 4,785,359 10,182,062
2074 4,819,691 10,196,505
2073 4,853,137 10,208,837
2072 4,885,727 10,218,581
2071 4,917,445 10,225,726
2070 4,948,313 10,231,909
2069 4,978,425 10,235,317
2068 5,007,604 10,235,668
2067 5,035,877 10,233,930
2066 5,063,521 10,228,744
2065 5,090,474 10,222,027
2064 5,116,546 10,212,674
2063 5,141,922 10,200,753
2062 5,166,260 10,186,526
2061 5,189,836 10,169,161
2060 5,212,549 10,149,107
2059 5,234,066 10,126,671
2058 5,254,528 10,100,989
2057 5,273,844 10,072,578
2056 5,292,013 10,041,736
2055 5,308,829 10,008,916
2054 5,324,305 9,972,602
2053 5,338,417 9,933,363
2052 5,350,974 9,891,383
2051 5,361,865 9,846,656
2050 5,371,197 9,799,766
2049 5,378,904 9,750,669
2048 5,385,081 9,697,931
2047 5,389,678 9,643,484
2046 5,392,713 9,586,249
2045 5,394,209 9,527,029
2044 5,394,124 9,465,046
2043 5,392,590 9,401,665
2042 5,389,628 9,334,890
2041 5,385,101 9,266,149
2040 5,379,344 9,195,755
2039 5,372,186 9,122,969
2038 5,363,617 9,046,689
2037 5,353,928 8,968,700
2036 5,343,027 8,888,903
2035 5,330,994 8,807,373
2034 5,317,895 8,723,937
2033 5,303,634 8,638,238
2032 5,288,416 8,550,017
2031 5,272,215 8,459,669
2030 5,255,064 8,367,305
2029 5,236,901 8,273,173
2028 5,217,724 8,176,811
2027 5,197,413 8,078,122
2026 5,176,096 7,977,666
2025 5,153,634 7,874,813
2024 5,129,910 7,769,819
2023 5,105,525 7,664,993
2022 5,081,765 7,559,007
2021 5,059,988 7,453,194
2020 5,034,320 7,346,533
2019 4,999,553 7,237,636
2018 4,957,818 7,128,045
2017 4,913,177 7,018,147
2016 4,866,998 6,908,802
2015 4,818,038 6,801,645
2014 4,767,119 6,703,172
2013 4,716,147 6,611,385
2012 4,663,934 6,518,978
2011 4,609,833 6,426,590
2010 4,555,962 6,334,194
2009 4,499,791 6,241,642
2008 4,440,056 6,148,969
2007 4,380,248 6,056,236
2006 4,321,340 5,963,200
2005 4,261,240 5,869,523
2004 4,200,078 5,781,626
2003 4,138,784 5,697,945
2002 4,075,705 5,610,889
2001 4,008,947 5,521,482
2000 3,937,739 5,431,212
1999 3,862,101 5,340,784
1998 3,782,838 5,248,266
1997 3,701,711 5,152,011
1996 3,619,013 5,045,678
1995 3,535,176 4,929,409
1994 3,451,122 4,809,220
1993 3,367,434 4,685,060
1992 3,284,258 4,559,646
1991 3,202,176 4,435,118
1990 3,121,706 4,311,955
1989 3,043,827 4,190,974
1988 2,968,103 4,072,601
1987 2,892,699 3,957,612
1986 2,817,216 3,846,715
1985 2,741,894 3,739,985
1984 2,667,595 3,637,843
1983 2,595,153 3,541,001
1982 2,524,806 3,450,026
1981 2,456,637 3,366,631
1980 2,390,633 3,292,573
1979 2,326,490 3,228,202
1978 2,264,510 3,171,740
1977 2,205,025 3,118,923
1976 2,147,774 3,064,876
1975 2,092,719 3,005,521
1974 2,039,643 2,939,761
1973 1,988,343 2,870,573
1972 1,938,248 2,801,660
1971 1,888,539 2,734,628
1970 1,838,949 2,669,702
1969 1,789,276 2,606,959
1968 1,739,731 2,546,377
1967 1,689,523 2,487,715
1966 1,638,116 2,431,084
1965 1,586,208 2,376,200
1964 1,533,960 2,322,826
1963 1,481,604 2,271,061
1962 1,429,445 2,219,910
1961 1,377,920 2,169,796
1960 1,327,496 2,121,514

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/laos | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Laos gained 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Laos' population increased by 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Laos was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 103rd 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 Laos will increase by 22.4% to 9,799,766 people and rank change from 103rd to 99th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 10.2M people in 2068 for Laos.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Laos
2100 -1% -0.5%
2099 -0.99% -0.49%
2098 -0.99% -0.47%
2097 -0.99% -0.46%
2096 -0.99% -0.45%
2095 -0.99% -0.44%
2094 -0.99% -0.43%
2093 -0.98% -0.42%
2092 -0.98% -0.41%
2091 -0.97% -0.4%
2090 -0.96% -0.38%
2089 -0.95% -0.37%
2088 -0.95% -0.35%
2087 -0.93% -0.34%
2086 -0.92% -0.32%
2085 -0.91% -0.3%
2084 -0.89% -0.29%
2083 -0.87% -0.27%
2082 -0.86% -0.26%
2081 -0.84% -0.24%
2080 -0.82% -0.23%
2079 -0.8% -0.21%
2078 -0.78% -0.2%
2077 -0.75% -0.17%
2076 -0.73% -0.16%
2075 -0.71% -0.14%
2074 -0.69% -0.12%
2073 -0.67% -0.1%
2072 -0.65% -0.07%
2071 -0.62% -0.06%
2070 -0.6% -0.03%
2069 -0.58% -0.003%
2068 -0.56% 0.02%
2067 -0.55% 0.05%
2066 -0.53% 0.07%
2065 -0.51% 0.09%
2064 -0.49% 0.12%
2063 -0.47% 0.14%
2062 -0.45% 0.17%
2061 -0.44% 0.2%
2060 -0.41% 0.22%
2059 -0.39% 0.25%
2058 -0.37% 0.28%
2057 -0.34% 0.31%
2056 -0.32% 0.33%
2055 -0.29% 0.36%
2054 -0.26% 0.4%
2053 -0.23% 0.42%
2052 -0.2% 0.45%
2051 -0.17% 0.48%
2050 -0.14% 0.5%
2049 -0.11% 0.54%
2048 -0.09% 0.56%
2047 -0.06% 0.6%
2046 -0.03% 0.62%
2045 0.002% 0.65%
2044 0.03% 0.67%
2043 0.05% 0.72%
2042 0.08% 0.74%
2041 0.11% 0.77%
2040 0.13% 0.8%
2039 0.16% 0.84%
2038 0.18% 0.87%
2037 0.2% 0.9%
2036 0.23% 0.93%
2035 0.25% 0.96%
2034 0.27% 0.99%
2033 0.29% 1.03%
2032 0.31% 1.07%
2031 0.33% 1.1%
2030 0.35% 1.14%
2029 0.37% 1.18%
2028 0.39% 1.22%
2027 0.41% 1.26%
2026 0.44% 1.31%
2025 0.46% 1.35%
2024 0.48% 1.37%
2023 0.47% 1.4%
2022 0.43% 1.42%
2021 0.51% 1.45%
2020 0.7% 1.5%
2019 0.84% 1.54%
2018 0.91% 1.57%
2017 0.95% 1.58%
2016 1.02% 1.58%
2015 1.07% 1.47%
2014 1.08% 1.39%
2013 1.12% 1.42%
2012 1.17% 1.44%
2011 1.18% 1.46%
2010 1.25% 1.48%
2009 1.35% 1.51%
2008 1.37% 1.53%
2007 1.36% 1.56%
2006 1.41% 1.6%
2005 1.46% 1.52%
2004 1.48% 1.47%
2003 1.55% 1.55%
2002 1.67% 1.62%
2001 1.81% 1.66%
2000 1.96% 1.69%
1999 2.1% 1.76%
1998 2.19% 1.87%
1997 2.29% 2.11%
1996 2.37% 2.36%
1995 2.44% 2.5%
1994 2.49% 2.65%
1993 2.53% 2.75%
1992 2.56% 2.81%
1991 2.58% 2.86%
1990 2.56% 2.89%
1989 2.55% 2.91%
1988 2.61% 2.91%
1987 2.68% 2.88%
1986 2.75% 2.85%
1985 2.79% 2.81%
1984 2.79% 2.73%
1983 2.79% 2.64%
1982 2.77% 2.48%
1981 2.76% 2.25%
1980 2.76% 1.99%
1979 2.74% 1.78%
1978 2.7% 1.69%
1977 2.67% 1.76%
1976 2.63% 1.97%
1975 2.6% 2.24%
1974 2.58% 2.41%
1973 2.58% 2.46%
1972 2.63% 2.45%
1971 2.7% 2.43%
1970 2.78% 2.41%
1969 2.85% 2.38%
1968 2.97% 2.36%
1967 3.14% 2.33%
1966 3.27% 2.31%
1965 3.41% 2.3%
1964 3.53% 2.28%
1963 3.65% 2.3%
1962 3.74% 2.31%
1961 3.8% 2.28%

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/laos | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Laos' population grew by 1.37%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Laos
Current population
5181862
8004838
Population rank 126/197 103/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.1%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
5.01 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
3.22 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
11 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +287
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +104,826
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.37%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 77/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
49.5 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -10,645
Net migration rank 63/196 134/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 51,446
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 149/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 166/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Laos
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Laos
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -10,645
2024 - 967 - -10,284
2023 24,109 995 115,359 -10,003
2022 21,409 1,006 116,620 -10,003
2021 20,119 1,018 115,323 -10,305
2020 29,164 1,029 118,609 -10,305
2019 37,682 1,653 119,797 -10,305
2018 42,469 1,673 119,986 -10,305
2017 43,471 1,671 120,515 -10,400
2016 45,565 1,649 119,978 -11,401
2015 49,077 1,617 118,723 -12,991
2014 49,559 1,589 118,103 -26,881
2013 49,227 1,579 119,845 -27,492
2012 52,036 1,587 121,324 -28,871
2011 52,884 1,695 122,863 -30,538
2010 50,803 2,357 122,516 -30,046
2009 55,757 3,432 122,174 -29,545
2008 56,491 3,794 121,042 -28,318
2007 55,244 4,080 119,980 -27,233
2006 54,177 4,321 118,602 -25,286
2005 57,139 4,567 118,165 -24,138
2004 55,769 4,856 121,888 -40,120
2003 56,743 5,216 122,158 -36,572
2002 58,388 5,812 122,110 -33,595
2001 62,199 7,119 123,847 -33,552
2000 64,268 8,826 124,201 -33,965
1999 64,922 13,253 127,255 -36,632
1998 64,788 15,556 128,409 -33,997
1997 64,954 16,954 130,388 -32,288
1996 66,094 17,393 131,142 -16,574
1995 67,585 16,609 132,241 -14,279
1994 68,336 15,587 134,201 -11,782
1993 69,016 14,431 135,295 -9,390
1992 69,830 13,069 132,417 -7,502
1991 70,506 10,757 129,523 -5,390
1990 71,727 7,949 125,297 -3,100
1989 72,327 3,758 121,044 -1,272
1988 72,944 2,414 117,050 -80
1987 73,188 2,267 113,005 0
1986 73,211 2,302 109,266 -475
1985 72,776 2,357 106,047 -1,376
1984 71,062 2,402 102,318 -2,698
1983 68,972 2,449 98,178 -4,108
1982 66,826 2,453 94,058 -6,184
1981 64,632 2,431 89,963 -11,061
1980 62,561 2,387 86,548 -17,339
1979 60,984 2,349 82,852 -23,317
1978 58,327 2,296 80,604 -27,208
1977 56,122 2,228 79,149 -26,908
1976 54,019 2,129 77,575 -21,738
1975 51,979 1,992 76,725 -13,858
1974 50,349 1,839 74,652 -6,000
1973 48,943 1,468 70,513 -774
1972 48,417 1,366 68,095 0
1971 48,341 1,296 65,959 0
1970 48,398 1,137 63,896 0
1969 48,790 1,017 61,595 0
1968 48,361 939 59,567 0
1967 50,193 926 57,763 0
1966 50,755 930 55,494 0
1965 51,196 932 54,268 0
1964 51,435 934 52,482 0
1963 51,403 938 51,056 0
1962 51,046 934 51,244 0
1961 50,149 924 48,992 0
1960 48,857 910 47,575 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/laos | 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 Laos 90.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,183,013 people) and 9.41% is from migration (a loss of 122,899 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 51,446 people or 0.7% in Laos.

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
Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K

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/laos | 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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