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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 1,847,785 people in Latvia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 1,826,986 in Latvia.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 2.84 times bigger than Latvia's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Latvia is the 149th.
  • The countries together account for 0.08% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.02% for Latvia.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs -0.69% in Latvia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Latvia has declined from 2.22M to 1.83M (17.6% decline).

Costa Rica vs Latvia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Latvia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Latvia
2100 3,803,678 922,007
2099 3,841,913 931,466
2098 3,880,484 940,927
2097 3,919,475 950,258
2096 3,958,826 959,655
2095 3,998,552 968,997
2094 4,038,516 978,324
2093 4,078,807 987,606
2092 4,119,351 996,982
2091 4,160,111 1,006,431
2090 4,200,989 1,015,921
2089 4,241,888 1,025,435
2088 4,282,758 1,035,083
2087 4,323,650 1,044,938
2086 4,364,399 1,054,879
2085 4,404,935 1,064,880
2084 4,445,179 1,075,183
2083 4,485,048 1,085,772
2082 4,524,570 1,096,487
2081 4,563,658 1,107,392
2080 4,602,126 1,118,511
2079 4,640,060 1,129,885
2078 4,677,313 1,141,268
2077 4,713,901 1,152,706
2076 4,749,678 1,164,352
2075 4,784,723 1,176,176
2074 4,819,050 1,188,082
2073 4,852,492 1,199,974
2072 4,885,078 1,211,961
2071 4,916,792 1,224,298
2070 4,947,655 1,236,755
2069 4,977,764 1,249,300
2068 5,006,939 1,262,278
2067 5,035,207 1,275,443
2066 5,062,849 1,288,533
2065 5,089,797 1,302,103
2064 5,115,866 1,315,729
2063 5,141,239 1,329,295
2062 5,165,574 1,342,898
2061 5,189,146 1,356,597
2060 5,211,857 1,370,646
2059 5,233,370 1,384,579
2058 5,253,830 1,398,610
2057 5,273,143 1,412,764
2056 5,291,310 1,426,866
2055 5,308,124 1,440,673
2054 5,323,598 1,454,475
2053 5,337,707 1,468,103
2052 5,350,263 1,481,591
2051 5,361,152 1,494,244
2050 5,370,484 1,506,958
2049 5,378,189 1,519,679
2048 5,384,366 1,532,326
2047 5,388,962 1,544,855
2046 5,391,996 1,557,274
2045 5,393,493 1,570,010
2044 5,393,407 1,582,416
2043 5,391,873 1,594,893
2042 5,388,912 1,607,225
2041 5,384,386 1,620,006
2040 5,378,629 1,632,650
2039 5,371,473 1,645,713
2038 5,362,904 1,658,653
2037 5,353,217 1,671,596
2036 5,342,317 1,684,899
2035 5,330,286 1,698,177
2034 5,317,189 1,711,808
2033 5,302,930 1,725,938
2032 5,287,714 1,740,330
2031 5,271,514 1,754,642
2030 5,254,366 1,769,574
2029 5,236,206 1,784,112
2028 5,217,031 1,798,494
2027 5,196,723 1,812,843
2026 5,175,408 1,826,986
2025 5,152,950 1,847,785
2024 5,129,910 1,866,124
2023 5,105,525 1,883,710
2022 5,081,765 1,879,383
2021 5,059,988 1,884,490
2020 5,034,320 1,900,449
2019 4,999,553 1,913,822
2018 4,957,818 1,927,174
2017 4,913,177 1,942,248
2016 4,866,998 1,959,537
2015 4,818,038 1,977,527
2014 4,767,119 1,993,782
2013 4,716,147 2,012,647
2012 4,663,934 2,034,319
2011 4,609,833 2,059,709
2010 4,555,962 2,097,555
2009 4,499,791 2,141,669
2008 4,440,056 2,177,322
2007 4,380,248 2,200,325
2006 4,321,340 2,218,357
2005 4,261,240 2,238,799
2004 4,200,078 2,263,122
2003 4,138,784 2,287,955
2002 4,075,705 2,310,173
2001 4,008,947 2,337,170
2000 3,937,739 2,367,550
1999 3,862,101 2,390,482
1998 3,782,838 2,410,019
1997 3,701,711 2,432,851
1996 3,619,013 2,457,222
1995 3,535,176 2,485,056
1994 3,451,122 2,520,742
1993 3,367,434 2,563,290
1992 3,284,258 2,614,338
1991 3,202,176 2,650,581
1990 3,121,706 2,663,151
1989 3,043,827 2,666,955
1988 2,968,103 2,653,434
1987 2,892,699 2,626,583
1986 2,817,216 2,599,892
1985 2,741,894 2,578,873
1984 2,667,595 2,562,047
1983 2,595,153 2,546,011
1982 2,524,806 2,531,080
1981 2,456,637 2,519,421
1980 2,390,633 2,511,701
1979 2,326,490 2,505,953
1978 2,264,510 2,497,921
1977 2,205,025 2,485,073
1976 2,147,774 2,470,989
1975 2,092,719 2,456,130
1974 2,039,643 2,437,186
1973 1,988,343 2,415,819
1972 1,938,248 2,395,674
1971 1,888,539 2,376,389
1970 1,838,949 2,359,164
1969 1,789,276 2,343,173
1968 1,739,731 2,323,619
1967 1,689,523 2,301,220
1966 1,638,116 2,283,217
1965 1,586,208 2,265,919
1964 1,533,960 2,240,623
1963 1,481,604 2,210,919
1962 1,429,445 2,181,586
1961 1,377,920 2,152,681
1960 1,327,496 2,120,979

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/latvia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Latvia lost 258,820 people (a 11.7% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Latvia's population decreased by 132,551 people (a 6.76% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Latvia was ranked 140th in 2006 and ranked 149th 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 Latvia will decrease by 17.5% to 1,506,958 people and rank change from 149th to 155th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Latvia's population already peaked in 1989 at 2.67M people and is projected to decrease to 922K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Latvia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Latvia
2100 -1% -1.02%
2099 -0.99% -1.01%
2098 -0.99% -0.98%
2097 -0.99% -0.98%
2096 -0.99% -0.96%
2095 -0.99% -0.95%
2094 -0.99% -0.94%
2093 -0.98% -0.94%
2092 -0.98% -0.94%
2091 -0.97% -0.93%
2090 -0.96% -0.93%
2089 -0.95% -0.93%
2088 -0.95% -0.94%
2087 -0.93% -0.94%
2086 -0.92% -0.94%
2085 -0.91% -0.96%
2084 -0.89% -0.98%
2083 -0.87% -0.98%
2082 -0.86% -0.98%
2081 -0.84% -0.99%
2080 -0.82% -1.01%
2079 -0.8% -1%
2078 -0.78% -0.99%
2077 -0.75% -1%
2076 -0.73% -1.01%
2075 -0.71% -1%
2074 -0.69% -0.99%
2073 -0.67% -0.99%
2072 -0.65% -1.01%
2071 -0.62% -1.01%
2070 -0.6% -1%
2069 -0.58% -1.03%
2068 -0.56% -1.03%
2067 -0.55% -1.02%
2066 -0.53% -1.04%
2065 -0.51% -1.04%
2064 -0.49% -1.02%
2063 -0.47% -1.01%
2062 -0.45% -1.01%
2061 -0.44% -1.03%
2060 -0.41% -1.01%
2059 -0.39% -1%
2058 -0.37% -1%
2057 -0.34% -0.99%
2056 -0.32% -0.96%
2055 -0.29% -0.95%
2054 -0.26% -0.93%
2053 -0.23% -0.91%
2052 -0.2% -0.85%
2051 -0.17% -0.84%
2050 -0.14% -0.84%
2049 -0.11% -0.83%
2048 -0.09% -0.81%
2047 -0.06% -0.8%
2046 -0.03% -0.81%
2045 0.002% -0.78%
2044 0.03% -0.78%
2043 0.05% -0.77%
2042 0.08% -0.79%
2041 0.11% -0.77%
2040 0.13% -0.79%
2039 0.16% -0.78%
2038 0.18% -0.77%
2037 0.2% -0.79%
2036 0.23% -0.78%
2035 0.25% -0.8%
2034 0.27% -0.82%
2033 0.29% -0.83%
2032 0.31% -0.82%
2031 0.33% -0.84%
2030 0.35% -0.81%
2029 0.37% -0.8%
2028 0.39% -0.79%
2027 0.41% -0.77%
2026 0.44% -1.13%
2025 0.45% -0.98%
2024 0.48% -0.93%
2023 0.47% 0.23%
2022 0.43% -0.27%
2021 0.51% -0.84%
2020 0.7% -0.7%
2019 0.84% -0.69%
2018 0.91% -0.78%
2017 0.95% -0.88%
2016 1.02% -0.91%
2015 1.07% -0.82%
2014 1.08% -0.94%
2013 1.12% -1.07%
2012 1.17% -1.23%
2011 1.18% -1.8%
2010 1.25% -2.06%
2009 1.35% -1.64%
2008 1.37% -1.05%
2007 1.36% -0.81%
2006 1.41% -0.91%
2005 1.46% -1.07%
2004 1.48% -1.09%
2003 1.55% -0.96%
2002 1.67% -1.16%
2001 1.81% -1.28%
2000 1.96% -0.96%
1999 2.1% -0.81%
1998 2.19% -0.94%
1997 2.29% -0.99%
1996 2.37% -1.12%
1995 2.44% -1.42%
1994 2.49% -1.66%
1993 2.53% -1.95%
1992 2.56% -1.37%
1991 2.58% -0.47%
1990 2.56% -0.14%
1989 2.55% 0.51%
1988 2.61% 1.02%
1987 2.68% 1.03%
1986 2.75% 0.82%
1985 2.79% 0.66%
1984 2.79% 0.63%
1983 2.79% 0.59%
1982 2.77% 0.46%
1981 2.76% 0.31%
1980 2.76% 0.23%
1979 2.74% 0.32%
1978 2.7% 0.52%
1977 2.67% 0.57%
1976 2.63% 0.6%
1975 2.6% 0.78%
1974 2.58% 0.88%
1973 2.58% 0.84%
1972 2.63% 0.81%
1971 2.7% 0.73%
1970 2.78% 0.68%
1969 2.85% 0.84%
1968 2.97% 0.97%
1967 3.14% 0.79%
1966 3.27% 0.76%
1965 3.41% 1.13%
1964 3.53% 1.34%
1963 3.65% 1.34%
1962 3.74% 1.34%
1961 3.8% 1.49%

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/latvia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Latvia's population declined by 0.98%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Latvia
Current population
5186356
1826986
Population rank 126/197 149/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.02%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
28.7 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
40.8 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
19.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 -50
Annual growth/decline +23,040 -18,339
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% -0.98%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 193/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.2 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -7,330
Net migration rank 63/196 125/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 220,471
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 108/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 11.8%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 57/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Latvia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Latvia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -7,330
2024 22,699 967 -13,809 -2,225
2023 24,109 995 -13,563 7,966
2022 21,409 1,006 -14,847 22,027
2021 20,119 1,018 -17,337 -280
2020 29,164 1,029 -11,402 -3,147
2019 37,682 1,653 -8,995 -3,416
2018 42,469 1,673 -9,636 -4,972
2017 43,471 1,671 -7,963 -7,867
2016 45,565 1,649 -6,663 -12,327
2015 49,077 1,617 -6,526 -10,826
2014 49,559 1,589 -6,779 -8,799
2013 49,227 1,579 -8,252 -14,386
2012 52,036 1,587 -9,154 -11,914
2011 52,884 1,695 -9,886 -20,202
2010 50,803 2,357 -10,278 -36,128
2009 55,757 3,432 -7,924 -34,807
2008 56,491 3,794 -6,531 -22,445
2007 55,244 4,080 -9,021 -8,027
2006 54,177 4,321 -10,204 -9,211
2005 57,139 4,567 -10,746 -11,134
2004 55,769 4,856 -11,542 -15,136
2003 56,743 5,216 -11,439 -11,422
2002 58,388 5,812 -12,475 -9,160
2001 62,199 7,119 -13,322 -18,634
2000 64,268 8,826 -11,838 -15,679
1999 64,922 13,253 -13,387 -3,229
1998 64,788 15,556 -15,906 -5,504
1997 64,954 16,954 -14,841 -9,183
1996 66,094 17,393 -14,498 -9,888
1995 67,585 16,609 -17,396 -13,288
1994 68,336 15,587 -17,645 -21,446
1993 69,016 14,431 -12,560 -32,914
1992 69,830 13,069 -3,660 -52,180
1991 70,506 10,757 0 -12,020
1990 71,727 7,949 2,929 -13,196
1989 72,327 3,758 6,401 -4,960
1988 72,944 2,414 9,022 15,784
1987 73,188 2,267 9,981 19,249
1986 73,211 2,302 10,660 13,972
1985 72,776 2,357 5,673 12,037
1984 71,062 2,402 7,430 8,847
1983 68,972 2,449 8,147 8,115
1982 66,826 2,453 6,327 8,116
1981 64,632 2,431 3,779 6,536
1980 62,561 2,387 3,265 3,099
1979 60,984 2,349 2,506 3,661
1978 58,327 2,296 2,997 7,399
1977 56,122 2,228 3,480 11,992
1976 54,019 2,129 4,200 8,870
1975 51,979 1,992 4,913 12,166
1974 50,349 1,839 6,824 14,420
1973 48,943 1,468 6,040 15,997
1972 48,417 1,366 7,666 11,077
1971 48,341 1,296 8,793 10,846
1970 48,398 1,137 7,785 12,494
1969 48,790 1,017 6,561 13,718
1968 48,361 939 7,668 13,465
1967 50,193 926 7,825 14,177
1966 50,755 930 8,677 13,465
1965 51,196 932 8,384 13,218
1964 51,435 934 12,100 13,010
1963 51,403 938 11,055 12,308
1962 51,046 934 11,562 12,344
1961 50,149 924 14,207 12,364
1960 48,857 910 14,211 11,420

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/latvia | 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 Latvia 88% is from natural causes (a loss of 110,741 people) and 12% is from migration (a loss of 15,067 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 220,471 people or 11.8% in Latvia.

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
Latvia
City Population
Riga 595K
Daugavpils 78.1K
Liepaja 67.4K
Jelgava 54.8K
Jurmala 52K
Ventspils 32.7K
Rezekne 26.4K
Valmiera 22.8K
Ogre 22.8K
Jekabpils 21K

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/latvia | 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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