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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 2.16 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.09% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Costa Rica vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Lesotho
2100 3,804,183 3,280,784
2099 3,842,423 3,286,697
2098 3,880,999 3,292,498
2097 3,919,996 3,298,102
2096 3,959,352 3,303,027
2095 3,999,084 3,307,947
2094 4,039,053 3,312,002
2093 4,079,349 3,315,757
2092 4,119,898 3,319,661
2091 4,160,663 3,322,573
2090 4,201,548 3,324,769
2089 4,242,452 3,326,847
2088 4,283,327 3,328,480
2087 4,324,225 3,329,964
2086 4,364,979 3,330,456
2085 4,405,520 3,331,259
2084 4,445,770 3,331,485
2083 4,485,644 3,331,492
2082 4,525,171 3,331,234
2081 4,564,265 3,330,412
2080 4,602,737 3,329,267
2079 4,640,677 3,327,166
2078 4,677,935 3,324,646
2077 4,714,527 3,321,422
2076 4,750,309 3,317,850
2075 4,785,359 3,314,237
2074 4,819,691 3,309,174
2073 4,853,137 3,303,860
2072 4,885,727 3,298,181
2071 4,917,445 3,291,492
2070 4,948,313 3,283,654
2069 4,978,425 3,275,244
2068 5,007,604 3,266,152
2067 5,035,877 3,256,626
2066 5,063,521 3,246,903
2065 5,090,474 3,237,153
2064 5,116,546 3,226,489
2063 5,141,922 3,215,103
2062 5,166,260 3,202,287
2061 5,189,836 3,188,933
2060 5,212,549 3,174,998
2059 5,234,066 3,160,204
2058 5,254,528 3,145,053
2057 5,273,844 3,129,261
2056 5,292,013 3,113,129
2055 5,308,829 3,095,904
2054 5,324,305 3,078,567
2053 5,338,417 3,060,152
2052 5,350,974 3,040,649
2051 5,361,865 3,020,109
2050 5,371,197 2,999,457
2049 5,378,904 2,978,037
2048 5,385,081 2,955,727
2047 5,389,678 2,932,688
2046 5,392,713 2,909,307
2045 5,394,209 2,885,537
2044 5,394,124 2,861,372
2043 5,392,590 2,836,777
2042 5,389,628 2,811,663
2041 5,385,101 2,786,147
2040 5,379,344 2,760,391
2039 5,372,186 2,734,400
2038 5,363,617 2,708,216
2037 5,353,928 2,681,863
2036 5,343,027 2,654,755
2035 5,330,994 2,627,701
2034 5,317,895 2,600,880
2033 5,303,634 2,574,065
2032 5,288,416 2,547,344
2031 5,272,215 2,520,831
2030 5,255,064 2,494,646
2029 5,236,901 2,468,268
2028 5,217,724 2,441,871
2027 5,197,413 2,415,830
2026 5,176,096 2,389,516
2025 5,153,634 2,363,516
2024 5,129,910 2,337,423
2023 5,105,525 2,311,472
2022 5,081,765 2,286,110
2021 5,059,988 2,261,542
2020 5,034,320 2,235,727
2019 4,999,553 2,209,405
2018 4,957,818 2,183,603
2017 4,913,177 2,157,110
2016 4,866,998 2,130,422
2015 4,818,038 2,104,611
2014 4,767,119 2,080,089
2013 4,716,147 2,056,504
2012 4,663,934 2,034,354
2011 4,609,833 2,014,009
2010 4,555,962 1,996,251
2009 4,499,791 1,980,883
2008 4,440,056 1,966,541
2007 4,380,248 1,953,268
2006 4,321,340 1,945,063
2005 4,261,240 1,953,076
2004 4,200,078 1,971,129
2003 4,138,784 1,985,059
2002 4,075,705 1,994,679
2001 4,008,947 2,000,853
2000 3,937,739 2,003,913
1999 3,862,101 2,003,234
1998 3,782,838 1,998,049
1997 3,701,711 1,988,130
1996 3,619,013 1,972,418
1995 3,535,176 1,951,437
1994 3,451,122 1,927,707
1993 3,367,434 1,901,793
1992 3,284,258 1,873,274
1991 3,202,176 1,842,379
1990 3,121,706 1,809,696
1989 3,043,827 1,775,436
1988 2,968,103 1,739,841
1987 2,892,699 1,703,390
1986 2,817,216 1,666,138
1985 2,741,894 1,624,379
1984 2,667,595 1,578,986
1983 2,595,153 1,534,413
1982 2,524,806 1,490,732
1981 2,456,637 1,448,069
1980 2,390,633 1,406,521
1979 2,326,490 1,366,169
1978 2,264,510 1,327,240
1977 2,205,025 1,289,967
1976 2,147,774 1,253,214
1975 2,092,719 1,213,643
1974 2,039,643 1,172,420
1973 1,988,343 1,132,697
1972 1,938,248 1,094,063
1971 1,888,539 1,056,246
1970 1,838,949 1,019,273
1969 1,789,276 983,202
1968 1,739,731 948,105
1967 1,689,523 913,982
1966 1,638,116 881,870
1965 1,586,208 854,090
1964 1,533,960 829,437
1963 1,481,604 805,373
1962 1,429,445 781,814
1961 1,377,920 758,824
1960 1,327,496 736,500

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/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd 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 Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Lesotho
2100 -1% -0.18%
2099 -0.99% -0.18%
2098 -0.99% -0.17%
2097 -0.99% -0.15%
2096 -0.99% -0.15%
2095 -0.99% -0.12%
2094 -0.99% -0.11%
2093 -0.98% -0.12%
2092 -0.98% -0.09%
2091 -0.97% -0.07%
2090 -0.96% -0.06%
2089 -0.95% -0.05%
2088 -0.95% -0.04%
2087 -0.93% -0.01%
2086 -0.92% -0.02%
2085 -0.91% -0.007%
2084 -0.89% -0%
2083 -0.87% 0.008%
2082 -0.86% 0.02%
2081 -0.84% 0.03%
2080 -0.82% 0.06%
2079 -0.8% 0.08%
2078 -0.78% 0.1%
2077 -0.75% 0.11%
2076 -0.73% 0.11%
2075 -0.71% 0.15%
2074 -0.69% 0.16%
2073 -0.67% 0.17%
2072 -0.65% 0.2%
2071 -0.62% 0.24%
2070 -0.6% 0.26%
2069 -0.58% 0.28%
2068 -0.56% 0.29%
2067 -0.55% 0.3%
2066 -0.53% 0.3%
2065 -0.51% 0.33%
2064 -0.49% 0.35%
2063 -0.47% 0.4%
2062 -0.45% 0.42%
2061 -0.44% 0.44%
2060 -0.41% 0.47%
2059 -0.39% 0.48%
2058 -0.37% 0.5%
2057 -0.34% 0.52%
2056 -0.32% 0.56%
2055 -0.29% 0.56%
2054 -0.26% 0.6%
2053 -0.23% 0.64%
2052 -0.2% 0.68%
2051 -0.17% 0.69%
2050 -0.14% 0.72%
2049 -0.11% 0.75%
2048 -0.09% 0.79%
2047 -0.06% 0.8%
2046 -0.03% 0.82%
2045 0.002% 0.84%
2044 0.03% 0.87%
2043 0.05% 0.89%
2042 0.08% 0.92%
2041 0.11% 0.93%
2040 0.13% 0.95%
2039 0.16% 0.97%
2038 0.18% 0.98%
2037 0.2% 1.02%
2036 0.23% 1.03%
2035 0.25% 1.03%
2034 0.27% 1.04%
2033 0.29% 1.05%
2032 0.31% 1.05%
2031 0.33% 1.05%
2030 0.35% 1.07%
2029 0.37% 1.08%
2028 0.39% 1.08%
2027 0.41% 1.1%
2026 0.44% 1.1%
2025 0.46% 1.12%
2024 0.48% 1.12%
2023 0.47% 1.11%
2022 0.43% 1.09%
2021 0.51% 1.15%
2020 0.7% 1.19%
2019 0.84% 1.18%
2018 0.91% 1.23%
2017 0.95% 1.25%
2016 1.02% 1.23%
2015 1.07% 1.18%
2014 1.08% 1.15%
2013 1.12% 1.09%
2012 1.17% 1.01%
2011 1.18% 0.89%
2010 1.25% 0.78%
2009 1.35% 0.73%
2008 1.37% 0.68%
2007 1.36% 0.42%
2006 1.41% -0.41%
2005 1.46% -0.92%
2004 1.48% -0.7%
2003 1.55% -0.48%
2002 1.67% -0.31%
2001 1.81% -0.15%
2000 1.96% 0.03%
1999 2.1% 0.26%
1998 2.19% 0.5%
1997 2.29% 0.8%
1996 2.37% 1.08%
1995 2.44% 1.23%
1994 2.49% 1.36%
1993 2.53% 1.52%
1992 2.56% 1.68%
1991 2.58% 1.81%
1990 2.56% 1.93%
1989 2.55% 2.05%
1988 2.61% 2.14%
1987 2.68% 2.24%
1986 2.75% 2.57%
1985 2.79% 2.87%
1984 2.79% 2.9%
1983 2.79% 2.93%
1982 2.77% 2.95%
1981 2.76% 2.95%
1980 2.76% 2.95%
1979 2.74% 2.93%
1978 2.7% 2.89%
1977 2.67% 2.93%
1976 2.63% 3.26%
1975 2.6% 3.52%
1974 2.58% 3.51%
1973 2.58% 3.53%
1972 2.63% 3.58%
1971 2.7% 3.63%
1970 2.78% 3.67%
1969 2.85% 3.7%
1968 2.97% 3.73%
1967 3.14% 3.64%
1966 3.27% 3.25%
1965 3.41% 2.97%
1964 3.53% 2.99%
1963 3.65% 3.01%
1962 3.74% 3.03%
1961 3.8% 3.03%

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/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Lesotho
Current population
5181862
2396633
Population rank 126/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.03%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
9.43 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +71
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 93/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.69 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -5,192
Net migration rank 63/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -5,192
2024 - 967 - -5,107
2023 24,109 995 31,115 -5,168
2022 21,409 1,006 30,803 -6,023
2021 20,119 1,018 27,806 -3,449
2020 29,164 1,029 30,721 -3,449
2019 37,682 1,653 32,279 -6,896
2018 42,469 1,673 33,112 -6,892
2017 43,471 1,671 33,601 -6,850
2016 45,565 1,649 33,390 -6,766
2015 49,077 1,617 32,087 -7,087
2014 49,559 1,589 30,922 -6,877
2013 49,227 1,579 29,789 -6,659
2012 52,036 1,587 27,592 -6,425
2011 52,884 1,695 25,647 -6,118
2010 50,803 2,357 21,877 -5,886
2009 55,757 3,432 20,335 -5,599
2008 56,491 3,794 19,349 -5,392
2007 55,244 4,080 17,763 -5,179
2006 54,177 4,321 15,234 -11,416
2005 57,139 4,567 15,831 -35,679
2004 55,769 4,856 17,271 -33,530
2003 56,743 5,216 20,133 -31,723
2002 58,388 5,812 22,274 -29,924
2001 62,199 7,119 23,190 -27,874
2000 64,268 8,826 24,786 -26,220
1999 64,922 13,253 27,393 -24,610
1998 64,788 15,556 30,889 -23,299
1997 64,954 16,954 34,637 -22,396
1996 66,094 17,393 36,228 -17,042
1995 67,585 16,609 37,370 -14,588
1994 68,336 15,587 38,629 -13,953
1993 69,016 14,431 40,505 -13,347
1992 69,830 13,069 42,579 -12,707
1991 70,506 10,757 44,026 -12,114
1990 71,727 7,949 45,060 -11,598
1989 72,327 3,758 46,264 -11,207
1988 72,944 2,414 47,158 -11,028
1987 73,188 2,267 47,718 -10,946
1986 73,211 2,302 45,232 -7,501
1985 72,776 2,357 44,575 1,222
1984 71,062 2,402 43,785 1,199
1983 68,972 2,449 42,899 1,253
1982 66,826 2,453 41,941 1,281
1981 64,632 2,431 40,808 1,307
1980 62,561 2,387 39,617 1,361
1979 60,984 2,349 38,440 1,285
1978 58,327 2,296 37,084 1,047
1977 56,122 2,228 35,654 746
1976 54,019 2,129 34,117 2,986
1975 51,979 1,992 32,311 9,723
1974 50,349 1,839 30,444 9,972
1973 48,943 1,468 28,859 10,183
1972 48,417 1,366 27,841 10,386
1971 48,341 1,296 26,838 10,563
1970 48,398 1,137 25,935 10,605
1969 48,790 1,017 25,137 10,465
1968 48,361 939 24,490 10,108
1967 50,193 926 23,911 9,734
1966 50,755 930 23,326 7,248
1965 51,196 932 22,755 2,239
1964 51,435 934 22,116 2,198
1963 51,403 938 21,585 2,220
1962 51,046 934 21,132 2,172
1961 50,149 924 20,581 2,100
1960 48,857 910 19,981 1,989

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

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
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 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/lesotho | 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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