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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 5,612,817 people in Liberia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 5,887,000 in Liberia.

Population statistics:

  • Liberia's population is 1.14 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Liberia is the 116th.
  • The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.07% for Liberia.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +2.09% in Liberia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Liberia has grown from 3.49M to 5.89M (68.6% growth).

Costa Rica vs Liberia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Liberia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Liberia
2100 3,804,183 12,788,823
2099 3,842,423 12,776,207
2098 3,880,999 12,757,308
2097 3,919,996 12,728,620
2096 3,959,352 12,695,873
2095 3,999,084 12,671,037
2094 4,039,053 12,645,345
2093 4,079,349 12,607,806
2092 4,119,898 12,583,276
2091 4,160,663 12,557,861
2090 4,201,548 12,513,262
2089 4,242,452 12,461,083
2088 4,283,327 12,429,523
2087 4,324,225 12,394,685
2086 4,364,979 12,331,734
2085 4,405,520 12,266,313
2084 4,445,770 12,218,274
2083 4,485,644 12,163,782
2082 4,525,171 12,122,513
2081 4,564,265 12,055,108
2080 4,602,737 11,977,065
2079 4,640,677 11,899,224
2078 4,677,935 11,823,772
2077 4,714,527 11,746,009
2076 4,750,309 11,657,329
2075 4,785,359 11,571,881
2074 4,819,691 11,469,695
2073 4,853,137 11,373,802
2072 4,885,727 11,288,250
2071 4,917,445 11,187,594
2070 4,948,313 11,097,891
2069 4,978,425 11,002,270
2068 5,007,604 10,918,600
2067 5,035,877 10,814,021
2066 5,063,521 10,721,693
2065 5,090,474 10,617,436
2064 5,116,546 10,521,037
2063 5,141,922 10,416,221
2062 5,166,260 10,308,855
2061 5,189,836 10,200,557
2060 5,212,549 10,091,553
2059 5,234,066 9,960,069
2058 5,254,528 9,857,338
2057 5,273,844 9,745,295
2056 5,292,013 9,624,041
2055 5,308,829 9,506,843
2054 5,324,305 9,402,297
2053 5,338,417 9,284,854
2052 5,350,974 9,173,091
2051 5,361,865 9,060,243
2050 5,371,197 8,951,514
2049 5,378,904 8,828,384
2048 5,385,081 8,705,146
2047 5,389,678 8,581,923
2046 5,392,713 8,456,286
2045 5,394,209 8,342,861
2044 5,394,124 8,220,755
2043 5,392,590 8,106,429
2042 5,389,628 7,972,152
2041 5,385,101 7,829,310
2040 5,379,344 7,698,463
2039 5,372,186 7,554,021
2038 5,363,617 7,421,960
2037 5,353,928 7,291,328
2036 5,343,027 7,146,172
2035 5,330,994 7,010,827
2034 5,317,895 6,883,638
2033 5,303,634 6,750,553
2032 5,288,416 6,619,507
2031 5,272,215 6,492,799
2030 5,255,064 6,376,029
2029 5,236,901 6,247,795
2028 5,217,724 6,120,673
2027 5,197,413 5,981,051
2026 5,176,096 5,852,128
2025 5,153,634 5,732,938
2024 5,129,910 5,612,817
2023 5,105,525 5,493,031
2022 5,081,765 5,373,294
2021 5,059,988 5,259,323
2020 5,034,320 5,149,463
2019 4,999,553 5,043,721
2018 4,957,818 4,944,726
2017 4,913,177 4,848,925
2016 4,866,998 4,755,608
2015 4,818,038 4,659,431
2014 4,767,119 4,564,293
2013 4,716,147 4,470,239
2012 4,663,934 4,373,043
2011 4,609,833 4,221,178
2010 4,555,962 4,058,890
2009 4,499,791 3,943,028
2008 4,440,056 3,821,003
2007 4,380,248 3,669,050
2006 4,321,340 3,490,787
2005 4,261,240 3,301,015
2004 4,200,078 3,156,892
2003 4,138,784 3,119,532
2002 4,075,705 3,094,782
2001 4,008,947 3,015,338
2000 3,937,739 2,928,117
1999 3,862,101 2,821,684
1998 3,782,838 2,670,124
1997 3,701,711 2,412,989
1996 3,619,013 2,232,289
1995 3,535,176 2,169,162
1994 3,451,122 2,149,928
1993 3,367,434 2,155,126
1992 3,284,258 2,072,461
1991 3,202,176 1,956,518
1990 3,121,706 2,223,667
1989 3,043,827 2,517,858
1988 2,968,103 2,446,941
1987 2,892,699 2,377,229
1986 2,817,216 2,308,511
1985 2,741,894 2,240,539
1984 2,667,595 2,173,312
1983 2,595,153 2,107,113
1982 2,524,806 2,045,073
1981 2,456,637 1,986,867
1980 2,390,633 1,929,253
1979 2,326,490 1,872,713
1978 2,264,510 1,818,247
1977 2,205,025 1,766,019
1976 2,147,774 1,717,060
1975 2,092,719 1,670,913
1974 2,039,643 1,626,362
1973 1,988,343 1,583,588
1972 1,938,248 1,542,670
1971 1,888,539 1,504,077
1970 1,838,949 1,466,676
1969 1,789,276 1,429,605
1968 1,739,731 1,393,530
1967 1,689,523 1,358,435
1966 1,638,116 1,324,383
1965 1,586,208 1,291,156
1964 1,533,960 1,258,745
1963 1,481,604 1,227,414
1962 1,429,445 1,197,039
1961 1,377,920 1,167,717
1960 1,327,496 1,139,522

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/liberia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Liberia gained 1,264,821 people (a 36.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Liberia's population increased by 1,131,392 people (a 23.8% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Liberia was ranked 126th in 2006 and ranked 116th 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 Liberia will increase by 52.1% to 8,951,514 people and rank change from 116th to 107th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 12.8M people in 2100 for Liberia.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Liberia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Liberia
2100 -1% 0.1%
2099 -0.99% 0.15%
2098 -0.99% 0.23%
2097 -0.99% 0.26%
2096 -0.99% 0.2%
2095 -0.99% 0.2%
2094 -0.99% 0.3%
2093 -0.98% 0.19%
2092 -0.98% 0.2%
2091 -0.97% 0.36%
2090 -0.96% 0.42%
2089 -0.95% 0.25%
2088 -0.95% 0.28%
2087 -0.93% 0.51%
2086 -0.92% 0.53%
2085 -0.91% 0.39%
2084 -0.89% 0.45%
2083 -0.87% 0.34%
2082 -0.86% 0.56%
2081 -0.84% 0.65%
2080 -0.82% 0.65%
2079 -0.8% 0.64%
2078 -0.78% 0.66%
2077 -0.75% 0.76%
2076 -0.73% 0.74%
2075 -0.71% 0.89%
2074 -0.69% 0.84%
2073 -0.67% 0.76%
2072 -0.65% 0.9%
2071 -0.62% 0.81%
2070 -0.6% 0.87%
2069 -0.58% 0.77%
2068 -0.56% 0.97%
2067 -0.55% 0.86%
2066 -0.53% 0.98%
2065 -0.51% 0.92%
2064 -0.49% 1.01%
2063 -0.47% 1.04%
2062 -0.45% 1.06%
2061 -0.44% 1.08%
2060 -0.41% 1.32%
2059 -0.39% 1.04%
2058 -0.37% 1.15%
2057 -0.34% 1.26%
2056 -0.32% 1.23%
2055 -0.29% 1.11%
2054 -0.26% 1.26%
2053 -0.23% 1.22%
2052 -0.2% 1.25%
2051 -0.17% 1.21%
2050 -0.14% 1.39%
2049 -0.11% 1.42%
2048 -0.09% 1.44%
2047 -0.06% 1.49%
2046 -0.03% 1.36%
2045 0.002% 1.49%
2044 0.03% 1.41%
2043 0.05% 1.68%
2042 0.08% 1.82%
2041 0.11% 1.7%
2040 0.13% 1.91%
2039 0.16% 1.78%
2038 0.18% 1.79%
2037 0.2% 2.03%
2036 0.23% 1.93%
2035 0.25% 1.85%
2034 0.27% 1.97%
2033 0.29% 1.98%
2032 0.31% 1.95%
2031 0.33% 1.83%
2030 0.35% 2.05%
2029 0.37% 2.08%
2028 0.39% 2.33%
2027 0.41% 2.2%
2026 0.44% 2.08%
2025 0.46% 2.14%
2024 0.48% 2.18%
2023 0.47% 2.23%
2022 0.43% 2.17%
2021 0.51% 2.13%
2020 0.7% 2.1%
2019 0.84% 2%
2018 0.91% 1.98%
2017 0.95% 1.96%
2016 1.02% 2.06%
2015 1.07% 2.08%
2014 1.08% 2.1%
2013 1.12% 2.22%
2012 1.17% 3.6%
2011 1.18% 4%
2010 1.25% 2.94%
2009 1.35% 3.19%
2008 1.37% 4.14%
2007 1.36% 5.11%
2006 1.41% 5.75%
2005 1.46% 4.57%
2004 1.48% 1.2%
2003 1.55% 0.8%
2002 1.67% 2.63%
2001 1.81% 2.98%
2000 1.96% 3.77%
1999 2.1% 5.68%
1998 2.19% 10.7%
1997 2.29% 8.09%
1996 2.37% 2.91%
1995 2.44% 0.89%
1994 2.49% -0.24%
1993 2.53% 3.99%
1992 2.56% 5.93%
1991 2.58% -12%
1990 2.56% -11.7%
1989 2.55% 2.9%
1988 2.61% 2.93%
1987 2.68% 2.98%
1986 2.75% 3.03%
1985 2.79% 3.09%
1984 2.79% 3.14%
1983 2.79% 3.03%
1982 2.77% 2.93%
1981 2.76% 2.99%
1980 2.76% 3.02%
1979 2.74% 3%
1978 2.7% 2.96%
1977 2.67% 2.85%
1976 2.63% 2.76%
1975 2.6% 2.74%
1974 2.58% 2.7%
1973 2.58% 2.65%
1972 2.63% 2.57%
1971 2.7% 2.55%
1970 2.78% 2.59%
1969 2.85% 2.59%
1968 2.97% 2.58%
1967 3.14% 2.57%
1966 3.27% 2.57%
1965 3.41% 2.57%
1964 3.53% 2.55%
1963 3.65% 2.54%
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/liberia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Liberia's population grew by 2.18%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Liberia
Current population
5181862
5887000
Population rank 126/197 116/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.07%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
4.39 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
3.09 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
11.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +328
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +119,786
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.18%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 43/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
53.4 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -9,870
Net migration rank 63/196 132/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 72,423
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 142/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 1.3%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 148/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Liberia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Liberia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -9,870
2024 - 967 - -7,779
2023 24,109 995 125,730 -5,002
2022 21,409 1,006 123,747 -5,003
2021 20,119 1,018 121,038 -11,852
2020 29,164 1,029 120,632 -10,107
2019 37,682 1,653 120,635 -19,678
2018 42,469 1,673 120,231 -23,199
2017 43,471 1,671 119,376 -24,807
2016 45,565 1,649 118,852 -26,796
2015 49,077 1,617 115,479 -15,182
2014 49,559 1,589 116,667 -26,690
2013 49,227 1,579 120,138 -22,010
2012 52,036 1,587 121,973 -25,710
2011 52,884 1,695 115,496 91,981
2010 50,803 2,357 114,249 2,850
2009 55,757 3,432 113,429 1,187
2008 56,491 3,794 112,032 17,404
2007 55,244 4,080 109,165 65,306
2006 54,177 4,321 104,099 77,946
2005 57,139 4,567 96,478 101,019
2004 55,769 4,856 91,755 -1,001
2003 56,743 5,216 87,534 -103,564
2002 58,388 5,812 88,643 -23,110
2001 62,199 7,119 86,217 7,142
2000 64,268 8,826 83,143 -2,060
1999 64,922 13,253 78,130 53,643
1998 64,788 15,556 72,146 99,203
1997 64,954 16,954 61,444 281,480
1996 66,094 17,393 56,392 -37,922
1995 67,585 16,609 53,407 54,372
1994 68,336 15,587 52,101 -121,407
1993 69,016 14,431 51,609 7,300
1992 69,830 13,069 50,204 56,210
1991 70,506 10,757 47,426 78,052
1990 71,727 7,949 52,770 -712,544
1989 72,327 3,758 63,238 8,156
1988 72,944 2,414 62,703 7,734
1987 73,188 2,267 62,147 6,840
1986 73,211 2,302 61,924 6,534
1985 72,776 2,357 59,988 7,487
1984 71,062 2,402 59,460 7,513
1983 68,972 2,449 57,562 7,861
1982 66,826 2,453 56,127 2,530
1981 64,632 2,431 55,003 2,757
1980 62,561 2,387 53,452 4,016
1979 60,984 2,349 52,125 3,500
1978 58,327 2,296 49,813 3,500
1977 56,122 2,228 47,582 3,555
1976 54,019 2,129 45,528 1,246
1975 51,979 1,992 43,478 2,037
1974 50,349 1,839 41,499 2,086
1973 48,943 1,468 39,694 2,272
1972 48,417 1,366 37,860 2,018
1971 48,341 1,296 36,015 1,293
1970 48,398 1,137 35,196 2,285
1969 48,790 1,017 34,677 1,982
1968 48,361 939 33,536 1,964
1967 50,193 926 32,519 2,177
1966 50,755 930 31,454 1,953
1965 51,196 932 30,618 2,431
1964 51,435 934 29,592 2,189
1963 51,403 938 28,708 2,165
1962 51,046 934 27,679 2,189
1961 50,149 924 26,670 2,115
1960 48,857 910 25,713 1,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/liberia | 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 Liberia 87.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,202,387 people) and 12.3% is from migration (a loss of 168,316 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 72,423 people or 1.3% in Liberia.

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
Liberia
City Population
Monrovia 1.02M
Sanniquellie 47.1K
Kakata 33.9K
Greenville 17.6K
Yekepa 11K

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/liberia | 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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