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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 5,731,206 people in Liberia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 5,916,561 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 +0.71% per year vs +2.09% in Liberia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Liberia has grown from 3.49M to 5.92M (69.5% growth).

Costa Rica vs Liberia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Liberia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Liberia
2100 3,803,678 12,784,957
2099 3,841,913 12,772,345
2098 3,880,484 12,753,452
2097 3,919,475 12,724,773
2096 3,958,826 12,692,036
2095 3,998,552 12,667,207
2094 4,038,516 12,641,522
2093 4,078,807 12,603,995
2092 4,119,351 12,579,473
2091 4,160,111 12,554,066
2090 4,200,989 12,509,480
2089 4,241,888 12,457,316
2088 4,282,758 12,425,766
2087 4,323,650 12,390,938
2086 4,364,399 12,328,007
2085 4,404,935 12,262,605
2084 4,445,179 12,214,581
2083 4,485,048 12,160,106
2082 4,524,570 12,118,849
2081 4,563,658 12,051,465
2080 4,602,126 11,973,445
2079 4,640,060 11,895,628
2078 4,677,313 11,820,198
2077 4,713,901 11,742,459
2076 4,749,678 11,653,806
2075 4,784,723 11,568,384
2074 4,819,050 11,466,229
2073 4,852,492 11,370,364
2072 4,885,078 11,284,839
2071 4,916,792 11,184,212
2070 4,947,655 11,094,537
2069 4,977,764 10,998,944
2068 5,006,939 10,915,300
2067 5,035,207 10,810,752
2066 5,062,849 10,718,452
2065 5,089,797 10,614,227
2064 5,115,866 10,517,857
2063 5,141,239 10,413,073
2062 5,165,574 10,305,739
2061 5,189,146 10,197,474
2060 5,211,857 10,088,502
2059 5,233,370 9,957,059
2058 5,253,830 9,854,358
2057 5,273,143 9,742,349
2056 5,291,310 9,621,132
2055 5,308,124 9,503,970
2054 5,323,598 9,399,455
2053 5,337,707 9,282,047
2052 5,350,263 9,170,319
2051 5,361,152 9,057,504
2050 5,370,484 8,948,808
2049 5,378,189 8,825,716
2048 5,384,366 8,702,515
2047 5,388,962 8,579,329
2046 5,391,996 8,453,730
2045 5,393,493 8,340,339
2044 5,393,407 8,218,270
2043 5,391,873 8,103,979
2042 5,388,912 7,969,742
2041 5,384,386 7,826,944
2040 5,378,629 7,696,136
2039 5,371,473 7,551,738
2038 5,362,904 7,419,716
2037 5,353,217 7,289,124
2036 5,342,317 7,144,012
2035 5,330,286 7,008,708
2034 5,317,189 6,881,558
2033 5,302,930 6,748,513
2032 5,287,714 6,617,506
2031 5,271,514 6,490,837
2030 5,254,366 6,374,102
2029 5,236,206 6,245,907
2028 5,217,031 6,118,823
2027 5,196,723 5,979,243
2026 5,175,408 5,850,359
2025 5,152,950 5,731,206
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Liberia's population increased by 1,160,953 people (a 24.4% 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 3.55% to 5,370,484 people with a rank change from 126th to 127th. The population of Liberia will increase by 51.3% to 8,948,808 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 0.45% 2.11%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/liberia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Liberia's population grew by 2.11%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Liberia
Current population
5186356
5916561
Population rank 126/197 116/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.07%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
4.45 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
3.06 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
11.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +324
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +118,389
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +2.11%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 44/197
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 22,699 967 126,631 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/liberia | 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 Liberia 89% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,212,351 people) and 11% is from migration (a loss of 149,405 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 (1960–2025, 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/liberia | 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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