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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 7,458,555 people in Libya in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 7,580,693 in Libya.

Population statistics:

  • Libya's population is 1.46 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Libya is the 105th.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.09% for Libya.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +1.36% in Libya.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Libya has grown from 5.98M to 7.58M (26.8% growth).

Costa Rica vs Libya: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Libya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Libya
2100 3,803,678 9,844,693
2099 3,841,913 9,862,508
2098 3,880,484 9,883,625
2097 3,919,475 9,903,710
2096 3,958,826 9,920,429
2095 3,998,552 9,931,997
2094 4,038,516 9,943,491
2093 4,078,807 9,958,787
2092 4,119,351 9,973,472
2091 4,160,111 9,982,411
2090 4,200,989 9,998,616
2089 4,241,888 10,009,061
2088 4,282,758 10,019,752
2087 4,323,650 10,023,389
2086 4,364,399 10,023,004
2085 4,404,935 10,016,577
2084 4,445,179 10,009,921
2083 4,485,048 10,006,291
2082 4,524,570 9,997,812
2081 4,563,658 9,985,604
2080 4,602,126 9,975,637
2079 4,640,060 9,962,908
2078 4,677,313 9,958,732
2077 4,713,901 9,953,044
2076 4,749,678 9,940,245
2075 4,784,723 9,928,160
2074 4,819,050 9,917,050
2073 4,852,492 9,901,336
2072 4,885,078 9,879,817
2071 4,916,792 9,868,096
2070 4,947,655 9,850,939
2069 4,977,764 9,832,286
2068 5,006,939 9,812,577
2067 5,035,207 9,800,171
2066 5,062,849 9,782,627
2065 5,089,797 9,763,018
2064 5,115,866 9,740,878
2063 5,141,239 9,729,779
2062 5,165,574 9,707,751
2061 5,189,146 9,686,831
2060 5,211,857 9,667,507
2059 5,233,370 9,638,272
2058 5,253,830 9,610,912
2057 5,273,143 9,579,804
2056 5,291,310 9,554,897
2055 5,308,124 9,522,413
2054 5,323,598 9,478,216
2053 5,337,707 9,432,889
2052 5,350,263 9,383,615
2051 5,361,152 9,335,544
2050 5,370,484 9,283,143
2049 5,378,189 9,231,012
2048 5,384,366 9,173,472
2047 5,388,962 9,119,114
2046 5,391,996 9,063,424
2045 5,393,493 8,999,038
2044 5,393,407 8,934,909
2043 5,391,873 8,867,072
2042 5,388,912 8,798,655
2041 5,384,386 8,732,358
2040 5,378,629 8,661,540
2039 5,371,473 8,588,479
2038 5,362,904 8,514,257
2037 5,353,217 8,437,950
2036 5,342,317 8,364,991
2035 5,330,286 8,290,112
2034 5,317,189 8,209,497
2033 5,302,930 8,129,319
2032 5,287,714 8,052,378
2031 5,271,514 7,969,721
2030 5,254,366 7,884,898
2029 5,236,206 7,801,652
2028 5,217,031 7,713,258
2027 5,196,723 7,622,004
2026 5,175,408 7,537,063
2025 5,152,950 7,458,555
2024 5,129,910 7,381,023
2023 5,105,525 7,305,659
2022 5,081,765 7,223,805
2021 5,059,988 7,135,175
2020 5,034,320 7,045,399
2019 4,999,553 6,951,033
2018 4,957,818 6,849,055
2017 4,913,177 6,738,770
2016 4,866,998 6,632,126
2015 4,818,038 6,531,819
2014 4,767,119 6,427,252
2013 4,716,147 6,304,628
2012 4,663,934 6,179,328
2011 4,609,833 6,343,203
2010 4,555,962 6,497,839
2009 4,499,791 6,366,686
2008 4,440,056 6,235,430
2007 4,380,248 6,104,380
2006 4,321,340 5,980,211
2005 4,261,240 5,858,798
2004 4,200,078 5,736,693
2003 4,138,784 5,619,398
2002 4,075,705 5,508,410
2001 4,008,947 5,403,639
2000 3,937,739 5,305,021
1999 3,862,101 5,218,038
1998 3,782,838 5,140,704
1997 3,701,711 5,064,639
1996 3,619,013 4,987,393
1995 3,535,176 4,906,843
1994 3,451,122 4,822,037
1993 3,367,434 4,733,045
1992 3,284,258 4,640,352
1991 3,202,176 4,544,400
1990 3,121,706 4,445,239
1989 3,043,827 4,342,920
1988 2,968,103 4,237,755
1987 2,892,699 4,129,739
1986 2,817,216 4,017,403
1985 2,741,894 3,898,745
1984 2,667,595 3,773,633
1983 2,595,153 3,718,961
1982 2,524,806 3,724,765
1981 2,456,637 3,621,486
1980 2,390,633 3,424,378
1979 2,326,490 3,233,846
1978 2,264,510 3,052,526
1977 2,205,025 2,881,533
1976 2,147,774 2,721,237
1975 2,092,719 2,571,556
1974 2,039,643 2,432,211
1973 1,988,343 2,314,193
1972 1,938,248 2,226,091
1971 1,888,539 2,153,534
1970 1,838,949 2,082,589
1969 1,789,276 2,014,293
1968 1,739,731 1,952,781
1967 1,689,523 1,898,199
1966 1,638,116 1,849,063
1965 1,586,208 1,804,015
1964 1,533,960 1,753,691
1963 1,481,604 1,690,457
1962 1,429,445 1,621,960
1961 1,377,920 1,555,699
1960 1,327,496 1,492,890

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/libya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Libya gained 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Libya's population increased by 948,567 people (a 14.3% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Libya was ranked 103rd in 2006 and ranked 105th 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 Libya will increase by 22.5% to 9,283,143 people and will still be ranked 105th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 10M people in 2087 for Libya.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Libya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Libya
2100 -1% -0.18%
2099 -0.99% -0.21%
2098 -0.99% -0.2%
2097 -0.99% -0.17%
2096 -0.99% -0.12%
2095 -0.99% -0.12%
2094 -0.99% -0.15%
2093 -0.98% -0.15%
2092 -0.98% -0.09%
2091 -0.97% -0.16%
2090 -0.96% -0.1%
2089 -0.95% -0.11%
2088 -0.95% -0.04%
2087 -0.93% 0.004%
2086 -0.92% 0.06%
2085 -0.91% 0.07%
2084 -0.89% 0.04%
2083 -0.87% 0.08%
2082 -0.86% 0.12%
2081 -0.84% 0.1%
2080 -0.82% 0.13%
2079 -0.8% 0.04%
2078 -0.78% 0.06%
2077 -0.75% 0.13%
2076 -0.73% 0.12%
2075 -0.71% 0.11%
2074 -0.69% 0.16%
2073 -0.67% 0.22%
2072 -0.65% 0.12%
2071 -0.62% 0.17%
2070 -0.6% 0.19%
2069 -0.58% 0.2%
2068 -0.56% 0.13%
2067 -0.55% 0.18%
2066 -0.53% 0.2%
2065 -0.51% 0.23%
2064 -0.49% 0.11%
2063 -0.47% 0.23%
2062 -0.45% 0.22%
2061 -0.44% 0.2%
2060 -0.41% 0.3%
2059 -0.39% 0.28%
2058 -0.37% 0.32%
2057 -0.34% 0.26%
2056 -0.32% 0.34%
2055 -0.29% 0.47%
2054 -0.26% 0.48%
2053 -0.23% 0.53%
2052 -0.2% 0.51%
2051 -0.17% 0.56%
2050 -0.14% 0.56%
2049 -0.11% 0.63%
2048 -0.09% 0.6%
2047 -0.06% 0.61%
2046 -0.03% 0.72%
2045 0.002% 0.72%
2044 0.03% 0.77%
2043 0.05% 0.78%
2042 0.08% 0.76%
2041 0.11% 0.82%
2040 0.13% 0.85%
2039 0.16% 0.87%
2038 0.18% 0.9%
2037 0.2% 0.87%
2036 0.23% 0.9%
2035 0.25% 0.98%
2034 0.27% 0.99%
2033 0.29% 0.96%
2032 0.31% 1.04%
2031 0.33% 1.08%
2030 0.35% 1.07%
2029 0.37% 1.15%
2028 0.39% 1.2%
2027 0.41% 1.13%
2026 0.44% 1.05%
2025 0.45% 1.05%
2024 0.48% 1.03%
2023 0.47% 1.13%
2022 0.43% 1.24%
2021 0.51% 1.27%
2020 0.7% 1.36%
2019 0.84% 1.49%
2018 0.91% 1.64%
2017 0.95% 1.61%
2016 1.02% 1.54%
2015 1.07% 1.63%
2014 1.08% 1.94%
2013 1.12% 2.03%
2012 1.17% -2.58%
2011 1.18% -2.38%
2010 1.25% 2.06%
2009 1.35% 2.11%
2008 1.37% 2.15%
2007 1.36% 2.08%
2006 1.41% 2.07%
2005 1.46% 2.13%
2004 1.48% 2.09%
2003 1.55% 2.01%
2002 1.67% 1.94%
2001 1.81% 1.86%
2000 1.96% 1.67%
1999 2.1% 1.5%
1998 2.19% 1.5%
1997 2.29% 1.55%
1996 2.37% 1.64%
1995 2.44% 1.76%
1994 2.49% 1.88%
1993 2.53% 2%
1992 2.56% 2.11%
1991 2.58% 2.23%
1990 2.56% 2.36%
1989 2.55% 2.48%
1988 2.61% 2.62%
1987 2.68% 2.8%
1986 2.75% 3.04%
1985 2.79% 3.32%
1984 2.79% 1.47%
1983 2.79% -0.16%
1982 2.77% 2.85%
1981 2.76% 5.76%
1980 2.76% 5.89%
1979 2.74% 5.94%
1978 2.7% 5.93%
1977 2.67% 5.89%
1976 2.63% 5.82%
1975 2.6% 5.73%
1974 2.58% 5.1%
1973 2.58% 3.96%
1972 2.63% 3.37%
1971 2.7% 3.41%
1970 2.78% 3.39%
1969 2.85% 3.15%
1968 2.97% 2.88%
1967 3.14% 2.66%
1966 3.27% 2.5%
1965 3.41% 2.87%
1964 3.53% 3.74%
1963 3.65% 4.22%
1962 3.74% 4.26%
1961 3.8% 4.21%

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/libya | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Libya's population grew by 1.05%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Libya
Current population
5186356
7580693
Population rank 126/197 105/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.09%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
6.8 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
4.32 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
10.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +212
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +77,532
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +1.05%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 96/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
2.13 days
Annual migration change +1,000 -172
Net migration rank 63/196 83/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 897,751
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 63/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 12.2%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 56/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Libya
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Libya
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -172
2024 22,699 967 73,522 3,448
2023 24,109 995 75,760 -2,001
2022 21,409 1,006 91,951 -2,001
2021 20,119 1,018 88,005 -694
2020 29,164 1,029 92,950 -694
2019 37,682 1,653 97,842 -1,352
2018 42,469 1,673 101,619 5,841
2017 43,471 1,671 103,891 9,208
2016 45,565 1,649 105,265 -5,081
2015 49,077 1,617 108,096 -7,660
2014 49,559 1,589 110,420 -1,716
2013 49,227 1,579 110,772 25,755
2012 52,036 1,587 108,855 5,211
2011 52,884 1,695 121,016 -562,827
2010 50,803 2,357 122,926 9,611
2009 55,757 3,432 118,102 11,670
2008 56,491 3,794 117,481 15,260
2007 55,244 4,080 116,704 12,640
2006 54,177 4,321 115,645 3,351
2005 57,139 4,567 112,823 11,024
2004 55,769 4,856 107,144 13,222
2003 56,743 5,216 102,144 12,073
2002 58,388 5,812 97,598 10,152
2001 62,199 7,119 93,370 8,420
2000 64,268 8,826 89,814 5,634
1999 64,922 13,253 88,743 -10,206
1998 64,788 15,556 87,613 -11,479
1997 64,954 16,954 86,899 -10,907
1996 66,094 17,393 86,945 -8,446
1995 67,585 16,609 87,661 -5,068
1994 68,336 15,587 88,765 -1,755
1993 69,016 14,431 90,553 426
1992 69,830 13,069 93,568 843
1991 70,506 10,757 96,582 902
1990 71,727 7,949 99,898 946
1989 72,327 3,758 102,823 981
1988 72,944 2,414 105,469 1,053
1987 73,188 2,267 107,761 1,740
1986 73,211 2,302 109,325 5,844
1985 72,776 2,357 110,194 11,962
1984 71,062 2,402 110,028 18,039
1983 68,972 2,449 122,183 -140,904
1982 66,826 2,453 133,511 -126,400
1981 64,632 2,431 130,233 69,211
1980 62,561 2,387 128,034 66,739
1979 60,984 2,349 121,469 64,821
1978 58,327 2,296 114,669 61,684
1977 56,122 2,228 107,769 57,867
1976 54,019 2,129 101,146 53,813
1975 51,979 1,992 94,862 49,544
1974 50,349 1,839 89,337 44,946
1973 48,943 1,468 81,256 20,498
1972 48,417 1,366 77,864 -3,418
1971 48,341 1,296 74,934 -4,265
1970 48,398 1,137 70,488 745
1969 48,790 1,017 66,782 -1,418
1968 48,361 939 63,971 -6,323
1967 50,193 926 61,889 -10,384
1966 50,755 930 60,394 -13,619
1965 51,196 932 59,134 -15,810
1964 51,435 934 55,227 2,084
1963 51,403 938 50,421 18,740
1962 51,046 934 46,252 21,589
1961 50,149 924 42,167 22,504
1960 48,857 910 38,391 22,559

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/libya | 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 Libya 99.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 938,901 people) and 0.1% is from migration (a loss of 986 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 897,751 people or 12.2% in Libya.

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
Libya
City Population
Tripoli 1.29M
Misrata 881K
Benghazi 632K
Ajdabiya 416K
Al-Khums 202K
Zawiya 199K
Tobruk 136K
Gharyan 123K
Sabratha 102K
Sabha 99K

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/libya | 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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