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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 31,964,956 people in Madagascar in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 33,750,171 in Madagascar.

Population statistics:

  • Madagascar's population is 6.51 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Madagascar is the 49th.
  • The countries together account for 0.47% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.41% for Madagascar.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +2.6% in Madagascar.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Madagascar has grown from 19.7M to 33.8M (71.1% growth).

Costa Rica vs Madagascar: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Madagascar
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Madagascar
2100 3,804,183 86,197,674
2099 3,842,423 85,808,382
2098 3,880,999 85,404,097
2097 3,919,996 84,987,607
2096 3,959,352 84,559,113
2095 3,999,084 84,119,392
2094 4,039,053 83,665,834
2093 4,079,349 83,200,140
2092 4,119,898 82,723,075
2091 4,160,663 82,233,465
2090 4,201,548 81,734,626
2089 4,242,452 81,223,857
2088 4,283,327 80,700,261
2087 4,324,225 80,164,903
2086 4,364,979 79,619,760
2085 4,405,520 79,064,003
2084 4,445,770 78,499,094
2083 4,485,644 77,922,946
2082 4,525,171 77,337,305
2081 4,564,265 76,740,524
2080 4,602,737 76,133,028
2079 4,640,677 75,513,518
2078 4,677,935 74,881,435
2077 4,714,527 74,236,865
2076 4,750,309 73,582,256
2075 4,785,359 72,914,884
2074 4,819,691 72,235,202
2073 4,853,137 71,545,378
2072 4,885,727 70,843,401
2071 4,917,445 70,130,366
2070 4,948,313 69,409,326
2069 4,978,425 68,677,859
2068 5,007,604 67,936,195
2067 5,035,877 67,185,066
2066 5,063,521 66,425,210
2065 5,090,474 65,658,016
2064 5,116,546 64,881,253
2063 5,141,922 64,097,223
2062 5,166,260 63,305,402
2061 5,189,836 62,506,578
2060 5,212,549 61,701,267
2059 5,234,066 60,889,495
2058 5,254,528 60,073,702
2057 5,273,844 59,254,008
2056 5,292,013 58,428,653
2055 5,308,829 57,600,579
2054 5,324,305 56,769,869
2053 5,338,417 55,935,411
2052 5,350,974 55,097,962
2051 5,361,865 54,258,057
2050 5,371,197 53,415,029
2049 5,378,904 52,570,680
2048 5,385,081 51,725,320
2047 5,389,678 50,879,659
2046 5,392,713 50,033,785
2045 5,394,209 49,188,703
2044 5,394,124 48,344,009
2043 5,392,590 47,499,657
2042 5,389,628 46,656,643
2041 5,385,101 45,815,621
2040 5,379,344 44,976,152
2039 5,372,186 44,140,155
2038 5,363,617 43,305,683
2037 5,353,928 42,474,372
2036 5,343,027 41,645,556
2035 5,330,994 40,819,415
2034 5,317,895 39,997,842
2033 5,303,634 39,178,430
2032 5,288,416 38,361,932
2031 5,272,215 37,547,484
2030 5,255,064 36,737,238
2029 5,236,901 35,930,925
2028 5,217,724 35,128,136
2027 5,197,413 34,329,429
2026 5,176,096 33,535,391
2025 5,153,634 32,747,552
2024 5,129,910 31,964,956
2023 5,105,525 31,195,932
2022 5,081,765 30,437,261
2021 5,059,988 29,691,083
2020 5,034,320 28,953,556
2019 4,999,553 28,219,554
2018 4,957,818 27,494,926
2017 4,913,177 26,788,375
2016 4,866,998 26,099,952
2015 4,818,038 25,426,702
2014 4,767,119 24,764,348
2013 4,716,147 24,109,290
2012 4,663,934 23,462,438
2011 4,609,833 22,822,300
2010 4,555,962 22,183,340
2009 4,499,791 21,547,280
2008 4,440,056 20,923,840
2007 4,380,248 20,318,583
2006 4,321,340 19,730,909
2005 4,261,240 19,159,707
2004 4,200,078 18,606,608
2003 4,138,784 18,071,854
2002 4,075,705 17,549,913
2001 4,008,947 17,032,939
2000 3,937,739 16,516,338
1999 3,862,101 16,000,506
1998 3,782,838 15,489,364
1997 3,701,711 14,990,814
1996 3,619,013 14,510,711
1995 3,535,176 14,051,275
1994 3,451,122 13,613,850
1993 3,367,434 13,197,345
1992 3,284,258 12,800,870
1991 3,202,176 12,421,412
1990 3,121,706 12,055,639
1989 3,043,827 11,704,998
1988 2,968,103 11,369,462
1987 2,892,699 11,047,291
1986 2,817,216 10,736,857
1985 2,741,894 10,433,142
1984 2,667,595 10,134,550
1983 2,595,153 9,843,044
1982 2,524,806 9,557,671
1981 2,456,637 9,279,011
1980 2,390,633 9,006,032
1979 2,326,490 8,737,581
1978 2,264,510 8,475,864
1977 2,205,025 8,222,240
1976 2,147,774 7,976,831
1975 2,092,719 7,739,336
1974 2,039,643 7,509,726
1973 1,988,343 7,288,048
1972 1,938,248 7,074,398
1971 1,888,539 6,868,868
1970 1,838,949 6,672,003
1969 1,789,276 6,484,716
1968 1,739,731 6,306,493
1967 1,689,523 6,136,486
1966 1,638,116 5,974,279
1965 1,586,208 5,819,116
1964 1,533,960 5,669,863
1963 1,481,604 5,525,185
1962 1,429,445 5,384,150
1961 1,377,920 5,246,158
1960 1,327,496 5,111,029

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/madagascar | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Madagascar gained 6,369,043 people (a 32.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Madagascar's population increased by 7,650,219 people (a 29.3% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Madagascar was ranked 57th in 2006 and ranked 49th 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 Madagascar will increase by 58.3% to 53,415,029 people and rank change from 49th to 37th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 86.2M people in 2100 for Madagascar.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Madagascar
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Madagascar
2100 -1% 0.45%
2099 -0.99% 0.47%
2098 -0.99% 0.49%
2097 -0.99% 0.51%
2096 -0.99% 0.52%
2095 -0.99% 0.54%
2094 -0.99% 0.56%
2093 -0.98% 0.58%
2092 -0.98% 0.6%
2091 -0.97% 0.61%
2090 -0.96% 0.63%
2089 -0.95% 0.65%
2088 -0.95% 0.67%
2087 -0.93% 0.68%
2086 -0.92% 0.7%
2085 -0.91% 0.72%
2084 -0.89% 0.74%
2083 -0.87% 0.76%
2082 -0.86% 0.78%
2081 -0.84% 0.8%
2080 -0.82% 0.82%
2079 -0.8% 0.84%
2078 -0.78% 0.87%
2077 -0.75% 0.89%
2076 -0.73% 0.92%
2075 -0.71% 0.94%
2074 -0.69% 0.96%
2073 -0.67% 0.99%
2072 -0.65% 1.02%
2071 -0.62% 1.04%
2070 -0.6% 1.07%
2069 -0.58% 1.09%
2068 -0.56% 1.12%
2067 -0.55% 1.14%
2066 -0.53% 1.17%
2065 -0.51% 1.2%
2064 -0.49% 1.22%
2063 -0.47% 1.25%
2062 -0.45% 1.28%
2061 -0.44% 1.31%
2060 -0.41% 1.33%
2059 -0.39% 1.36%
2058 -0.37% 1.38%
2057 -0.34% 1.41%
2056 -0.32% 1.44%
2055 -0.29% 1.46%
2054 -0.26% 1.49%
2053 -0.23% 1.52%
2052 -0.2% 1.55%
2051 -0.17% 1.58%
2050 -0.14% 1.61%
2049 -0.11% 1.63%
2048 -0.09% 1.66%
2047 -0.06% 1.69%
2046 -0.03% 1.72%
2045 0.002% 1.75%
2044 0.03% 1.78%
2043 0.05% 1.81%
2042 0.08% 1.84%
2041 0.11% 1.87%
2040 0.13% 1.89%
2039 0.16% 1.93%
2038 0.18% 1.96%
2037 0.2% 1.99%
2036 0.23% 2.02%
2035 0.25% 2.05%
2034 0.27% 2.09%
2033 0.29% 2.13%
2032 0.31% 2.17%
2031 0.33% 2.21%
2030 0.35% 2.24%
2029 0.37% 2.29%
2028 0.39% 2.33%
2027 0.41% 2.37%
2026 0.44% 2.41%
2025 0.46% 2.45%
2024 0.48% 2.47%
2023 0.47% 2.49%
2022 0.43% 2.51%
2021 0.51% 2.55%
2020 0.7% 2.6%
2019 0.84% 2.64%
2018 0.91% 2.64%
2017 0.95% 2.64%
2016 1.02% 2.65%
2015 1.07% 2.67%
2014 1.08% 2.72%
2013 1.12% 2.76%
2012 1.17% 2.8%
2011 1.18% 2.88%
2010 1.25% 2.95%
2009 1.35% 2.98%
2008 1.37% 2.98%
2007 1.36% 2.98%
2006 1.41% 2.98%
2005 1.46% 2.97%
2004 1.48% 2.96%
2003 1.55% 2.97%
2002 1.67% 3.04%
2001 1.81% 3.13%
2000 1.96% 3.22%
1999 2.1% 3.3%
1998 2.19% 3.33%
1997 2.29% 3.31%
1996 2.37% 3.27%
1995 2.44% 3.21%
1994 2.49% 3.16%
1993 2.53% 3.1%
1992 2.56% 3.05%
1991 2.58% 3.03%
1990 2.56% 3%
1989 2.55% 2.95%
1988 2.61% 2.92%
1987 2.68% 2.89%
1986 2.75% 2.91%
1985 2.79% 2.95%
1984 2.79% 2.96%
1983 2.79% 2.99%
1982 2.77% 3%
1981 2.76% 3.03%
1980 2.76% 3.07%
1979 2.74% 3.09%
1978 2.7% 3.08%
1977 2.67% 3.08%
1976 2.63% 3.07%
1975 2.6% 3.06%
1974 2.58% 3.04%
1973 2.58% 3.02%
1972 2.63% 2.99%
1971 2.7% 2.95%
1970 2.78% 2.89%
1969 2.85% 2.83%
1968 2.97% 2.77%
1967 3.14% 2.72%
1966 3.27% 2.67%
1965 3.41% 2.63%
1964 3.53% 2.62%
1963 3.65% 2.62%
1962 3.74% 2.63%
1961 3.8% 2.64%

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/madagascar | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Madagascar's population grew by 2.47%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Madagascar
Current population
5181862
33750171
Population rank 126/197 49/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.41%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
41 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
31.5 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
2.24 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +2,107
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +769,024
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.47%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 29/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
3.94 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -2,227
Net migration rank 63/196 100/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 38,625
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 158/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.1%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 193/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Madagascar
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Madagascar
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -2,227
2024 - 967 - -1,795
2023 24,109 995 766,391 -1,487
2022 21,409 1,006 753,931 -1,487
2021 20,119 1,018 741,416 -1,480
2020 29,164 1,029 736,607 -1,480
2019 37,682 1,653 735,853 -2,976
2018 42,469 1,673 719,267 -2,887
2017 43,471 1,671 699,498 -2,784
2016 45,565 1,649 682,801 -2,687
2015 49,077 1,617 668,977 -2,594
2014 49,559 1,589 660,837 -2,522
2013 49,227 1,579 654,230 -2,445
2012 52,036 1,587 644,255 -2,334
2011 52,884 1,695 640,577 -2,219
2010 50,803 2,357 641,543 -1,979
2009 55,757 3,432 634,008 -1,429
2008 56,491 3,794 615,580 -1,255
2007 55,244 4,080 597,772 -1,563
2006 54,177 4,321 581,489 -2,336
2005 57,139 4,567 568,143 -4,869
2004 55,769 4,856 556,319 -13,393
2003 56,743 5,216 544,903 -18,345
2002 58,388 5,812 535,518 -18,209
2001 62,199 7,119 529,656 -13,014
2000 64,268 8,826 520,860 -4,298
1999 64,922 13,253 516,976 -1,891
1998 64,788 15,556 508,408 -1,222
1997 64,954 16,954 490,905 -986
1996 66,094 17,393 471,453 -1,161
1995 67,585 16,609 450,259 -1,670
1994 68,336 15,587 428,169 -1,905
1993 69,016 14,431 408,801 -2,063
1992 69,830 13,069 388,430 -2,216
1991 70,506 10,757 375,040 -2,330
1990 71,727 7,949 360,621 -1,777
1989 72,327 3,758 344,279 -1,848
1988 72,944 2,414 330,510 -1,883
1987 73,188 2,267 317,621 -1,896
1986 73,211 2,302 307,074 -1,914
1985 72,776 2,357 304,199 -1,947
1984 71,062 2,402 296,892 -1,965
1983 68,972 2,449 290,085 -1,979
1982 66,826 2,453 284,733 -2,093
1981 64,632 2,431 277,535 -2,864
1980 62,561 2,387 275,287 -4,005
1979 60,984 2,349 270,752 -5,126
1978 58,327 2,296 263,684 -5,874
1977 56,122 2,228 255,399 -5,957
1976 54,019 2,129 247,026 -5,655
1975 51,979 1,992 238,774 -5,173
1974 50,349 1,839 230,233 -4,607
1973 48,943 1,468 221,768 -4,037
1972 48,417 1,366 213,138 -3,583
1971 48,341 1,296 204,617 -3,118
1970 48,398 1,137 194,889 -2,658
1969 48,790 1,017 184,562 -2,216
1968 48,361 939 175,869 -1,766
1967 50,193 926 167,287 -1,383
1966 50,755 930 159,483 -964
1965 51,196 932 152,362 -550
1964 51,435 934 146,894 -204
1963 51,403 938 142,666 0
1962 51,046 934 139,412 0
1961 50,149 924 136,578 0
1960 48,857 910 133,684 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/madagascar | 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 Madagascar 99.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,165,578 people) and 0.31% is from migration (a loss of 22,384 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 38,625 people or 0.1% in Madagascar.

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
Madagascar
City Population
Antananarivo 1.28M
Antsirabe 265K
Toamasina 225K
Toliara 169K

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/madagascar | 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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