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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 7.05 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Costa Rica vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Malaysia
2100 3,804,183 44,353,615
2099 3,842,423 44,467,475
2098 3,880,999 44,579,971
2097 3,919,996 44,695,979
2096 3,959,352 44,814,885
2095 3,999,084 44,932,404
2094 4,039,053 45,047,479
2093 4,079,349 45,165,126
2092 4,119,898 45,278,674
2091 4,160,663 45,390,002
2090 4,201,548 45,501,495
2089 4,242,452 45,610,046
2088 4,283,327 45,717,882
2087 4,324,225 45,823,085
2086 4,364,979 45,926,712
2085 4,405,520 46,020,742
2084 4,445,770 46,111,490
2083 4,485,644 46,202,286
2082 4,525,171 46,284,929
2081 4,564,265 46,359,700
2080 4,602,737 46,435,482
2079 4,640,677 46,496,102
2078 4,677,935 46,549,167
2077 4,714,527 46,594,188
2076 4,750,309 46,619,045
2075 4,785,359 46,643,115
2074 4,819,691 46,658,350
2073 4,853,137 46,670,848
2072 4,885,727 46,670,426
2071 4,917,445 46,660,436
2070 4,948,313 46,645,623
2069 4,978,425 46,623,238
2068 5,007,604 46,600,060
2067 5,035,877 46,569,264
2066 5,063,521 46,530,377
2065 5,090,474 46,481,890
2064 5,116,546 46,417,369
2063 5,141,922 46,350,674
2062 5,166,260 46,272,105
2061 5,189,836 46,178,092
2060 5,212,549 46,075,877
2059 5,234,066 45,958,718
2058 5,254,528 45,837,407
2057 5,273,844 45,707,213
2056 5,292,013 45,566,357
2055 5,308,829 45,418,953
2054 5,324,305 45,252,995
2053 5,338,417 45,069,089
2052 5,350,974 44,873,927
2051 5,361,865 44,668,767
2050 5,371,197 44,445,677
2049 5,378,904 44,217,593
2048 5,385,081 43,974,925
2047 5,389,678 43,712,325
2046 5,392,713 43,438,283
2045 5,394,209 43,157,909
2044 5,394,124 42,866,716
2043 5,392,590 42,557,941
2042 5,389,628 42,239,980
2041 5,385,101 41,922,379
2040 5,379,344 41,598,231
2039 5,372,186 41,270,953
2038 5,363,617 40,929,067
2037 5,353,928 40,584,773
2036 5,343,027 40,234,128
2035 5,330,994 39,876,375
2034 5,317,895 39,515,857
2033 5,303,634 39,152,086
2032 5,288,416 38,772,414
2031 5,272,215 38,386,293
2030 5,255,064 37,995,617
2029 5,236,901 37,606,753
2028 5,217,724 37,207,852
2027 5,197,413 36,806,585
2026 5,176,096 36,403,076
2025 5,153,634 35,987,113
2024 5,129,910 35,557,673
2023 5,105,525 35,126,298
2022 5,081,765 34,695,493
2021 5,059,988 34,282,399
2020 5,034,320 33,889,558
2019 4,999,553 33,440,596
2018 4,957,818 32,910,967
2017 4,913,177 32,355,644
2016 4,866,998 31,789,685
2015 4,818,038 31,232,798
2014 4,767,119 30,696,137
2013 4,716,147 30,174,265
2012 4,663,934 29,662,831
2011 4,609,833 29,162,039
2010 4,555,962 28,655,776
2009 4,499,791 28,124,778
2008 4,440,056 27,570,059
2007 4,380,248 26,998,389
2006 4,321,340 26,417,909
2005 4,261,240 25,836,071
2004 4,200,078 25,256,772
2003 4,138,784 24,679,602
2002 4,075,705 24,102,477
2001 4,008,947 23,526,538
2000 3,937,739 22,967,816
1999 3,862,101 22,435,531
1998 3,782,838 21,906,713
1997 3,701,711 21,375,218
1996 3,619,013 20,850,087
1995 3,535,176 20,330,599
1994 3,451,122 19,820,446
1993 3,367,434 19,322,664
1992 3,284,258 18,834,572
1991 3,202,176 18,342,464
1990 3,121,706 17,833,171
1989 3,043,827 17,314,997
1988 2,968,103 16,796,605
1987 2,892,699 16,276,737
1986 2,817,216 15,760,419
1985 2,741,894 15,252,258
1984 2,667,595 14,759,009
1983 2,595,153 14,285,907
1982 2,524,806 13,832,798
1981 2,456,637 13,399,203
1980 2,390,633 12,983,363
1979 2,326,490 12,627,862
1978 2,264,510 12,328,157
1977 2,205,025 12,035,713
1976 2,147,774 11,750,097
1975 2,092,719 11,471,914
1974 2,039,643 11,200,906
1973 1,988,343 10,935,621
1972 1,938,248 10,676,835
1971 1,888,539 10,423,453
1970 1,838,949 10,178,802
1969 1,789,276 9,947,597
1968 1,739,731 9,725,281
1967 1,689,523 9,507,099
1966 1,638,116 9,284,688
1965 1,586,208 9,056,408
1964 1,533,960 8,828,406
1963 1,481,604 8,602,160
1962 1,429,445 8,380,172
1961 1,377,920 8,164,443
1960 1,327,496 7,956,197

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/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th 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 Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Malaysia
2100 -1% -0.26%
2099 -0.99% -0.25%
2098 -0.99% -0.26%
2097 -0.99% -0.27%
2096 -0.99% -0.26%
2095 -0.99% -0.26%
2094 -0.99% -0.26%
2093 -0.98% -0.25%
2092 -0.98% -0.25%
2091 -0.97% -0.25%
2090 -0.96% -0.24%
2089 -0.95% -0.24%
2088 -0.95% -0.23%
2087 -0.93% -0.23%
2086 -0.92% -0.2%
2085 -0.91% -0.2%
2084 -0.89% -0.2%
2083 -0.87% -0.18%
2082 -0.86% -0.16%
2081 -0.84% -0.16%
2080 -0.82% -0.13%
2079 -0.8% -0.11%
2078 -0.78% -0.1%
2077 -0.75% -0.05%
2076 -0.73% -0.05%
2075 -0.71% -0.03%
2074 -0.69% -0.03%
2073 -0.67% 0.001%
2072 -0.65% 0.02%
2071 -0.62% 0.03%
2070 -0.6% 0.05%
2069 -0.58% 0.05%
2068 -0.56% 0.07%
2067 -0.55% 0.08%
2066 -0.53% 0.1%
2065 -0.51% 0.14%
2064 -0.49% 0.14%
2063 -0.47% 0.17%
2062 -0.45% 0.2%
2061 -0.44% 0.22%
2060 -0.41% 0.25%
2059 -0.39% 0.26%
2058 -0.37% 0.28%
2057 -0.34% 0.31%
2056 -0.32% 0.32%
2055 -0.29% 0.37%
2054 -0.26% 0.41%
2053 -0.23% 0.43%
2052 -0.2% 0.46%
2051 -0.17% 0.5%
2050 -0.14% 0.52%
2049 -0.11% 0.55%
2048 -0.09% 0.6%
2047 -0.06% 0.63%
2046 -0.03% 0.65%
2045 0.002% 0.68%
2044 0.03% 0.73%
2043 0.05% 0.75%
2042 0.08% 0.76%
2041 0.11% 0.78%
2040 0.13% 0.79%
2039 0.16% 0.84%
2038 0.18% 0.85%
2037 0.2% 0.87%
2036 0.23% 0.9%
2035 0.25% 0.91%
2034 0.27% 0.93%
2033 0.29% 0.98%
2032 0.31% 1.01%
2031 0.33% 1.03%
2030 0.35% 1.03%
2029 0.37% 1.07%
2028 0.39% 1.09%
2027 0.41% 1.11%
2026 0.44% 1.16%
2025 0.46% 1.21%
2024 0.48% 1.23%
2023 0.47% 1.24%
2022 0.43% 1.2%
2021 0.51% 1.16%
2020 0.7% 1.34%
2019 0.84% 1.61%
2018 0.91% 1.72%
2017 0.95% 1.78%
2016 1.02% 1.78%
2015 1.07% 1.75%
2014 1.08% 1.73%
2013 1.12% 1.72%
2012 1.17% 1.72%
2011 1.18% 1.77%
2010 1.25% 1.89%
2009 1.35% 2.01%
2008 1.37% 2.12%
2007 1.36% 2.2%
2006 1.41% 2.25%
2005 1.46% 2.29%
2004 1.48% 2.34%
2003 1.55% 2.39%
2002 1.67% 2.45%
2001 1.81% 2.43%
2000 1.96% 2.37%
1999 2.1% 2.41%
1998 2.19% 2.49%
1997 2.29% 2.52%
1996 2.37% 2.56%
1995 2.44% 2.57%
1994 2.49% 2.58%
1993 2.53% 2.59%
1992 2.56% 2.68%
1991 2.58% 2.86%
1990 2.56% 2.99%
1989 2.55% 3.09%
1988 2.61% 3.19%
1987 2.68% 3.28%
1986 2.75% 3.33%
1985 2.79% 3.34%
1984 2.79% 3.31%
1983 2.79% 3.28%
1982 2.77% 3.24%
1981 2.76% 3.2%
1980 2.76% 2.82%
1979 2.74% 2.43%
1978 2.7% 2.43%
1977 2.67% 2.43%
1976 2.63% 2.42%
1975 2.6% 2.42%
1974 2.58% 2.43%
1973 2.58% 2.42%
1972 2.63% 2.43%
1971 2.7% 2.4%
1970 2.78% 2.32%
1969 2.85% 2.29%
1968 2.97% 2.29%
1967 3.14% 2.4%
1966 3.27% 2.52%
1965 3.41% 2.58%
1964 3.53% 2.63%
1963 3.65% 2.65%
1962 3.74% 2.64%
1961 3.8% 2.62%

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/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Malaysia
Current population
5181862
36512221
Population rank 126/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.44%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
1.22 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
1.21 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 89/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +166,615
Net migration rank 63/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 166,615
2024 - 967 - 174,770
2023 24,109 995 254,806 181,071
2022 21,409 1,006 237,560 188,154
2021 20,119 1,018 212,002 188,506
2020 29,164 1,029 283,282 101,907
2019 37,682 1,653 309,426 203,284
2018 42,469 1,673 324,568 221,965
2017 43,471 1,671 336,434 227,677
2016 45,565 1,649 345,681 222,141
2015 49,077 1,617 358,302 187,663
2014 49,559 1,589 367,587 159,791
2013 49,227 1,579 366,738 149,637
2012 52,036 1,587 371,497 134,975
2011 52,884 1,695 372,836 122,269
2010 50,803 2,357 360,260 157,164
2009 55,757 3,432 366,157 178,410
2008 56,491 3,794 362,380 202,481
2007 55,244 4,080 348,711 229,784
2006 54,177 4,321 349,509 232,971
2005 57,139 4,567 355,324 225,864
2004 55,769 4,856 365,138 212,278
2003 56,743 5,216 377,425 199,510
2002 58,388 5,812 381,084 196,227
2001 62,199 7,119 400,939 173,613
2000 64,268 8,826 417,371 125,499
1999 64,922 13,253 432,355 89,335
1998 64,788 15,556 436,316 99,639
1997 64,954 16,954 447,768 79,266
1996 66,094 17,393 450,174 73,040
1995 67,585 16,609 443,349 72,393
1994 68,336 15,587 437,873 66,685
1993 69,016 14,431 429,910 61,079
1992 69,830 13,069 418,900 66,286
1991 70,506 10,757 401,938 97,111
1990 71,727 7,949 384,518 135,020
1989 72,327 3,758 373,277 143,544
1988 72,944 2,414 386,507 133,478
1987 73,188 2,267 381,999 137,759
1986 73,211 2,302 385,799 127,081
1985 72,776 2,357 383,243 120,215
1984 71,062 2,402 376,797 106,248
1983 68,972 2,449 365,290 97,862
1982 66,826 2,453 353,138 89,942
1981 64,632 2,431 339,991 84,142
1980 62,561 2,387 326,947 80,617
1979 60,984 2,349 317,439 -13,980
1978 58,327 2,296 311,027 -15,059
1977 56,122 2,228 305,515 -16,601
1976 54,019 2,129 300,615 -18,316
1975 51,979 1,992 294,541 -20,480
1974 50,349 1,839 289,880 -21,919
1973 48,943 1,468 284,611 -21,995
1972 48,417 1,366 276,263 -21,305
1971 48,341 1,296 272,323 -20,535
1970 48,398 1,137 269,341 -31,839
1969 48,790 1,017 264,327 -39,420
1968 48,361 939 260,705 -40,996
1967 50,193 926 258,764 -42,108
1966 50,755 930 262,162 -33,993
1965 51,196 932 264,836 -36,456
1964 51,435 934 266,406 -38,785
1963 51,403 938 265,815 -40,952
1962 51,046 934 262,140 -43,033
1961 50,149 924 257,270 -44,916
1960 48,857 910 251,090 -46,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

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
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/malaysia | 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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