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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 35,977,838 people in Malaysia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 36,600,906 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 7.06 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 +0.71% per year vs +1.45% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.6M (38.5% growth).

Costa Rica vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Malaysia
2100 3,803,678 44,342,183
2099 3,841,913 44,456,013
2098 3,880,484 44,568,480
2097 3,919,475 44,684,459
2096 3,958,826 44,803,334
2095 3,998,552 44,920,823
2094 4,038,516 45,035,868
2093 4,078,807 45,153,485
2092 4,119,351 45,267,003
2091 4,160,111 45,378,303
2090 4,200,989 45,489,767
2089 4,241,888 45,598,290
2088 4,282,758 45,706,098
2087 4,323,650 45,811,274
2086 4,364,399 45,914,874
2085 4,404,935 46,008,880
2084 4,445,179 46,099,604
2083 4,485,048 46,190,377
2082 4,524,570 46,272,999
2081 4,563,658 46,347,751
2080 4,602,126 46,423,514
2079 4,640,060 46,484,118
2078 4,677,313 46,537,169
2077 4,713,901 46,582,178
2076 4,749,678 46,607,029
2075 4,784,723 46,631,092
2074 4,819,050 46,646,324
2073 4,852,492 46,658,819
2072 4,885,078 46,658,396
2071 4,916,792 46,648,409
2070 4,947,655 46,633,600
2069 4,977,764 46,611,221
2068 5,006,939 46,588,049
2067 5,035,207 46,557,261
2066 5,062,849 46,518,384
2065 5,089,797 46,469,909
2064 5,115,866 46,405,405
2063 5,141,239 46,338,727
2062 5,165,574 46,260,178
2061 5,189,146 46,166,190
2060 5,211,857 46,064,001
2059 5,233,370 45,946,872
2058 5,253,830 45,825,593
2057 5,273,143 45,695,432
2056 5,291,310 45,554,612
2055 5,308,124 45,407,246
2054 5,323,598 45,241,331
2053 5,337,707 45,057,472
2052 5,350,263 44,862,361
2051 5,361,152 44,657,253
2050 5,370,484 44,434,221
2049 5,378,189 44,206,196
2048 5,384,366 43,963,591
2047 5,388,962 43,701,058
2046 5,391,996 43,427,087
2045 5,393,493 43,146,785
2044 5,393,407 42,855,667
2043 5,391,873 42,546,972
2042 5,388,912 42,229,093
2041 5,384,386 41,911,573
2040 5,378,629 41,587,509
2039 5,371,473 41,260,315
2038 5,362,904 40,918,517
2037 5,353,217 40,574,312
2036 5,342,317 40,223,758
2035 5,330,286 39,866,097
2034 5,317,189 39,505,672
2033 5,302,930 39,141,994
2032 5,287,714 38,762,420
2031 5,271,514 38,376,399
2030 5,254,366 37,985,824
2029 5,236,206 37,597,060
2028 5,217,031 37,198,261
2027 5,196,723 36,797,098
2026 5,175,408 36,393,693
2025 5,152,950 35,977,838
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% 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 3.55% to 5,370,484 people with a rank change from 126th to 127th. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.4% to 44,434,221 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 0.45% 1.18%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.18%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Malaysia
Current population
5186356
36600906
Population rank 126/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.44%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
1.25 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
1.2 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
2.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +1,151
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +420,165
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +1.18%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 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 22,699 967 252,068 174,770
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 60.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,914,129 people) and 39.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,897,138 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 (1960–2025, 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/malaysia | 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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