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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 527,799 people in Maldives in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 532,057 in Maldives.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 9.74 times bigger than Maldives'.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Maldives is the 168th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.006% for Maldives.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +2.56% in Maldives.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Maldives has grown from 314K to 532K (69.5% growth).

Costa Rica vs Maldives: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Maldives
2100 3,804,183 476,505
2099 3,842,423 477,920
2098 3,880,999 479,417
2097 3,919,996 481,109
2096 3,959,352 482,965
2095 3,999,084 484,925
2094 4,039,053 487,060
2093 4,079,349 489,462
2092 4,119,898 492,137
2091 4,160,663 494,900
2090 4,201,548 498,054
2089 4,242,452 501,304
2088 4,283,327 504,978
2087 4,324,225 508,740
2086 4,364,979 512,752
2085 4,405,520 516,863
2084 4,445,770 521,065
2083 4,485,644 525,345
2082 4,525,171 529,631
2081 4,564,265 534,118
2080 4,602,737 538,568
2079 4,640,677 543,030
2078 4,677,935 547,552
2077 4,714,527 551,886
2076 4,750,309 556,016
2075 4,785,359 560,031
2074 4,819,691 563,862
2073 4,853,137 567,654
2072 4,885,727 571,178
2071 4,917,445 574,604
2070 4,948,313 577,819
2069 4,978,425 580,792
2068 5,007,604 583,580
2067 5,035,877 586,194
2066 5,063,521 588,512
2065 5,090,474 590,500
2064 5,116,546 592,344
2063 5,141,922 594,011
2062 5,166,260 595,405
2061 5,189,836 596,482
2060 5,212,549 597,051
2059 5,234,066 597,623
2058 5,254,528 597,874
2057 5,273,844 597,811
2056 5,292,013 597,360
2055 5,308,829 596,636
2054 5,324,305 595,832
2053 5,338,417 594,829
2052 5,350,974 593,458
2051 5,361,865 591,942
2050 5,371,197 590,121
2049 5,378,904 587,970
2048 5,385,081 585,592
2047 5,389,678 583,306
2046 5,392,713 580,842
2045 5,394,209 578,160
2044 5,394,124 575,546
2043 5,392,590 572,802
2042 5,389,628 570,020
2041 5,385,101 567,246
2040 5,379,344 564,398
2039 5,372,186 561,546
2038 5,363,617 558,940
2037 5,353,928 556,343
2036 5,343,027 553,839
2035 5,330,994 551,348
2034 5,317,895 548,952
2033 5,303,634 546,465
2032 5,288,416 544,072
2031 5,272,215 541,734
2030 5,255,064 539,556
2029 5,236,901 537,533
2028 5,217,724 535,394
2027 5,197,413 533,401
2026 5,176,096 531,559
2025 5,153,634 529,712
2024 5,129,910 527,799
2023 5,105,525 525,994
2022 5,081,765 524,106
2021 5,059,988 516,154
2020 5,034,320 502,118
2019 4,999,553 487,731
2018 4,957,818 473,099
2017 4,913,177 458,287
2016 4,866,998 443,308
2015 4,818,038 428,154
2014 4,767,119 413,617
2013 4,716,147 400,070
2012 4,663,934 386,818
2011 4,609,833 373,674
2010 4,555,962 360,792
2009 4,499,791 348,275
2008 4,440,056 336,170
2007 4,380,248 324,479
2006 4,321,340 313,851
2005 4,261,240 306,429
2004 4,200,078 301,413
2003 4,138,784 296,491
2002 4,075,705 291,616
2001 4,008,947 286,767
2000 3,937,739 282,019
1999 3,862,101 277,412
1998 3,782,838 272,723
1997 3,701,711 267,707
1996 3,619,013 262,347
1995 3,535,176 256,649
1994 3,451,122 250,822
1993 3,367,434 244,884
1992 3,284,258 238,543
1991 3,202,176 231,802
1990 3,121,706 224,762
1989 3,043,827 217,738
1988 2,968,103 210,885
1987 2,892,699 203,944
1986 2,817,216 196,935
1985 2,741,894 190,169
1984 2,667,595 184,198
1983 2,595,153 179,128
1982 2,524,806 174,333
1981 2,456,637 169,532
1980 2,390,633 164,835
1979 2,326,490 160,360
1978 2,264,510 156,159
1977 2,205,025 151,930
1976 2,147,774 147,525
1975 2,092,719 143,158
1974 2,039,643 138,978
1973 1,988,343 134,952
1972 1,938,248 130,968
1971 1,888,539 127,035
1970 1,838,949 123,219
1969 1,789,276 119,564
1968 1,739,731 116,075
1967 1,689,523 112,528
1966 1,638,116 108,507
1965 1,586,208 104,102
1964 1,533,960 100,662
1963 1,481,604 98,222
1962 1,429,445 95,802
1961 1,377,920 93,450
1960 1,327,496 91,189

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/maldives | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Maldives gained 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Maldives' population increased by 88,749 people (a 20% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Maldives was ranked 171st in 2006 and ranked 168th 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 Maldives will increase by 10.9% to 590,121 people and rank change from 168th to 166th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 598K people in 2058 for Maldives.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Maldives
2100 -1% -0.3%
2099 -0.99% -0.31%
2098 -0.99% -0.35%
2097 -0.99% -0.38%
2096 -0.99% -0.4%
2095 -0.99% -0.44%
2094 -0.99% -0.49%
2093 -0.98% -0.54%
2092 -0.98% -0.56%
2091 -0.97% -0.63%
2090 -0.96% -0.65%
2089 -0.95% -0.73%
2088 -0.95% -0.74%
2087 -0.93% -0.78%
2086 -0.92% -0.8%
2085 -0.91% -0.81%
2084 -0.89% -0.81%
2083 -0.87% -0.81%
2082 -0.86% -0.84%
2081 -0.84% -0.83%
2080 -0.82% -0.82%
2079 -0.8% -0.83%
2078 -0.78% -0.79%
2077 -0.75% -0.74%
2076 -0.73% -0.72%
2075 -0.71% -0.68%
2074 -0.69% -0.67%
2073 -0.67% -0.62%
2072 -0.65% -0.6%
2071 -0.62% -0.56%
2070 -0.6% -0.51%
2069 -0.58% -0.48%
2068 -0.56% -0.45%
2067 -0.55% -0.39%
2066 -0.53% -0.34%
2065 -0.51% -0.31%
2064 -0.49% -0.28%
2063 -0.47% -0.23%
2062 -0.45% -0.18%
2061 -0.44% -0.1%
2060 -0.41% -0.1%
2059 -0.39% -0.04%
2058 -0.37% 0.01%
2057 -0.34% 0.08%
2056 -0.32% 0.12%
2055 -0.29% 0.14%
2054 -0.26% 0.17%
2053 -0.23% 0.23%
2052 -0.2% 0.26%
2051 -0.17% 0.31%
2050 -0.14% 0.37%
2049 -0.11% 0.41%
2048 -0.09% 0.39%
2047 -0.06% 0.42%
2046 -0.03% 0.46%
2045 0.002% 0.45%
2044 0.03% 0.48%
2043 0.05% 0.49%
2042 0.08% 0.49%
2041 0.11% 0.5%
2040 0.13% 0.51%
2039 0.16% 0.47%
2038 0.18% 0.47%
2037 0.2% 0.45%
2036 0.23% 0.45%
2035 0.25% 0.44%
2034 0.27% 0.46%
2033 0.29% 0.44%
2032 0.31% 0.43%
2031 0.33% 0.4%
2030 0.35% 0.38%
2029 0.37% 0.4%
2028 0.39% 0.37%
2027 0.41% 0.35%
2026 0.44% 0.35%
2025 0.46% 0.36%
2024 0.48% 0.34%
2023 0.47% 0.36%
2022 0.43% 1.54%
2021 0.51% 2.8%
2020 0.7% 2.95%
2019 0.84% 3.09%
2018 0.91% 3.23%
2017 0.95% 3.38%
2016 1.02% 3.54%
2015 1.07% 3.51%
2014 1.08% 3.39%
2013 1.12% 3.43%
2012 1.17% 3.52%
2011 1.18% 3.57%
2010 1.25% 3.59%
2009 1.35% 3.6%
2008 1.37% 3.6%
2007 1.36% 3.39%
2006 1.41% 2.42%
2005 1.46% 1.66%
2004 1.48% 1.66%
2003 1.55% 1.67%
2002 1.67% 1.69%
2001 1.81% 1.68%
2000 1.96% 1.66%
1999 2.1% 1.72%
1998 2.19% 1.87%
1997 2.29% 2.04%
1996 2.37% 2.22%
1995 2.44% 2.32%
1994 2.49% 2.42%
1993 2.53% 2.66%
1992 2.56% 2.91%
1991 2.58% 3.13%
1990 2.56% 3.23%
1989 2.55% 3.25%
1988 2.61% 3.4%
1987 2.68% 3.56%
1986 2.75% 3.56%
1985 2.79% 3.24%
1984 2.79% 2.83%
1983 2.79% 2.75%
1982 2.77% 2.83%
1981 2.76% 2.85%
1980 2.76% 2.79%
1979 2.74% 2.69%
1978 2.7% 2.78%
1977 2.67% 2.99%
1976 2.63% 3.05%
1975 2.6% 3.01%
1974 2.58% 2.98%
1973 2.58% 3.04%
1972 2.63% 3.1%
1971 2.7% 3.1%
1970 2.78% 3.06%
1969 2.85% 3.01%
1968 2.97% 3.15%
1967 3.14% 3.71%
1966 3.27% 4.23%
1965 3.41% 3.42%
1964 3.53% 2.48%
1963 3.65% 2.53%
1962 3.74% 2.52%
1961 3.8% 2.48%

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/maldives | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Maldives' population grew by 0.34%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Maldives
Current population
5181862
532057
Population rank 126/197 168/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.006%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
4.85 hours
One birth every
10.1 minutes
1.51 hours
One death every
18.9 minutes
7.13 hours
Daily growth/decline +67 +5
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +1,805
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.34%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 146/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
3.85 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -2,283
Net migration rank 63/196 101/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 75,099
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 141/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 14.2%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 48/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Maldives
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Maldives
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -2,283
2024 - 967 - -2,421
2023 24,109 995 4,566 -2,877
2022 21,409 1,006 4,752 -2,674
2021 20,119 1,018 4,426 9,412
2020 29,164 1,029 4,594 9,642
2019 37,682 1,653 4,886 9,648
2018 42,469 1,673 5,088 9,637
2017 43,471 1,671 5,342 9,555
2016 45,565 1,649 5,652 9,421
2015 49,077 1,617 5,914 9,324
2014 49,559 1,589 6,122 7,700
2013 49,227 1,579 6,307 6,963
2012 52,036 1,587 6,445 6,800
2011 52,884 1,695 6,429 6,611
2010 50,803 2,357 6,350 6,369
2009 55,757 3,432 6,227 6,093
2008 56,491 3,794 5,856 6,035
2007 55,244 4,080 5,324 6,160
2006 54,177 4,321 4,766 5,006
2005 57,139 4,567 4,493 578
2004 55,769 4,856 4,287 668
2003 56,743 5,216 4,316 578
2002 58,388 5,812 4,257 607
2001 62,199 7,119 4,271 560
2000 64,268 8,826 4,372 300
1999 64,922 13,253 4,601 -62
1998 64,788 15,556 4,919 -94
1997 64,954 16,954 5,267 -60
1996 66,094 17,393 5,705 -183
1995 67,585 16,609 6,177 -302
1994 68,336 15,587 6,550 -768
1993 69,016 14,431 6,842 -749
1992 69,830 13,069 7,096 -522
1991 70,506 10,757 7,295 -378
1990 71,727 7,949 7,444 -271
1989 72,327 3,758 7,472 -610
1988 72,944 2,414 7,414 -564
1987 73,188 2,267 7,300 -265
1986 73,211 2,302 7,153 -175
1985 72,776 2,357 6,944 -382
1984 71,062 2,402 6,680 -1,300
1983 68,972 2,449 6,361 -1,608
1982 66,826 2,453 6,058 -1,220
1981 64,632 2,431 5,778 -1,014
1980 62,561 2,387 5,526 -903
1979 60,984 2,349 5,275 -958
1978 58,327 2,296 4,812 -716
1977 56,122 2,228 4,779 -413
1976 54,019 2,129 4,538 -101
1975 51,979 1,992 4,325 -14
1974 50,349 1,839 4,136 -78
1973 48,943 1,468 3,924 60
1972 48,417 1,366 3,707 269
1971 48,341 1,296 3,549 341
1970 48,398 1,137 3,415 330
1969 48,790 1,017 3,260 313
1968 48,361 939 3,150 255
1967 50,193 926 3,010 672
1966 50,755 930 2,845 1,511
1965 51,196 932 2,747 1,709
1964 51,435 934 2,660 -227
1963 51,403 938 2,567 -125
1962 51,046 934 2,475 -80
1961 50,149 924 2,354 -44
1960 48,857 910 2,241 -32

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/maldives | 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 Maldives 42.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 51,342 people) and 57.3% is from migration (a gain of 68,788 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 75,099 people or 14.2% in Maldives.

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
Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 50K

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/maldives | 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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