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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 24,478,595 people in Mali in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 26,143,152 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 5.05 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Mali is the 58th.
  • The countries together account for 0.38% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.32% for Mali.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +3.12% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.1M (86.9% growth).

Costa Rica vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Mali
2100 3,804,183 80,371,693
2099 3,842,423 80,051,982
2098 3,880,999 79,712,985
2097 3,919,996 79,363,373
2096 3,959,352 78,996,636
2095 3,999,084 78,611,169
2094 4,039,053 78,201,275
2093 4,079,349 77,780,277
2092 4,119,898 77,346,576
2091 4,160,663 76,892,849
2090 4,201,548 76,418,075
2089 4,242,452 75,924,551
2088 4,283,327 75,413,374
2087 4,324,225 74,882,872
2086 4,364,979 74,339,859
2085 4,405,520 73,778,163
2084 4,445,770 73,197,940
2083 4,485,644 72,596,727
2082 4,525,171 71,983,705
2081 4,564,265 71,348,537
2080 4,602,737 70,707,220
2079 4,640,677 70,044,626
2078 4,677,935 69,367,218
2077 4,714,527 68,675,750
2076 4,750,309 67,972,574
2075 4,785,359 67,256,565
2074 4,819,691 66,523,454
2073 4,853,137 65,776,035
2072 4,885,727 65,016,928
2071 4,917,445 64,239,726
2070 4,948,313 63,457,636
2069 4,978,425 62,664,074
2068 5,007,604 61,857,029
2067 5,035,877 61,042,577
2066 5,063,521 60,222,511
2065 5,090,474 59,400,594
2064 5,116,546 58,567,263
2063 5,141,922 57,727,308
2062 5,166,260 56,880,111
2061 5,189,836 56,026,848
2060 5,212,549 55,166,339
2059 5,234,066 54,304,533
2058 5,254,528 53,437,711
2057 5,273,844 52,565,517
2056 5,292,013 51,691,907
2055 5,308,829 50,813,138
2054 5,324,305 49,936,085
2053 5,338,417 49,053,898
2052 5,350,974 48,167,179
2051 5,361,865 47,280,403
2050 5,371,197 46,390,999
2049 5,378,904 45,505,968
2048 5,385,081 44,617,075
2047 5,389,678 43,730,396
2046 5,392,713 42,840,806
2045 5,394,209 41,951,176
2044 5,394,124 41,061,960
2043 5,392,590 40,172,937
2042 5,389,628 39,286,024
2041 5,385,101 38,406,403
2040 5,379,344 37,525,963
2039 5,372,186 36,652,557
2038 5,363,617 35,772,629
2037 5,353,928 34,902,845
2036 5,343,027 34,036,236
2035 5,330,994 33,178,665
2034 5,317,895 32,328,037
2033 5,303,634 31,486,276
2032 5,288,416 30,655,886
2031 5,272,215 29,833,522
2030 5,255,064 29,028,860
2029 5,236,901 28,235,559
2028 5,217,724 27,456,170
2027 5,197,413 26,690,187
2026 5,176,096 25,940,320
2025 5,153,634 25,201,616
2024 5,129,910 24,478,595
2023 5,105,525 23,769,127
2022 5,081,765 23,072,640
2021 5,059,988 22,388,630
2020 5,034,320 21,713,836
2019 4,999,553 21,068,405
2018 4,957,818 20,442,030
2017 4,913,177 19,813,011
2016 4,866,998 19,191,289
2015 4,818,038 18,593,022
2014 4,767,119 18,020,267
2013 4,716,147 17,459,615
2012 4,663,934 16,957,033
2011 4,609,833 16,469,049
2010 4,555,962 15,945,198
2009 4,499,791 15,435,539
2008 4,440,056 14,940,782
2007 4,380,248 14,457,775
2006 4,321,340 13,990,139
2005 4,261,240 13,538,647
2004 4,200,078 13,102,409
2003 4,138,784 12,684,955
2002 4,075,705 12,288,050
2001 4,008,947 11,912,158
2000 3,937,739 11,559,290
1999 3,862,101 11,227,415
1998 3,782,838 10,919,573
1997 3,701,711 10,646,495
1996 3,619,013 10,407,278
1995 3,535,176 10,185,365
1994 3,451,122 9,967,031
1993 3,367,434 9,754,786
1992 3,284,258 9,553,540
1991 3,202,176 9,362,888
1990 3,121,706 9,178,830
1989 3,043,827 8,999,938
1988 2,968,103 8,833,996
1987 2,892,699 8,681,164
1986 2,817,216 8,531,277
1985 2,741,894 8,374,663
1984 2,667,595 8,208,599
1983 2,595,153 8,034,400
1982 2,524,806 7,860,194
1981 2,456,637 7,692,766
1980 2,390,633 7,530,515
1979 2,326,490 7,375,266
1978 2,264,510 7,229,651
1977 2,205,025 7,090,979
1976 2,147,774 6,960,979
1975 2,092,719 6,837,261
1974 2,039,643 6,715,436
1973 1,988,343 6,597,106
1972 1,938,248 6,483,726
1971 1,888,539 6,377,944
1970 1,838,949 6,276,472
1969 1,789,276 6,177,704
1968 1,739,731 6,082,979
1967 1,689,523 5,990,906
1966 1,638,116 5,902,204
1965 1,586,208 5,815,487
1964 1,533,960 5,730,125
1963 1,481,604 5,646,605
1962 1,429,445 5,563,917
1961 1,377,920 5,482,283
1960 1,327,496 5,402,550

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/mali | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Mali gained 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Mali's population increased by 6,951,863 people (a 36.2% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Mali was ranked 66th in 2006 and ranked 58th 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 Mali will increase by 77.4% to 46,390,999 people and rank change from 58th to 46th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 80.4M people in 2100 for Mali.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Mali
2100 -1% 0.4%
2099 -0.99% 0.43%
2098 -0.99% 0.44%
2097 -0.99% 0.46%
2096 -0.99% 0.49%
2095 -0.99% 0.52%
2094 -0.99% 0.54%
2093 -0.98% 0.56%
2092 -0.98% 0.59%
2091 -0.97% 0.62%
2090 -0.96% 0.65%
2089 -0.95% 0.68%
2088 -0.95% 0.71%
2087 -0.93% 0.73%
2086 -0.92% 0.76%
2085 -0.91% 0.79%
2084 -0.89% 0.83%
2083 -0.87% 0.85%
2082 -0.86% 0.89%
2081 -0.84% 0.91%
2080 -0.82% 0.95%
2079 -0.8% 0.98%
2078 -0.78% 1.01%
2077 -0.75% 1.03%
2076 -0.73% 1.06%
2075 -0.71% 1.1%
2074 -0.69% 1.14%
2073 -0.67% 1.17%
2072 -0.65% 1.21%
2071 -0.62% 1.23%
2070 -0.6% 1.27%
2069 -0.58% 1.3%
2068 -0.56% 1.33%
2067 -0.55% 1.36%
2066 -0.53% 1.38%
2065 -0.51% 1.42%
2064 -0.49% 1.46%
2063 -0.47% 1.49%
2062 -0.45% 1.52%
2061 -0.44% 1.56%
2060 -0.41% 1.59%
2059 -0.39% 1.62%
2058 -0.37% 1.66%
2057 -0.34% 1.69%
2056 -0.32% 1.73%
2055 -0.29% 1.76%
2054 -0.26% 1.8%
2053 -0.23% 1.84%
2052 -0.2% 1.88%
2051 -0.17% 1.92%
2050 -0.14% 1.94%
2049 -0.11% 1.99%
2048 -0.09% 2.03%
2047 -0.06% 2.08%
2046 -0.03% 2.12%
2045 0.002% 2.17%
2044 0.03% 2.21%
2043 0.05% 2.26%
2042 0.08% 2.29%
2041 0.11% 2.35%
2040 0.13% 2.38%
2039 0.16% 2.46%
2038 0.18% 2.49%
2037 0.2% 2.55%
2036 0.23% 2.58%
2035 0.25% 2.63%
2034 0.27% 2.67%
2033 0.29% 2.71%
2032 0.31% 2.76%
2031 0.33% 2.77%
2030 0.35% 2.81%
2029 0.37% 2.84%
2028 0.39% 2.87%
2027 0.41% 2.89%
2026 0.44% 2.93%
2025 0.46% 2.95%
2024 0.48% 2.98%
2023 0.47% 3.02%
2022 0.43% 3.06%
2021 0.51% 3.11%
2020 0.7% 3.06%
2019 0.84% 3.06%
2018 0.91% 3.17%
2017 0.95% 3.24%
2016 1.02% 3.22%
2015 1.07% 3.18%
2014 1.08% 3.21%
2013 1.12% 2.96%
2012 1.17% 2.96%
2011 1.18% 3.29%
2010 1.25% 3.3%
2009 1.35% 3.31%
2008 1.37% 3.34%
2007 1.36% 3.34%
2006 1.41% 3.33%
2005 1.46% 3.33%
2004 1.48% 3.29%
2003 1.55% 3.23%
2002 1.67% 3.16%
2001 1.81% 3.05%
2000 1.96% 2.96%
1999 2.1% 2.82%
1998 2.19% 2.56%
1997 2.29% 2.3%
1996 2.37% 2.18%
1995 2.44% 2.19%
1994 2.49% 2.18%
1993 2.53% 2.11%
1992 2.56% 2.04%
1991 2.58% 2.01%
1990 2.56% 1.99%
1989 2.55% 1.88%
1988 2.61% 1.76%
1987 2.68% 1.76%
1986 2.75% 1.87%
1985 2.79% 2.02%
1984 2.79% 2.17%
1983 2.79% 2.22%
1982 2.77% 2.18%
1981 2.76% 2.15%
1980 2.76% 2.1%
1979 2.74% 2.01%
1978 2.7% 1.96%
1977 2.67% 1.87%
1976 2.63% 1.81%
1975 2.6% 1.81%
1974 2.58% 1.79%
1973 2.58% 1.75%
1972 2.63% 1.66%
1971 2.7% 1.62%
1970 2.78% 1.6%
1969 2.85% 1.56%
1968 2.97% 1.54%
1967 3.14% 1.5%
1966 3.27% 1.49%
1965 3.41% 1.49%
1964 3.53% 1.48%
1963 3.65% 1.49%
1962 3.74% 1.49%
1961 3.8% 1.48%

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/mali | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Mali's population grew by 2.98%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Mali
Current population
5181862
26143152
Population rank 126/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.32%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
44.5 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
33.1 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
2.56 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +1,944
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +709,468
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.98%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 15/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
11 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -48,019
Net migration rank 63/196 173/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 545,323
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 76/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 2.2%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 131/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Mali
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Mali
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -48,019
2024 - 967 - -46,880
2023 24,109 995 746,398 -39,953
2022 21,409 1,006 726,465 -39,951
2021 20,119 1,018 703,674 -22,210
2020 29,164 1,029 683,053 -14,962
2019 37,682 1,653 667,110 -44,373
2018 42,469 1,673 670,723 -40,710
2017 43,471 1,671 661,973 -33,942
2016 45,565 1,649 645,652 -30,251
2015 49,077 1,617 630,006 -48,872
2014 49,559 1,589 614,419 -50,068
2013 49,227 1,579 597,887 -40,951
2012 52,036 1,587 588,748 -140,507
2011 52,884 1,695 570,899 -43,160
2010 50,803 2,357 554,447 -34,483
2009 55,757 3,432 533,730 -34,383
2008 56,491 3,794 514,665 -24,509
2007 55,244 4,080 495,800 -19,945
2006 54,177 4,321 477,665 -18,247
2005 57,139 4,567 460,964 -17,413
2004 55,769 4,856 439,717 -10,796
2003 56,743 5,216 417,766 -11,768
2002 58,388 5,812 396,732 -8,914
2001 62,199 7,119 376,472 -12,507
2000 64,268 8,826 359,159 -17,395
1999 64,922 13,253 343,705 -21,702
1998 64,788 15,556 323,940 -30,255
1997 64,954 16,954 308,429 -55,978
1996 66,094 17,393 293,953 -67,974
1995 67,585 16,609 285,598 -67,763
1994 68,336 15,587 282,356 -63,533
1993 69,016 14,431 274,480 -68,816
1992 69,830 13,069 267,605 -70,789
1991 70,506 10,757 261,656 -77,172
1990 71,727 7,949 252,308 -68,668
1989 72,327 3,758 249,929 -75,771
1988 72,944 2,414 245,682 -87,952
1987 73,188 2,267 238,871 -90,940
1986 73,211 2,302 233,799 -81,970
1985 72,776 2,357 224,734 -63,347
1984 71,062 2,402 218,078 -47,331
1983 68,972 2,449 211,795 -34,132
1982 66,826 2,453 204,892 -34,140
1981 64,632 2,431 198,227 -34,130
1980 62,561 2,387 190,560 -30,156
1979 60,984 2,349 182,449 -32,353
1978 58,327 2,296 172,652 -31,520
1977 56,122 2,228 165,071 -28,853
1976 54,019 2,129 157,778 -33,999
1975 51,979 1,992 150,222 -26,572
1974 50,349 1,839 142,448 -22,449
1973 48,943 1,468 135,801 -19,137
1972 48,417 1,366 129,687 -19,594
1971 48,341 1,296 123,591 -22,127
1970 48,398 1,137 118,952 -17,479
1969 48,790 1,017 114,361 -18,302
1968 48,361 939 111,403 -18,015
1967 50,193 926 107,650 -16,900
1966 50,755 930 103,684 -17,032
1965 51,196 932 100,451 -13,662
1964 51,435 934 97,166 -13,226
1963 51,403 938 95,055 -11,951
1962 51,046 934 93,101 -10,821
1961 50,149 924 91,115 -10,139
1960 48,857 910 88,802 -10,314

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/mali | 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 Mali 94.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,749,473 people) and 5.13% is from migration (a loss of 365,292 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 545,323 people or 2.2% in Mali.

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
Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 214K
Segou 134K
Bougouni 59.7K
Markala 46K
Koulikoro 43.2K
Banamba 30.6K

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/mali | 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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