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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 25,198,821 people in Mali in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 26,322,576 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 5.08 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 +0.71% per year vs +3.1% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.3M (88.2% growth).

Costa Rica vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Mali
2100 3,803,678 80,362,778
2099 3,841,913 80,043,103
2098 3,880,484 79,704,143
2097 3,919,475 79,354,569
2096 3,958,826 78,987,874
2095 3,998,552 78,602,449
2094 4,038,516 78,192,601
2093 4,078,807 77,771,649
2092 4,119,351 77,337,997
2091 4,160,111 76,884,320
2090 4,200,989 76,409,599
2089 4,241,888 75,916,129
2088 4,282,758 75,405,009
2087 4,323,650 74,874,565
2086 4,364,399 74,331,613
2085 4,404,935 73,769,979
2084 4,445,179 73,189,821
2083 4,485,048 72,588,675
2082 4,524,570 71,975,720
2081 4,563,658 71,340,622
2080 4,602,126 70,699,377
2079 4,640,060 70,036,857
2078 4,677,313 69,359,523
2077 4,713,901 68,668,133
2076 4,749,678 67,965,034
2075 4,784,723 67,249,105
2074 4,819,050 66,516,075
2073 4,852,492 65,768,739
2072 4,885,078 65,009,716
2071 4,916,792 64,232,600
2070 4,947,655 63,450,597
2069 4,977,764 62,657,123
2068 5,006,939 61,850,168
2067 5,035,207 61,035,806
2066 5,062,849 60,215,831
2065 5,089,797 59,394,005
2064 5,115,866 58,560,766
2063 5,141,239 57,720,905
2062 5,165,574 56,873,801
2061 5,189,146 56,020,633
2060 5,211,857 55,160,220
2059 5,233,370 54,298,509
2058 5,253,830 53,431,783
2057 5,273,143 52,559,686
2056 5,291,310 51,686,173
2055 5,308,124 50,807,502
2054 5,323,598 49,930,546
2053 5,337,707 49,048,457
2052 5,350,263 48,161,836
2051 5,361,152 47,275,159
2050 5,370,484 46,385,854
2049 5,378,189 45,500,920
2048 5,384,366 44,612,126
2047 5,388,962 43,725,546
2046 5,391,996 42,836,054
2045 5,393,493 41,946,522
2044 5,393,407 41,057,406
2043 5,391,873 40,168,481
2042 5,388,912 39,281,666
2041 5,384,386 38,402,142
2040 5,378,629 37,521,801
2039 5,371,473 36,648,491
2038 5,362,904 35,768,661
2037 5,353,217 34,898,973
2036 5,342,317 34,032,460
2035 5,330,286 33,174,985
2034 5,317,189 32,324,451
2033 5,302,930 31,482,783
2032 5,287,714 30,652,485
2031 5,271,514 29,830,213
2030 5,254,366 29,025,640
2029 5,236,206 28,232,427
2028 5,217,031 27,453,124
2027 5,196,723 26,687,226
2026 5,175,408 25,937,442
2025 5,152,950 25,198,821
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Mali's population increased by 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% 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 3.55% to 5,370,484 people with a rank change from 126th to 127th. The population of Mali will increase by 76.2% to 46,385,854 people and rank change from 58th to 47th.

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 0.45% 2.94%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Mali's population grew by 2.94%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Mali
Current population
5186356
26322576
Population rank 126/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.32%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
43.9 seconds
One birth every
10.3 minutes
32.6 seconds
One death every
18.4 minutes
2.52 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +1,973
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +720,226
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +2.94%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 14/197
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 22,699 967 759,375 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/mali | 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 Mali 95% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,894,429 people) and 4.99% is from migration (a loss of 362,104 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 226K
Segou 131K
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 (1960–2025, 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/mali | 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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