The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 37,548 people in the Marshall Islands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 35,058 in the Marshall Islands.
Population statistics:
- Costa Rica's population is 147.8 times bigger than the Marshall Islands'.
- Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while the Marshall Islands is the 192nd.
- The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.0004% for the Marshall Islands.
- For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs -2.69% in the Marshall Islands.
- Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while the Marshall Islands has declined from 52K to 35.1K (32.6% decline).
Costa Rica vs Marshall Islands: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Costa Rica
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
| 2100 | 3,804,183 | 23,457 |
| 2099 | 3,842,423 | 23,536 |
| 2098 | 3,880,999 | 23,626 |
| 2097 | 3,919,996 | 23,720 |
| 2096 | 3,959,352 | 23,797 |
| 2095 | 3,999,084 | 23,879 |
| 2094 | 4,039,053 | 23,947 |
| 2093 | 4,079,349 | 24,022 |
| 2092 | 4,119,898 | 24,092 |
| 2091 | 4,160,663 | 24,150 |
| 2090 | 4,201,548 | 24,198 |
| 2089 | 4,242,452 | 24,253 |
| 2088 | 4,283,327 | 24,284 |
| 2087 | 4,324,225 | 24,314 |
| 2086 | 4,364,979 | 24,329 |
| 2085 | 4,405,520 | 24,347 |
| 2084 | 4,445,770 | 24,355 |
| 2083 | 4,485,644 | 24,343 |
| 2082 | 4,525,171 | 24,328 |
| 2081 | 4,564,265 | 24,317 |
| 2080 | 4,602,737 | 24,290 |
| 2079 | 4,640,677 | 24,269 |
| 2078 | 4,677,935 | 24,226 |
| 2077 | 4,714,527 | 24,185 |
| 2076 | 4,750,309 | 24,151 |
| 2075 | 4,785,359 | 24,096 |
| 2074 | 4,819,691 | 24,061 |
| 2073 | 4,853,137 | 24,013 |
| 2072 | 4,885,727 | 23,982 |
| 2071 | 4,917,445 | 23,943 |
| 2070 | 4,948,313 | 23,902 |
| 2069 | 4,978,425 | 23,869 |
| 2068 | 5,007,604 | 23,827 |
| 2067 | 5,035,877 | 23,808 |
| 2066 | 5,063,521 | 23,775 |
| 2065 | 5,090,474 | 23,774 |
| 2064 | 5,116,546 | 23,778 |
| 2063 | 5,141,922 | 23,791 |
| 2062 | 5,166,260 | 23,830 |
| 2061 | 5,189,836 | 23,881 |
| 2060 | 5,212,549 | 23,929 |
| 2059 | 5,234,066 | 23,993 |
| 2058 | 5,254,528 | 24,041 |
| 2057 | 5,273,844 | 24,118 |
| 2056 | 5,292,013 | 24,207 |
| 2055 | 5,308,829 | 24,318 |
| 2054 | 5,324,305 | 24,424 |
| 2053 | 5,338,417 | 24,515 |
| 2052 | 5,350,974 | 24,615 |
| 2051 | 5,361,865 | 24,727 |
| 2050 | 5,371,197 | 24,824 |
| 2049 | 5,378,904 | 24,948 |
| 2048 | 5,385,081 | 25,060 |
| 2047 | 5,389,678 | 25,169 |
| 2046 | 5,392,713 | 25,281 |
| 2045 | 5,394,209 | 25,407 |
| 2044 | 5,394,124 | 25,544 |
| 2043 | 5,392,590 | 25,701 |
| 2042 | 5,389,628 | 25,860 |
| 2041 | 5,385,101 | 26,047 |
| 2040 | 5,379,344 | 26,263 |
| 2039 | 5,372,186 | 26,507 |
| 2038 | 5,363,617 | 26,773 |
| 2037 | 5,353,928 | 27,104 |
| 2036 | 5,343,027 | 27,461 |
| 2035 | 5,330,994 | 27,889 |
| 2034 | 5,317,895 | 28,379 |
| 2033 | 5,303,634 | 28,934 |
| 2032 | 5,288,416 | 29,558 |
| 2031 | 5,272,215 | 30,266 |
| 2030 | 5,255,064 | 31,070 |
| 2029 | 5,236,901 | 31,960 |
| 2028 | 5,217,724 | 32,896 |
| 2027 | 5,197,413 | 33,927 |
| 2026 | 5,176,096 | 35,058 |
| 2025 | 5,153,634 | 36,301 |
| 2024 | 5,129,910 | 37,548 |
| 2023 | 5,105,525 | 38,827 |
| 2022 | 5,081,765 | 40,077 |
| 2021 | 5,059,988 | 41,367 |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 | 42,706 |
| 2019 | 4,999,553 | 44,007 |
| 2018 | 4,957,818 | 45,285 |
| 2017 | 4,913,177 | 46,529 |
| 2016 | 4,866,998 | 47,709 |
| 2015 | 4,818,038 | 48,800 |
| 2014 | 4,767,119 | 49,796 |
| 2013 | 4,716,147 | 50,681 |
| 2012 | 4,663,934 | 51,419 |
| 2011 | 4,609,833 | 51,907 |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 | 52,044 |
| 2009 | 4,499,791 | 52,019 |
| 2008 | 4,440,056 | 52,030 |
| 2007 | 4,380,248 | 52,035 |
| 2006 | 4,321,340 | 51,992 |
| 2005 | 4,261,240 | 51,906 |
| 2004 | 4,200,078 | 51,791 |
| 2003 | 4,138,784 | 51,639 |
| 2002 | 4,075,705 | 51,425 |
| 2001 | 4,008,947 | 51,123 |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 | 50,706 |
| 1999 | 3,862,101 | 50,202 |
| 1998 | 3,782,838 | 49,717 |
| 1997 | 3,701,711 | 49,259 |
| 1996 | 3,619,013 | 48,775 |
| 1995 | 3,535,176 | 48,266 |
| 1994 | 3,451,122 | 47,712 |
| 1993 | 3,367,434 | 47,093 |
| 1992 | 3,284,258 | 46,388 |
| 1991 | 3,202,176 | 45,568 |
| 1990 | 3,121,706 | 44,629 |
| 1989 | 3,043,827 | 43,586 |
| 1988 | 2,968,103 | 42,321 |
| 1987 | 2,892,699 | 40,828 |
| 1986 | 2,817,216 | 39,286 |
| 1985 | 2,741,894 | 37,761 |
| 1984 | 2,667,595 | 36,264 |
| 1983 | 2,595,153 | 34,811 |
| 1982 | 2,524,806 | 33,397 |
| 1981 | 2,456,637 | 32,017 |
| 1980 | 2,390,633 | 30,774 |
| 1979 | 2,326,490 | 29,738 |
| 1978 | 2,264,510 | 28,809 |
| 1977 | 2,205,025 | 27,906 |
| 1976 | 2,147,774 | 27,021 |
| 1975 | 2,092,719 | 26,154 |
| 1974 | 2,039,643 | 25,296 |
| 1973 | 1,988,343 | 24,581 |
| 1972 | 1,938,248 | 23,992 |
| 1971 | 1,888,539 | 23,366 |
| 1970 | 1,838,949 | 22,530 |
| 1969 | 1,789,276 | 21,305 |
| 1968 | 1,739,731 | 19,862 |
| 1967 | 1,689,523 | 18,655 |
| 1966 | 1,638,116 | 17,927 |
| 1965 | 1,586,208 | 17,402 |
| 1964 | 1,533,960 | 16,852 |
| 1963 | 1,481,604 | 16,302 |
| 1962 | 1,429,445 | 15,755 |
| 1961 | 1,377,920 | 15,219 |
| 1960 | 1,327,496 | 14,703 |
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/marshall-islands | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while the Marshall Islands lost 4,283 people (a 8.24% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while the Marshall Islands' population decreased by 12,651 people (a 26.5% decline).
Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. The Marshall Islands was ranked 188th in 2006 and ranked 192nd 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 the Marshall Islands will decrease by 29.2% to 24,824 people and rank change from 192nd to 193rd.
Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while the Marshall Islands' population already peaked in 2010 at 52K people and is projected to decrease to 23.5K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Costa Rica
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
| 2100 | -1% | -0.33% |
| 2099 | -0.99% | -0.38% |
| 2098 | -0.99% | -0.4% |
| 2097 | -0.99% | -0.32% |
| 2096 | -0.99% | -0.35% |
| 2095 | -0.99% | -0.28% |
| 2094 | -0.99% | -0.31% |
| 2093 | -0.98% | -0.29% |
| 2092 | -0.98% | -0.24% |
| 2091 | -0.97% | -0.2% |
| 2090 | -0.96% | -0.23% |
| 2089 | -0.95% | -0.13% |
| 2088 | -0.95% | -0.12% |
| 2087 | -0.93% | -0.06% |
| 2086 | -0.92% | -0.08% |
| 2085 | -0.91% | -0.03% |
| 2084 | -0.89% | 0.05% |
| 2083 | -0.87% | 0.06% |
| 2082 | -0.86% | 0.04% |
| 2081 | -0.84% | 0.11% |
| 2080 | -0.82% | 0.09% |
| 2079 | -0.8% | 0.17% |
| 2078 | -0.78% | 0.17% |
| 2077 | -0.75% | 0.14% |
| 2076 | -0.73% | 0.23% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | 0.14% |
| 2074 | -0.69% | 0.2% |
| 2073 | -0.67% | 0.13% |
| 2072 | -0.65% | 0.16% |
| 2071 | -0.62% | 0.17% |
| 2070 | -0.6% | 0.14% |
| 2069 | -0.58% | 0.18% |
| 2068 | -0.56% | 0.08% |
| 2067 | -0.55% | 0.14% |
| 2066 | -0.53% | 0.004% |
| 2065 | -0.51% | -0.02% |
| 2064 | -0.49% | -0.05% |
| 2063 | -0.47% | -0.17% |
| 2062 | -0.45% | -0.21% |
| 2061 | -0.44% | -0.2% |
| 2060 | -0.41% | -0.27% |
| 2059 | -0.39% | -0.2% |
| 2058 | -0.37% | -0.32% |
| 2057 | -0.34% | -0.37% |
| 2056 | -0.32% | -0.46% |
| 2055 | -0.29% | -0.43% |
| 2054 | -0.26% | -0.37% |
| 2053 | -0.23% | -0.41% |
| 2052 | -0.2% | -0.45% |
| 2051 | -0.17% | -0.39% |
| 2050 | -0.14% | -0.5% |
| 2049 | -0.11% | -0.45% |
| 2048 | -0.09% | -0.43% |
| 2047 | -0.06% | -0.44% |
| 2046 | -0.03% | -0.5% |
| 2045 | 0.002% | -0.54% |
| 2044 | 0.03% | -0.61% |
| 2043 | 0.05% | -0.62% |
| 2042 | 0.08% | -0.72% |
| 2041 | 0.11% | -0.82% |
| 2040 | 0.13% | -0.92% |
| 2039 | 0.16% | -1% |
| 2038 | 0.18% | -1.22% |
| 2037 | 0.2% | -1.3% |
| 2036 | 0.23% | -1.53% |
| 2035 | 0.25% | -1.73% |
| 2034 | 0.27% | -1.92% |
| 2033 | 0.29% | -2.11% |
| 2032 | 0.31% | -2.34% |
| 2031 | 0.33% | -2.59% |
| 2030 | 0.35% | -2.78% |
| 2029 | 0.37% | -2.85% |
| 2028 | 0.39% | -3.04% |
| 2027 | 0.41% | -3.23% |
| 2026 | 0.44% | -3.42% |
| 2025 | 0.46% | -3.32% |
| 2024 | 0.48% | -3.29% |
| 2023 | 0.47% | -3.12% |
| 2022 | 0.43% | -3.12% |
| 2021 | 0.51% | -3.14% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | -2.96% |
| 2019 | 0.84% | -2.82% |
| 2018 | 0.91% | -2.67% |
| 2017 | 0.95% | -2.47% |
| 2016 | 1.02% | -2.24% |
| 2015 | 1.07% | -2% |
| 2014 | 1.08% | -1.75% |
| 2013 | 1.12% | -1.44% |
| 2012 | 1.17% | -0.94% |
| 2011 | 1.18% | -0.26% |
| 2010 | 1.25% | 0.05% |
| 2009 | 1.35% | -0.02% |
| 2008 | 1.37% | -0.01% |
| 2007 | 1.36% | 0.08% |
| 2006 | 1.41% | 0.17% |
| 2005 | 1.46% | 0.22% |
| 2004 | 1.48% | 0.29% |
| 2003 | 1.55% | 0.42% |
| 2002 | 1.67% | 0.59% |
| 2001 | 1.81% | 0.82% |
| 2000 | 1.96% | 1% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | 0.98% |
| 1998 | 2.19% | 0.93% |
| 1997 | 2.29% | 0.99% |
| 1996 | 2.37% | 1.05% |
| 1995 | 2.44% | 1.16% |
| 1994 | 2.49% | 1.31% |
| 1993 | 2.53% | 1.52% |
| 1992 | 2.56% | 1.8% |
| 1991 | 2.58% | 2.1% |
| 1990 | 2.56% | 2.39% |
| 1989 | 2.55% | 2.99% |
| 1988 | 2.61% | 3.66% |
| 1987 | 2.68% | 3.93% |
| 1986 | 2.75% | 4.04% |
| 1985 | 2.79% | 4.13% |
| 1984 | 2.79% | 4.17% |
| 1983 | 2.79% | 4.23% |
| 1982 | 2.77% | 4.31% |
| 1981 | 2.76% | 4.04% |
| 1980 | 2.76% | 3.48% |
| 1979 | 2.74% | 3.22% |
| 1978 | 2.7% | 3.24% |
| 1977 | 2.67% | 3.28% |
| 1976 | 2.63% | 3.31% |
| 1975 | 2.6% | 3.39% |
| 1974 | 2.58% | 2.91% |
| 1973 | 2.58% | 2.45% |
| 1972 | 2.63% | 2.68% |
| 1971 | 2.7% | 3.71% |
| 1970 | 2.78% | 5.75% |
| 1969 | 2.85% | 7.27% |
| 1968 | 2.97% | 6.47% |
| 1967 | 3.14% | 4.06% |
| 1966 | 3.27% | 3.02% |
| 1965 | 3.41% | 3.26% |
| 1964 | 3.53% | 3.37% |
| 1963 | 3.65% | 3.47% |
| 1962 | 3.74% | 3.52% |
| 1961 | 3.8% | 3.51% |
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/marshall-islands | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while the Marshall Islands' population declined by 3.29%.
Live population counters
|
Costa Rica
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5181862
|
35058
|
| Population rank | 126/197 | 192/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.06% | 0.0004% |
| One net population change |
21.6 minutes
|
6.85 hours
|
| One birth every |
10.1 minutes
|
10.7 hours
|
| One death every |
18.9 minutes
|
1.35 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | +67 | -4 |
| Annual growth/decline | +24,385 | -1,279 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.48% | -3.29% |
| Population growth rate rank | 138/197 | 197/197 |
| One migration net change every |
8.78 hours
|
5.17 hours
|
| Annual migration change | +1,000 | -1,698 |
| Net migration rank | 63/196 | 97/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 628,404 | 3,309 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 75/195 | 189/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 12.2% | 8.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 55/195 | 71/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Costa Rica
|
Marshall Islands
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 1,000 | - | -1,698 |
| 2024 | - | 967 | - | -1,765 |
| 2023 | 24,109 | 995 | 550 | -1,832 |
| 2022 | 21,409 | 1,006 | 606 | -1,829 |
| 2021 | 20,119 | 1,018 | 653 | -2,016 |
| 2020 | 29,164 | 1,029 | 689 | -2,004 |
| 2019 | 37,682 | 1,653 | 746 | -2,030 |
| 2018 | 42,469 | 1,673 | 785 | -2,058 |
| 2017 | 43,471 | 1,671 | 826 | -2,040 |
| 2016 | 45,565 | 1,649 | 866 | -2,003 |
| 2015 | 49,077 | 1,617 | 912 | -1,964 |
| 2014 | 49,559 | 1,589 | 959 | -1,906 |
| 2013 | 49,227 | 1,579 | 1,014 | -1,825 |
| 2012 | 52,036 | 1,587 | 1,097 | -1,759 |
| 2011 | 52,884 | 1,695 | 1,185 | -1,512 |
| 2010 | 50,803 | 2,357 | 1,273 | -1,221 |
| 2009 | 55,757 | 3,432 | 1,365 | -1,361 |
| 2008 | 56,491 | 3,794 | 1,443 | -1,467 |
| 2007 | 55,244 | 4,080 | 1,507 | -1,491 |
| 2006 | 54,177 | 4,321 | 1,556 | -1,491 |
| 2005 | 57,139 | 4,567 | 1,586 | -1,482 |
| 2004 | 55,769 | 4,856 | 1,595 | -1,466 |
| 2003 | 56,743 | 5,216 | 1,600 | -1,427 |
| 2002 | 58,388 | 5,812 | 1,594 | -1,345 |
| 2001 | 62,199 | 7,119 | 1,596 | -1,237 |
| 2000 | 64,268 | 8,826 | 1,592 | -1,110 |
| 1999 | 64,922 | 13,253 | 1,590 | -1,068 |
| 1998 | 64,788 | 15,556 | 1,576 | -1,124 |
| 1997 | 64,954 | 16,954 | 1,564 | -1,097 |
| 1996 | 66,094 | 17,393 | 1,542 | -1,050 |
| 1995 | 67,585 | 16,609 | 1,522 | -991 |
| 1994 | 68,336 | 15,587 | 1,524 | -942 |
| 1993 | 69,016 | 14,431 | 1,524 | -869 |
| 1992 | 69,830 | 13,069 | 1,525 | -769 |
| 1991 | 70,506 | 10,757 | 1,540 | -661 |
| 1990 | 71,727 | 7,949 | 1,556 | -562 |
| 1989 | 72,327 | 3,758 | 1,574 | -479 |
| 1988 | 72,944 | 2,414 | 1,575 | -140 |
| 1987 | 73,188 | 2,267 | 1,566 | -16 |
| 1986 | 73,211 | 2,302 | 1,544 | -8 |
| 1985 | 72,776 | 2,357 | 1,511 | -1 |
| 1984 | 71,062 | 2,402 | 1,470 | 6 |
| 1983 | 68,972 | 2,449 | 1,422 | 12 |
| 1982 | 66,826 | 2,453 | 1,375 | 23 |
| 1981 | 64,632 | 2,431 | 1,328 | 31 |
| 1980 | 62,561 | 2,387 | 1,287 | -155 |
| 1979 | 60,984 | 2,349 | 1,250 | -316 |
| 1978 | 58,327 | 2,296 | 1,207 | -286 |
| 1977 | 56,122 | 2,228 | 1,160 | -264 |
| 1976 | 54,019 | 2,129 | 1,109 | -233 |
| 1975 | 51,979 | 1,992 | 1,055 | -193 |
| 1974 | 50,349 | 1,839 | 1,000 | -145 |
| 1973 | 48,943 | 1,468 | 954 | -383 |
| 1972 | 48,417 | 1,366 | 913 | -306 |
| 1971 | 48,341 | 1,296 | 877 | -232 |
| 1970 | 48,398 | 1,137 | 819 | 201 |
| 1969 | 48,790 | 1,017 | 747 | 690 |
| 1968 | 48,361 | 939 | 685 | 769 |
| 1967 | 50,193 | 926 | 636 | 308 |
| 1966 | 50,755 | 930 | 603 | -89 |
| 1965 | 51,196 | 932 | 566 | -22 |
| 1964 | 51,435 | 934 | 536 | 16 |
| 1963 | 51,403 | 938 | 509 | 42 |
| 1962 | 51,046 | 934 | 488 | 54 |
| 1961 | 50,149 | 924 | 469 | 56 |
| 1960 | 48,857 | 910 | 452 | 63 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/marshall-islands | 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 the Marshall Islands 27.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,592 people) and 72.2% is from migration (a loss of 19,682 people).
As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 3,309 people or 8.8% in the Marshall Islands.
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 |
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Majuro | 30K |
| Djarrit | 7.1K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Costa Rica and the Marshall Islands
|
Costa Rica
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 81.4 years | 67.3 years |
| Average age | 37 years | 27.5 years |
| Median age | 35.6 years | 21.8 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.4:50.6 | 51.2:48.8 |
| Fertility rate | 1.33 births per woman | 2.92 births per woman |
| Population density | 262.6 ppl/mi² | 504 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/marshall-islands | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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