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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 5,169,395 people in Mauritania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 5,505,206 in Mauritania.

Population statistics:

  • Mauritania's population is 1.06 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Mauritania is the 122nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.07% for Mauritania.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +3% in Mauritania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Mauritania has grown from 3.01M to 5.51M (82.7% growth).

Costa Rica vs Mauritania: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Mauritania
2100 3,804,183 17,309,980
2099 3,842,423 17,202,690
2098 3,880,999 17,090,030
2097 3,919,996 16,975,270
2096 3,959,352 16,857,252
2095 3,999,084 16,739,240
2094 4,039,053 16,617,272
2093 4,079,349 16,492,589
2092 4,119,898 16,366,098
2091 4,160,663 16,235,771
2090 4,201,548 16,103,700
2089 4,242,452 15,969,059
2088 4,283,327 15,831,339
2087 4,324,225 15,690,143
2086 4,364,979 15,547,605
2085 4,405,520 15,403,967
2084 4,445,770 15,257,740
2083 4,485,644 15,108,271
2082 4,525,171 14,958,279
2081 4,564,265 14,805,332
2080 4,602,737 14,651,508
2079 4,640,677 14,496,397
2078 4,677,935 14,337,117
2077 4,714,527 14,175,812
2076 4,750,309 14,013,255
2075 4,785,359 13,849,027
2074 4,819,691 13,684,146
2073 4,853,137 13,517,681
2072 4,885,727 13,349,376
2071 4,917,445 13,178,237
2070 4,948,313 13,007,812
2069 4,978,425 12,835,311
2068 5,007,604 12,662,862
2067 5,035,877 12,487,379
2066 5,063,521 12,311,503
2065 5,090,474 12,136,616
2064 5,116,546 11,958,955
2063 5,141,922 11,783,144
2062 5,166,260 11,606,044
2061 5,189,836 11,428,738
2060 5,212,549 11,251,427
2059 5,234,066 11,072,236
2058 5,254,528 10,892,076
2057 5,273,844 10,713,858
2056 5,292,013 10,536,935
2055 5,308,829 10,358,532
2054 5,324,305 10,179,658
2053 5,338,417 9,999,712
2052 5,350,974 9,819,098
2051 5,361,865 9,639,209
2050 5,371,197 9,461,249
2049 5,378,904 9,283,353
2048 5,385,081 9,104,299
2047 5,389,678 8,926,851
2046 5,392,713 8,748,845
2045 5,394,209 8,572,397
2044 5,394,124 8,397,189
2043 5,392,590 8,222,194
2042 5,389,628 8,048,139
2041 5,385,101 7,876,803
2040 5,379,344 7,706,696
2039 5,372,186 7,537,689
2038 5,363,617 7,369,184
2037 5,353,928 7,202,472
2036 5,343,027 7,036,729
2035 5,330,994 6,871,981
2034 5,317,895 6,708,364
2033 5,303,634 6,546,168
2032 5,288,416 6,385,827
2031 5,272,215 6,227,564
2030 5,255,064 6,070,865
2029 5,236,901 5,916,516
2028 5,217,724 5,764,060
2027 5,197,413 5,613,919
2026 5,176,096 5,464,898
2025 5,153,634 5,317,228
2024 5,129,910 5,169,395
2023 5,105,525 5,022,441
2022 5,081,765 4,875,637
2021 5,059,988 4,734,874
2020 5,034,320 4,600,131
2019 4,999,553 4,467,708
2018 4,957,818 4,337,685
2017 4,913,177 4,210,600
2016 4,866,998 4,086,657
2015 4,818,038 3,965,959
2014 4,767,119 3,848,514
2013 4,716,147 3,734,318
2012 4,663,934 3,619,034
2011 4,609,833 3,502,811
2010 4,555,962 3,390,965
2009 4,499,791 3,284,448
2008 4,440,056 3,183,269
2007 4,380,248 3,093,059
2006 4,321,340 3,013,660
2005 4,261,240 2,939,059
2004 4,200,078 2,868,664
2003 4,138,784 2,802,046
2002 4,075,705 2,738,655
2001 4,008,947 2,678,760
2000 3,937,739 2,613,441
1999 3,862,101 2,541,698
1998 3,782,838 2,474,651
1997 3,701,711 2,411,306
1996 3,619,013 2,358,188
1995 3,535,176 2,312,017
1994 3,451,122 2,249,454
1993 3,367,434 2,174,328
1992 3,284,258 2,088,135
1991 3,202,176 2,009,738
1990 3,121,706 1,951,878
1989 3,043,827 1,903,048
1988 2,968,103 1,855,859
1987 2,892,699 1,803,014
1986 2,817,216 1,751,835
1985 2,741,894 1,702,107
1984 2,667,595 1,653,693
1983 2,595,153 1,606,746
1982 2,524,806 1,561,176
1981 2,456,637 1,516,877
1980 2,390,633 1,474,043
1979 2,326,490 1,432,758
1978 2,264,510 1,392,713
1977 2,205,025 1,353,768
1976 2,147,774 1,315,336
1975 2,092,719 1,277,330
1974 2,039,643 1,240,188
1973 1,988,343 1,203,838
1972 1,938,248 1,168,355
1971 1,888,539 1,133,702
1970 1,838,949 1,099,806
1969 1,789,276 1,066,754
1968 1,739,731 1,034,739
1967 1,689,523 1,003,843
1966 1,638,116 974,157
1965 1,586,208 945,838
1964 1,533,960 918,955
1963 1,481,604 893,423
1962 1,429,445 869,184
1961 1,377,920 846,167
1960 1,327,496 824,298

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/mauritania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Mauritania gained 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Mauritania's population increased by 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Mauritania was ranked 132nd in 2006 and ranked 122nd 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 Mauritania will increase by 71.9% to 9,461,249 people and rank change from 122nd to 102nd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 17.3M people in 2100 for Mauritania.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Mauritania
2100 -1% 0.62%
2099 -0.99% 0.66%
2098 -0.99% 0.68%
2097 -0.99% 0.7%
2096 -0.99% 0.7%
2095 -0.99% 0.73%
2094 -0.99% 0.76%
2093 -0.98% 0.77%
2092 -0.98% 0.8%
2091 -0.97% 0.82%
2090 -0.96% 0.84%
2089 -0.95% 0.87%
2088 -0.95% 0.9%
2087 -0.93% 0.92%
2086 -0.92% 0.93%
2085 -0.91% 0.96%
2084 -0.89% 0.99%
2083 -0.87% 1%
2082 -0.86% 1.03%
2081 -0.84% 1.05%
2080 -0.82% 1.07%
2079 -0.8% 1.11%
2078 -0.78% 1.14%
2077 -0.75% 1.16%
2076 -0.73% 1.19%
2075 -0.71% 1.2%
2074 -0.69% 1.23%
2073 -0.67% 1.26%
2072 -0.65% 1.3%
2071 -0.62% 1.31%
2070 -0.6% 1.34%
2069 -0.58% 1.36%
2068 -0.56% 1.41%
2067 -0.55% 1.43%
2066 -0.53% 1.44%
2065 -0.51% 1.49%
2064 -0.49% 1.49%
2063 -0.47% 1.53%
2062 -0.45% 1.55%
2061 -0.44% 1.58%
2060 -0.41% 1.62%
2059 -0.39% 1.65%
2058 -0.37% 1.66%
2057 -0.34% 1.68%
2056 -0.32% 1.72%
2055 -0.29% 1.76%
2054 -0.26% 1.8%
2053 -0.23% 1.84%
2052 -0.2% 1.87%
2051 -0.17% 1.88%
2050 -0.14% 1.92%
2049 -0.11% 1.97%
2048 -0.09% 1.99%
2047 -0.06% 2.03%
2046 -0.03% 2.06%
2045 0.002% 2.09%
2044 0.03% 2.13%
2043 0.05% 2.16%
2042 0.08% 2.18%
2041 0.11% 2.21%
2040 0.13% 2.24%
2039 0.16% 2.29%
2038 0.18% 2.31%
2037 0.2% 2.36%
2036 0.23% 2.4%
2035 0.25% 2.44%
2034 0.27% 2.48%
2033 0.29% 2.51%
2032 0.31% 2.54%
2031 0.33% 2.58%
2030 0.35% 2.61%
2029 0.37% 2.64%
2028 0.39% 2.67%
2027 0.41% 2.73%
2026 0.44% 2.78%
2025 0.46% 2.86%
2024 0.48% 2.93%
2023 0.47% 3.01%
2022 0.43% 2.97%
2021 0.51% 2.93%
2020 0.7% 2.96%
2019 0.84% 3%
2018 0.91% 3.02%
2017 0.95% 3.03%
2016 1.02% 3.04%
2015 1.07% 3.05%
2014 1.08% 3.06%
2013 1.12% 3.19%
2012 1.17% 3.32%
2011 1.18% 3.3%
2010 1.25% 3.24%
2009 1.35% 3.18%
2008 1.37% 2.92%
2007 1.36% 2.63%
2006 1.41% 2.54%
2005 1.46% 2.45%
2004 1.48% 2.38%
2003 1.55% 2.31%
2002 1.67% 2.24%
2001 1.81% 2.5%
2000 1.96% 2.82%
1999 2.1% 2.71%
1998 2.19% 2.63%
1997 2.29% 2.25%
1996 2.37% 2%
1995 2.44% 2.78%
1994 2.49% 3.46%
1993 2.53% 4.13%
1992 2.56% 3.9%
1991 2.58% 2.96%
1990 2.56% 2.57%
1989 2.55% 2.54%
1988 2.61% 2.93%
1987 2.68% 2.92%
1986 2.75% 2.92%
1985 2.79% 2.93%
1984 2.79% 2.92%
1983 2.79% 2.92%
1982 2.77% 2.92%
1981 2.76% 2.91%
1980 2.76% 2.88%
1979 2.74% 2.88%
1978 2.7% 2.88%
1977 2.67% 2.92%
1976 2.63% 2.98%
1975 2.6% 2.99%
1974 2.58% 3.02%
1973 2.58% 3.04%
1972 2.63% 3.06%
1971 2.7% 3.08%
1970 2.78% 3.1%
1969 2.85% 3.09%
1968 2.97% 3.08%
1967 3.14% 3.05%
1966 3.27% 2.99%
1965 3.41% 2.93%
1964 3.53% 2.86%
1963 3.65% 2.79%
1962 3.74% 2.72%
1961 3.8% 2.65%

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/mauritania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Mauritania's population grew by 2.93%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Mauritania
Current population
5181862
5505206
Population rank 126/197 122/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.07%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
3.58 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
3.04 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
19 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +403
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +146,954
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.93%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 17/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.74 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -5,044
Net migration rank 63/196 115/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 195,937
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 113/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 3.8%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 107/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Mauritania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Mauritania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -5,044
2024 - 967 - -2,185
2023 24,109 995 145,164 2,999
2022 21,409 1,006 142,451 2,999
2021 20,119 1,018 137,557 -1,483
2020 29,164 1,029 134,899 -1,483
2019 37,682 1,653 134,460 -3,019
2018 42,469 1,673 131,584 -2,987
2017 43,471 1,671 128,562 -3,001
2016 45,565 1,649 125,342 -3,008
2015 49,077 1,617 122,092 -3,019
2014 49,559 1,589 118,792 -2,980
2013 49,227 1,579 115,558 -2,987
2012 52,036 1,587 113,489 4,515
2011 52,884 1,695 111,165 3,272
2010 50,803 2,357 108,121 1,128
2009 55,757 3,432 105,273 -1,481
2008 56,491 3,794 102,432 -3,860
2007 55,244 4,080 98,895 -17,048
2006 54,177 4,321 94,991 -18,033
2005 57,139 4,567 90,940 -18,693
2004 55,769 4,856 87,578 -19,042
2003 56,743 5,216 83,804 -19,104
2002 58,388 5,812 80,993 -18,903
2001 62,199 7,119 78,769 -21,067
2000 64,268 8,826 75,929 -2,997
1999 64,922 13,253 73,554 -2,999
1998 64,788 15,556 72,045 -8,504
1997 64,954 16,954 71,327 -8,187
1996 66,094 17,393 71,939 -28,840
1995 67,585 16,609 72,244 -22,997
1994 68,336 15,587 70,570 5,304
1993 69,016 14,431 68,167 6,217
1992 69,830 13,069 63,501 34,505
1991 70,506 10,757 61,782 -2,997
1990 71,727 7,949 59,934 -3,000
1989 72,327 3,758 58,666 -17,941
1988 72,944 2,414 56,654 -2,997
1987 73,188 2,267 55,037 -2,998
1986 73,211 2,302 53,313 -2,998
1985 72,776 2,357 52,125 -2,998
1984 71,062 2,402 50,705 -2,998
1983 68,972 2,449 49,187 -2,998
1982 66,826 2,453 47,947 -2,998
1981 64,632 2,431 46,641 -2,998
1980 62,561 2,387 45,026 -2,997
1979 60,984 2,349 43,537 -2,997
1978 58,327 2,296 42,539 -2,998
1977 56,122 2,228 41,352 -2,999
1976 54,019 2,129 40,149 -1,645
1975 51,979 1,992 38,975 -1,472
1974 50,349 1,839 38,106 -1,321
1973 48,943 1,468 37,122 -1,201
1972 48,417 1,366 36,184 -1,139
1971 48,341 1,296 35,279 -1,014
1970 48,398 1,137 34,382 -855
1969 48,790 1,017 33,252 -688
1968 48,361 939 32,029 -565
1967 50,193 926 30,853 -514
1966 50,755 930 29,502 -466
1965 51,196 932 28,028 -434
1964 51,435 934 26,565 -390
1963 51,403 938 25,250 -362
1962 51,046 934 23,927 -342
1961 50,149 924 22,781 -332
1960 48,857 910 21,604 -318

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/mauritania | 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 Mauritania 98.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,320,903 people) and 1.12% is from migration (a loss of 14,982 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 195,937 people or 3.8% in Mauritania.

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
Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K

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/mauritania | 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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