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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 131,946,900 people in Mexico in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 133,551,566 in Mexico.

Population statistics:

  • Mexico's population is 25.8 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Mexico is the 11th.
  • The countries together account for 1.67% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 1.61% for Mexico.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +0.88% in Mexico.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Mexico has grown from 107M to 134M (24.5% growth).

Costa Rica vs Mexico: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Mexico
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Mexico
2100 3,803,678 131,158,772
2099 3,841,913 131,919,278
2098 3,880,484 132,676,226
2097 3,919,475 133,430,730
2096 3,958,826 134,179,811
2095 3,998,552 134,924,667
2094 4,038,516 135,662,399
2093 4,078,807 136,390,414
2092 4,119,351 137,102,695
2091 4,160,111 137,808,909
2090 4,200,989 138,501,995
2089 4,241,888 139,183,536
2088 4,282,758 139,849,476
2087 4,323,650 140,504,916
2086 4,364,399 141,148,688
2085 4,404,935 141,779,696
2084 4,445,179 142,390,038
2083 4,485,048 142,983,168
2082 4,524,570 143,553,646
2081 4,563,658 144,112,618
2080 4,602,126 144,651,130
2079 4,640,060 145,168,756
2078 4,677,313 145,664,735
2077 4,713,901 146,138,472
2076 4,749,678 146,589,999
2075 4,784,723 147,020,176
2074 4,819,050 147,428,934
2073 4,852,492 147,814,398
2072 4,885,078 148,174,180
2071 4,916,792 148,507,034
2070 4,947,655 148,821,087
2069 4,977,764 149,107,578
2068 5,006,939 149,368,537
2067 5,035,207 149,603,163
2066 5,062,849 149,814,864
2065 5,089,797 150,001,973
2064 5,115,866 150,160,667
2063 5,141,239 150,292,498
2062 5,165,574 150,396,857
2061 5,189,146 150,474,868
2060 5,211,857 150,528,257
2059 5,233,370 150,549,825
2058 5,253,830 150,541,650
2057 5,273,143 150,507,950
2056 5,291,310 150,447,865
2055 5,308,124 150,356,976
2054 5,323,598 150,235,899
2053 5,337,707 150,083,305
2052 5,350,263 149,896,641
2051 5,361,152 149,677,830
2050 5,370,484 149,423,583
2049 5,378,189 149,138,900
2048 5,384,366 148,809,771
2047 5,388,962 148,451,951
2046 5,391,996 148,054,747
2045 5,393,493 147,620,456
2044 5,393,407 147,146,325
2043 5,391,873 146,641,077
2042 5,388,912 146,096,981
2041 5,384,386 145,517,171
2040 5,378,629 144,905,265
2039 5,371,473 144,260,027
2038 5,362,904 143,575,746
2037 5,353,217 142,857,009
2036 5,342,317 142,113,069
2035 5,330,286 141,334,167
2034 5,317,189 140,529,082
2033 5,302,930 139,687,630
2032 5,287,714 138,818,384
2031 5,271,514 137,922,237
2030 5,254,366 136,998,375
2029 5,236,206 136,046,964
2028 5,217,031 135,066,178
2027 5,196,723 134,056,943
2026 5,175,408 133,017,798
2025 5,152,950 131,946,900
2024 5,129,910 130,861,007
2023 5,105,525 129,739,759
2022 5,081,765 128,613,117
2021 5,059,988 127,648,148
2020 5,034,320 126,799,054
2019 4,999,553 125,762,982
2018 4,957,818 124,573,711
2017 4,913,177 123,400,057
2016 4,866,998 122,251,351
2015 4,818,038 121,072,306
2014 4,767,119 119,784,261
2013 4,716,147 118,343,573
2012 4,663,934 116,818,208
2011 4,609,833 115,243,504
2010 4,555,962 113,623,895
2009 4,499,791 111,999,721
2008 4,440,056 110,374,288
2007 4,380,248 108,774,360
2006 4,321,340 107,253,666
2005 4,261,240 105,811,504
2004 4,200,078 104,394,131
2003 4,138,784 102,978,515
2002 4,075,705 101,548,624
2001 4,008,947 100,099,099
2000 3,937,739 98,625,552
1999 3,862,101 97,115,707
1998 3,782,838 95,575,245
1997 3,701,711 94,021,207
1996 3,619,013 92,452,702
1995 3,535,176 90,862,455
1994 3,451,122 89,259,205
1993 3,367,434 87,653,807
1992 3,284,258 86,044,809
1991 3,202,176 84,430,572
1990 3,121,706 82,820,170
1989 3,043,827 81,247,182
1988 2,968,103 79,695,531
1987 2,892,699 78,136,651
1986 2,817,216 76,585,637
1985 2,741,894 75,043,414
1984 2,667,595 73,506,846
1983 2,595,153 71,971,240
1982 2,524,806 70,433,260
1981 2,456,637 68,892,108
1980 2,390,633 67,300,334
1979 2,326,490 65,648,865
1978 2,264,510 63,979,046
1977 2,205,025 62,308,493
1976 2,147,774 60,645,512
1975 2,092,719 58,982,400
1974 2,039,643 57,320,149
1973 1,988,343 55,667,284
1972 1,938,248 54,030,168
1971 1,888,539 52,412,558
1970 1,838,949 50,814,953
1969 1,789,276 49,233,194
1968 1,739,731 47,668,303
1967 1,689,523 46,129,608
1966 1,638,116 44,629,106
1965 1,586,208 43,174,477
1964 1,533,960 41,772,049
1963 1,481,604 40,424,065
1962 1,429,445 39,129,200
1961 1,377,920 37,890,118
1960 1,327,496 36,724,615

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/mexico | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Mexico gained 14,997,685 people (a 14% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Mexico's population increased by 11,300,215 people (a 9.24% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Mexico was ranked 11th in 2006 and still ranked 11th 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 Mexico will increase by 11.9% to 149,423,583 people and rank change from 11th to 12th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 151M people in 2059 for Mexico.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Mexico
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Mexico
2100 -1% -0.58%
2099 -0.99% -0.57%
2098 -0.99% -0.57%
2097 -0.99% -0.56%
2096 -0.99% -0.55%
2095 -0.99% -0.54%
2094 -0.99% -0.53%
2093 -0.98% -0.52%
2092 -0.98% -0.51%
2091 -0.97% -0.5%
2090 -0.96% -0.49%
2089 -0.95% -0.48%
2088 -0.95% -0.47%
2087 -0.93% -0.46%
2086 -0.92% -0.45%
2085 -0.91% -0.43%
2084 -0.89% -0.41%
2083 -0.87% -0.4%
2082 -0.86% -0.39%
2081 -0.84% -0.37%
2080 -0.82% -0.36%
2079 -0.8% -0.34%
2078 -0.78% -0.32%
2077 -0.75% -0.31%
2076 -0.73% -0.29%
2075 -0.71% -0.28%
2074 -0.69% -0.26%
2073 -0.67% -0.24%
2072 -0.65% -0.22%
2071 -0.62% -0.21%
2070 -0.6% -0.19%
2069 -0.58% -0.17%
2068 -0.56% -0.16%
2067 -0.55% -0.14%
2066 -0.53% -0.12%
2065 -0.51% -0.11%
2064 -0.49% -0.09%
2063 -0.47% -0.07%
2062 -0.45% -0.05%
2061 -0.44% -0.04%
2060 -0.41% -0.01%
2059 -0.39% 0.005%
2058 -0.37% 0.02%
2057 -0.34% 0.04%
2056 -0.32% 0.06%
2055 -0.29% 0.08%
2054 -0.26% 0.1%
2053 -0.23% 0.12%
2052 -0.2% 0.15%
2051 -0.17% 0.17%
2050 -0.14% 0.19%
2049 -0.11% 0.22%
2048 -0.09% 0.24%
2047 -0.06% 0.27%
2046 -0.03% 0.29%
2045 0.002% 0.32%
2044 0.03% 0.34%
2043 0.05% 0.37%
2042 0.08% 0.4%
2041 0.11% 0.42%
2040 0.13% 0.45%
2039 0.16% 0.48%
2038 0.18% 0.5%
2037 0.2% 0.52%
2036 0.23% 0.55%
2035 0.25% 0.57%
2034 0.27% 0.6%
2033 0.29% 0.63%
2032 0.31% 0.65%
2031 0.33% 0.67%
2030 0.35% 0.7%
2029 0.37% 0.73%
2028 0.39% 0.75%
2027 0.41% 0.78%
2026 0.44% 0.81%
2025 0.45% 0.83%
2024 0.48% 0.86%
2023 0.47% 0.88%
2022 0.43% 0.76%
2021 0.51% 0.67%
2020 0.7% 0.82%
2019 0.84% 0.95%
2018 0.91% 0.95%
2017 0.95% 0.94%
2016 1.02% 0.97%
2015 1.07% 1.08%
2014 1.08% 1.22%
2013 1.12% 1.31%
2012 1.17% 1.37%
2011 1.18% 1.43%
2010 1.25% 1.45%
2009 1.35% 1.47%
2008 1.37% 1.47%
2007 1.36% 1.42%
2006 1.41% 1.36%
2005 1.46% 1.36%
2004 1.48% 1.37%
2003 1.55% 1.41%
2002 1.67% 1.45%
2001 1.81% 1.49%
2000 1.96% 1.55%
1999 2.1% 1.61%
1998 2.19% 1.65%
1997 2.29% 1.7%
1996 2.37% 1.75%
1995 2.44% 1.8%
1994 2.49% 1.83%
1993 2.53% 1.87%
1992 2.56% 1.91%
1991 2.58% 1.94%
1990 2.56% 1.94%
1989 2.55% 1.95%
1988 2.61% 2%
1987 2.68% 2.03%
1986 2.75% 2.06%
1985 2.79% 2.09%
1984 2.79% 2.13%
1983 2.79% 2.18%
1982 2.77% 2.24%
1981 2.76% 2.37%
1980 2.76% 2.52%
1979 2.74% 2.61%
1978 2.7% 2.68%
1977 2.67% 2.74%
1976 2.63% 2.82%
1975 2.6% 2.9%
1974 2.58% 2.97%
1973 2.58% 3.03%
1972 2.63% 3.09%
1971 2.7% 3.14%
1970 2.78% 3.21%
1969 2.85% 3.28%
1968 2.97% 3.34%
1967 3.14% 3.36%
1966 3.27% 3.37%
1965 3.41% 3.36%
1964 3.53% 3.33%
1963 3.65% 3.31%
1962 3.74% 3.27%
1961 3.8% 3.17%

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/mexico | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Mexico's population grew by 0.83%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Mexico
Current population
5186356
133551566
Population rank 126/197 11/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 1.61%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
29.1 seconds
One birth every
10.3 minutes
15.6 seconds
One death every
18.4 minutes
38.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +63 +2,975
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +1,085,893
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +0.83%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 109/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
4.88 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -108,037
Net migration rank 63/196 181/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 1,726,089
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 42/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 1.3%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 149/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Mexico
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Mexico
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -108,037
2024 22,699 967 1,209,810 -104,581
2023 24,109 995 1,238,366 -101,044
2022 21,409 1,006 1,224,397 -108,438
2021 20,119 1,018 936,682 -122,791
2020 29,164 1,029 1,031,637 -147,456
2019 37,682 1,653 1,357,485 -169,628
2018 42,469 1,673 1,366,076 -175,356
2017 43,471 1,671 1,384,178 -227,499
2016 45,565 1,649 1,445,256 -304,472
2015 49,077 1,617 1,508,439 -291,044
2014 49,559 1,589 1,587,620 -228,816
2013 49,227 1,579 1,642,609 -120,058
2012 52,036 1,587 1,656,599 -128,485
2011 52,884 1,695 1,659,161 -37,826
2010 50,803 2,357 1,658,682 -40,845
2009 55,757 3,432 1,661,180 -30,809
2008 56,491 3,794 1,670,846 -50,347
2007 55,244 4,080 1,684,915 -105,524
2006 54,177 4,321 1,706,084 -244,140
2005 57,139 4,567 1,732,663 -310,278
2004 55,769 4,856 1,759,250 -346,912
2003 56,743 5,216 1,788,016 -369,183
2002 58,388 5,812 1,820,665 -379,812
2001 62,199 7,119 1,836,418 -378,348
2000 64,268 8,826 1,845,383 -356,433
1999 64,922 13,253 1,859,475 -328,773
1998 64,788 15,556 1,871,650 -321,385
1997 64,954 16,954 1,898,383 -340,546
1996 66,094 17,393 1,922,554 -343,399
1995 67,585 16,609 1,941,458 -340,091
1994 68,336 15,587 1,959,775 -354,573
1993 69,016 14,431 1,963,708 -358,039
1992 69,830 13,069 1,956,659 -344,313
1991 70,506 10,757 1,942,832 -326,691
1990 71,727 7,949 1,926,480 -321,764
1989 72,327 3,758 1,927,752 -386,467
1988 72,944 2,414 1,936,601 -374,544
1987 73,188 2,267 1,971,231 -415,521
1986 73,211 2,302 1,998,043 -451,756
1985 72,776 2,357 1,983,622 -445,447
1984 71,062 2,402 1,960,428 -425,467
1983 68,972 2,449 1,939,193 -402,937
1982 66,826 2,453 1,921,772 -382,048
1981 64,632 2,431 1,904,384 -361,791
1980 62,561 2,387 1,893,158 -252,177
1979 60,984 2,349 1,908,018 -246,034
1978 58,327 2,296 1,921,419 -243,714
1977 56,122 2,228 1,902,964 -239,521
1976 54,019 2,129 1,891,958 -229,450
1975 51,979 1,992 1,880,241 -216,556
1974 50,349 1,839 1,868,809 -207,995
1973 48,943 1,468 1,845,593 -200,688
1972 48,417 1,366 1,823,302 -193,965
1971 48,341 1,296 1,790,990 -185,062
1970 48,398 1,137 1,753,370 -164,100
1969 48,790 1,017 1,711,297 -137,051
1968 48,361 939 1,671,918 -116,358
1967 50,193 926 1,620,534 -98,680
1966 50,755 930 1,566,170 -87,018
1965 51,196 932 1,508,344 -78,288
1964 51,435 934 1,447,360 -72,581
1963 51,403 938 1,387,678 -66,515
1962 51,046 934 1,328,319 -59,833
1961 50,149 924 1,265,833 -56,174
1960 48,857 910 1,206,955 -85,591

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/mexico | 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 Mexico 87.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 12,702,326 people) and 12.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,752,309 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 1,726,089 people or 1.3% in Mexico.

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
Mexico
City Population
Mexico 9.21M
Veracruz 8.06M
San Luis Potosi 2.82M
Tijuana 1.96M
Leon 1.58M
Puebla 1.43M
Guadalajara 1.39M
Ciudad Juarez 1.32M
Zapopan 1.26M
Monterrey 1.14M

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/mexico | 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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