Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 2,360,527 people in Moldova in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 2,328,600 in Moldova.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 2.23 times bigger than Moldova's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Moldova is the 145th.
  • The countries together account for 0.09% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.03% for Moldova.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs -1.72% in Moldova.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Moldova has declined from 2.88M to 2.33M (19.2% decline).

Costa Rica vs Moldova: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Moldova
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Moldova
2100 3,803,678 1,169,570
2099 3,841,913 1,180,272
2098 3,880,484 1,191,113
2097 3,919,475 1,201,972
2096 3,958,826 1,212,932
2095 3,998,552 1,223,967
2094 4,038,516 1,234,876
2093 4,078,807 1,245,808
2092 4,119,351 1,256,689
2091 4,160,111 1,267,532
2090 4,200,989 1,278,123
2089 4,241,888 1,288,741
2088 4,282,758 1,299,412
2087 4,323,650 1,309,994
2086 4,364,399 1,320,672
2085 4,404,935 1,331,516
2084 4,445,179 1,342,188
2083 4,485,048 1,353,031
2082 4,524,570 1,363,961
2081 4,563,658 1,375,027
2080 4,602,126 1,386,252
2079 4,640,060 1,397,755
2078 4,677,313 1,409,455
2077 4,713,901 1,421,568
2076 4,749,678 1,433,504
2075 4,784,723 1,445,874
2074 4,819,050 1,458,696
2073 4,852,492 1,471,729
2072 4,885,078 1,485,296
2071 4,916,792 1,499,224
2070 4,947,655 1,513,979
2069 4,977,764 1,528,841
2068 5,006,939 1,544,390
2067 5,035,207 1,560,256
2066 5,062,849 1,576,276
2065 5,089,797 1,592,761
2064 5,115,866 1,609,631
2063 5,141,239 1,626,510
2062 5,165,574 1,643,849
2061 5,189,146 1,661,290
2060 5,211,857 1,679,059
2059 5,233,370 1,696,440
2058 5,253,830 1,713,694
2057 5,273,143 1,730,910
2056 5,291,310 1,748,393
2055 5,308,124 1,765,554
2054 5,323,598 1,782,642
2053 5,337,707 1,799,510
2052 5,350,263 1,816,030
2051 5,361,152 1,832,448
2050 5,370,484 1,848,307
2049 5,378,189 1,864,603
2048 5,384,366 1,880,438
2047 5,388,962 1,896,381
2046 5,391,996 1,912,640
2045 5,393,493 1,929,525
2044 5,393,407 1,946,354
2043 5,391,873 1,964,017
2042 5,388,912 1,982,068
2041 5,384,386 2,000,545
2040 5,378,629 2,019,832
2039 5,371,473 2,040,153
2038 5,362,904 2,060,750
2037 5,353,217 2,081,833
2036 5,342,317 2,103,318
2035 5,330,286 2,125,527
2034 5,317,189 2,147,859
2033 5,302,930 2,170,311
2032 5,287,714 2,192,598
2031 5,271,514 2,215,052
2030 5,254,366 2,237,961
2029 5,236,206 2,260,762
2028 5,217,031 2,283,416
2027 5,196,723 2,305,981
2026 5,175,408 2,328,600
2025 5,152,950 2,360,527
2024 5,129,910 2,402,306
2023 5,105,525 2,457,783
2022 5,081,765 2,528,654
2021 5,059,988 2,595,809
2020 5,034,320 2,635,130
2019 4,999,553 2,664,224
2018 4,957,818 2,707,203
2017 4,913,177 2,755,189
2016 4,866,998 2,803,186
2015 4,818,038 2,835,978
2014 4,767,119 2,857,815
2013 4,716,147 2,859,558
2012 4,663,934 2,860,324
2011 4,609,833 2,860,699
2010 4,555,962 2,862,354
2009 4,499,791 2,865,213
2008 4,440,056 2,868,833
2007 4,380,248 2,874,299
2006 4,321,340 2,880,967
2005 4,261,240 2,888,985
2004 4,200,078 2,896,023
2003 4,138,784 2,903,198
2002 4,075,705 2,911,385
2001 4,008,947 2,918,135
2000 3,937,739 2,924,668
1999 3,862,101 2,930,622
1998 3,782,838 2,935,227
1997 3,701,711 2,936,413
1996 3,619,013 2,947,293
1995 3,535,176 2,953,200
1994 3,451,122 2,966,745
1993 3,367,434 2,975,966
1992 3,284,258 2,980,965
1991 3,202,176 2,981,566
1990 3,121,706 2,977,912
1989 3,043,827 2,970,039
1988 2,968,103 2,948,891
1987 2,892,699 2,916,306
1986 2,817,216 2,883,057
1985 2,741,894 2,850,787
1984 2,667,595 2,820,518
1983 2,595,153 2,791,207
1982 2,524,806 2,763,101
1981 2,456,637 2,735,987
1980 2,390,633 2,708,675
1979 2,326,490 2,683,035
1978 2,264,510 2,656,211
1977 2,205,025 2,626,298
1976 2,147,774 2,596,491
1975 2,092,719 2,566,998
1974 2,039,643 2,538,164
1973 1,988,343 2,510,584
1972 1,938,248 2,484,742
1971 1,888,539 2,460,611
1970 1,838,949 2,437,590
1969 1,789,276 2,408,469
1968 1,739,731 2,373,073
1967 1,689,523 2,337,695
1966 1,638,116 2,301,871
1965 1,586,208 2,265,287
1964 1,533,960 2,228,000
1963 1,481,604 2,188,895
1962 1,429,445 2,147,227
1961 1,377,920 2,103,327
1960 1,327,496 2,058,020

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/moldova | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Moldova lost 77,781 people (a 2.7% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Moldova's population decreased by 474,586 people (a 16.9% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Moldova was ranked 134th in 2006 and ranked 145th 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 Moldova will decrease by 20.6% to 1,848,307 people and rank change from 145th to 150th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Moldova's population already peaked in 1991 at 2.98M people and is projected to decrease to 1.17M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Moldova
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Moldova
2100 -1% -0.91%
2099 -0.99% -0.91%
2098 -0.99% -0.9%
2097 -0.99% -0.9%
2096 -0.99% -0.9%
2095 -0.99% -0.88%
2094 -0.99% -0.88%
2093 -0.98% -0.87%
2092 -0.98% -0.86%
2091 -0.97% -0.83%
2090 -0.96% -0.82%
2089 -0.95% -0.82%
2088 -0.95% -0.81%
2087 -0.93% -0.81%
2086 -0.92% -0.81%
2085 -0.91% -0.8%
2084 -0.89% -0.8%
2083 -0.87% -0.8%
2082 -0.86% -0.8%
2081 -0.84% -0.81%
2080 -0.82% -0.82%
2079 -0.8% -0.83%
2078 -0.78% -0.85%
2077 -0.75% -0.83%
2076 -0.73% -0.86%
2075 -0.71% -0.88%
2074 -0.69% -0.89%
2073 -0.67% -0.91%
2072 -0.65% -0.93%
2071 -0.62% -0.97%
2070 -0.6% -0.97%
2069 -0.58% -1.01%
2068 -0.56% -1.02%
2067 -0.55% -1.02%
2066 -0.53% -1.03%
2065 -0.51% -1.05%
2064 -0.49% -1.04%
2063 -0.47% -1.05%
2062 -0.45% -1.05%
2061 -0.44% -1.06%
2060 -0.41% -1.02%
2059 -0.39% -1.01%
2058 -0.37% -0.99%
2057 -0.34% -1%
2056 -0.32% -0.97%
2055 -0.29% -0.96%
2054 -0.26% -0.94%
2053 -0.23% -0.91%
2052 -0.2% -0.9%
2051 -0.17% -0.86%
2050 -0.14% -0.87%
2049 -0.11% -0.84%
2048 -0.09% -0.84%
2047 -0.06% -0.85%
2046 -0.03% -0.88%
2045 0.002% -0.86%
2044 0.03% -0.9%
2043 0.05% -0.91%
2042 0.08% -0.92%
2041 0.11% -0.95%
2040 0.13% -1%
2039 0.16% -1%
2038 0.18% -1.01%
2037 0.2% -1.02%
2036 0.23% -1.04%
2035 0.25% -1.04%
2034 0.27% -1.03%
2033 0.29% -1.02%
2032 0.31% -1.01%
2031 0.33% -1.02%
2030 0.35% -1.01%
2029 0.37% -0.99%
2028 0.39% -0.98%
2027 0.41% -0.97%
2026 0.44% -1.35%
2025 0.45% -1.74%
2024 0.48% -2.26%
2023 0.47% -2.8%
2022 0.43% -2.59%
2021 0.51% -1.49%
2020 0.7% -1.09%
2019 0.84% -1.59%
2018 0.91% -1.74%
2017 0.95% -1.71%
2016 1.02% -1.16%
2015 1.07% -0.76%
2014 1.08% -0.06%
2013 1.12% -0.03%
2012 1.17% -0.01%
2011 1.18% -0.06%
2010 1.25% -0.1%
2009 1.35% -0.13%
2008 1.37% -0.19%
2007 1.36% -0.23%
2006 1.41% -0.28%
2005 1.46% -0.24%
2004 1.48% -0.25%
2003 1.55% -0.28%
2002 1.67% -0.23%
2001 1.81% -0.22%
2000 1.96% -0.2%
1999 2.1% -0.16%
1998 2.19% -0.04%
1997 2.29% -0.37%
1996 2.37% -0.2%
1995 2.44% -0.46%
1994 2.49% -0.31%
1993 2.53% -0.17%
1992 2.56% -0.02%
1991 2.58% 0.12%
1990 2.56% 0.27%
1989 2.55% 0.72%
1988 2.61% 1.12%
1987 2.68% 1.15%
1986 2.75% 1.13%
1985 2.79% 1.07%
1984 2.79% 1.05%
1983 2.79% 1.02%
1982 2.77% 0.99%
1981 2.76% 1.01%
1980 2.76% 0.96%
1979 2.74% 1.01%
1978 2.7% 1.14%
1977 2.67% 1.15%
1976 2.63% 1.15%
1975 2.6% 1.14%
1974 2.58% 1.1%
1973 2.58% 1.04%
1972 2.63% 0.98%
1971 2.7% 0.94%
1970 2.78% 1.21%
1969 2.85% 1.49%
1968 2.97% 1.51%
1967 3.14% 1.56%
1966 3.27% 1.61%
1965 3.41% 1.67%
1964 3.53% 1.79%
1963 3.65% 1.94%
1962 3.74% 2.09%
1961 3.8% 2.2%

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/moldova | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Moldova's population declined by 1.74%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Moldova
Current population
5186356
2328600
Population rank 126/197 145/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.03%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
12.6 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
20.7 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
15.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 -114
Annual growth/decline +23,040 -41,779
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% -1.74%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 196/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -29,766
Net migration rank 63/196 164/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 188,207
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 116/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 6.2%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 85/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Moldova
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Moldova
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -29,766
2024 22,699 967 -7,767 -27,088
2023 24,109 995 -7,007 -18,570
2022 21,409 1,006 -6,385 89,154
2021 20,119 1,018 -13,444 -33,405
2020 29,164 1,029 -7,067 -33,405
2019 37,682 1,653 -3,416 -41,233
2018 42,469 1,673 -961 -36,085
2017 43,471 1,671 1,402 -43,871
2016 45,565 1,649 4,580 -51,642
2015 49,077 1,617 6,049 -59,399
2014 49,559 1,589 7,248 -67,175
2013 49,227 1,579 3,537 -77,571
2012 52,036 1,587 5,581 -81,215
2011 52,884 1,695 5,948 -82,271
2010 50,803 2,357 7,456 -84,039
2009 55,757 3,432 7,492 -83,546
2008 56,491 3,794 5,210 -79,593
2007 55,244 4,080 3,490 -75,734
2006 54,177 4,321 2,406 -72,061
2005 57,139 4,567 2,005 -68,681
2004 55,769 4,856 1,714 -52,491
2003 56,743 5,216 -322 -46,947
2002 58,388 5,812 -1,249 -45,833
2001 62,199 7,119 -718 -45,043
2000 64,268 8,826 -324 -43,854
1999 64,922 13,253 642 -43,111
1998 64,788 15,556 2,140 -41,975
1997 64,954 16,954 4,669 -41,743
1996 66,094 17,393 2,655 -33,369
1995 67,585 16,609 5,534 -31,975
1994 68,336 15,587 9,921 -31,616
1993 69,016 14,431 13,886 -31,526
1992 69,830 13,069 17,373 -30,136
1991 70,506 10,757 21,127 -29,204
1990 71,727 7,949 25,824 -30,053
1989 72,327 3,758 29,638 -29,307
1988 72,944 2,414 35,608 -4,989
1987 73,188 2,267 40,122 -10,796
1986 73,211 2,302 39,463 -8,769
1985 72,776 2,357 38,060 -10,627
1984 71,062 2,402 38,108 -12,732
1983 68,972 2,449 36,076 -10,543
1982 66,826 2,453 32,814 -8,412
1981 64,632 2,431 31,360 -6,452
1980 62,561 2,387 30,053 -3,693
1979 60,984 2,349 28,322 -6,912
1978 58,327 2,296 27,622 3,483
1977 56,122 2,228 27,707 3,245
1976 54,019 2,129 27,801 2,885
1975 51,979 1,992 27,677 2,355
1974 50,349 1,839 27,219 1,785
1973 48,943 1,468 25,967 1,156
1972 48,417 1,366 24,626 481
1971 48,341 1,296 23,359 -61
1970 48,398 1,137 22,314 606
1969 48,790 1,017 21,768 20,561
1968 48,361 939 22,005 19,830
1967 50,193 926 22,654 19,175
1966 50,755 930 23,720 18,601
1965 51,196 932 24,916 18,066
1964 51,435 934 25,860 17,509
1963 51,403 938 29,382 16,816
1962 51,046 934 32,082 15,884
1961 50,149 924 35,180 14,818
1960 48,857 910 36,352 13,697

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/moldova | 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 Moldova 11.7% is from natural causes (a loss of 34,016 people) and 88.3% is from migration (a loss of 255,544 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 188,207 people or 6.2% in Moldova.

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
Moldova
City Population
Chisinau 567K
Tiraspol 134K
Balti 91K
Bender 76.2K
Ungheni 26.5K
Dubasari 25.1K
Cahul 22.2K
Orhei 22.2K
Soroca 21.1K
Comrat 19.1K

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/moldova | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.