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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 3,092,816 people in Namibia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 3,185,686 in Namibia.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 1.63 times bigger than Namibia's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Namibia is the 134th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.04% for Namibia.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +2.68% in Namibia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Namibia has grown from 1.99M to 3.19M (59.9% growth).

Costa Rica vs Namibia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Namibia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Namibia
2100 3,803,678 5,954,393
2099 3,841,913 5,948,866
2098 3,880,484 5,943,388
2097 3,919,475 5,938,535
2096 3,958,826 5,934,414
2095 3,998,552 5,926,652
2094 4,038,516 5,918,510
2093 4,078,807 5,907,504
2092 4,119,351 5,895,303
2091 4,160,111 5,882,775
2090 4,200,989 5,868,232
2089 4,241,888 5,854,537
2088 4,282,758 5,839,032
2087 4,323,650 5,822,179
2086 4,364,399 5,802,978
2085 4,404,935 5,785,593
2084 4,445,179 5,767,408
2083 4,485,048 5,747,980
2082 4,524,570 5,727,031
2081 4,563,658 5,703,874
2080 4,602,126 5,679,256
2079 4,640,060 5,656,126
2078 4,677,313 5,630,757
2077 4,713,901 5,604,556
2076 4,749,678 5,577,307
2075 4,784,723 5,547,604
2074 4,819,050 5,518,540
2073 4,852,492 5,490,713
2072 4,885,078 5,461,300
2071 4,916,792 5,431,031
2070 4,947,655 5,400,411
2069 4,977,764 5,368,127
2068 5,006,939 5,333,582
2067 5,035,207 5,297,361
2066 5,062,849 5,259,869
2065 5,089,797 5,224,047
2064 5,115,866 5,187,047
2063 5,141,239 5,147,329
2062 5,165,574 5,106,535
2061 5,189,146 5,065,279
2060 5,211,857 5,020,417
2059 5,233,370 4,976,448
2058 5,253,830 4,930,850
2057 5,273,143 4,884,900
2056 5,291,310 4,837,482
2055 5,308,124 4,787,824
2054 5,323,598 4,738,949
2053 5,337,707 4,688,219
2052 5,350,263 4,636,907
2051 5,361,152 4,584,458
2050 5,370,484 4,530,641
2049 5,378,189 4,479,821
2048 5,384,366 4,427,513
2047 5,388,962 4,370,836
2046 5,391,996 4,315,325
2045 5,393,493 4,256,478
2044 5,393,407 4,199,686
2043 5,391,873 4,142,276
2042 5,388,912 4,086,133
2041 5,384,386 4,029,802
2040 5,378,629 3,974,477
2039 5,371,473 3,918,246
2038 5,362,904 3,859,577
2037 5,353,217 3,802,081
2036 5,342,317 3,744,707
2035 5,330,286 3,686,835
2034 5,317,189 3,629,445
2033 5,302,930 3,572,743
2032 5,287,714 3,514,091
2031 5,271,514 3,454,083
2030 5,254,366 3,393,821
2029 5,236,206 3,334,592
2028 5,217,031 3,275,360
2027 5,196,723 3,214,886
2026 5,175,408 3,154,846
2025 5,152,950 3,092,816
2024 5,129,910 3,030,131
2023 5,105,525 2,963,095
2022 5,081,765 2,889,662
2021 5,059,988 2,810,548
2020 5,034,320 2,728,762
2019 4,999,553 2,650,494
2018 4,957,818 2,577,327
2017 4,913,177 2,506,853
2016 4,866,998 2,439,213
2015 4,818,038 2,374,300
2014 4,767,119 2,312,139
2013 4,716,147 2,252,508
2012 4,663,934 2,194,654
2011 4,609,833 2,146,325
2010 4,555,962 2,109,811
2009 4,499,791 2,077,394
2008 4,440,056 2,047,056
2007 4,380,248 2,018,600
2006 4,321,340 1,991,888
2005 4,261,240 1,966,582
2004 4,200,078 1,942,082
2003 4,138,784 1,917,464
2002 4,075,705 1,889,970
2001 4,008,947 1,857,048
2000 3,937,739 1,818,647
1999 3,862,101 1,776,368
1998 3,782,838 1,732,745
1997 3,701,711 1,689,264
1996 3,619,013 1,646,103
1995 3,535,176 1,602,170
1994 3,451,122 1,556,304
1993 3,367,434 1,508,697
1992 3,284,258 1,461,322
1991 3,202,176 1,415,684
1990 3,121,706 1,369,303
1989 3,043,827 1,288,947
1988 2,968,103 1,209,696
1987 2,892,699 1,167,889
1986 2,817,216 1,131,081
1985 2,741,894 1,096,890
1984 2,667,595 1,065,989
1983 2,595,153 1,037,511
1982 2,524,806 1,010,308
1981 2,456,637 992,500
1980 2,390,633 981,434
1979 2,326,490 962,825
1978 2,264,510 947,269
1977 2,205,025 931,104
1976 2,147,774 906,566
1975 2,092,719 881,032
1974 2,039,643 854,320
1973 1,988,343 828,928
1972 1,938,248 804,399
1971 1,888,539 780,584
1970 1,838,949 757,868
1969 1,789,276 736,120
1968 1,739,731 715,542
1967 1,689,523 696,045
1966 1,638,116 677,655
1965 1,586,208 660,558
1964 1,533,960 644,530
1963 1,481,604 629,589
1962 1,429,445 615,759
1961 1,377,920 603,067
1960 1,327,496 591,465

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/namibia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Namibia gained 447,325 people (a 22.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Namibia's population increased by 746,473 people (a 30.6% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Namibia was ranked 143rd in 2006 and ranked 134th 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 Namibia will increase by 42.2% to 4,530,641 people and rank change from 134th to 131st.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 5.95M people in 2100 for Namibia.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Namibia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Namibia
2100 -1% 0.09%
2099 -0.99% 0.09%
2098 -0.99% 0.08%
2097 -0.99% 0.07%
2096 -0.99% 0.13%
2095 -0.99% 0.14%
2094 -0.99% 0.19%
2093 -0.98% 0.21%
2092 -0.98% 0.21%
2091 -0.97% 0.25%
2090 -0.96% 0.23%
2089 -0.95% 0.27%
2088 -0.95% 0.29%
2087 -0.93% 0.33%
2086 -0.92% 0.3%
2085 -0.91% 0.32%
2084 -0.89% 0.34%
2083 -0.87% 0.37%
2082 -0.86% 0.41%
2081 -0.84% 0.43%
2080 -0.82% 0.41%
2079 -0.8% 0.45%
2078 -0.78% 0.47%
2077 -0.75% 0.49%
2076 -0.73% 0.54%
2075 -0.71% 0.53%
2074 -0.69% 0.51%
2073 -0.67% 0.54%
2072 -0.65% 0.56%
2071 -0.62% 0.57%
2070 -0.6% 0.6%
2069 -0.58% 0.65%
2068 -0.56% 0.68%
2067 -0.55% 0.71%
2066 -0.53% 0.69%
2065 -0.51% 0.71%
2064 -0.49% 0.77%
2063 -0.47% 0.8%
2062 -0.45% 0.81%
2061 -0.44% 0.89%
2060 -0.41% 0.88%
2059 -0.39% 0.92%
2058 -0.37% 0.94%
2057 -0.34% 0.98%
2056 -0.32% 1.04%
2055 -0.29% 1.03%
2054 -0.26% 1.08%
2053 -0.23% 1.11%
2052 -0.2% 1.14%
2051 -0.17% 1.19%
2050 -0.14% 1.13%
2049 -0.11% 1.18%
2048 -0.09% 1.3%
2047 -0.06% 1.29%
2046 -0.03% 1.38%
2045 0.002% 1.35%
2044 0.03% 1.39%
2043 0.05% 1.37%
2042 0.08% 1.4%
2041 0.11% 1.39%
2040 0.13% 1.44%
2039 0.16% 1.52%
2038 0.18% 1.51%
2037 0.2% 1.53%
2036 0.23% 1.57%
2035 0.25% 1.58%
2034 0.27% 1.59%
2033 0.29% 1.67%
2032 0.31% 1.74%
2031 0.33% 1.78%
2030 0.35% 1.78%
2029 0.37% 1.81%
2028 0.39% 1.88%
2027 0.41% 1.9%
2026 0.44% 2.01%
2025 0.45% 2.07%
2024 0.48% 2.26%
2023 0.47% 2.54%
2022 0.43% 2.81%
2021 0.51% 3%
2020 0.7% 2.95%
2019 0.84% 2.84%
2018 0.91% 2.81%
2017 0.95% 2.77%
2016 1.02% 2.73%
2015 1.07% 2.69%
2014 1.08% 2.65%
2013 1.12% 2.64%
2012 1.17% 2.25%
2011 1.18% 1.73%
2010 1.25% 1.56%
2009 1.35% 1.48%
2008 1.37% 1.41%
2007 1.36% 1.34%
2006 1.41% 1.29%
2005 1.46% 1.26%
2004 1.48% 1.28%
2003 1.55% 1.45%
2002 1.67% 1.77%
2001 1.81% 2.11%
2000 1.96% 2.38%
1999 2.1% 2.52%
1998 2.19% 2.57%
1997 2.29% 2.62%
1996 2.37% 2.74%
1995 2.44% 2.95%
1994 2.49% 3.16%
1993 2.53% 3.24%
1992 2.56% 3.22%
1991 2.58% 3.39%
1990 2.56% 6.23%
1989 2.55% 6.55%
1988 2.61% 3.58%
1987 2.68% 3.25%
1986 2.75% 3.12%
1985 2.79% 2.9%
1984 2.79% 2.74%
1983 2.79% 2.69%
1982 2.77% 1.79%
1981 2.76% 1.13%
1980 2.76% 1.93%
1979 2.74% 1.64%
1978 2.7% 1.74%
1977 2.67% 2.71%
1976 2.63% 2.9%
1975 2.6% 3.13%
1974 2.58% 3.06%
1973 2.58% 3.05%
1972 2.63% 3.05%
1971 2.7% 3%
1970 2.78% 2.95%
1969 2.85% 2.88%
1968 2.97% 2.8%
1967 3.14% 2.71%
1966 3.27% 2.59%
1965 3.41% 2.49%
1964 3.53% 2.37%
1963 3.65% 2.25%
1962 3.74% 2.1%
1961 3.8% 1.96%

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/namibia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Namibia's population grew by 2.07%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Namibia
Current population
5186356
3185686
Population rank 126/197 134/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.04%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
8.41 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
6.7 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
28.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +172
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +62,685
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +2.07%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 46/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
4.71 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 +1,866
Net migration rank 63/196 57/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 116,035
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 127/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 3.8%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 108/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Namibia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Namibia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 1,866
2024 22,699 967 59,739 4,211
2023 24,109 995 58,435 11,675
2022 21,409 1,006 54,534 22,212
2021 20,119 1,018 50,160 31,327
2020 29,164 1,029 55,034 27,056
2019 37,682 1,653 54,769 19,676
2018 42,469 1,673 53,970 17,920
2017 43,471 1,671 52,975 16,080
2016 45,565 1,649 52,228 14,002
2015 49,077 1,617 50,846 12,755
2014 49,559 1,589 49,581 11,134
2013 49,227 1,579 47,801 10,748
2012 52,036 1,587 46,204 10,957
2011 52,884 1,695 43,557 -4,067
2010 50,803 2,357 42,046 -8,518
2009 55,757 3,432 39,942 -8,626
2008 56,491 3,794 38,147 -8,775
2007 55,244 4,080 36,430 -8,905
2006 54,177 4,321 34,690 -8,792
2005 57,139 4,567 32,909 -8,195
2004 55,769 4,856 31,478 -7,192
2003 56,743 5,216 31,115 -6,153
2002 58,388 5,812 31,947 -1,913
2001 62,199 7,119 32,942 2,869
2000 64,268 8,826 35,280 5,709
1999 64,922 13,253 37,233 6,333
1998 64,788 15,556 37,500 6,180
1997 64,954 16,954 37,256 6,023
1996 66,094 17,393 37,177 5,866
1995 67,585 16,609 39,119 5,712
1994 68,336 15,587 41,316 5,578
1993 69,016 14,431 42,861 5,464
1992 69,830 13,069 43,945 2,487
1991 70,506 10,757 44,523 309
1990 71,727 7,949 43,956 3,969
1989 72,327 3,758 37,715 75,072
1988 72,944 2,414 34,798 10,916
1987 73,188 2,267 33,340 4,559
1986 73,211 2,302 31,764 3,953
1985 72,776 2,357 30,575 2,090
1984 71,062 2,402 29,395 -267
1983 68,972 2,449 28,307 -481
1982 66,826 2,453 27,474 -889
1981 64,632 2,431 27,938 -18,901
1980 62,561 2,387 28,142 -15,041
1979 60,984 2,349 28,930 -4,818
1978 58,327 2,296 29,821 -22,827
1977 56,122 2,228 29,241 -3,907
1976 54,019 2,129 28,785 -5,048
1975 51,979 1,992 27,882 -553
1974 50,349 1,839 26,844 -744
1973 48,943 1,468 25,754 -1,066
1972 48,417 1,366 24,606 -236
1971 48,341 1,296 23,467 -208
1970 48,398 1,137 22,414 -244
1969 48,790 1,017 21,387 -57
1968 48,361 939 20,470 -636
1967 50,193 926 19,498 -339
1966 50,755 930 18,635 -1,023
1965 51,196 932 17,902 -1,327
1964 51,435 934 17,134 -1,660
1963 51,403 938 16,430 -2,016
1962 51,046 934 15,656 -2,403
1961 50,149 924 14,936 -2,807
1960 48,857 910 14,307 -3,227

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/namibia | 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 Namibia 75.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 542,690 people) and 24.6% is from migration (a gain of 176,914 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 116,035 people or 3.8% in Namibia.

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
Namibia
City Population
Windhoek 486K
Walvis Bay 103K
Swakopmund 75.9K
Otjiwarongo 49K
Rehoboth 40.8K
Tsumeb 35K
Gobabis 33.4K
Mariental 18.5K
Omaruru 10.8K

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/namibia | 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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