The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 11,947 people in Nauru in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 12,125 in Nauru.
Population statistics:
- Costa Rica's population is 427 times bigger than Nauru's.
- Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Nauru is the 195th.
- The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.0001% for Nauru.
- For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.17% in Nauru.
- Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Nauru has grown from 10K to 12.1K (20.8% growth).
Costa Rica vs Nauru: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Costa Rica
|
Nauru
|
|
| 2100 | 3,804,183 | 20,717 |
| 2099 | 3,842,423 | 20,686 |
| 2098 | 3,880,999 | 20,645 |
| 2097 | 3,919,996 | 20,605 |
| 2096 | 3,959,352 | 20,570 |
| 2095 | 3,999,084 | 20,535 |
| 2094 | 4,039,053 | 20,488 |
| 2093 | 4,079,349 | 20,432 |
| 2092 | 4,119,898 | 20,386 |
| 2091 | 4,160,663 | 20,341 |
| 2090 | 4,201,548 | 20,285 |
| 2089 | 4,242,452 | 20,219 |
| 2088 | 4,283,327 | 20,152 |
| 2087 | 4,324,225 | 20,096 |
| 2086 | 4,364,979 | 20,028 |
| 2085 | 4,405,520 | 19,959 |
| 2084 | 4,445,770 | 19,880 |
| 2083 | 4,485,644 | 19,796 |
| 2082 | 4,525,171 | 19,709 |
| 2081 | 4,564,265 | 19,611 |
| 2080 | 4,602,737 | 19,525 |
| 2079 | 4,640,677 | 19,420 |
| 2078 | 4,677,935 | 19,312 |
| 2077 | 4,714,527 | 19,206 |
| 2076 | 4,750,309 | 19,098 |
| 2075 | 4,785,359 | 18,986 |
| 2074 | 4,819,691 | 18,874 |
| 2073 | 4,853,137 | 18,758 |
| 2072 | 4,885,727 | 18,638 |
| 2071 | 4,917,445 | 18,535 |
| 2070 | 4,948,313 | 18,396 |
| 2069 | 4,978,425 | 18,289 |
| 2068 | 5,007,604 | 18,168 |
| 2067 | 5,035,877 | 18,025 |
| 2066 | 5,063,521 | 17,903 |
| 2065 | 5,090,474 | 17,777 |
| 2064 | 5,116,546 | 17,649 |
| 2063 | 5,141,922 | 17,524 |
| 2062 | 5,166,260 | 17,402 |
| 2061 | 5,189,836 | 17,267 |
| 2060 | 5,212,549 | 17,137 |
| 2059 | 5,234,066 | 17,013 |
| 2058 | 5,254,528 | 16,882 |
| 2057 | 5,273,844 | 16,752 |
| 2056 | 5,292,013 | 16,612 |
| 2055 | 5,308,829 | 16,472 |
| 2054 | 5,324,305 | 16,335 |
| 2053 | 5,338,417 | 16,193 |
| 2052 | 5,350,974 | 16,049 |
| 2051 | 5,361,865 | 15,888 |
| 2050 | 5,371,197 | 15,738 |
| 2049 | 5,378,904 | 15,572 |
| 2048 | 5,385,081 | 15,412 |
| 2047 | 5,389,678 | 15,241 |
| 2046 | 5,392,713 | 15,064 |
| 2045 | 5,394,209 | 14,895 |
| 2044 | 5,394,124 | 14,718 |
| 2043 | 5,392,590 | 14,546 |
| 2042 | 5,389,628 | 14,363 |
| 2041 | 5,385,101 | 14,180 |
| 2040 | 5,379,344 | 13,996 |
| 2039 | 5,372,186 | 13,827 |
| 2038 | 5,363,617 | 13,672 |
| 2037 | 5,353,928 | 13,513 |
| 2036 | 5,343,027 | 13,363 |
| 2035 | 5,330,994 | 13,196 |
| 2034 | 5,317,895 | 13,040 |
| 2033 | 5,303,634 | 12,894 |
| 2032 | 5,288,416 | 12,758 |
| 2031 | 5,272,215 | 12,625 |
| 2030 | 5,255,064 | 12,504 |
| 2029 | 5,236,901 | 12,386 |
| 2028 | 5,217,724 | 12,292 |
| 2027 | 5,197,413 | 12,182 |
| 2026 | 5,176,096 | 12,105 |
| 2025 | 5,153,634 | 12,030 |
| 2024 | 5,129,910 | 11,947 |
| 2023 | 5,105,525 | 11,875 |
| 2022 | 5,081,765 | 11,801 |
| 2021 | 5,059,988 | 11,709 |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 | 11,643 |
| 2019 | 4,999,553 | 11,587 |
| 2018 | 4,957,818 | 11,477 |
| 2017 | 4,913,177 | 11,324 |
| 2016 | 4,866,998 | 11,150 |
| 2015 | 4,818,038 | 10,954 |
| 2014 | 4,767,119 | 10,742 |
| 2013 | 4,716,147 | 10,517 |
| 2012 | 4,663,934 | 10,267 |
| 2011 | 4,609,833 | 10,098 |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 | 10,043 |
| 2009 | 4,499,791 | 10,016 |
| 2008 | 4,440,056 | 10,009 |
| 2007 | 4,380,248 | 10,020 |
| 2006 | 4,321,340 | 10,034 |
| 2005 | 4,261,240 | 10,049 |
| 2004 | 4,200,078 | 10,060 |
| 2003 | 4,138,784 | 10,059 |
| 2002 | 4,075,705 | 10,082 |
| 2001 | 4,008,947 | 10,130 |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 | 10,168 |
| 1999 | 3,862,101 | 10,187 |
| 1998 | 3,782,838 | 10,198 |
| 1997 | 3,701,711 | 10,197 |
| 1996 | 3,619,013 | 10,183 |
| 1995 | 3,535,176 | 10,165 |
| 1994 | 3,451,122 | 10,137 |
| 1993 | 3,367,434 | 10,102 |
| 1992 | 3,284,258 | 10,021 |
| 1991 | 3,202,176 | 9,850 |
| 1990 | 3,121,706 | 9,622 |
| 1989 | 3,043,827 | 9,390 |
| 1988 | 2,968,103 | 9,165 |
| 1987 | 2,892,699 | 8,946 |
| 1986 | 2,817,216 | 8,742 |
| 1985 | 2,741,894 | 8,551 |
| 1984 | 2,667,595 | 8,377 |
| 1983 | 2,595,153 | 8,216 |
| 1982 | 2,524,806 | 8,040 |
| 1981 | 2,456,637 | 7,839 |
| 1980 | 2,390,633 | 7,649 |
| 1979 | 2,326,490 | 7,468 |
| 1978 | 2,264,510 | 7,298 |
| 1977 | 2,205,025 | 7,163 |
| 1976 | 2,147,774 | 7,064 |
| 1975 | 2,092,719 | 6,987 |
| 1974 | 2,039,643 | 6,923 |
| 1973 | 1,988,343 | 6,866 |
| 1972 | 1,938,248 | 6,812 |
| 1971 | 1,888,539 | 6,762 |
| 1970 | 1,838,949 | 6,710 |
| 1969 | 1,789,276 | 6,581 |
| 1968 | 1,739,731 | 6,328 |
| 1967 | 1,689,523 | 6,135 |
| 1966 | 1,638,116 | 6,043 |
| 1965 | 1,586,208 | 5,832 |
| 1964 | 1,533,960 | 5,515 |
| 1963 | 1,481,604 | 5,226 |
| 1962 | 1,429,445 | 4,979 |
| 1961 | 1,377,920 | 4,774 |
| 1960 | 1,327,496 | 4,607 |
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/nauru | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Nauru gained 1,116 people (a 11.1% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Nauru's population increased by 975 people (a 8.74% growth).
Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Nauru was ranked 196th in 2006 and ranked 195th 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 Nauru will increase by 29.8% to 15,738 people and rank change from 195th to 194th.
Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 20.7K people in 2100 for Nauru.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Costa Rica
|
Nauru
|
|
| 2100 | -1% | 0.15% |
| 2099 | -0.99% | 0.2% |
| 2098 | -0.99% | 0.19% |
| 2097 | -0.99% | 0.17% |
| 2096 | -0.99% | 0.17% |
| 2095 | -0.99% | 0.23% |
| 2094 | -0.99% | 0.27% |
| 2093 | -0.98% | 0.23% |
| 2092 | -0.98% | 0.22% |
| 2091 | -0.97% | 0.28% |
| 2090 | -0.96% | 0.33% |
| 2089 | -0.95% | 0.33% |
| 2088 | -0.95% | 0.28% |
| 2087 | -0.93% | 0.34% |
| 2086 | -0.92% | 0.35% |
| 2085 | -0.91% | 0.39% |
| 2084 | -0.89% | 0.43% |
| 2083 | -0.87% | 0.44% |
| 2082 | -0.86% | 0.5% |
| 2081 | -0.84% | 0.44% |
| 2080 | -0.82% | 0.54% |
| 2079 | -0.8% | 0.56% |
| 2078 | -0.78% | 0.55% |
| 2077 | -0.75% | 0.57% |
| 2076 | -0.73% | 0.59% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | 0.6% |
| 2074 | -0.69% | 0.62% |
| 2073 | -0.67% | 0.65% |
| 2072 | -0.65% | 0.56% |
| 2071 | -0.62% | 0.75% |
| 2070 | -0.6% | 0.59% |
| 2069 | -0.58% | 0.66% |
| 2068 | -0.56% | 0.8% |
| 2067 | -0.55% | 0.68% |
| 2066 | -0.53% | 0.71% |
| 2065 | -0.51% | 0.73% |
| 2064 | -0.49% | 0.71% |
| 2063 | -0.47% | 0.7% |
| 2062 | -0.45% | 0.78% |
| 2061 | -0.44% | 0.76% |
| 2060 | -0.41% | 0.73% |
| 2059 | -0.39% | 0.78% |
| 2058 | -0.37% | 0.77% |
| 2057 | -0.34% | 0.85% |
| 2056 | -0.32% | 0.85% |
| 2055 | -0.29% | 0.84% |
| 2054 | -0.26% | 0.87% |
| 2053 | -0.23% | 0.9% |
| 2052 | -0.2% | 1.01% |
| 2051 | -0.17% | 0.96% |
| 2050 | -0.14% | 1.06% |
| 2049 | -0.11% | 1.04% |
| 2048 | -0.09% | 1.12% |
| 2047 | -0.06% | 1.17% |
| 2046 | -0.03% | 1.14% |
| 2045 | 0.002% | 1.2% |
| 2044 | 0.03% | 1.19% |
| 2043 | 0.05% | 1.27% |
| 2042 | 0.08% | 1.29% |
| 2041 | 0.11% | 1.32% |
| 2040 | 0.13% | 1.22% |
| 2039 | 0.16% | 1.14% |
| 2038 | 0.18% | 1.17% |
| 2037 | 0.2% | 1.12% |
| 2036 | 0.23% | 1.27% |
| 2035 | 0.25% | 1.19% |
| 2034 | 0.27% | 1.14% |
| 2033 | 0.29% | 1.06% |
| 2032 | 0.31% | 1.06% |
| 2031 | 0.33% | 0.96% |
| 2030 | 0.35% | 0.96% |
| 2029 | 0.37% | 0.77% |
| 2028 | 0.39% | 0.9% |
| 2027 | 0.41% | 0.64% |
| 2026 | 0.44% | 0.63% |
| 2025 | 0.46% | 0.7% |
| 2024 | 0.48% | 0.61% |
| 2023 | 0.47% | 0.63% |
| 2022 | 0.43% | 0.79% |
| 2021 | 0.51% | 0.57% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | 0.48% |
| 2019 | 0.84% | 0.96% |
| 2018 | 0.91% | 1.35% |
| 2017 | 0.95% | 1.56% |
| 2016 | 1.02% | 1.79% |
| 2015 | 1.07% | 1.97% |
| 2014 | 1.08% | 2.14% |
| 2013 | 1.12% | 2.43% |
| 2012 | 1.17% | 1.67% |
| 2011 | 1.18% | 0.55% |
| 2010 | 1.25% | 0.27% |
| 2009 | 1.35% | 0.07% |
| 2008 | 1.37% | -0.11% |
| 2007 | 1.36% | -0.14% |
| 2006 | 1.41% | -0.15% |
| 2005 | 1.46% | -0.11% |
| 2004 | 1.48% | 0.01% |
| 2003 | 1.55% | -0.23% |
| 2002 | 1.67% | -0.47% |
| 2001 | 1.81% | -0.37% |
| 2000 | 1.96% | -0.19% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | -0.11% |
| 1998 | 2.19% | 0.01% |
| 1997 | 2.29% | 0.14% |
| 1996 | 2.37% | 0.18% |
| 1995 | 2.44% | 0.28% |
| 1994 | 2.49% | 0.35% |
| 1993 | 2.53% | 0.81% |
| 1992 | 2.56% | 1.74% |
| 1991 | 2.58% | 2.37% |
| 1990 | 2.56% | 2.47% |
| 1989 | 2.55% | 2.45% |
| 1988 | 2.61% | 2.45% |
| 1987 | 2.68% | 2.33% |
| 1986 | 2.75% | 2.23% |
| 1985 | 2.79% | 2.08% |
| 1984 | 2.79% | 1.96% |
| 1983 | 2.79% | 2.19% |
| 1982 | 2.77% | 2.56% |
| 1981 | 2.76% | 2.48% |
| 1980 | 2.76% | 2.42% |
| 1979 | 2.74% | 2.33% |
| 1978 | 2.7% | 1.88% |
| 1977 | 2.67% | 1.4% |
| 1976 | 2.63% | 1.1% |
| 1975 | 2.6% | 0.92% |
| 1974 | 2.58% | 0.83% |
| 1973 | 2.58% | 0.79% |
| 1972 | 2.63% | 0.74% |
| 1971 | 2.7% | 0.77% |
| 1970 | 2.78% | 1.96% |
| 1969 | 2.85% | 4% |
| 1968 | 2.97% | 3.15% |
| 1967 | 3.14% | 1.52% |
| 1966 | 3.27% | 3.62% |
| 1965 | 3.41% | 5.75% |
| 1964 | 3.53% | 5.53% |
| 1963 | 3.65% | 4.96% |
| 1962 | 3.74% | 4.29% |
| 1961 | 3.8% | 3.62% |
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/nauru | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Nauru's population grew by 0.61%.
Live population counters
|
Costa Rica
|
Nauru
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5181862
|
12125
|
| Population rank | 126/197 | 195/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.06% | 0.0001% |
| One net population change |
21.6 minutes
|
5.07 days
|
| One birth every |
10.1 minutes
|
1.21 days
|
| One death every |
18.9 minutes
|
4.1 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | +67 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +24,385 | +72 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.48% | +0.61% |
| Population growth rate rank | 138/197 | 126/197 |
| One migration net change every |
8.78 hours
|
3 days
|
| Annual migration change | +1,000 | -122 |
| Net migration rank | 63/196 | 82/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 628,404 | 2,548 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 75/195 | 191/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 12.2% | 21.3% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 55/195 | 29/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Costa Rica
|
Nauru
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 1,000 | - | -122 |
| 2024 | - | 967 | - | -121 |
| 2023 | 24,109 | 995 | 213 | -148 |
| 2022 | 21,409 | 1,006 | 226 | -144 |
| 2021 | 20,119 | 1,018 | 236 | -137 |
| 2020 | 29,164 | 1,029 | 246 | -214 |
| 2019 | 37,682 | 1,653 | 255 | -171 |
| 2018 | 42,469 | 1,673 | 265 | -131 |
| 2017 | 43,471 | 1,671 | 279 | -115 |
| 2016 | 45,565 | 1,649 | 289 | -105 |
| 2015 | 49,077 | 1,617 | 291 | -86 |
| 2014 | 49,559 | 1,589 | 290 | -69 |
| 2013 | 49,227 | 1,579 | 291 | -53 |
| 2012 | 52,036 | 1,587 | 292 | -38 |
| 2011 | 52,884 | 1,695 | 291 | -206 |
| 2010 | 50,803 | 2,357 | 281 | -246 |
| 2009 | 55,757 | 3,432 | 261 | -249 |
| 2008 | 56,491 | 3,794 | 240 | -243 |
| 2007 | 55,244 | 4,080 | 222 | -235 |
| 2006 | 54,177 | 4,321 | 209 | -224 |
| 2005 | 57,139 | 4,567 | 204 | -217 |
| 2004 | 55,769 | 4,856 | 202 | -210 |
| 2003 | 56,743 | 5,216 | 201 | -199 |
| 2002 | 58,388 | 5,812 | 200 | -247 |
| 2001 | 62,199 | 7,119 | 203 | -252 |
| 2000 | 64,268 | 8,826 | 207 | -236 |
| 1999 | 64,922 | 13,253 | 212 | -227 |
| 1998 | 64,788 | 15,556 | 214 | -217 |
| 1997 | 64,954 | 16,954 | 218 | -209 |
| 1996 | 66,094 | 17,393 | 221 | -204 |
| 1995 | 67,585 | 16,609 | 225 | -201 |
| 1994 | 68,336 | 15,587 | 229 | -196 |
| 1993 | 69,016 | 14,431 | 235 | -194 |
| 1992 | 69,830 | 13,069 | 237 | -121 |
| 1991 | 70,506 | 10,757 | 225 | 0 |
| 1990 | 71,727 | 7,949 | 214 | 20 |
| 1989 | 72,327 | 3,758 | 204 | 24 |
| 1988 | 72,944 | 2,414 | 195 | 29 |
| 1987 | 73,188 | 2,267 | 186 | 27 |
| 1986 | 73,211 | 2,302 | 178 | 21 |
| 1985 | 72,776 | 2,357 | 171 | 8 |
| 1984 | 71,062 | 2,402 | 166 | -2 |
| 1983 | 68,972 | 2,449 | 163 | -5 |
| 1982 | 66,826 | 2,453 | 162 | 30 |
| 1981 | 64,632 | 2,431 | 157 | 44 |
| 1980 | 62,561 | 2,387 | 145 | 44 |
| 1979 | 60,984 | 2,349 | 130 | 48 |
| 1978 | 58,327 | 2,296 | 111 | 40 |
| 1977 | 56,122 | 2,228 | 89 | 32 |
| 1976 | 54,019 | 2,129 | 79 | 0 |
| 1975 | 51,979 | 1,992 | 70 | 0 |
| 1974 | 50,349 | 1,839 | 63 | 0 |
| 1973 | 48,943 | 1,468 | 57 | 0 |
| 1972 | 48,417 | 1,366 | 53 | 0 |
| 1971 | 48,341 | 1,296 | 50 | 0 |
| 1970 | 48,398 | 1,137 | 49 | 0 |
| 1969 | 48,790 | 1,017 | 71 | 132 |
| 1968 | 48,361 | 939 | 116 | 180 |
| 1967 | 50,193 | 926 | 117 | -28 |
| 1966 | 50,755 | 930 | 123 | -32 |
| 1965 | 51,196 | 932 | 113 | 218 |
| 1964 | 51,435 | 934 | 100 | 203 |
| 1963 | 51,403 | 938 | 88 | 181 |
| 1962 | 51,046 | 934 | 75 | 158 |
| 1961 | 50,149 | 924 | 70 | 120 |
| 1960 | 48,857 | 910 | 72 | 76 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/nauru | 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 Nauru 66.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,590 people) and 33.8% is from migration (a loss of 1,320 people).
As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 2,548 people or 21.3% in Nauru.
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 |
|
Nauru
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Yaren | 747 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Costa Rica and Nauru
|
Costa Rica
|
Nauru
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 81.4 years | 62.6 years |
| Average age | 37 years | 25.3 years |
| Median age | 35.6 years | 21.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.4:50.6 | 50.9:49.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.33 births per woman | 3.33 births per woman |
| Population density | 262.6 ppl/mi² | 1,568 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/nauru | 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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