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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 29,651,054 people in Nepal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 29,596,762 in Nepal.

Population statistics:

  • Nepal's population is 5.71 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Nepal is the 52nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.42% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.36% for Nepal.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.66% in Nepal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Nepal has grown from 26.6M to 29.6M (11.4% growth).

Costa Rica vs Nepal: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Nepal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Nepal
2100 3,804,183 31,902,377
2099 3,842,423 32,090,762
2098 3,880,999 32,277,789
2097 3,919,996 32,464,318
2096 3,959,352 32,647,891
2095 3,999,084 32,828,594
2094 4,039,053 33,009,460
2093 4,079,349 33,186,290
2092 4,119,898 33,361,327
2091 4,160,663 33,532,505
2090 4,201,548 33,699,660
2089 4,242,452 33,863,636
2088 4,283,327 34,022,597
2087 4,324,225 34,175,457
2086 4,364,979 34,322,945
2085 4,405,520 34,468,441
2084 4,445,770 34,605,513
2083 4,485,644 34,735,114
2082 4,525,171 34,856,938
2081 4,564,265 34,972,075
2080 4,602,737 35,080,783
2079 4,640,677 35,183,584
2078 4,677,935 35,277,254
2077 4,714,527 35,362,658
2076 4,750,309 35,440,746
2075 4,785,359 35,510,291
2074 4,819,691 35,573,094
2073 4,853,137 35,627,375
2072 4,885,727 35,670,886
2071 4,917,445 35,709,979
2070 4,948,313 35,739,580
2069 4,978,425 35,759,193
2068 5,007,604 35,770,405
2067 5,035,877 35,774,081
2066 5,063,521 35,770,220
2065 5,090,474 35,758,824
2064 5,116,546 35,737,661
2063 5,141,922 35,709,945
2062 5,166,260 35,669,839
2061 5,189,836 35,623,365
2060 5,212,549 35,567,728
2059 5,234,066 35,503,043
2058 5,254,528 35,427,419
2057 5,273,844 35,345,633
2056 5,292,013 35,253,644
2055 5,308,829 35,155,433
2054 5,324,305 35,050,330
2053 5,338,417 34,936,594
2052 5,350,974 34,816,009
2051 5,361,865 34,684,328
2050 5,371,197 34,546,267
2049 5,378,904 34,400,898
2048 5,385,081 34,250,249
2047 5,389,678 34,091,495
2046 5,392,713 33,921,975
2045 5,394,209 33,747,892
2044 5,394,124 33,566,784
2043 5,392,590 33,380,395
2042 5,389,628 33,186,321
2041 5,385,101 32,987,097
2040 5,379,344 32,781,189
2039 5,372,186 32,569,731
2038 5,363,617 32,349,742
2037 5,353,928 32,125,036
2036 5,343,027 31,892,962
2035 5,330,994 31,653,976
2034 5,317,895 31,407,460
2033 5,303,634 31,152,292
2032 5,288,416 30,890,627
2031 5,272,215 30,623,706
2030 5,255,064 30,349,201
2029 5,236,901 30,068,368
2028 5,217,724 29,780,585
2027 5,197,413 29,627,864
2026 5,176,096 29,585,230
2025 5,153,634 29,605,298
2024 5,129,910 29,651,054
2023 5,105,525 29,694,614
2022 5,081,765 29,715,436
2021 5,059,988 29,475,010
2020 5,034,320 28,966,574
2019 4,999,553 28,414,064
2018 4,957,818 28,079,689
2017 4,913,177 28,011,258
2016 4,866,998 27,955,462
2015 4,818,038 27,823,629
2014 4,767,119 27,672,370
2013 4,716,147 27,589,996
2012 4,663,934 27,534,915
2011 4,609,833 27,464,494
2010 4,555,962 27,341,952
2009 4,499,791 27,173,035
2008 4,440,056 26,990,037
2007 4,380,248 26,788,492
2006 4,321,340 26,565,425
2005 4,261,240 26,309,458
2004 4,200,078 26,016,656
2003 4,138,784 25,688,758
2002 4,075,705 25,328,981
2001 4,008,947 24,946,748
2000 3,937,739 24,546,509
1999 3,862,101 24,125,199
1998 3,782,838 23,680,357
1997 3,701,711 23,219,463
1996 3,619,013 22,741,862
1995 3,535,176 22,245,439
1994 3,451,122 21,717,479
1993 3,367,434 21,180,159
1992 3,284,258 20,609,707
1991 3,202,176 20,036,500
1990 3,121,706 19,524,573
1989 3,043,827 19,057,807
1988 2,968,103 18,638,661
1987 2,892,699 18,250,505
1986 2,817,216 17,868,124
1985 2,741,894 17,477,692
1984 2,667,595 17,085,242
1983 2,595,153 16,689,119
1982 2,524,806 16,297,987
1981 2,456,637 15,922,423
1980 2,390,633 15,553,105
1979 2,326,490 15,190,590
1978 2,264,510 14,839,695
1977 2,205,025 14,499,175
1976 2,147,774 14,177,649
1975 2,092,719 13,870,695
1974 2,039,643 13,568,435
1973 1,988,343 13,275,239
1972 1,938,248 12,989,099
1971 1,888,539 12,710,061
1970 1,838,949 12,436,190
1969 1,789,276 12,167,036
1968 1,739,731 11,906,266
1967 1,689,523 11,652,716
1966 1,638,116 11,408,710
1965 1,586,208 11,173,411
1964 1,533,960 10,946,392
1963 1,481,604 10,729,818
1962 1,429,445 10,521,116
1961 1,377,920 10,318,396
1960 1,327,496 10,123,658

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/nepal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Nepal gained 1,390,037 people (a 5.23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Nepal's population increased by 1,641,300 people (a 5.87% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Nepal was ranked 43rd in 2006 and ranked 52nd 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 Nepal will increase by 16.7% to 34,546,267 people and rank change from 52nd to 58th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 35.8M people in 2067 for Nepal.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Nepal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Nepal
2100 -1% -0.59%
2099 -0.99% -0.58%
2098 -0.99% -0.57%
2097 -0.99% -0.56%
2096 -0.99% -0.55%
2095 -0.99% -0.55%
2094 -0.99% -0.53%
2093 -0.98% -0.52%
2092 -0.98% -0.51%
2091 -0.97% -0.5%
2090 -0.96% -0.48%
2089 -0.95% -0.47%
2088 -0.95% -0.45%
2087 -0.93% -0.43%
2086 -0.92% -0.42%
2085 -0.91% -0.4%
2084 -0.89% -0.37%
2083 -0.87% -0.35%
2082 -0.86% -0.33%
2081 -0.84% -0.31%
2080 -0.82% -0.29%
2079 -0.8% -0.27%
2078 -0.78% -0.24%
2077 -0.75% -0.22%
2076 -0.73% -0.2%
2075 -0.71% -0.18%
2074 -0.69% -0.15%
2073 -0.67% -0.12%
2072 -0.65% -0.11%
2071 -0.62% -0.08%
2070 -0.6% -0.05%
2069 -0.58% -0.03%
2068 -0.56% -0.01%
2067 -0.55% 0.01%
2066 -0.53% 0.03%
2065 -0.51% 0.06%
2064 -0.49% 0.08%
2063 -0.47% 0.11%
2062 -0.45% 0.13%
2061 -0.44% 0.16%
2060 -0.41% 0.18%
2059 -0.39% 0.21%
2058 -0.37% 0.23%
2057 -0.34% 0.26%
2056 -0.32% 0.28%
2055 -0.29% 0.3%
2054 -0.26% 0.33%
2053 -0.23% 0.35%
2052 -0.2% 0.38%
2051 -0.17% 0.4%
2050 -0.14% 0.42%
2049 -0.11% 0.44%
2048 -0.09% 0.47%
2047 -0.06% 0.5%
2046 -0.03% 0.52%
2045 0.002% 0.54%
2044 0.03% 0.56%
2043 0.05% 0.58%
2042 0.08% 0.6%
2041 0.11% 0.63%
2040 0.13% 0.65%
2039 0.16% 0.68%
2038 0.18% 0.7%
2037 0.2% 0.73%
2036 0.23% 0.75%
2035 0.25% 0.78%
2034 0.27% 0.82%
2033 0.29% 0.85%
2032 0.31% 0.87%
2031 0.33% 0.9%
2030 0.35% 0.93%
2029 0.37% 0.97%
2028 0.39% 0.52%
2027 0.41% 0.14%
2026 0.44% -0.07%
2025 0.46% -0.15%
2024 0.48% -0.15%
2023 0.47% -0.07%
2022 0.43% 0.82%
2021 0.51% 1.76%
2020 0.7% 1.94%
2019 0.84% 1.19%
2018 0.91% 0.24%
2017 0.95% 0.2%
2016 1.02% 0.47%
2015 1.07% 0.55%
2014 1.08% 0.3%
2013 1.12% 0.2%
2012 1.17% 0.26%
2011 1.18% 0.45%
2010 1.25% 0.62%
2009 1.35% 0.68%
2008 1.37% 0.75%
2007 1.36% 0.84%
2006 1.41% 0.97%
2005 1.46% 1.13%
2004 1.48% 1.28%
2003 1.55% 1.42%
2002 1.67% 1.53%
2001 1.81% 1.63%
2000 1.96% 1.75%
1999 2.1% 1.88%
1998 2.19% 1.98%
1997 2.29% 2.1%
1996 2.37% 2.23%
1995 2.44% 2.43%
1994 2.49% 2.54%
1993 2.53% 2.77%
1992 2.56% 2.86%
1991 2.58% 2.62%
1990 2.56% 2.45%
1989 2.55% 2.25%
1988 2.61% 2.13%
1987 2.68% 2.14%
1986 2.75% 2.23%
1985 2.79% 2.3%
1984 2.79% 2.37%
1983 2.79% 2.4%
1982 2.77% 2.36%
1981 2.76% 2.37%
1980 2.76% 2.39%
1979 2.74% 2.36%
1978 2.7% 2.35%
1977 2.67% 2.27%
1976 2.63% 2.21%
1975 2.6% 2.23%
1974 2.58% 2.21%
1973 2.58% 2.2%
1972 2.63% 2.2%
1971 2.7% 2.2%
1970 2.78% 2.21%
1969 2.85% 2.19%
1968 2.97% 2.18%
1967 3.14% 2.14%
1966 3.27% 2.11%
1965 3.41% 2.07%
1964 3.53% 2.02%
1963 3.65% 1.98%
1962 3.74% 1.96%
1961 3.8% 1.92%

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/nepal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Nepal's population declined by 0.15%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Nepal
Current population
5181862
29596762
Population rank 126/197 52/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.36%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
12.1 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
54.9 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
2.55 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 -119
Annual growth/decline +24,385 -43,560
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% -0.15%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 174/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.45 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -364,699
Net migration rank 63/196 193/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 470,719
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 82/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 1.6%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 142/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Nepal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Nepal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -364,699
2024 - 967 - -401,282
2023 24,109 995 368,450 -409,782
2022 21,409 1,006 379,021 -379,321
2021 20,119 1,018 351,165 130,001
2020 29,164 1,029 373,553 162,139
2019 37,682 1,653 387,113 182,203
2018 42,469 1,673 394,576 -295,151
2017 43,471 1,671 406,219 -368,787
2016 45,565 1,649 415,921 -341,748
2015 49,077 1,617 410,565 -221,062
2014 49,559 1,589 423,166 -310,156
2013 49,227 1,579 424,804 -373,064
2012 52,036 1,587 430,151 -371,707
2011 52,884 1,695 429,957 -347,552
2010 50,803 2,357 432,631 -269,963
2009 55,757 3,432 441,290 -266,144
2008 56,491 3,794 452,353 -261,540
2007 55,244 4,080 464,780 -252,526
2006 54,177 4,321 475,335 -241,455
2005 57,139 4,567 489,093 -211,024
2004 55,769 4,856 504,853 -197,336
2003 56,743 5,216 516,575 -168,314
2002 58,388 5,812 525,045 -153,730
2001 62,199 7,119 542,118 -148,973
2000 64,268 8,826 554,506 -147,193
1999 64,922 13,253 557,847 -122,551
1998 64,788 15,556 562,787 -108,400
1997 64,954 16,954 565,882 -98,454
1996 66,094 17,393 580,099 -92,307
1995 67,585 16,609 591,283 -86,232
1994 68,336 15,587 578,293 -27,415
1993 69,016 14,431 561,549 -37,782
1992 69,830 13,069 533,029 84,113
1991 70,506 10,757 512,233 17,056
1990 71,727 7,949 495,202 -640
1989 72,327 3,758 478,771 -39,808
1988 72,944 2,414 463,581 -64,246
1987 73,188 2,267 449,400 -72,437
1986 73,211 2,302 434,802 -47,017
1985 72,776 2,357 423,240 -30,154
1984 71,062 2,402 411,122 -19,300
1983 68,972 2,449 399,103 1,304
1982 66,826 2,453 385,741 -3,898
1981 64,632 2,431 374,145 -4,855
1980 62,561 2,387 364,254 5,084
1979 60,984 2,349 355,597 88
1978 58,327 2,296 345,765 346
1977 56,122 2,228 332,843 2,108
1976 54,019 2,129 323,222 -15,119
1975 51,979 1,992 312,479 -6,686
1974 50,349 1,839 303,078 -4,361
1973 48,943 1,468 288,750 -1,076
1972 48,417 1,366 286,708 -2,107
1971 48,341 1,296 280,752 -7,284
1970 48,398 1,137 272,439 1,847
1969 48,790 1,017 264,560 -527
1968 48,361 939 258,259 -746
1967 50,193 926 249,240 347
1966 50,755 930 241,716 -3,306
1965 51,196 932 233,726 -1,551
1964 51,435 934 227,948 -6,087
1963 51,403 938 219,586 -8,303
1962 51,046 934 215,368 -9,249
1961 50,149 924 209,917 -10,601
1960 48,857 910 203,374 -13,223

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/nepal | 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 Nepal 67.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,909,749 people) and 32.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,851,664 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 470,719 people or 1.6% in Nepal.

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
Nepal
City Population
Kathmandu 846K
Lalitpur 513K
Pokhara 354K
Birgunj 268K
Biratnagar 243K
Bheemdatta 105K
Dhangadhi 102K
Janakpur 97.8K
Hetauda 84.7K
Damak 75.1K

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/nepal | 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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