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Population in Costa Rica compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 3.52 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Costa Rica vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Netherlands
2100 3,804,183 17,359,081
2099 3,842,423 17,392,412
2098 3,880,999 17,425,508
2097 3,919,996 17,459,827
2096 3,959,352 17,495,124
2095 3,999,084 17,532,593
2094 4,039,053 17,571,051
2093 4,079,349 17,610,792
2092 4,119,898 17,649,611
2091 4,160,663 17,688,532
2090 4,201,548 17,730,570
2089 4,242,452 17,770,380
2088 4,283,327 17,809,825
2087 4,324,225 17,845,820
2086 4,364,979 17,885,001
2085 4,405,520 17,921,302
2084 4,445,770 17,957,639
2083 4,485,644 17,994,232
2082 4,525,171 18,029,404
2081 4,564,265 18,063,233
2080 4,602,737 18,093,703
2079 4,640,677 18,124,294
2078 4,677,935 18,152,738
2077 4,714,527 18,181,372
2076 4,750,309 18,206,864
2075 4,785,359 18,227,791
2074 4,819,691 18,245,652
2073 4,853,137 18,263,765
2072 4,885,727 18,280,443
2071 4,917,445 18,295,700
2070 4,948,313 18,311,141
2069 4,978,425 18,326,509
2068 5,007,604 18,341,711
2067 5,035,877 18,356,770
2066 5,063,521 18,374,904
2065 5,090,474 18,396,018
2064 5,116,546 18,417,894
2063 5,141,922 18,441,434
2062 5,166,260 18,464,922
2061 5,189,836 18,492,436
2060 5,212,549 18,520,315
2059 5,234,066 18,548,786
2058 5,254,528 18,577,700
2057 5,273,844 18,608,370
2056 5,292,013 18,638,918
2055 5,308,829 18,666,514
2054 5,324,305 18,692,598
2053 5,338,417 18,718,268
2052 5,350,974 18,741,740
2051 5,361,865 18,768,309
2050 5,371,197 18,789,481
2049 5,378,904 18,809,886
2048 5,385,081 18,827,655
2047 5,389,678 18,844,635
2046 5,392,713 18,855,920
2045 5,394,209 18,867,286
2044 5,394,124 18,877,101
2043 5,392,590 18,882,735
2042 5,389,628 18,885,839
2041 5,385,101 18,885,255
2040 5,379,344 18,879,571
2039 5,372,186 18,870,248
2038 5,363,617 18,855,512
2037 5,353,928 18,837,172
2036 5,343,027 18,811,873
2035 5,330,994 18,783,312
2034 5,317,895 18,750,125
2033 5,303,634 18,708,101
2032 5,288,416 18,662,054
2031 5,272,215 18,609,452
2030 5,255,064 18,549,634
2029 5,236,901 18,481,269
2028 5,217,724 18,404,195
2027 5,197,413 18,320,644
2026 5,176,096 18,227,403
2025 5,153,634 18,118,662
2024 5,129,910 17,993,485
2023 5,105,525 17,877,117
2022 5,081,765 17,700,982
2021 5,059,988 17,533,044
2020 5,034,320 17,441,500
2019 4,999,553 17,344,874
2018 4,957,818 17,231,624
2017 4,913,177 17,131,296
2016 4,866,998 17,030,314
2015 4,818,038 16,939,923
2014 4,767,119 16,865,008
2013 4,716,147 16,804,432
2012 4,663,934 16,754,962
2011 4,609,833 16,693,074
2010 4,555,962 16,615,394
2009 4,499,791 16,530,388
2008 4,440,056 16,445,593
2007 4,380,248 16,381,696
2006 4,321,340 16,346,101
2005 4,261,240 16,319,868
2004 4,200,078 16,281,779
2003 4,138,784 16,225,302
2002 4,075,705 16,148,929
2001 4,008,947 16,046,180
2000 3,937,739 15,925,513
1999 3,862,101 15,812,088
1998 3,782,838 15,707,209
1997 3,701,711 15,610,650
1996 3,619,013 15,530,498
1995 3,535,176 15,459,006
1994 3,451,122 15,382,838
1993 3,367,434 15,290,368
1992 3,284,258 15,184,166
1991 3,202,176 15,069,798
1990 3,121,706 14,951,510
1989 3,043,827 14,848,907
1988 2,968,103 14,760,094
1987 2,892,699 14,665,037
1986 2,817,216 14,572,278
1985 2,741,894 14,491,632
1984 2,667,595 14,424,211
1983 2,595,153 14,367,070
1982 2,524,806 14,312,690
1981 2,456,637 14,247,208
1980 2,390,633 14,149,800
1979 2,326,490 14,038,270
1978 2,264,510 13,941,700
1977 2,205,025 13,856,185
1976 2,147,774 13,774,037
1975 2,092,719 13,666,335
1974 2,039,643 13,545,056
1973 1,988,343 13,439,322
1972 1,938,248 13,328,593
1971 1,888,539 13,194,497
1970 1,838,949 13,038,526
1969 1,789,276 12,877,984
1968 1,739,731 12,729,721
1967 1,689,523 12,598,201
1966 1,638,116 12,456,251
1965 1,586,208 12,294,732
1964 1,533,960 12,127,120
1963 1,481,604 11,965,966
1962 1,429,445 11,805,689
1961 1,377,920 11,638,712
1960 1,327,496 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Netherlands
2100 -1% -0.19%
2099 -0.99% -0.19%
2098 -0.99% -0.2%
2097 -0.99% -0.2%
2096 -0.99% -0.21%
2095 -0.99% -0.22%
2094 -0.99% -0.23%
2093 -0.98% -0.22%
2092 -0.98% -0.22%
2091 -0.97% -0.24%
2090 -0.96% -0.22%
2089 -0.95% -0.22%
2088 -0.95% -0.2%
2087 -0.93% -0.22%
2086 -0.92% -0.2%
2085 -0.91% -0.2%
2084 -0.89% -0.2%
2083 -0.87% -0.2%
2082 -0.86% -0.19%
2081 -0.84% -0.17%
2080 -0.82% -0.17%
2079 -0.8% -0.16%
2078 -0.78% -0.16%
2077 -0.75% -0.14%
2076 -0.73% -0.11%
2075 -0.71% -0.1%
2074 -0.69% -0.1%
2073 -0.67% -0.09%
2072 -0.65% -0.08%
2071 -0.62% -0.08%
2070 -0.6% -0.08%
2069 -0.58% -0.08%
2068 -0.56% -0.08%
2067 -0.55% -0.1%
2066 -0.53% -0.11%
2065 -0.51% -0.12%
2064 -0.49% -0.13%
2063 -0.47% -0.13%
2062 -0.45% -0.15%
2061 -0.44% -0.15%
2060 -0.41% -0.15%
2059 -0.39% -0.16%
2058 -0.37% -0.16%
2057 -0.34% -0.16%
2056 -0.32% -0.15%
2055 -0.29% -0.14%
2054 -0.26% -0.14%
2053 -0.23% -0.13%
2052 -0.2% -0.14%
2051 -0.17% -0.11%
2050 -0.14% -0.11%
2049 -0.11% -0.09%
2048 -0.09% -0.09%
2047 -0.06% -0.06%
2046 -0.03% -0.06%
2045 0.002% -0.05%
2044 0.03% -0.03%
2043 0.05% -0.02%
2042 0.08% 0.003%
2041 0.11% 0.03%
2040 0.13% 0.05%
2039 0.16% 0.08%
2038 0.18% 0.1%
2037 0.2% 0.13%
2036 0.23% 0.15%
2035 0.25% 0.18%
2034 0.27% 0.22%
2033 0.29% 0.25%
2032 0.31% 0.28%
2031 0.33% 0.32%
2030 0.35% 0.37%
2029 0.37% 0.42%
2028 0.39% 0.46%
2027 0.41% 0.51%
2026 0.44% 0.6%
2025 0.46% 0.7%
2024 0.48% 0.65%
2023 0.47% 1%
2022 0.43% 0.96%
2021 0.51% 0.52%
2020 0.7% 0.56%
2019 0.84% 0.66%
2018 0.91% 0.59%
2017 0.95% 0.59%
2016 1.02% 0.53%
2015 1.07% 0.44%
2014 1.08% 0.36%
2013 1.12% 0.3%
2012 1.17% 0.37%
2011 1.18% 0.47%
2010 1.25% 0.51%
2009 1.35% 0.52%
2008 1.37% 0.39%
2007 1.36% 0.22%
2006 1.41% 0.16%
2005 1.46% 0.23%
2004 1.48% 0.35%
2003 1.55% 0.47%
2002 1.67% 0.64%
2001 1.81% 0.76%
2000 1.96% 0.72%
1999 2.1% 0.67%
1998 2.19% 0.62%
1997 2.29% 0.52%
1996 2.37% 0.46%
1995 2.44% 0.5%
1994 2.49% 0.6%
1993 2.53% 0.7%
1992 2.56% 0.76%
1991 2.58% 0.79%
1990 2.56% 0.69%
1989 2.55% 0.6%
1988 2.61% 0.65%
1987 2.68% 0.64%
1986 2.75% 0.56%
1985 2.79% 0.47%
1984 2.79% 0.4%
1983 2.79% 0.38%
1982 2.77% 0.46%
1981 2.76% 0.69%
1980 2.76% 0.79%
1979 2.74% 0.69%
1978 2.7% 0.62%
1977 2.67% 0.6%
1976 2.63% 0.79%
1975 2.6% 0.9%
1974 2.58% 0.79%
1973 2.58% 0.83%
1972 2.63% 1.02%
1971 2.7% 1.2%
1970 2.78% 1.25%
1969 2.85% 1.16%
1968 2.97% 1.04%
1967 3.14% 1.14%
1966 3.27% 1.31%
1965 3.41% 1.38%
1964 3.53% 1.35%
1963 3.65% 1.36%
1962 3.74% 1.43%
1961 3.8% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Netherlands
Current population
5181862
18252623
Population rank 126/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.22%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
4.52 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
3.2 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +319
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 121/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +104,681
Net migration rank 63/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 104,681
2024 - 967 - 121,628
2023 24,109 995 -5,363 144,558
2022 21,409 1,006 -1,770 224,472
2021 20,119 1,018 7,014 106,416
2020 29,164 1,029 0 67,598
2019 37,682 1,653 17,345 109,003
2018 42,469 1,673 15,508 87,197
2017 43,471 1,671 18,844 86,332
2016 45,565 1,649 23,843 88,743
2015 49,077 1,617 23,716 55,585
2014 49,559 1,589 35,417 36,591
2013 49,227 1,579 30,248 19,973
2012 52,036 1,587 35,186 14,861
2011 52,884 1,695 45,072 31,224
2010 50,803 2,357 48,184 33,703
2009 55,757 3,432 51,244 39,832
2008 56,491 3,794 49,337 32,406
2007 55,244 4,080 49,145 -304
2006 54,177 4,321 49,038 -25,401
2005 57,139 4,567 50,592 -22,496
2004 55,769 4,856 56,987 -9,230
2003 56,743 5,216 58,411 7,937
2002 58,388 5,812 59,751 28,824
2001 62,199 7,119 62,580 56,096
2000 64,268 8,826 66,887 59,308
1999 64,922 13,253 60,086 47,179
1998 64,788 15,556 61,258 52,058
1997 64,954 16,954 56,198 31,302
1996 66,094 17,393 51,251 21,792
1995 67,585 16,609 54,106 15,056
1994 68,336 15,587 61,532 20,193
1993 69,016 14,431 58,103 44,514
1992 69,830 13,069 66,811 50,148
1991 70,506 10,757 69,321 51,670
1990 71,727 7,949 68,777 53,564
1989 72,327 3,758 59,396 31,165
1988 72,944 2,414 61,993 31,026
1987 73,188 2,267 64,526 39,559
1986 73,211 2,302 59,746 30,380
1985 72,776 2,357 55,069 27,356
1984 71,062 2,402 54,812 12,902
1983 68,972 2,449 51,722 11,007
1982 66,826 2,453 54,388 7,644
1981 64,632 2,431 62,688 17,643
1980 62,561 2,387 66,504 54,010
1979 60,984 2,349 63,172 42,772
1978 58,327 2,296 61,344 26,639
1977 56,122 2,228 63,739 19,809
1976 54,019 2,129 63,361 18,774
1975 51,979 1,992 64,232 68,569
1974 50,349 1,839 75,853 31,645
1973 48,943 1,468 84,668 18,705
1972 48,417 1,366 101,297 17,470
1971 48,341 1,296 116,112 32,756
1970 48,398 1,137 129,082 32,438
1969 48,790 1,017 139,082 21,850
1968 48,361 939 132,389 7,243
1967 50,193 926 138,580 -10,673
1966 50,755 930 138,265 20,740
1965 51,196 932 146,308 19,444
1964 51,435 934 157,653 15,014
1963 51,403 938 154,361 -21
1962 51,046 934 153,474 18,024
1961 50,149 924 159,450 8,258
1960 48,857 910 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

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
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | 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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