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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 6,916,140 people in Nicaragua in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 7,124,343 in Nicaragua.

Population statistics:

  • Nicaragua's population is 1.37 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Nicaragua is the 107th.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.09% for Nicaragua.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.33% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.12M (31.5% growth).

Costa Rica vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Nicaragua
2100 3,804,183 8,688,116
2099 3,842,423 8,724,538
2098 3,880,999 8,760,232
2097 3,919,996 8,794,755
2096 3,959,352 8,828,433
2095 3,999,084 8,861,157
2094 4,039,053 8,892,755
2093 4,079,349 8,924,287
2092 4,119,898 8,954,488
2091 4,160,663 8,984,026
2090 4,201,548 9,012,075
2089 4,242,452 9,039,709
2088 4,283,327 9,065,862
2087 4,324,225 9,090,942
2086 4,364,979 9,115,336
2085 4,405,520 9,138,363
2084 4,445,770 9,160,205
2083 4,485,644 9,180,483
2082 4,525,171 9,199,639
2081 4,564,265 9,217,574
2080 4,602,737 9,233,677
2079 4,640,677 9,247,995
2078 4,677,935 9,260,269
2077 4,714,527 9,271,296
2076 4,750,309 9,280,355
2075 4,785,359 9,287,263
2074 4,819,691 9,293,340
2073 4,853,137 9,297,217
2072 4,885,727 9,298,930
2071 4,917,445 9,298,548
2070 4,948,313 9,296,541
2069 4,978,425 9,292,245
2068 5,007,604 9,285,519
2067 5,035,877 9,277,073
2066 5,063,521 9,266,063
2065 5,090,474 9,253,359
2064 5,116,546 9,238,451
2063 5,141,922 9,221,261
2062 5,166,260 9,201,687
2061 5,189,836 9,180,231
2060 5,212,549 9,156,164
2059 5,234,066 9,129,485
2058 5,254,528 9,100,437
2057 5,273,844 9,069,770
2056 5,292,013 9,037,076
2055 5,308,829 9,002,004
2054 5,324,305 8,964,646
2053 5,338,417 8,925,248
2052 5,350,974 8,883,323
2051 5,361,865 8,838,651
2050 5,371,197 8,791,647
2049 5,378,904 8,743,003
2048 5,385,081 8,691,701
2047 5,389,678 8,638,293
2046 5,392,713 8,583,244
2045 5,394,209 8,525,953
2044 5,394,124 8,466,669
2043 5,392,590 8,405,733
2042 5,389,628 8,342,871
2041 5,385,101 8,278,159
2040 5,379,344 8,211,510
2039 5,372,186 8,143,346
2038 5,363,617 8,072,943
2037 5,353,928 8,000,701
2036 5,343,027 7,926,969
2035 5,330,994 7,851,540
2034 5,317,895 7,774,327
2033 5,303,634 7,695,506
2032 5,288,416 7,615,273
2031 5,272,215 7,533,169
2030 5,255,064 7,449,842
2029 5,236,901 7,364,850
2028 5,217,724 7,278,061
2027 5,197,413 7,189,755
2026 5,176,096 7,100,090
2025 5,153,634 7,008,896
2024 5,129,910 6,916,140
2023 5,105,525 6,823,613
2022 5,081,765 6,730,654
2021 5,059,988 6,644,741
2020 5,034,320 6,565,267
2019 4,999,553 6,483,657
2018 4,957,818 6,400,080
2017 4,913,177 6,316,231
2016 4,866,998 6,232,666
2015 4,818,038 6,149,417
2014 4,767,119 6,066,492
2013 4,716,147 5,983,845
2012 4,663,934 5,901,287
2011 4,609,833 5,819,051
2010 4,555,962 5,737,450
2009 4,499,791 5,656,601
2008 4,440,056 5,576,593
2007 4,380,248 5,497,243
2006 4,321,340 5,418,855
2005 4,261,240 5,342,105
2004 4,200,078 5,272,912
2003 4,138,784 5,210,963
2002 4,075,705 5,149,909
2001 4,008,947 5,087,825
2000 3,937,739 5,022,633
1999 3,862,101 4,954,018
1998 3,782,838 4,883,655
1997 3,701,711 4,809,573
1996 3,619,013 4,729,974
1995 3,535,176 4,642,931
1994 3,451,122 4,549,316
1993 3,367,434 4,453,732
1992 3,284,258 4,357,026
1991 3,202,176 4,259,637
1990 3,121,706 4,162,559
1989 3,043,827 4,066,476
1988 2,968,103 3,972,320
1987 2,892,699 3,882,164
1986 2,817,216 3,794,157
1985 2,741,894 3,706,479
1984 2,667,595 3,619,104
1983 2,595,153 3,530,282
1982 2,524,806 3,438,745
1981 2,456,637 3,345,674
1980 2,390,633 3,252,403
1979 2,326,490 3,164,525
1978 2,264,510 3,080,314
1977 2,205,025 2,992,534
1976 2,147,774 2,903,851
1975 2,092,719 2,816,943
1974 2,039,643 2,732,075
1973 1,988,343 2,649,278
1972 1,938,248 2,573,578
1971 1,888,539 2,499,825
1970 1,838,949 2,423,065
1969 1,789,276 2,348,398
1968 1,739,731 2,275,836
1967 1,689,523 2,205,567
1966 1,638,116 2,137,820
1965 1,586,208 2,072,681
1964 1,533,960 2,010,176
1963 1,481,604 1,950,159
1962 1,429,445 1,892,320
1961 1,377,920 1,836,451
1960 1,327,496 1,782,370

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/nicaragua | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Nicaragua gained 813,811 people (a 15% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Nicaragua's population increased by 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Nicaragua was ranked 109th in 2006 and ranked 107th 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 Nicaragua will increase by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people and rank change from 107th to 108th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 9.3M people in 2072 for Nicaragua.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Nicaragua
2100 -1% -0.42%
2099 -0.99% -0.41%
2098 -0.99% -0.39%
2097 -0.99% -0.38%
2096 -0.99% -0.37%
2095 -0.99% -0.36%
2094 -0.99% -0.35%
2093 -0.98% -0.34%
2092 -0.98% -0.33%
2091 -0.97% -0.31%
2090 -0.96% -0.31%
2089 -0.95% -0.29%
2088 -0.95% -0.28%
2087 -0.93% -0.27%
2086 -0.92% -0.25%
2085 -0.91% -0.24%
2084 -0.89% -0.22%
2083 -0.87% -0.21%
2082 -0.86% -0.19%
2081 -0.84% -0.17%
2080 -0.82% -0.15%
2079 -0.8% -0.13%
2078 -0.78% -0.12%
2077 -0.75% -0.1%
2076 -0.73% -0.07%
2075 -0.71% -0.07%
2074 -0.69% -0.04%
2073 -0.67% -0.02%
2072 -0.65% 0.004%
2071 -0.62% 0.02%
2070 -0.6% 0.05%
2069 -0.58% 0.07%
2068 -0.56% 0.09%
2067 -0.55% 0.12%
2066 -0.53% 0.14%
2065 -0.51% 0.16%
2064 -0.49% 0.19%
2063 -0.47% 0.21%
2062 -0.45% 0.23%
2061 -0.44% 0.26%
2060 -0.41% 0.29%
2059 -0.39% 0.32%
2058 -0.37% 0.34%
2057 -0.34% 0.36%
2056 -0.32% 0.39%
2055 -0.29% 0.42%
2054 -0.26% 0.44%
2053 -0.23% 0.47%
2052 -0.2% 0.51%
2051 -0.17% 0.53%
2050 -0.14% 0.56%
2049 -0.11% 0.59%
2048 -0.09% 0.62%
2047 -0.06% 0.64%
2046 -0.03% 0.67%
2045 0.002% 0.7%
2044 0.03% 0.72%
2043 0.05% 0.75%
2042 0.08% 0.78%
2041 0.11% 0.81%
2040 0.13% 0.84%
2039 0.16% 0.87%
2038 0.18% 0.9%
2037 0.2% 0.93%
2036 0.23% 0.96%
2035 0.25% 0.99%
2034 0.27% 1.02%
2033 0.29% 1.05%
2032 0.31% 1.09%
2031 0.33% 1.12%
2030 0.35% 1.15%
2029 0.37% 1.19%
2028 0.39% 1.23%
2027 0.41% 1.26%
2026 0.44% 1.3%
2025 0.46% 1.34%
2024 0.48% 1.36%
2023 0.47% 1.38%
2022 0.43% 1.29%
2021 0.51% 1.21%
2020 0.7% 1.26%
2019 0.84% 1.31%
2018 0.91% 1.33%
2017 0.95% 1.34%
2016 1.02% 1.35%
2015 1.07% 1.37%
2014 1.08% 1.38%
2013 1.12% 1.4%
2012 1.17% 1.41%
2011 1.18% 1.42%
2010 1.25% 1.43%
2009 1.35% 1.43%
2008 1.37% 1.44%
2007 1.36% 1.45%
2006 1.41% 1.44%
2005 1.46% 1.31%
2004 1.48% 1.19%
2003 1.55% 1.19%
2002 1.67% 1.22%
2001 1.81% 1.3%
2000 1.96% 1.39%
1999 2.1% 1.44%
1998 2.19% 1.54%
1997 2.29% 1.68%
1996 2.37% 1.87%
1995 2.44% 2.06%
1994 2.49% 2.15%
1993 2.53% 2.22%
1992 2.56% 2.29%
1991 2.58% 2.33%
1990 2.56% 2.36%
1989 2.55% 2.37%
1988 2.61% 2.32%
1987 2.68% 2.32%
1986 2.75% 2.37%
1985 2.79% 2.41%
1984 2.79% 2.52%
1983 2.79% 2.66%
1982 2.77% 2.78%
1981 2.76% 2.87%
1980 2.76% 2.78%
1979 2.74% 2.73%
1978 2.7% 2.93%
1977 2.67% 3.05%
1976 2.63% 3.09%
1975 2.6% 3.11%
1974 2.58% 3.13%
1973 2.58% 2.94%
1972 2.63% 2.95%
1971 2.7% 3.17%
1970 2.78% 3.18%
1969 2.85% 3.19%
1968 2.97% 3.19%
1967 3.14% 3.17%
1966 3.27% 3.14%
1965 3.41% 3.11%
1964 3.53% 3.08%
1963 3.65% 3.06%
1962 3.74% 3.04%
1961 3.8% 3.03%

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/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.36%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Nicaragua
Current population
5181862
7124343
Population rank 126/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.09%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
5.68 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
3.98 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
16.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +253
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +92,527
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.36%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 78/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.05 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -8,371
Net migration rank 63/196 129/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 43,757
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 154/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 172/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Nicaragua
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -8,371
2024 - 967 - -8,189
2023 24,109 995 100,921 -7,996
2022 21,409 1,006 100,987 -7,996
2021 20,119 1,018 89,213 -10,383
2020 29,164 1,029 90,515 -10,383
2019 37,682 1,653 102,817 -19,730
2018 42,469 1,673 104,814 -20,742
2017 43,471 1,671 105,468 -21,849
2016 45,565 1,649 106,585 -23,076
2015 49,077 1,617 107,344 -24,353
2014 49,559 1,589 108,420 -25,570
2013 49,227 1,579 109,032 -26,587
2012 52,036 1,587 110,065 -27,389
2011 52,884 1,695 110,026 -28,221
2010 50,803 2,357 110,475 -29,081
2009 55,757 3,432 110,213 -29,913
2008 56,491 3,794 110,395 -30,675
2007 55,244 4,080 110,341 -31,357
2006 54,177 4,321 110,073 -32,274
2005 57,139 4,567 108,984 -33,280
2004 55,769 4,856 106,904 -44,222
2003 56,743 5,216 106,142 -44,931
2002 58,388 5,812 105,805 -44,906
2001 62,199 7,119 107,109 -43,837
2000 64,268 8,826 109,192 -42,087
1999 64,922 13,253 110,217 -40,095
1998 64,788 15,556 108,862 -38,260
1997 64,954 16,954 114,415 -36,851
1996 66,094 17,393 116,849 -35,208
1995 67,585 16,609 118,325 -25,889
1994 68,336 15,587 119,565 -24,773
1993 69,016 14,431 120,469 -24,091
1992 69,830 13,069 121,204 -24,171
1991 70,506 10,757 121,787 -24,028
1990 71,727 7,949 120,677 -24,280
1989 72,327 3,758 120,128 -24,364
1988 72,944 2,414 117,299 -24,753
1987 73,188 2,267 112,885 -25,127
1986 73,211 2,302 113,054 -24,805
1985 72,776 2,357 110,949 -23,840
1984 71,062 2,402 110,133 -22,493
1983 68,972 2,449 110,618 -20,620
1982 66,826 2,453 112,468 -19,395
1981 64,632 2,431 110,421 -17,353
1980 62,561 2,387 108,604 -15,130
1979 60,984 2,349 96,429 -14,152
1978 58,327 2,296 98,419 -12,273
1977 56,122 2,228 100,498 -11,082
1976 54,019 2,129 98,100 -10,155
1975 51,979 1,992 95,230 -9,349
1974 50,349 1,839 92,505 -8,639
1973 48,943 1,468 89,662 -7,947
1972 48,417 1,366 76,906 -7,219
1971 48,341 1,296 84,139 -6,328
1970 48,398 1,137 81,127 -5,423
1969 48,790 1,017 78,237 -4,592
1968 48,361 939 75,458 -3,979
1967 50,193 926 72,722 -3,666
1966 50,755 930 69,883 -3,443
1965 51,196 932 67,056 -3,231
1964 51,435 934 64,227 -3,043
1963 51,403 938 61,738 -2,881
1962 51,046 934 59,547 -2,727
1961 50,149 924 57,499 -2,579
1960 48,857 910 55,664 -2,418

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/nicaragua | 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 Nicaragua 85.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 43,757 people or 0.6% in Nicaragua.

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
Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K

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/nicaragua | 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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