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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 47.1 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Costa Rica vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Nigeria
2100 3,804,183 481,678,166
2099 3,842,423 481,494,914
2098 3,880,999 481,219,866
2097 3,919,996 480,876,108
2096 3,959,352 480,460,381
2095 3,999,084 479,976,454
2094 4,039,053 479,432,855
2093 4,079,349 478,807,152
2092 4,119,898 478,097,591
2091 4,160,663 477,274,569
2090 4,201,548 476,367,086
2089 4,242,452 475,363,859
2088 4,283,327 474,268,867
2087 4,324,225 473,072,894
2086 4,364,979 471,769,229
2085 4,405,520 470,365,292
2084 4,445,770 468,843,169
2083 4,485,644 467,224,322
2082 4,525,171 465,509,151
2081 4,564,265 463,679,779
2080 4,602,737 461,741,930
2079 4,640,677 459,680,797
2078 4,677,935 457,513,367
2077 4,714,527 455,254,796
2076 4,750,309 452,885,729
2075 4,785,359 450,402,898
2074 4,819,691 447,825,224
2073 4,853,137 445,152,156
2072 4,885,727 442,375,349
2071 4,917,445 439,499,004
2070 4,948,313 436,539,777
2069 4,978,425 433,472,204
2068 5,007,604 430,320,190
2067 5,035,877 427,066,199
2066 5,063,521 423,736,078
2065 5,090,474 420,318,527
2064 5,116,546 416,811,285
2063 5,141,922 413,231,409
2062 5,166,260 409,583,480
2061 5,189,836 405,859,509
2060 5,212,549 402,073,494
2059 5,234,066 398,228,736
2058 5,254,528 394,315,883
2057 5,273,844 390,341,867
2056 5,292,013 386,298,064
2055 5,308,829 382,193,151
2054 5,324,305 378,030,342
2053 5,338,417 373,799,276
2052 5,350,974 369,501,634
2051 5,361,865 365,149,555
2050 5,371,197 360,734,783
2049 5,378,904 356,271,401
2048 5,385,081 351,752,501
2047 5,389,678 347,169,674
2046 5,392,713 342,532,578
2045 5,394,209 337,834,528
2044 5,394,124 333,076,416
2043 5,392,590 328,256,555
2042 5,389,628 323,388,886
2041 5,385,101 318,469,120
2040 5,379,344 313,492,800
2039 5,372,186 308,474,350
2038 5,363,617 303,423,786
2037 5,353,928 298,351,344
2036 5,343,027 293,250,795
2035 5,330,994 288,138,368
2034 5,317,895 283,018,151
2033 5,303,634 277,897,810
2032 5,288,416 272,769,123
2031 5,272,215 267,666,779
2030 5,255,064 262,583,487
2029 5,236,901 257,504,936
2028 5,217,724 252,465,743
2027 5,197,413 247,457,208
2026 5,176,096 242,477,499
2025 5,153,634 237,546,527
2024 5,129,910 232,679,478
2023 5,105,525 227,882,945
2022 5,081,765 223,150,896
2021 5,059,988 218,529,286
2020 5,034,320 213,996,181
2019 4,999,553 209,485,641
2018 4,957,818 204,938,755
2017 4,913,177 200,254,579
2016 4,866,998 195,443,700
2015 4,818,038 190,671,878
2014 4,767,119 185,896,915
2013 4,716,147 181,049,443
2012 4,663,934 176,200,625
2011 4,609,833 171,379,598
2010 4,555,962 166,642,886
2009 4,499,791 162,049,464
2008 4,440,056 157,595,014
2007 4,380,248 153,267,261
2006 4,321,340 149,077,334
2005 4,261,240 145,017,253
2004 4,200,078 141,057,045
2003 4,138,784 137,202,644
2002 4,075,705 133,471,989
2001 4,008,947 129,862,595
2000 3,937,739 126,382,494
1999 3,862,101 123,047,320
1998 3,782,838 119,846,254
1997 3,701,711 116,754,792
1996 3,619,013 113,754,779
1995 3,535,176 110,819,428
1994 3,451,122 107,935,714
1993 3,367,434 105,122,069
1992 3,284,258 102,372,770
1991 3,202,176 99,720,162
1990 3,121,706 97,120,925
1989 3,043,827 94,531,014
1988 2,968,103 92,020,090
1987 2,892,699 89,591,716
1986 2,817,216 87,235,953
1985 2,741,894 84,897,973
1984 2,667,595 82,526,443
1983 2,595,153 80,438,260
1982 2,524,806 78,378,701
1981 2,456,637 76,068,103
1980 2,390,633 73,764,641
1979 2,326,490 71,498,242
1978 2,264,510 69,326,532
1977 2,205,025 67,234,590
1976 2,147,774 65,258,009
1975 2,092,719 63,410,815
1974 2,039,643 61,679,144
1973 1,988,343 60,082,139
1972 1,938,248 58,601,748
1971 1,888,539 57,214,684
1970 1,838,949 55,893,838
1969 1,789,276 54,631,914
1968 1,739,731 53,432,783
1967 1,689,523 52,293,065
1966 1,638,116 51,188,234
1965 1,586,208 50,086,764
1964 1,533,960 49,012,016
1963 1,481,604 47,973,575
1962 1,429,445 46,965,292
1961 1,377,920 45,989,310
1960 1,327,496 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Nigeria
2100 -1% 0.04%
2099 -0.99% 0.06%
2098 -0.99% 0.07%
2097 -0.99% 0.09%
2096 -0.99% 0.1%
2095 -0.99% 0.11%
2094 -0.99% 0.13%
2093 -0.98% 0.15%
2092 -0.98% 0.17%
2091 -0.97% 0.19%
2090 -0.96% 0.21%
2089 -0.95% 0.23%
2088 -0.95% 0.25%
2087 -0.93% 0.28%
2086 -0.92% 0.3%
2085 -0.91% 0.32%
2084 -0.89% 0.35%
2083 -0.87% 0.37%
2082 -0.86% 0.39%
2081 -0.84% 0.42%
2080 -0.82% 0.45%
2079 -0.8% 0.47%
2078 -0.78% 0.5%
2077 -0.75% 0.52%
2076 -0.73% 0.55%
2075 -0.71% 0.58%
2074 -0.69% 0.6%
2073 -0.67% 0.63%
2072 -0.65% 0.65%
2071 -0.62% 0.68%
2070 -0.6% 0.71%
2069 -0.58% 0.73%
2068 -0.56% 0.76%
2067 -0.55% 0.79%
2066 -0.53% 0.81%
2065 -0.51% 0.84%
2064 -0.49% 0.87%
2063 -0.47% 0.89%
2062 -0.45% 0.92%
2061 -0.44% 0.94%
2060 -0.41% 0.97%
2059 -0.39% 0.99%
2058 -0.37% 1.02%
2057 -0.34% 1.05%
2056 -0.32% 1.07%
2055 -0.29% 1.1%
2054 -0.26% 1.13%
2053 -0.23% 1.16%
2052 -0.2% 1.19%
2051 -0.17% 1.22%
2050 -0.14% 1.25%
2049 -0.11% 1.28%
2048 -0.09% 1.32%
2047 -0.06% 1.35%
2046 -0.03% 1.39%
2045 0.002% 1.43%
2044 0.03% 1.47%
2043 0.05% 1.51%
2042 0.08% 1.54%
2041 0.11% 1.59%
2040 0.13% 1.63%
2039 0.16% 1.66%
2038 0.18% 1.7%
2037 0.2% 1.74%
2036 0.23% 1.77%
2035 0.25% 1.81%
2034 0.27% 1.84%
2033 0.29% 1.88%
2032 0.31% 1.91%
2031 0.33% 1.94%
2030 0.35% 1.97%
2029 0.37% 2%
2028 0.39% 2.02%
2027 0.41% 2.05%
2026 0.44% 2.08%
2025 0.46% 2.09%
2024 0.48% 2.1%
2023 0.47% 2.12%
2022 0.43% 2.11%
2021 0.51% 2.12%
2020 0.7% 2.15%
2019 0.84% 2.22%
2018 0.91% 2.34%
2017 0.95% 2.46%
2016 1.02% 2.5%
2015 1.07% 2.57%
2014 1.08% 2.68%
2013 1.12% 2.75%
2012 1.17% 2.81%
2011 1.18% 2.84%
2010 1.25% 2.83%
2009 1.35% 2.83%
2008 1.37% 2.82%
2007 1.36% 2.81%
2006 1.41% 2.8%
2005 1.46% 2.81%
2004 1.48% 2.81%
2003 1.55% 2.8%
2002 1.67% 2.78%
2001 1.81% 2.75%
2000 1.96% 2.71%
1999 2.1% 2.67%
1998 2.19% 2.65%
1997 2.29% 2.64%
1996 2.37% 2.65%
1995 2.44% 2.67%
1994 2.49% 2.68%
1993 2.53% 2.69%
1992 2.56% 2.66%
1991 2.58% 2.68%
1990 2.56% 2.74%
1989 2.55% 2.73%
1988 2.61% 2.71%
1987 2.68% 2.7%
1986 2.75% 2.75%
1985 2.79% 2.87%
1984 2.79% 2.6%
1983 2.79% 2.63%
1982 2.77% 3.04%
1981 2.76% 3.12%
1980 2.76% 3.17%
1979 2.74% 3.13%
1978 2.7% 3.11%
1977 2.67% 3.03%
1976 2.63% 2.91%
1975 2.6% 2.81%
1974 2.58% 2.66%
1973 2.58% 2.53%
1972 2.63% 2.42%
1971 2.7% 2.36%
1970 2.78% 2.31%
1969 2.85% 2.24%
1968 2.97% 2.18%
1967 3.14% 2.16%
1966 3.27% 2.2%
1965 3.41% 2.19%
1964 3.53% 2.16%
1963 3.65% 2.15%
1962 3.74% 2.12%
1961 3.8% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Nigeria
Current population
5181862
243824469
Population rank 126/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 2.94%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
6.58 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
4.2 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +67 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 48/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -15,258
Net migration rank 63/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -15,258
2024 - 967 - -35,202
2023 24,109 995 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 21,409 1,006 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 20,119 1,018 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 29,164 1,029 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 37,682 1,653 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 42,469 1,673 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 43,471 1,671 4,706,183 78,685
2016 45,565 1,649 4,761,594 75,265
2015 49,077 1,617 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 49,559 1,589 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 49,227 1,579 4,811,751 40,201
2012 52,036 1,587 4,774,508 71,138
2011 52,884 1,695 4,728,363 67,808
2010 50,803 2,357 4,629,173 47,966
2009 55,757 3,432 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 56,491 3,794 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 55,244 4,080 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 54,177 4,321 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 57,139 4,567 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 55,769 4,856 3,877,376 46,370
2003 56,743 5,216 3,751,120 33,857
2002 58,388 5,812 3,606,814 69,594
2001 62,199 7,119 3,478,370 64,163
2000 64,268 8,826 3,343,196 74,535
1999 64,922 13,253 3,155,425 97,195
1998 64,788 15,556 3,003,946 145,575
1997 64,954 16,954 2,936,500 96,885
1996 66,094 17,393 2,882,205 84,448
1995 67,585 16,609 2,830,771 73,243
1994 68,336 15,587 2,735,198 128,134
1993 69,016 14,431 2,673,675 90,200
1992 69,830 13,069 2,596,173 138,412
1991 70,506 10,757 2,527,807 42,760
1990 71,727 7,949 2,491,928 135,959
1989 72,327 3,758 2,452,324 99,588
1988 72,944 2,414 2,376,419 93,510
1987 73,188 2,267 2,322,397 64,418
1986 73,211 2,302 2,295,003 29,682
1985 72,776 2,357 2,289,784 61,514
1984 71,062 2,402 2,278,060 113,758
1983 68,972 2,449 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 66,826 2,453 2,233,401 101,116
1981 64,632 2,431 2,179,884 106,723
1980 62,561 2,387 2,121,618 198,672
1979 60,984 2,349 2,074,807 137,721
1978 58,327 2,296 2,019,621 111,258
1977 56,122 2,228 1,923,917 129,075
1976 54,019 2,129 1,827,289 72,889
1975 51,979 1,992 1,718,623 75,603
1974 50,349 1,839 1,624,813 44,281
1973 48,943 1,468 1,525,485 -618
1972 48,417 1,366 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 48,341 1,296 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 48,398 1,137 1,295,507 7,953
1969 48,790 1,017 1,213,484 6,912
1968 48,361 939 1,168,254 9,615
1967 50,193 926 1,082,884 18,683
1966 50,755 930 1,095,582 12,513
1965 51,196 932 1,061,840 32,988
1964 51,435 934 1,028,272 26,411
1963 51,403 938 995,116 27,115
1962 51,046 934 966,452 27,906
1961 50,149 924 932,111 25,515
1960 48,857 910 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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