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Population in Costa Rica compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 5.14 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.38% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Costa Rica vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica North Korea
2100 3,804,183 19,604,631
2099 3,842,423 19,733,548
2098 3,880,999 19,862,949
2097 3,919,996 19,993,288
2096 3,959,352 20,124,518
2095 3,999,084 20,256,401
2094 4,039,053 20,388,156
2093 4,079,349 20,520,253
2092 4,119,898 20,652,961
2091 4,160,663 20,785,785
2090 4,201,548 20,918,305
2089 4,242,452 21,050,580
2088 4,283,327 21,182,325
2087 4,324,225 21,314,047
2086 4,364,979 21,445,329
2085 4,405,520 21,575,835
2084 4,445,770 21,705,777
2083 4,485,644 21,835,029
2082 4,525,171 21,964,199
2081 4,564,265 22,092,862
2080 4,602,737 22,220,948
2079 4,640,677 22,348,577
2078 4,677,935 22,475,755
2077 4,714,527 22,602,817
2076 4,750,309 22,729,499
2075 4,785,359 22,856,369
2074 4,819,691 22,983,784
2073 4,853,137 23,111,441
2072 4,885,727 23,239,261
2071 4,917,445 23,367,583
2070 4,948,313 23,496,136
2069 4,978,425 23,625,538
2068 5,007,604 23,755,136
2067 5,035,877 23,884,879
2066 5,063,521 24,015,027
2065 5,090,474 24,144,985
2064 5,116,546 24,274,257
2063 5,141,922 24,402,439
2062 5,166,260 24,529,941
2061 5,189,836 24,656,350
2060 5,212,549 24,780,911
2059 5,234,066 24,903,037
2058 5,254,528 25,023,260
2057 5,273,844 25,140,523
2056 5,292,013 25,255,342
2055 5,308,829 25,366,397
2054 5,324,305 25,474,292
2053 5,338,417 25,578,870
2052 5,350,974 25,679,963
2051 5,361,865 25,777,639
2050 5,371,197 25,871,673
2049 5,378,904 25,962,167
2048 5,385,081 26,048,593
2047 5,389,678 26,131,429
2046 5,392,713 26,210,487
2045 5,394,209 26,286,208
2044 5,394,124 26,358,331
2043 5,392,590 26,427,062
2042 5,389,628 26,491,482
2041 5,385,101 26,552,564
2040 5,379,344 26,609,557
2039 5,372,186 26,661,815
2038 5,363,617 26,708,400
2037 5,353,928 26,749,134
2036 5,343,027 26,783,304
2035 5,330,994 26,810,026
2034 5,317,895 26,828,912
2033 5,303,634 26,839,229
2032 5,288,416 26,840,944
2031 5,272,215 26,832,957
2030 5,255,064 26,814,812
2029 5,236,901 26,787,117
2028 5,217,724 26,749,227
2027 5,197,413 26,701,444
2026 5,176,096 26,643,460
2025 5,153,634 26,575,953
2024 5,129,910 26,498,823
2023 5,105,525 26,418,204
2022 5,081,765 26,328,845
2021 5,059,988 26,232,534
2020 5,034,320 26,136,312
2019 4,999,553 26,037,632
2018 4,957,818 25,931,147
2017 4,913,177 25,817,709
2016 4,866,998 25,698,326
2015 4,818,038 25,575,350
2014 4,767,119 25,451,262
2013 4,716,147 25,329,451
2012 4,663,934 25,211,728
2011 4,609,833 25,097,874
2010 4,555,962 24,987,258
2009 4,499,791 24,878,332
2008 4,440,056 24,764,618
2007 4,380,248 24,646,383
2006 4,321,340 24,524,507
2005 4,261,240 24,396,433
2004 4,200,078 24,254,943
2003 4,138,784 24,090,380
2002 4,075,705 23,943,973
2001 4,008,947 23,815,358
2000 3,937,739 23,665,910
1999 3,862,101 23,497,599
1998 3,782,838 23,311,564
1997 3,701,711 23,110,830
1996 3,619,013 22,895,746
1995 3,535,176 22,669,304
1994 3,451,122 22,393,975
1993 3,367,434 22,073,352
1992 3,284,258 21,750,911
1991 3,202,176 21,428,638
1990 3,121,706 21,112,137
1989 3,043,827 20,804,367
1988 2,968,103 20,503,161
1987 2,892,699 20,205,483
1986 2,817,216 19,910,855
1985 2,741,894 19,620,388
1984 2,667,595 19,335,043
1983 2,595,153 19,054,034
1982 2,524,806 18,776,357
1981 2,456,637 18,501,295
1980 2,390,633 18,236,786
1979 2,326,490 17,983,470
1978 2,264,510 17,735,995
1977 2,205,025 17,492,798
1976 2,147,774 17,243,450
1975 2,092,719 16,971,055
1974 2,039,643 16,673,121
1973 1,988,343 16,350,367
1972 1,938,248 15,975,069
1971 1,888,539 15,572,457
1970 1,838,949 15,172,775
1969 1,789,276 14,767,615
1968 1,739,731 14,365,596
1967 1,689,523 13,958,350
1966 1,638,116 13,569,094
1965 1,586,208 13,219,369
1964 1,533,960 12,889,770
1963 1,481,604 12,567,057
1962 1,429,445 12,262,882
1961 1,377,920 11,990,713
1960 1,327,496 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica North Korea
2100 -1% -0.65%
2099 -0.99% -0.65%
2098 -0.99% -0.65%
2097 -0.99% -0.65%
2096 -0.99% -0.65%
2095 -0.99% -0.65%
2094 -0.99% -0.64%
2093 -0.98% -0.64%
2092 -0.98% -0.64%
2091 -0.97% -0.63%
2090 -0.96% -0.63%
2089 -0.95% -0.62%
2088 -0.95% -0.62%
2087 -0.93% -0.61%
2086 -0.92% -0.6%
2085 -0.91% -0.6%
2084 -0.89% -0.59%
2083 -0.87% -0.59%
2082 -0.86% -0.58%
2081 -0.84% -0.58%
2080 -0.82% -0.57%
2079 -0.8% -0.57%
2078 -0.78% -0.56%
2077 -0.75% -0.56%
2076 -0.73% -0.56%
2075 -0.71% -0.55%
2074 -0.69% -0.55%
2073 -0.67% -0.55%
2072 -0.65% -0.55%
2071 -0.62% -0.55%
2070 -0.6% -0.55%
2069 -0.58% -0.55%
2068 -0.56% -0.54%
2067 -0.55% -0.54%
2066 -0.53% -0.54%
2065 -0.51% -0.53%
2064 -0.49% -0.53%
2063 -0.47% -0.52%
2062 -0.45% -0.51%
2061 -0.44% -0.5%
2060 -0.41% -0.49%
2059 -0.39% -0.48%
2058 -0.37% -0.47%
2057 -0.34% -0.45%
2056 -0.32% -0.44%
2055 -0.29% -0.42%
2054 -0.26% -0.41%
2053 -0.23% -0.39%
2052 -0.2% -0.38%
2051 -0.17% -0.36%
2050 -0.14% -0.35%
2049 -0.11% -0.33%
2048 -0.09% -0.32%
2047 -0.06% -0.3%
2046 -0.03% -0.29%
2045 0.002% -0.27%
2044 0.03% -0.26%
2043 0.05% -0.24%
2042 0.08% -0.23%
2041 0.11% -0.21%
2040 0.13% -0.2%
2039 0.16% -0.17%
2038 0.18% -0.15%
2037 0.2% -0.13%
2036 0.23% -0.1%
2035 0.25% -0.07%
2034 0.27% -0.04%
2033 0.29% -0.006%
2032 0.31% 0.03%
2031 0.33% 0.07%
2030 0.35% 0.1%
2029 0.37% 0.14%
2028 0.39% 0.18%
2027 0.41% 0.22%
2026 0.44% 0.25%
2025 0.46% 0.29%
2024 0.48% 0.31%
2023 0.47% 0.34%
2022 0.43% 0.37%
2021 0.51% 0.37%
2020 0.7% 0.38%
2019 0.84% 0.41%
2018 0.91% 0.44%
2017 0.95% 0.46%
2016 1.02% 0.48%
2015 1.07% 0.49%
2014 1.08% 0.48%
2013 1.12% 0.47%
2012 1.17% 0.45%
2011 1.18% 0.44%
2010 1.25% 0.44%
2009 1.35% 0.46%
2008 1.37% 0.48%
2007 1.36% 0.5%
2006 1.41% 0.52%
2005 1.46% 0.58%
2004 1.48% 0.68%
2003 1.55% 0.61%
2002 1.67% 0.54%
2001 1.81% 0.63%
2000 1.96% 0.72%
1999 2.1% 0.8%
1998 2.19% 0.87%
1997 2.29% 0.94%
1996 2.37% 1%
1995 2.44% 1.23%
1994 2.49% 1.45%
1993 2.53% 1.48%
1992 2.56% 1.5%
1991 2.58% 1.5%
1990 2.56% 1.48%
1989 2.55% 1.47%
1988 2.61% 1.47%
1987 2.68% 1.48%
1986 2.75% 1.48%
1985 2.79% 1.48%
1984 2.79% 1.47%
1983 2.79% 1.48%
1982 2.77% 1.49%
1981 2.76% 1.45%
1980 2.76% 1.41%
1979 2.74% 1.4%
1978 2.7% 1.39%
1977 2.67% 1.45%
1976 2.63% 1.61%
1975 2.6% 1.79%
1974 2.58% 1.97%
1973 2.58% 2.35%
1972 2.63% 2.59%
1971 2.7% 2.63%
1970 2.78% 2.74%
1969 2.85% 2.8%
1968 2.97% 2.92%
1967 3.14% 2.87%
1966 3.27% 2.65%
1965 3.41% 2.56%
1964 3.53% 2.57%
1963 3.65% 2.48%
1962 3.74% 2.27%
1961 3.8% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica North Korea
Current population
5181862
26659144
Population rank 126/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.32%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +221
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 150/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
3.15 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -2,787
Net migration rank 63/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -2,787
2024 - 967 - -2,473
2023 24,109 995 86,203 -1,997
2022 21,409 1,006 96,495 -1,997
2021 20,119 1,018 99,710 -1,585
2020 29,164 1,029 95,920 -1,585
2019 37,682 1,653 106,208 -3,142
2018 42,469 1,673 113,164 -3,225
2017 43,471 1,671 120,181 -3,224
2016 45,565 1,649 125,048 -3,222
2015 49,077 1,617 127,365 -3,208
2014 49,559 1,589 127,078 -3,042
2013 49,227 1,579 122,519 -2,933
2012 52,036 1,587 118,773 -2,919
2011 52,884 1,695 114,798 -2,957
2010 50,803 2,357 112,443 -3,053
2009 55,757 3,432 111,530 -3,058
2008 56,491 3,794 122,015 -3,051
2007 55,244 4,080 120,521 -3,021
2006 54,177 4,321 129,171 -2,948
2005 57,139 4,567 132,765 -2,861
2004 55,769 4,856 155,838 -2,758
2003 56,743 5,216 178,775 -2,717
2002 58,388 5,812 119,504 -2,763
2001 62,199 7,119 143,321 -2,884
2000 64,268 8,826 161,591 -3,142
1999 64,922 13,253 181,613 -3,443
1998 64,788 15,556 197,589 -3,706
1997 64,954 16,954 211,325 -3,745
1996 66,094 17,393 226,095 -3,512
1995 67,585 16,609 233,381 -3,094
1994 68,336 15,587 320,861 -517
1993 69,016 14,431 320,880 0
1992 69,830 13,069 324,002 0
1991 70,506 10,757 320,551 0
1990 71,727 7,949 312,460 0
1989 72,327 3,758 303,078 0
1988 72,944 2,414 299,305 0
1987 73,188 2,267 296,030 0
1986 73,211 2,302 293,227 0
1985 72,776 2,357 287,714 0
1984 71,062 2,402 282,987 0
1983 68,972 2,449 279,046 0
1982 66,826 2,453 276,332 0
1981 64,632 2,431 273,800 0
1980 62,561 2,387 255,206 0
1979 60,984 2,349 251,409 0
1978 58,327 2,296 243,533 0
1977 56,122 2,228 242,870 0
1976 54,019 2,129 255,841 0
1975 51,979 1,992 288,966 0
1974 50,349 1,839 306,902 0
1973 48,943 1,468 338,600 0
1972 48,417 1,366 411,997 0
1971 48,341 1,296 393,220 0
1970 48,398 1,137 406,129 0
1969 48,790 1,017 404,189 0
1968 48,361 939 399,837 0
1967 50,193 926 414,632 0
1966 50,755 930 363,882 0
1965 51,196 932 335,587 0
1964 51,435 934 323,623 0
1963 51,403 938 321,805 0
1962 51,046 934 286,534 0
1961 50,149 924 257,788 0
1960 48,857 910 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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