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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 1,824,359 people in North Macedonia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 1,805,954 in North Macedonia.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 2.87 times bigger than North Macedonia's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while North Macedonia is the 150th.
  • The countries together account for 0.08% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.02% for North Macedonia.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs -0.48% in North Macedonia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while North Macedonia has declined from 1.99M to 1.81M (9.44% decline).

Costa Rica vs North Macedonia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica North Macedonia
2100 3,804,183 866,884
2099 3,842,423 877,788
2098 3,880,999 888,715
2097 3,919,996 899,716
2096 3,959,352 910,709
2095 3,999,084 921,559
2094 4,039,053 932,633
2093 4,079,349 943,984
2092 4,119,898 955,335
2091 4,160,663 966,773
2090 4,201,548 978,130
2089 4,242,452 989,666
2088 4,283,327 1,001,224
2087 4,324,225 1,012,831
2086 4,364,979 1,024,787
2085 4,405,520 1,036,668
2084 4,445,770 1,048,876
2083 4,485,644 1,061,031
2082 4,525,171 1,073,408
2081 4,564,265 1,085,823
2080 4,602,737 1,098,127
2079 4,640,677 1,110,614
2078 4,677,935 1,123,398
2077 4,714,527 1,136,448
2076 4,750,309 1,149,787
2075 4,785,359 1,163,080
2074 4,819,691 1,176,671
2073 4,853,137 1,190,351
2072 4,885,727 1,204,015
2071 4,917,445 1,217,691
2070 4,948,313 1,231,978
2069 4,978,425 1,246,408
2068 5,007,604 1,260,869
2067 5,035,877 1,275,289
2066 5,063,521 1,289,439
2065 5,090,474 1,303,917
2064 5,116,546 1,318,161
2063 5,141,922 1,332,807
2062 5,166,260 1,347,540
2061 5,189,836 1,362,299
2060 5,212,549 1,376,807
2059 5,234,066 1,390,921
2058 5,254,528 1,404,982
2057 5,273,844 1,419,185
2056 5,292,013 1,433,595
2055 5,308,829 1,447,857
2054 5,324,305 1,462,210
2053 5,338,417 1,476,351
2052 5,350,974 1,489,905
2051 5,361,865 1,503,526
2050 5,371,197 1,516,629
2049 5,378,904 1,529,608
2048 5,385,081 1,542,390
2047 5,389,678 1,555,085
2046 5,392,713 1,568,151
2045 5,394,209 1,581,115
2044 5,394,124 1,593,878
2043 5,392,590 1,606,930
2042 5,389,628 1,619,941
2041 5,385,101 1,632,704
2040 5,379,344 1,645,446
2039 5,372,186 1,658,034
2038 5,363,617 1,670,347
2037 5,353,928 1,682,850
2036 5,343,027 1,695,204
2035 5,330,994 1,707,302
2034 5,317,895 1,719,193
2033 5,303,634 1,730,723
2032 5,288,416 1,742,288
2031 5,272,215 1,753,729
2030 5,255,064 1,765,162
2029 5,236,901 1,775,815
2028 5,217,724 1,786,051
2027 5,197,413 1,795,945
2026 5,176,096 1,805,954
2025 5,153,634 1,815,368
2024 5,129,910 1,824,359
2023 5,105,525 1,827,816
2022 5,081,765 1,831,712
2021 5,059,988 1,837,114
2020 5,034,320 1,856,124
2019 4,999,553 1,876,262
2018 4,957,818 1,889,051
2017 4,913,177 1,898,657
2016 4,866,998 1,906,313
2015 4,818,038 1,912,430
2014 4,767,119 1,917,557
2013 4,716,147 1,922,716
2012 4,663,934 1,929,821
2011 4,609,833 1,937,398
2010 4,555,962 1,946,298
2009 4,499,791 1,958,782
2008 4,440,056 1,971,493
2007 4,380,248 1,982,933
2006 4,321,340 1,994,287
2005 4,261,240 2,005,330
2004 4,200,078 2,016,186
2003 4,138,784 2,022,725
2002 4,075,705 2,020,157
2001 4,008,947 2,034,882
2000 3,937,739 2,026,350
1999 3,862,101 2,017,142
1998 3,782,838 2,007,523
1997 3,701,711 1,996,869
1996 3,619,013 2,012,553
1995 3,535,176 1,998,534
1994 3,451,122 1,992,666
1993 3,367,434 2,006,854
1992 3,284,258 2,032,523
1991 3,202,176 2,055,994
1990 3,121,706 2,063,689
1989 3,043,827 2,055,649
1988 2,968,103 2,045,737
1987 2,892,699 2,035,157
1986 2,817,216 2,024,732
1985 2,741,894 2,014,331
1984 2,667,595 2,003,399
1983 2,595,153 1,991,901
1982 2,524,806 1,978,956
1981 2,456,637 1,959,065
1980 2,390,633 1,933,038
1979 2,326,490 1,906,523
1978 2,264,510 1,879,847
1977 2,205,025 1,853,138
1976 2,147,774 1,825,830
1975 2,092,719 1,797,972
1974 2,039,643 1,770,545
1973 1,988,343 1,743,816
1972 1,938,248 1,717,395
1971 1,888,539 1,691,216
1970 1,838,949 1,664,208
1969 1,789,276 1,636,345
1968 1,739,731 1,608,930
1967 1,689,523 1,582,492
1966 1,638,116 1,557,349
1965 1,586,208 1,533,466
1964 1,533,960 1,510,900
1963 1,481,604 1,488,737
1962 1,429,445 1,471,745
1961 1,377,920 1,455,171
1960 1,327,496 1,435,059

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-macedonia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while North Macedonia lost 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while North Macedonia's population decreased by 100,359 people (a 5.26% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. North Macedonia was ranked 142nd in 2006 and ranked 150th 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 Macedonia will decrease by 16% to 1,516,629 people and rank change from 150th to 152nd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while North Macedonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 2.06M people and is projected to decrease to 867K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica North Macedonia
2100 -1% -1.24%
2099 -0.99% -1.23%
2098 -0.99% -1.22%
2097 -0.99% -1.21%
2096 -0.99% -1.18%
2095 -0.99% -1.19%
2094 -0.99% -1.2%
2093 -0.98% -1.19%
2092 -0.98% -1.18%
2091 -0.97% -1.16%
2090 -0.96% -1.17%
2089 -0.95% -1.15%
2088 -0.95% -1.15%
2087 -0.93% -1.17%
2086 -0.92% -1.15%
2085 -0.91% -1.16%
2084 -0.89% -1.15%
2083 -0.87% -1.15%
2082 -0.86% -1.14%
2081 -0.84% -1.12%
2080 -0.82% -1.12%
2079 -0.8% -1.14%
2078 -0.78% -1.15%
2077 -0.75% -1.16%
2076 -0.73% -1.14%
2075 -0.71% -1.15%
2074 -0.69% -1.15%
2073 -0.67% -1.13%
2072 -0.65% -1.12%
2071 -0.62% -1.16%
2070 -0.6% -1.16%
2069 -0.58% -1.15%
2068 -0.56% -1.13%
2067 -0.55% -1.1%
2066 -0.53% -1.11%
2065 -0.51% -1.08%
2064 -0.49% -1.1%
2063 -0.47% -1.09%
2062 -0.45% -1.08%
2061 -0.44% -1.05%
2060 -0.41% -1.01%
2059 -0.39% -1%
2058 -0.37% -1%
2057 -0.34% -1.01%
2056 -0.32% -0.99%
2055 -0.29% -0.98%
2054 -0.26% -0.96%
2053 -0.23% -0.91%
2052 -0.2% -0.91%
2051 -0.17% -0.86%
2050 -0.14% -0.85%
2049 -0.11% -0.83%
2048 -0.09% -0.82%
2047 -0.06% -0.83%
2046 -0.03% -0.82%
2045 0.002% -0.8%
2044 0.03% -0.81%
2043 0.05% -0.8%
2042 0.08% -0.78%
2041 0.11% -0.77%
2040 0.13% -0.76%
2039 0.16% -0.74%
2038 0.18% -0.74%
2037 0.2% -0.73%
2036 0.23% -0.71%
2035 0.25% -0.69%
2034 0.27% -0.67%
2033 0.29% -0.66%
2032 0.31% -0.65%
2031 0.33% -0.65%
2030 0.35% -0.6%
2029 0.37% -0.57%
2028 0.39% -0.55%
2027 0.41% -0.55%
2026 0.44% -0.52%
2025 0.46% -0.49%
2024 0.48% -0.19%
2023 0.47% -0.21%
2022 0.43% -0.29%
2021 0.51% -1.02%
2020 0.7% -1.07%
2019 0.84% -0.68%
2018 0.91% -0.51%
2017 0.95% -0.4%
2016 1.02% -0.32%
2015 1.07% -0.27%
2014 1.08% -0.27%
2013 1.12% -0.37%
2012 1.17% -0.39%
2011 1.18% -0.46%
2010 1.25% -0.64%
2009 1.35% -0.64%
2008 1.37% -0.58%
2007 1.36% -0.57%
2006 1.41% -0.55%
2005 1.46% -0.54%
2004 1.48% -0.32%
2003 1.55% 0.13%
2002 1.67% -0.72%
2001 1.81% 0.42%
2000 1.96% 0.46%
1999 2.1% 0.48%
1998 2.19% 0.53%
1997 2.29% -0.78%
1996 2.37% 0.7%
1995 2.44% 0.29%
1994 2.49% -0.71%
1993 2.53% -1.26%
1992 2.56% -1.14%
1991 2.58% -0.37%
1990 2.56% 0.39%
1989 2.55% 0.48%
1988 2.61% 0.52%
1987 2.68% 0.51%
1986 2.75% 0.52%
1985 2.79% 0.55%
1984 2.79% 0.58%
1983 2.79% 0.65%
1982 2.77% 1.02%
1981 2.76% 1.35%
1980 2.76% 1.39%
1979 2.74% 1.42%
1978 2.7% 1.44%
1977 2.67% 1.5%
1976 2.63% 1.55%
1975 2.6% 1.55%
1974 2.58% 1.53%
1973 2.58% 1.54%
1972 2.63% 1.55%
1971 2.7% 1.62%
1970 2.78% 1.7%
1969 2.85% 1.7%
1968 2.97% 1.67%
1967 3.14% 1.61%
1966 3.27% 1.56%
1965 3.41% 1.49%
1964 3.53% 1.49%
1963 3.65% 1.15%
1962 3.74% 1.14%
1961 3.8% 1.4%

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-macedonia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while North Macedonia's population declined by 0.19%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica North Macedonia
Current population
5181862
1805954
Population rank 126/197 150/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.02%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
2.53 hours
One birth every
10.1 minutes
31.3 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
26.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 -9
Annual growth/decline +24,385 -3,457
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% -0.19%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 176/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.56 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -5,645
Net migration rank 63/196 119/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 150,902
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 122/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 8.3%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 73/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica North Macedonia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -5,645
2024 - 967 - -5,728
2023 24,109 995 -3,290 -5,597
2022 21,409 1,006 -4,397 -5,296
2021 20,119 1,018 -9,737 -5,483
2020 29,164 1,029 -5,939 -23,458
2019 37,682 1,653 -375 -24,204
2018 42,469 1,673 1,512 -24,878
2017 43,471 1,671 1,329 -24,227
2016 45,565 1,649 2,374 -24,144
2015 49,077 1,617 2,294 -23,010
2014 49,559 1,589 3,644 -22,132
2013 49,227 1,579 3,653 -20,297
2012 52,036 1,587 3,087 -19,083
2011 52,884 1,695 3,100 -17,871
2010 50,803 2,357 4,866 -16,668
2009 55,757 3,432 4,309 -15,455
2008 56,491 3,794 3,746 -17,645
2007 55,244 4,080 2,974 -15,705
2006 54,177 4,321 3,988 -9,632
2005 57,139 4,567 4,011 -2,244
2004 55,769 4,856 5,444 -2,640
2003 56,743 5,216 8,900 -2,880
2002 58,388 5,812 9,697 -2,858
2001 62,199 7,119 10,174 -922
2000 64,268 8,826 12,159 -2,824
1999 64,922 13,253 10,489 -1,261
1998 64,788 15,556 12,446 -589
1997 64,954 16,954 12,979 -477
1996 66,094 17,393 14,806 -397
1995 67,585 16,609 17,239 -3,603
1994 68,336 15,587 19,103 -21,006
1993 69,016 14,431 20,797 -47,273
1992 69,830 13,069 21,659 -46,509
1991 70,506 10,757 23,387 -45,484
1990 71,727 7,949 22,868 -16,174
1989 72,327 3,758 22,912 -13,528
1988 72,944 2,414 24,064 -13,621
1987 73,188 2,267 24,359 -13,635
1986 73,211 2,302 23,720 -13,589
1985 72,776 2,357 24,167 -13,492
1984 71,062 2,402 24,436 -13,251
1983 68,972 2,449 24,690 -12,884
1982 66,826 2,453 25,810 -11,716
1981 64,632 2,431 25,689 0
1980 62,561 2,387 26,547 -189
1979 60,984 2,349 27,096 -426
1978 58,327 2,296 27,150 -462
1977 56,122 2,228 27,410 -683
1976 54,019 2,129 28,799 -911
1975 51,979 1,992 28,983 -1,147
1974 50,349 1,839 28,400 -1,376
1973 48,943 1,468 28,032 -1,600
1972 48,417 1,366 28,236 -1,834
1971 48,341 1,296 28,010 -2,064
1970 48,398 1,137 28,022 60
1969 48,790 1,017 27,464 181
1968 48,361 939 28,378 -1,201
1967 50,193 926 28,401 -2,696
1966 50,755 930 28,766 -4,176
1965 51,196 932 28,564 -5,385
1964 51,435 934 27,889 -5,938
1963 51,403 938 28,124 -5,759
1962 51,046 934 25,317 -13,702
1961 50,149 924 27,846 -6,309
1960 48,857 910 28,816 -10,126

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/north-macedonia | 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 Macedonia 6.45% is from natural causes (a loss of 12,585 people) and 93.5% is from migration (a loss of 182,429 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 150,902 people or 8.3% in North Macedonia.

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 Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K

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-macedonia | 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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