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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 5,572,279 people in Norway in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 5,671,119 in Norway.

Population statistics:

  • Norway's population is 1.09 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Norway is the 119th.
  • The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.07% for Norway.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.85% in Norway.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Norway has grown from 4.66M to 5.67M (21.7% growth).

Costa Rica vs Norway: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Norway
2100 3,804,183 5,441,855
2099 3,842,423 5,454,583
2098 3,880,999 5,466,669
2097 3,919,996 5,478,174
2096 3,959,352 5,490,010
2095 3,999,084 5,502,418
2094 4,039,053 5,514,598
2093 4,079,349 5,527,174
2092 4,119,898 5,539,172
2091 4,160,663 5,551,172
2090 4,201,548 5,564,044
2089 4,242,452 5,576,715
2088 4,283,327 5,590,047
2087 4,324,225 5,604,159
2086 4,364,979 5,617,935
2085 4,405,520 5,631,413
2084 4,445,770 5,645,116
2083 4,485,644 5,658,044
2082 4,525,171 5,670,485
2081 4,564,265 5,682,427
2080 4,602,737 5,694,199
2079 4,640,677 5,705,317
2078 4,677,935 5,715,984
2077 4,714,527 5,726,145
2076 4,750,309 5,735,898
2075 4,785,359 5,745,619
2074 4,819,691 5,755,683
2073 4,853,137 5,765,642
2072 4,885,727 5,775,295
2071 4,917,445 5,784,119
2070 4,948,313 5,793,594
2069 4,978,425 5,802,341
2068 5,007,604 5,811,630
2067 5,035,877 5,821,550
2066 5,063,521 5,831,535
2065 5,090,474 5,841,333
2064 5,116,546 5,851,085
2063 5,141,922 5,860,548
2062 5,166,260 5,869,700
2061 5,189,836 5,877,754
2060 5,212,549 5,885,488
2059 5,234,066 5,892,036
2058 5,254,528 5,897,922
2057 5,273,844 5,904,330
2056 5,292,013 5,910,291
2055 5,308,829 5,915,286
2054 5,324,305 5,919,312
2053 5,338,417 5,922,325
2052 5,350,974 5,923,483
2051 5,361,865 5,923,938
2050 5,371,197 5,923,557
2049 5,378,904 5,922,138
2048 5,385,081 5,919,215
2047 5,389,678 5,916,146
2046 5,392,713 5,912,426
2045 5,394,209 5,907,334
2044 5,394,124 5,902,175
2043 5,392,590 5,896,614
2042 5,389,628 5,889,741
2041 5,385,101 5,881,692
2040 5,379,344 5,873,512
2039 5,372,186 5,864,063
2038 5,363,617 5,853,639
2037 5,353,928 5,842,734
2036 5,343,027 5,830,991
2035 5,330,994 5,818,882
2034 5,317,895 5,805,966
2033 5,303,634 5,792,030
2032 5,288,416 5,777,062
2031 5,272,215 5,760,828
2030 5,255,064 5,743,814
2029 5,236,901 5,725,891
2028 5,217,724 5,706,765
2027 5,197,413 5,686,336
2026 5,176,096 5,665,477
2025 5,153,634 5,626,258
2024 5,129,910 5,572,279
2023 5,105,525 5,519,601
2022 5,081,765 5,457,127
2021 5,059,988 5,408,320
2020 5,034,320 5,379,475
2019 4,999,553 5,347,896
2018 4,957,818 5,311,916
2017 4,913,177 5,276,968
2016 4,866,998 5,234,519
2015 4,818,038 5,188,607
2014 4,767,119 5,137,232
2013 4,716,147 5,079,623
2012 4,663,934 5,018,573
2011 4,609,833 4,953,088
2010 4,555,962 4,889,252
2009 4,499,791 4,828,726
2008 4,440,056 4,768,212
2007 4,380,248 4,709,153
2006 4,321,340 4,660,677
2005 4,261,240 4,623,291
2004 4,200,078 4,591,910
2003 4,138,784 4,564,855
2002 4,075,705 4,538,159
2001 4,008,947 4,513,751
2000 3,937,739 4,490,967
1999 3,862,101 4,461,913
1998 3,782,838 4,431,464
1997 3,701,711 4,405,157
1996 3,619,013 4,381,336
1995 3,535,176 4,359,184
1994 3,451,122 4,336,613
1993 3,367,434 4,311,991
1992 3,284,258 4,286,401
1991 3,202,176 4,261,732
1990 3,121,706 4,241,473
1989 3,043,827 4,226,901
1988 2,968,103 4,209,488
1987 2,892,699 4,186,905
1986 2,817,216 4,167,354
1985 2,741,894 4,152,516
1984 2,667,595 4,140,099
1983 2,595,153 4,128,432
1982 2,524,806 4,114,787
1981 2,456,637 4,099,702
1980 2,390,633 4,085,620
1979 2,326,490 4,072,517
1978 2,264,510 4,058,671
1977 2,205,025 4,043,205
1976 2,147,774 4,026,152
1975 2,092,719 4,007,313
1974 2,039,643 3,985,258
1973 1,988,343 3,960,612
1972 1,938,248 3,933,004
1971 1,888,539 3,903,039
1970 1,838,949 3,875,763
1969 1,789,276 3,847,707
1968 1,739,731 3,816,486
1967 1,689,523 3,784,539
1966 1,638,116 3,753,012
1965 1,586,208 3,723,168
1964 1,533,960 3,694,339
1963 1,481,604 3,666,537
1962 1,429,445 3,638,918
1961 1,377,920 3,609,800
1960 1,327,496 3,581,239

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/norway | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Norway gained 573,842 people (a 12.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Norway's population increased by 436,600 people (a 8.34% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Norway was ranked 116th in 2006 and ranked 119th 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 Norway will increase by 4.45% to 5,923,557 people and rank change from 119th to 121st.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 5.92M people in 2051 for Norway.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Norway
2100 -1% -0.23%
2099 -0.99% -0.22%
2098 -0.99% -0.21%
2097 -0.99% -0.22%
2096 -0.99% -0.23%
2095 -0.99% -0.22%
2094 -0.99% -0.23%
2093 -0.98% -0.22%
2092 -0.98% -0.22%
2091 -0.97% -0.23%
2090 -0.96% -0.23%
2089 -0.95% -0.24%
2088 -0.95% -0.25%
2087 -0.93% -0.25%
2086 -0.92% -0.24%
2085 -0.91% -0.24%
2084 -0.89% -0.23%
2083 -0.87% -0.22%
2082 -0.86% -0.21%
2081 -0.84% -0.21%
2080 -0.82% -0.19%
2079 -0.8% -0.19%
2078 -0.78% -0.18%
2077 -0.75% -0.17%
2076 -0.73% -0.17%
2075 -0.71% -0.17%
2074 -0.69% -0.17%
2073 -0.67% -0.17%
2072 -0.65% -0.15%
2071 -0.62% -0.16%
2070 -0.6% -0.15%
2069 -0.58% -0.16%
2068 -0.56% -0.17%
2067 -0.55% -0.17%
2066 -0.53% -0.17%
2065 -0.51% -0.17%
2064 -0.49% -0.16%
2063 -0.47% -0.16%
2062 -0.45% -0.14%
2061 -0.44% -0.13%
2060 -0.41% -0.11%
2059 -0.39% -0.1%
2058 -0.37% -0.11%
2057 -0.34% -0.1%
2056 -0.32% -0.08%
2055 -0.29% -0.07%
2054 -0.26% -0.05%
2053 -0.23% -0.02%
2052 -0.2% -0.008%
2051 -0.17% 0.006%
2050 -0.14% 0.02%
2049 -0.11% 0.05%
2048 -0.09% 0.05%
2047 -0.06% 0.06%
2046 -0.03% 0.09%
2045 0.002% 0.09%
2044 0.03% 0.09%
2043 0.05% 0.12%
2042 0.08% 0.14%
2041 0.11% 0.14%
2040 0.13% 0.16%
2039 0.16% 0.18%
2038 0.18% 0.19%
2037 0.2% 0.2%
2036 0.23% 0.21%
2035 0.25% 0.22%
2034 0.27% 0.24%
2033 0.29% 0.26%
2032 0.31% 0.28%
2031 0.33% 0.3%
2030 0.35% 0.31%
2029 0.37% 0.34%
2028 0.39% 0.36%
2027 0.41% 0.37%
2026 0.44% 0.7%
2025 0.46% 0.97%
2024 0.48% 0.95%
2023 0.47% 1.14%
2022 0.43% 0.9%
2021 0.51% 0.54%
2020 0.7% 0.59%
2019 0.84% 0.68%
2018 0.91% 0.66%
2017 0.95% 0.81%
2016 1.02% 0.88%
2015 1.07% 1%
2014 1.08% 1.13%
2013 1.12% 1.22%
2012 1.17% 1.32%
2011 1.18% 1.31%
2010 1.25% 1.25%
2009 1.35% 1.27%
2008 1.37% 1.25%
2007 1.36% 1.04%
2006 1.41% 0.81%
2005 1.46% 0.68%
2004 1.48% 0.59%
2003 1.55% 0.59%
2002 1.67% 0.54%
2001 1.81% 0.51%
2000 1.96% 0.65%
1999 2.1% 0.69%
1998 2.19% 0.6%
1997 2.29% 0.54%
1996 2.37% 0.51%
1995 2.44% 0.52%
1994 2.49% 0.57%
1993 2.53% 0.6%
1992 2.56% 0.58%
1991 2.58% 0.48%
1990 2.56% 0.34%
1989 2.55% 0.41%
1988 2.61% 0.54%
1987 2.68% 0.47%
1986 2.75% 0.36%
1985 2.79% 0.3%
1984 2.79% 0.28%
1983 2.79% 0.33%
1982 2.77% 0.37%
1981 2.76% 0.34%
1980 2.76% 0.32%
1979 2.74% 0.34%
1978 2.7% 0.38%
1977 2.67% 0.42%
1976 2.63% 0.47%
1975 2.6% 0.55%
1974 2.58% 0.62%
1973 2.58% 0.7%
1972 2.63% 0.77%
1971 2.7% 0.7%
1970 2.78% 0.73%
1969 2.85% 0.82%
1968 2.97% 0.84%
1967 3.14% 0.84%
1966 3.27% 0.8%
1965 3.41% 0.78%
1964 3.53% 0.76%
1963 3.65% 0.76%
1962 3.74% 0.81%
1961 3.8% 0.8%

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/norway | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Norway's population grew by 0.95%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Norway
Current population
5181862
5671119
Population rank 126/197 119/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.07%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
9.98 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
10.1 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
12.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +144
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +52,678
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.95%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 105/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +29,798
Net migration rank 63/196 29/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 1,012,404
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 60/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 18.2%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 33/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Norway
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Norway
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 29,798
2024 - 967 - 44,356
2023 24,109 995 8,280 53,806
2022 21,409 1,006 5,457 58,040
2021 20,119 1,018 14,062 19,804
2020 29,164 1,029 12,372 11,277
2019 37,682 1,653 13,904 25,707
2018 42,469 1,673 14,342 18,473
2017 43,471 1,671 15,831 21,657
2016 45,565 1,649 17,797 26,417
2015 49,077 1,617 18,160 30,242
2014 49,559 1,589 18,494 38,522
2013 49,227 1,579 17,779 40,690
2012 52,036 1,587 18,066 47,883
2011 52,884 1,695 18,822 47,454
2010 50,803 2,357 20,046 42,865
2009 55,757 3,432 20,280 39,316
2008 56,491 3,794 19,073 44,002
2007 55,244 4,080 16,482 40,111
2006 54,177 4,321 17,244 24,054
2005 57,139 4,567 15,719 18,588
2004 55,769 4,856 15,612 13,412
2003 56,743 5,216 14,151 11,389
2002 58,388 5,812 10,892 17,279
2001 62,199 7,119 13,090 7,906
2000 64,268 8,826 15,269 9,805
1999 64,922 13,253 14,278 19,147
1998 64,788 15,556 14,181 13,519
1997 64,954 16,954 15,418 9,744
1996 66,094 17,393 17,087 5,671
1995 67,585 16,609 14,821 6,343
1994 68,336 15,587 16,045 7,580
1993 69,016 14,431 12,936 12,567
1992 69,830 13,069 15,431 10,218
1991 70,506 10,757 16,194 7,949
1990 71,727 7,949 14,845 1,818
1989 72,327 3,758 13,949 -1,730
1988 72,944 2,414 12,207 10,380
1987 73,188 2,267 9,212 13,907
1986 73,211 2,302 8,751 7,616
1985 72,776 2,357 6,644 6,725
1984 71,062 2,402 7,452 3,856
1983 68,972 2,449 7,844 4,120
1982 66,826 2,453 9,875 5,749
1981 64,632 2,431 9,020 6,010
1980 62,561 2,387 9,806 3,763
1979 60,984 2,349 10,181 2,839
1978 58,327 2,296 11,364 3,823
1977 56,122 2,228 11,321 4,845
1976 54,019 2,129 13,286 4,779
1975 51,979 1,992 16,430 3,312
1974 50,349 1,839 20,324 4,425
1973 48,943 1,468 21,387 3,414
1972 48,417 1,366 24,777 5,603
1971 48,341 1,296 26,541 3,031
1970 48,398 1,137 25,968 -1,034
1969 48,790 1,017 28,858 2,230
1968 48,361 939 29,387 1,761
1967 50,193 926 30,276 2,460
1966 50,755 930 31,150 -888
1965 51,196 932 31,275 -1,525
1964 51,435 934 30,293 -1,571
1963 51,403 938 26,766 1,061
1962 51,046 934 28,020 655
1961 50,149 924 29,239 1,437
1960 48,857 910 29,366 -1,427

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/norway | 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 Norway 31.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 138,699 people) and 68.7% is from migration (a gain of 303,945 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 1,012,404 people or 18.2% in Norway.

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
Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 150K
Baerum 132K
Drammen 105K
Asker 100K
Lillestrom 95.8K
Fredrikstad 85.9K
Sandnes 84.9K

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/norway | 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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