The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 17,695 people in Palau in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 17,629 in Palau.
Population statistics:
- Costa Rica's population is 293.9 times bigger than Palau's.
- Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
- The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.0002% for Palau.
- For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.02% in Palau.
- Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10% decline).
Costa Rica vs Palau: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Costa Rica
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | 3,804,183 | 11,152 |
| 2099 | 3,842,423 | 11,216 |
| 2098 | 3,880,999 | 11,281 |
| 2097 | 3,919,996 | 11,352 |
| 2096 | 3,959,352 | 11,417 |
| 2095 | 3,999,084 | 11,485 |
| 2094 | 4,039,053 | 11,549 |
| 2093 | 4,079,349 | 11,616 |
| 2092 | 4,119,898 | 11,682 |
| 2091 | 4,160,663 | 11,753 |
| 2090 | 4,201,548 | 11,829 |
| 2089 | 4,242,452 | 11,907 |
| 2088 | 4,283,327 | 11,968 |
| 2087 | 4,324,225 | 12,040 |
| 2086 | 4,364,979 | 12,109 |
| 2085 | 4,405,520 | 12,171 |
| 2084 | 4,445,770 | 12,251 |
| 2083 | 4,485,644 | 12,316 |
| 2082 | 4,525,171 | 12,382 |
| 2081 | 4,564,265 | 12,457 |
| 2080 | 4,602,737 | 12,537 |
| 2079 | 4,640,677 | 12,608 |
| 2078 | 4,677,935 | 12,681 |
| 2077 | 4,714,527 | 12,758 |
| 2076 | 4,750,309 | 12,838 |
| 2075 | 4,785,359 | 12,914 |
| 2074 | 4,819,691 | 13,007 |
| 2073 | 4,853,137 | 13,091 |
| 2072 | 4,885,727 | 13,161 |
| 2071 | 4,917,445 | 13,252 |
| 2070 | 4,948,313 | 13,338 |
| 2069 | 4,978,425 | 13,430 |
| 2068 | 5,007,604 | 13,525 |
| 2067 | 5,035,877 | 13,621 |
| 2066 | 5,063,521 | 13,723 |
| 2065 | 5,090,474 | 13,818 |
| 2064 | 5,116,546 | 13,920 |
| 2063 | 5,141,922 | 14,025 |
| 2062 | 5,166,260 | 14,136 |
| 2061 | 5,189,836 | 14,251 |
| 2060 | 5,212,549 | 14,358 |
| 2059 | 5,234,066 | 14,479 |
| 2058 | 5,254,528 | 14,589 |
| 2057 | 5,273,844 | 14,718 |
| 2056 | 5,292,013 | 14,837 |
| 2055 | 5,308,829 | 14,961 |
| 2054 | 5,324,305 | 15,084 |
| 2053 | 5,338,417 | 15,206 |
| 2052 | 5,350,974 | 15,332 |
| 2051 | 5,361,865 | 15,453 |
| 2050 | 5,371,197 | 15,562 |
| 2049 | 5,378,904 | 15,682 |
| 2048 | 5,385,081 | 15,797 |
| 2047 | 5,389,678 | 15,912 |
| 2046 | 5,392,713 | 16,024 |
| 2045 | 5,394,209 | 16,132 |
| 2044 | 5,394,124 | 16,245 |
| 2043 | 5,392,590 | 16,339 |
| 2042 | 5,389,628 | 16,445 |
| 2041 | 5,385,101 | 16,549 |
| 2040 | 5,379,344 | 16,631 |
| 2039 | 5,372,186 | 16,727 |
| 2038 | 5,363,617 | 16,805 |
| 2037 | 5,353,928 | 16,895 |
| 2036 | 5,343,027 | 16,964 |
| 2035 | 5,330,994 | 17,042 |
| 2034 | 5,317,895 | 17,118 |
| 2033 | 5,303,634 | 17,190 |
| 2032 | 5,288,416 | 17,250 |
| 2031 | 5,272,215 | 17,330 |
| 2030 | 5,255,064 | 17,398 |
| 2029 | 5,236,901 | 17,457 |
| 2028 | 5,217,724 | 17,527 |
| 2027 | 5,197,413 | 17,576 |
| 2026 | 5,176,096 | 17,629 |
| 2025 | 5,153,634 | 17,672 |
| 2024 | 5,129,910 | 17,695 |
| 2023 | 5,105,525 | 17,727 |
| 2022 | 5,081,765 | 17,759 |
| 2021 | 5,059,988 | 17,783 |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 | 17,792 |
| 2019 | 4,999,553 | 17,798 |
| 2018 | 4,957,818 | 17,814 |
| 2017 | 4,913,177 | 17,812 |
| 2016 | 4,866,998 | 17,797 |
| 2015 | 4,818,038 | 17,770 |
| 2014 | 4,767,119 | 17,715 |
| 2013 | 4,716,147 | 17,648 |
| 2012 | 4,663,934 | 17,765 |
| 2011 | 4,609,833 | 18,078 |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 | 18,396 |
| 2009 | 4,499,791 | 18,709 |
| 2008 | 4,440,056 | 19,009 |
| 2007 | 4,380,248 | 19,302 |
| 2006 | 4,321,340 | 19,593 |
| 2005 | 4,261,240 | 19,819 |
| 2004 | 4,200,078 | 19,820 |
| 2003 | 4,138,784 | 19,659 |
| 2002 | 4,075,705 | 19,503 |
| 2001 | 4,008,947 | 19,352 |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 | 19,178 |
| 1999 | 3,862,101 | 18,901 |
| 1998 | 3,782,838 | 18,524 |
| 1997 | 3,701,711 | 18,108 |
| 1996 | 3,619,013 | 17,654 |
| 1995 | 3,535,176 | 17,195 |
| 1994 | 3,451,122 | 16,770 |
| 1993 | 3,367,434 | 16,372 |
| 1992 | 3,284,258 | 15,989 |
| 1991 | 3,202,176 | 15,614 |
| 1990 | 3,121,706 | 15,259 |
| 1989 | 3,043,827 | 14,945 |
| 1988 | 2,968,103 | 14,645 |
| 1987 | 2,892,699 | 14,334 |
| 1986 | 2,817,216 | 14,024 |
| 1985 | 2,741,894 | 13,688 |
| 1984 | 2,667,595 | 13,337 |
| 1983 | 2,595,153 | 13,006 |
| 1982 | 2,524,806 | 12,694 |
| 1981 | 2,456,637 | 12,402 |
| 1980 | 2,390,633 | 12,271 |
| 1979 | 2,326,490 | 12,337 |
| 1978 | 2,264,510 | 12,440 |
| 1977 | 2,205,025 | 12,525 |
| 1976 | 2,147,774 | 12,598 |
| 1975 | 2,092,719 | 12,655 |
| 1974 | 2,039,643 | 12,687 |
| 1973 | 1,988,343 | 12,552 |
| 1972 | 1,938,248 | 12,194 |
| 1971 | 1,888,539 | 11,759 |
| 1970 | 1,838,949 | 11,368 |
| 1969 | 1,789,276 | 11,159 |
| 1968 | 1,739,731 | 11,080 |
| 1967 | 1,689,523 | 10,988 |
| 1966 | 1,638,116 | 10,805 |
| 1965 | 1,586,208 | 10,547 |
| 1964 | 1,533,960 | 10,292 |
| 1963 | 1,481,604 | 10,037 |
| 1962 | 1,429,445 | 9,793 |
| 1961 | 1,377,920 | 9,555 |
| 1960 | 1,327,496 | 9,328 |
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/palau | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 168 people (a 0.94% decline).
Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th 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 Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,562 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.
Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Palau's population already peaked in 2004 at 19.8K people and is projected to decrease to 11.2K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Costa Rica
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | -1% | -0.57% |
| 2099 | -0.99% | -0.58% |
| 2098 | -0.99% | -0.62% |
| 2097 | -0.99% | -0.57% |
| 2096 | -0.99% | -0.59% |
| 2095 | -0.99% | -0.55% |
| 2094 | -0.99% | -0.58% |
| 2093 | -0.98% | -0.56% |
| 2092 | -0.98% | -0.6% |
| 2091 | -0.97% | -0.65% |
| 2090 | -0.96% | -0.65% |
| 2089 | -0.95% | -0.51% |
| 2088 | -0.95% | -0.6% |
| 2087 | -0.93% | -0.57% |
| 2086 | -0.92% | -0.51% |
| 2085 | -0.91% | -0.65% |
| 2084 | -0.89% | -0.53% |
| 2083 | -0.87% | -0.53% |
| 2082 | -0.86% | -0.6% |
| 2081 | -0.84% | -0.64% |
| 2080 | -0.82% | -0.56% |
| 2079 | -0.8% | -0.58% |
| 2078 | -0.78% | -0.6% |
| 2077 | -0.75% | -0.62% |
| 2076 | -0.73% | -0.59% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | -0.71% |
| 2074 | -0.69% | -0.64% |
| 2073 | -0.67% | -0.53% |
| 2072 | -0.65% | -0.69% |
| 2071 | -0.62% | -0.65% |
| 2070 | -0.6% | -0.68% |
| 2069 | -0.58% | -0.7% |
| 2068 | -0.56% | -0.7% |
| 2067 | -0.55% | -0.74% |
| 2066 | -0.53% | -0.69% |
| 2065 | -0.51% | -0.73% |
| 2064 | -0.49% | -0.75% |
| 2063 | -0.47% | -0.78% |
| 2062 | -0.45% | -0.81% |
| 2061 | -0.44% | -0.74% |
| 2060 | -0.41% | -0.84% |
| 2059 | -0.39% | -0.75% |
| 2058 | -0.37% | -0.88% |
| 2057 | -0.34% | -0.81% |
| 2056 | -0.32% | -0.83% |
| 2055 | -0.29% | -0.81% |
| 2054 | -0.26% | -0.8% |
| 2053 | -0.23% | -0.82% |
| 2052 | -0.2% | -0.78% |
| 2051 | -0.17% | -0.7% |
| 2050 | -0.14% | -0.76% |
| 2049 | -0.11% | -0.73% |
| 2048 | -0.09% | -0.72% |
| 2047 | -0.06% | -0.7% |
| 2046 | -0.03% | -0.67% |
| 2045 | 0.002% | -0.7% |
| 2044 | 0.03% | -0.57% |
| 2043 | 0.05% | -0.64% |
| 2042 | 0.08% | -0.63% |
| 2041 | 0.11% | -0.49% |
| 2040 | 0.13% | -0.57% |
| 2039 | 0.16% | -0.46% |
| 2038 | 0.18% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | 0.2% | -0.41% |
| 2036 | 0.23% | -0.46% |
| 2035 | 0.25% | -0.44% |
| 2034 | 0.27% | -0.42% |
| 2033 | 0.29% | -0.35% |
| 2032 | 0.31% | -0.46% |
| 2031 | 0.33% | -0.39% |
| 2030 | 0.35% | -0.34% |
| 2029 | 0.37% | -0.4% |
| 2028 | 0.39% | -0.28% |
| 2027 | 0.41% | -0.3% |
| 2026 | 0.44% | -0.24% |
| 2025 | 0.46% | -0.13% |
| 2024 | 0.48% | -0.18% |
| 2023 | 0.47% | -0.18% |
| 2022 | 0.43% | -0.13% |
| 2021 | 0.51% | -0.05% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | -0.03% |
| 2019 | 0.84% | -0.09% |
| 2018 | 0.91% | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 0.95% | 0.08% |
| 2016 | 1.02% | 0.15% |
| 2015 | 1.07% | 0.31% |
| 2014 | 1.08% | 0.38% |
| 2013 | 1.12% | -0.66% |
| 2012 | 1.17% | -1.73% |
| 2011 | 1.18% | -1.73% |
| 2010 | 1.25% | -1.67% |
| 2009 | 1.35% | -1.58% |
| 2008 | 1.37% | -1.52% |
| 2007 | 1.36% | -1.49% |
| 2006 | 1.41% | -1.14% |
| 2005 | 1.46% | -0.005% |
| 2004 | 1.48% | 0.82% |
| 2003 | 1.55% | 0.8% |
| 2002 | 1.67% | 0.78% |
| 2001 | 1.81% | 0.91% |
| 2000 | 1.96% | 1.47% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | 2.04% |
| 1998 | 2.19% | 2.3% |
| 1997 | 2.29% | 2.57% |
| 1996 | 2.37% | 2.67% |
| 1995 | 2.44% | 2.53% |
| 1994 | 2.49% | 2.43% |
| 1993 | 2.53% | 2.4% |
| 1992 | 2.56% | 2.4% |
| 1991 | 2.58% | 2.33% |
| 1990 | 2.56% | 2.1% |
| 1989 | 2.55% | 2.05% |
| 1988 | 2.61% | 2.17% |
| 1987 | 2.68% | 2.21% |
| 1986 | 2.75% | 2.45% |
| 1985 | 2.79% | 2.63% |
| 1984 | 2.79% | 2.54% |
| 1983 | 2.79% | 2.46% |
| 1982 | 2.77% | 2.35% |
| 1981 | 2.76% | 1.07% |
| 1980 | 2.76% | -0.53% |
| 1979 | 2.74% | -0.83% |
| 1978 | 2.7% | -0.68% |
| 1977 | 2.67% | -0.58% |
| 1976 | 2.63% | -0.45% |
| 1975 | 2.6% | -0.25% |
| 1974 | 2.58% | 1.08% |
| 1973 | 2.58% | 2.94% |
| 1972 | 2.63% | 3.7% |
| 1971 | 2.7% | 3.44% |
| 1970 | 2.78% | 1.87% |
| 1969 | 2.85% | 0.71% |
| 1968 | 2.97% | 0.84% |
| 1967 | 3.14% | 1.69% |
| 1966 | 3.27% | 2.45% |
| 1965 | 3.41% | 2.48% |
| 1964 | 3.53% | 2.54% |
| 1963 | 3.65% | 2.49% |
| 1962 | 3.74% | 2.49% |
| 1961 | 3.8% | 2.43% |
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/palau | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.
Live population counters
|
Costa Rica
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5181862
|
17629
|
| Population rank | 126/197 | 194/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.06% | 0.0002% |
| One net population change |
21.6 minutes
|
1.63 weeks
|
| One birth every |
10.1 minutes
|
1.89 days
|
| One death every |
18.9 minutes
|
1.8 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | +67 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +24,385 | -32 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.48% | -0.18% |
| Population growth rate rank | 138/197 | 175/197 |
| One migration net change every |
8.78 hours
|
3.27 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | +1,000 | -16 |
| Net migration rank | 63/196 | 78/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 628,404 | 5,212 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 75/195 | 184/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 12.2% | 29.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 55/195 | 19/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Costa Rica
|
Palau
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 1,000 | - | -16 |
| 2024 | - | 967 | - | -14 |
| 2023 | 24,109 | 995 | -10 | -19 |
| 2022 | 21,409 | 1,006 | -7 | -20 |
| 2021 | 20,119 | 1,018 | -3 | -21 |
| 2020 | 29,164 | 1,029 | 8 | 0 |
| 2019 | 37,682 | 1,653 | 23 | -46 |
| 2018 | 42,469 | 1,673 | 29 | -35 |
| 2017 | 43,471 | 1,671 | 43 | -33 |
| 2016 | 45,565 | 1,649 | 53 | -35 |
| 2015 | 49,077 | 1,617 | 55 | -11 |
| 2014 | 49,559 | 1,589 | 73 | -7 |
| 2013 | 49,227 | 1,579 | 88 | -28 |
| 2012 | 52,036 | 1,587 | 86 | -387 |
| 2011 | 52,884 | 1,695 | 83 | -405 |
| 2010 | 50,803 | 2,357 | 81 | -392 |
| 2009 | 55,757 | 3,432 | 81 | -382 |
| 2008 | 56,491 | 3,794 | 79 | -378 |
| 2007 | 55,244 | 4,080 | 80 | -372 |
| 2006 | 54,177 | 4,321 | 79 | -365 |
| 2005 | 57,139 | 4,567 | 80 | -250 |
| 2004 | 55,769 | 4,856 | 83 | 79 |
| 2003 | 56,743 | 5,216 | 86 | 71 |
| 2002 | 58,388 | 5,812 | 88 | 67 |
| 2001 | 62,199 | 7,119 | 88 | 65 |
| 2000 | 64,268 | 8,826 | 85 | 120 |
| 1999 | 64,922 | 13,253 | 100 | 243 |
| 1998 | 64,788 | 15,556 | 116 | 280 |
| 1997 | 64,954 | 16,954 | 140 | 297 |
| 1996 | 66,094 | 17,393 | 166 | 312 |
| 1995 | 67,585 | 16,609 | 186 | 258 |
| 1994 | 68,336 | 15,587 | 195 | 211 |
| 1993 | 69,016 | 14,431 | 196 | 193 |
| 1992 | 69,830 | 13,069 | 183 | 193 |
| 1991 | 70,506 | 10,757 | 175 | 193 |
| 1990 | 71,727 | 7,949 | 181 | 156 |
| 1989 | 72,327 | 3,758 | 185 | 113 |
| 1988 | 72,944 | 2,414 | 183 | 126 |
| 1987 | 73,188 | 2,267 | 182 | 125 |
| 1986 | 73,211 | 2,302 | 182 | 135 |
| 1985 | 72,776 | 2,357 | 181 | 179 |
| 1984 | 71,062 | 2,402 | 181 | 157 |
| 1983 | 68,972 | 2,449 | 176 | 144 |
| 1982 | 66,826 | 2,453 | 170 | 132 |
| 1981 | 64,632 | 2,431 | 161 | 120 |
| 1980 | 62,561 | 2,387 | 165 | -179 |
| 1979 | 60,984 | 2,349 | 176 | -291 |
| 1978 | 58,327 | 2,296 | 193 | -285 |
| 1977 | 56,122 | 2,228 | 213 | -292 |
| 1976 | 54,019 | 2,129 | 236 | -296 |
| 1975 | 51,979 | 1,992 | 249 | -296 |
| 1974 | 50,349 | 1,839 | 256 | -282 |
| 1973 | 48,943 | 1,468 | 268 | 22 |
| 1972 | 48,417 | 1,366 | 280 | 147 |
| 1971 | 48,341 | 1,296 | 287 | 156 |
| 1970 | 48,398 | 1,137 | 286 | 54 |
| 1969 | 48,790 | 1,017 | 283 | -209 |
| 1968 | 48,361 | 939 | 275 | -194 |
| 1967 | 50,193 | 926 | 266 | -150 |
| 1966 | 50,755 | 930 | 268 | -18 |
| 1965 | 51,196 | 932 | 275 | -16 |
| 1964 | 51,435 | 934 | 284 | -27 |
| 1963 | 51,403 | 938 | 291 | -41 |
| 1962 | 51,046 | 934 | 296 | -54 |
| 1961 | 50,149 | 924 | 298 | -65 |
| 1960 | 48,857 | 910 | 296 | -70 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/palau | 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 Palau 53.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 264 people) and 46.2% is from migration (a loss of 227 people).
As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.
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 |
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Ngerulmud | 318 |
| Melekeok | 299 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Costa Rica and Palau
|
Costa Rica
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 81.4 years | 69.6 years |
| Average age | 37 years | 38.4 years |
| Median age | 35.6 years | 39.2 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.4:50.6 | 53.9:46.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.33 births per woman | 1.91 births per woman |
| Population density | 262.6 ppl/mi² | 99.3 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/palau | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.