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Population in Costa Rica compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 2.13 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% growth).

Costa Rica vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Papua New Guinea
2100 3,803,678 18,798,240
2099 3,841,913 18,786,145
2098 3,880,484 18,772,372
2097 3,919,475 18,755,008
2096 3,958,826 18,733,822
2095 3,998,552 18,710,340
2094 4,038,516 18,683,383
2093 4,078,807 18,654,365
2092 4,119,351 18,621,911
2091 4,160,111 18,586,147
2090 4,200,989 18,545,656
2089 4,241,888 18,506,626
2088 4,282,758 18,464,999
2087 4,323,650 18,420,558
2086 4,364,399 18,372,233
2085 4,404,935 18,321,842
2084 4,445,179 18,270,605
2083 4,485,048 18,214,932
2082 4,524,570 18,159,412
2081 4,563,658 18,100,531
2080 4,602,126 18,035,268
2079 4,640,060 17,972,052
2078 4,677,313 17,904,957
2077 4,713,901 17,837,082
2076 4,749,678 17,768,107
2075 4,784,723 17,695,759
2074 4,819,050 17,621,390
2073 4,852,492 17,544,490
2072 4,885,078 17,463,028
2071 4,916,792 17,377,995
2070 4,947,655 17,291,519
2069 4,977,764 17,201,936
2068 5,006,939 17,108,606
2067 5,035,207 17,011,562
2066 5,062,849 16,911,929
2065 5,089,797 16,809,460
2064 5,115,866 16,705,205
2063 5,141,239 16,600,853
2062 5,165,574 16,493,872
2061 5,189,146 16,383,508
2060 5,211,857 16,267,162
2059 5,233,370 16,149,265
2058 5,253,830 16,029,360
2057 5,273,143 15,906,350
2056 5,291,310 15,781,247
2055 5,308,124 15,653,296
2054 5,323,598 15,519,925
2053 5,337,707 15,386,054
2052 5,350,263 15,247,553
2051 5,361,152 15,107,257
2050 5,370,484 14,965,427
2049 5,378,189 14,818,793
2048 5,384,366 14,670,417
2047 5,388,962 14,519,915
2046 5,391,996 14,367,141
2045 5,393,493 14,210,639
2044 5,393,407 14,053,122
2043 5,391,873 13,894,884
2042 5,388,912 13,735,841
2041 5,384,386 13,574,567
2040 5,378,629 13,410,615
2039 5,371,473 13,244,740
2038 5,362,904 13,076,640
2037 5,353,217 12,907,059
2036 5,342,317 12,735,582
2035 5,330,286 12,563,938
2034 5,317,189 12,389,907
2033 5,302,930 12,215,713
2032 5,287,714 12,039,848
2031 5,271,514 11,862,856
2030 5,254,366 11,683,177
2029 5,236,206 11,502,504
2028 5,217,031 11,320,226
2027 5,196,723 11,136,100
2026 5,175,408 10,950,183
2025 5,152,950 10,762,817
2024 5,129,910 10,576,502
2023 5,105,525 10,389,635
2022 5,081,765 10,203,169
2021 5,059,988 10,012,896
2020 5,034,320 9,815,746
2019 4,999,553 9,609,010
2018 4,957,818 9,394,513
2017 4,913,177 9,178,714
2016 4,866,998 8,961,718
2015 4,818,038 8,743,246
2014 4,767,119 8,523,441
2013 4,716,147 8,302,698
2012 4,663,934 8,081,390
2011 4,609,833 7,859,346
2010 4,555,962 7,633,523
2009 4,499,791 7,406,438
2008 4,440,056 7,183,002
2007 4,380,248 6,963,345
2006 4,321,340 6,747,720
2005 4,261,240 6,535,905
2004 4,200,078 6,328,041
2003 4,138,784 6,123,997
2002 4,075,705 5,924,003
2001 4,008,947 5,728,435
2000 3,937,739 5,537,064
1999 3,862,101 5,349,333
1998 3,782,838 5,166,390
1997 3,701,711 4,987,883
1996 3,619,013 4,813,361
1995 3,535,176 4,644,278
1994 3,451,122 4,480,208
1993 3,367,434 4,320,872
1992 3,284,258 4,166,699
1991 3,202,176 4,021,837
1990 3,121,706 3,896,481
1989 3,043,827 3,796,078
1988 2,968,103 3,711,880
1987 2,892,699 3,632,543
1986 2,817,216 3,554,793
1985 2,741,894 3,478,936
1984 2,667,595 3,405,198
1983 2,595,153 3,333,633
1982 2,524,806 3,264,291
1981 2,456,637 3,197,019
1980 2,390,633 3,131,512
1979 2,326,490 3,067,341
1978 2,264,510 3,003,714
1977 2,205,025 2,940,327
1976 2,147,774 2,877,327
1975 2,092,719 2,814,820
1974 2,039,643 2,752,671
1973 1,988,343 2,690,629
1972 1,938,248 2,628,432
1971 1,888,539 2,566,421
1970 1,838,949 2,505,628
1969 1,789,276 2,446,927
1968 1,739,731 2,390,803
1967 1,689,523 2,337,532
1966 1,638,116 2,285,774
1965 1,586,208 2,235,820
1964 1,533,960 2,188,325
1963 1,481,604 2,141,376
1962 1,429,445 2,093,919
1961 1,377,920 2,046,127
1960 1,327,496 1,995,110

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Costa Rica's population will grow by 3.55% to 5,370,484 people with a rank change from 126th to 127th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Papua New Guinea
2100 -1% 0.06%
2099 -0.99% 0.07%
2098 -0.99% 0.09%
2097 -0.99% 0.11%
2096 -0.99% 0.13%
2095 -0.99% 0.14%
2094 -0.99% 0.16%
2093 -0.98% 0.17%
2092 -0.98% 0.19%
2091 -0.97% 0.22%
2090 -0.96% 0.21%
2089 -0.95% 0.23%
2088 -0.95% 0.24%
2087 -0.93% 0.26%
2086 -0.92% 0.28%
2085 -0.91% 0.28%
2084 -0.89% 0.31%
2083 -0.87% 0.31%
2082 -0.86% 0.33%
2081 -0.84% 0.36%
2080 -0.82% 0.35%
2079 -0.8% 0.37%
2078 -0.78% 0.38%
2077 -0.75% 0.39%
2076 -0.73% 0.41%
2075 -0.71% 0.42%
2074 -0.69% 0.44%
2073 -0.67% 0.47%
2072 -0.65% 0.49%
2071 -0.62% 0.5%
2070 -0.6% 0.52%
2069 -0.58% 0.55%
2068 -0.56% 0.57%
2067 -0.55% 0.59%
2066 -0.53% 0.61%
2065 -0.51% 0.62%
2064 -0.49% 0.63%
2063 -0.47% 0.65%
2062 -0.45% 0.67%
2061 -0.44% 0.72%
2060 -0.41% 0.73%
2059 -0.39% 0.75%
2058 -0.37% 0.77%
2057 -0.34% 0.79%
2056 -0.32% 0.82%
2055 -0.29% 0.86%
2054 -0.26% 0.87%
2053 -0.23% 0.91%
2052 -0.2% 0.93%
2051 -0.17% 0.95%
2050 -0.14% 0.99%
2049 -0.11% 1.01%
2048 -0.09% 1.04%
2047 -0.06% 1.06%
2046 -0.03% 1.1%
2045 0.002% 1.12%
2044 0.03% 1.14%
2043 0.05% 1.16%
2042 0.08% 1.19%
2041 0.11% 1.22%
2040 0.13% 1.25%
2039 0.16% 1.29%
2038 0.18% 1.31%
2037 0.2% 1.35%
2036 0.23% 1.37%
2035 0.25% 1.4%
2034 0.27% 1.43%
2033 0.29% 1.46%
2032 0.31% 1.49%
2031 0.33% 1.54%
2030 0.35% 1.57%
2029 0.37% 1.61%
2028 0.39% 1.65%
2027 0.41% 1.7%
2026 0.44% 1.74%
2025 0.45% 1.76%
2024 0.48% 1.8%
2023 0.47% 1.83%
2022 0.43% 1.9%
2021 0.51% 2.01%
2020 0.7% 2.15%
2019 0.84% 2.28%
2018 0.91% 2.35%
2017 0.95% 2.42%
2016 1.02% 2.5%
2015 1.07% 2.58%
2014 1.08% 2.66%
2013 1.12% 2.74%
2012 1.17% 2.83%
2011 1.18% 2.96%
2010 1.25% 3.07%
2009 1.35% 3.11%
2008 1.37% 3.15%
2007 1.36% 3.2%
2006 1.41% 3.24%
2005 1.46% 3.28%
2004 1.48% 3.33%
2003 1.55% 3.38%
2002 1.67% 3.41%
2001 1.81% 3.46%
2000 1.96% 3.51%
1999 2.1% 3.54%
1998 2.19% 3.58%
1997 2.29% 3.63%
1996 2.37% 3.64%
1995 2.44% 3.66%
1994 2.49% 3.69%
1993 2.53% 3.7%
1992 2.56% 3.6%
1991 2.58% 3.22%
1990 2.56% 2.64%
1989 2.55% 2.27%
1988 2.61% 2.18%
1987 2.68% 2.19%
1986 2.75% 2.18%
1985 2.79% 2.17%
1984 2.79% 2.15%
1983 2.79% 2.12%
1982 2.77% 2.1%
1981 2.76% 2.09%
1980 2.76% 2.09%
1979 2.74% 2.12%
1978 2.7% 2.16%
1977 2.67% 2.19%
1976 2.63% 2.22%
1975 2.6% 2.26%
1974 2.58% 2.31%
1973 2.58% 2.37%
1972 2.63% 2.42%
1971 2.7% 2.43%
1970 2.78% 2.4%
1969 2.85% 2.35%
1968 2.97% 2.28%
1967 3.14% 2.26%
1966 3.27% 2.23%
1965 3.41% 2.17%
1964 3.53% 2.19%
1963 3.65% 2.27%
1962 3.74% 2.34%
1961 3.8% 2.56%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Papua New Guinea
Current population
5186356
11045681
Population rank 126/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.13%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
2.83 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
2.05 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +510
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 59/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change +1,000 -284
Net migration rank 63/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -284
2024 22,699 967 187,595 -707
2023 24,109 995 187,637 -787
2022 21,409 1,006 186,861 -787
2021 20,119 1,018 183,766 10,703
2020 29,164 1,029 189,130 10,703
2019 37,682 1,653 190,662 22,978
2018 42,469 1,673 190,662 24,684
2017 43,471 1,671 189,715 26,513
2016 45,565 1,649 189,281 28,473
2015 49,077 1,617 188,600 30,580
2014 49,559 1,589 187,592 32,840
2013 49,227 1,579 185,790 35,280
2012 52,036 1,587 183,658 37,893
2011 52,884 1,695 181,842 40,690
2010 50,803 2,357 178,998 50,106
2009 55,757 3,432 175,421 49,647
2008 56,491 3,794 172,823 48,985
2007 55,244 4,080 169,306 48,203
2006 54,177 4,321 166,540 47,191
2005 57,139 4,567 163,888 46,014
2004 55,769 4,856 161,023 44,811
2003 56,743 5,216 158,611 43,639
2002 58,388 5,812 155,091 42,657
2001 62,199 7,119 151,431 41,962
2000 64,268 8,826 147,496 41,855
1999 64,922 13,253 143,592 42,519
1998 64,788 15,556 136,677 43,091
1997 64,954 16,954 134,458 42,787
1996 66,094 17,393 129,802 41,994
1995 67,585 16,609 125,410 40,962
1994 68,336 15,587 122,113 39,669
1993 69,016 14,431 118,668 38,220
1992 69,830 13,069 114,818 36,622
1991 70,506 10,757 111,453 26,830
1990 71,727 7,949 110,033 2,398
1989 72,327 3,758 108,199 -19,824
1988 72,944 2,414 106,256 -26,232
1987 73,188 2,267 104,367 -25,720
1986 73,211 2,302 102,346 -25,495
1985 72,776 2,357 100,333 -25,470
1984 71,062 2,402 98,103 -25,487
1983 68,972 2,449 95,982 -25,465
1982 66,826 2,453 93,522 -25,355
1981 64,632 2,431 91,767 -25,383
1980 62,561 2,387 90,266 -25,638
1979 60,984 2,349 89,330 -25,618
1978 58,327 2,296 88,747 -25,208
1977 56,122 2,228 87,954 -24,722
1976 54,019 2,129 86,965 -24,198
1975 51,979 1,992 85,809 -23,562
1974 50,349 1,839 84,829 -22,771
1973 48,943 1,468 83,821 -21,803
1972 48,417 1,366 82,672 -20,303
1971 48,341 1,296 80,599 -18,945
1970 48,398 1,137 78,712 -18,773
1969 48,790 1,017 76,454 -18,994
1968 48,361 939 73,983 -19,188
1967 50,193 926 71,519 -19,767
1966 50,755 930 69,206 -17,454
1965 51,196 932 66,693 -18,532
1964 51,435 934 64,558 -17,730
1963 51,403 938 62,260 -15,189
1962 51,046 934 59,974 -12,141
1961 50,149 924 58,151 -10,409
1960 48,857 910 56,326 -2,034

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 96.2% of the population change in Costa Rica is from natural causes (a gain of 335,764 people) and 3.8% is from migration (a gain of 13,278 people). In Papua New Guinea 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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