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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 2.12 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 +0.77% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% 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 3,804,183 18,802,138
2099 3,842,423 18,790,040
2098 3,880,999 18,776,265
2097 3,919,996 18,758,897
2096 3,959,352 18,737,707
2095 3,999,084 18,714,219
2094 4,039,053 18,687,257
2093 4,079,349 18,658,233
2092 4,119,898 18,625,772
2091 4,160,663 18,590,001
2090 4,201,548 18,549,501
2089 4,242,452 18,510,463
2088 4,283,327 18,468,827
2087 4,324,225 18,424,378
2086 4,364,979 18,376,043
2085 4,405,520 18,325,641
2084 4,445,770 18,274,394
2083 4,485,644 18,218,709
2082 4,525,171 18,163,177
2081 4,564,265 18,104,285
2080 4,602,737 18,039,008
2079 4,640,677 17,975,778
2078 4,677,935 17,908,670
2077 4,714,527 17,840,781
2076 4,750,309 17,771,791
2075 4,785,359 17,699,428
2074 4,819,691 17,625,044
2073 4,853,137 17,548,128
2072 4,885,727 17,466,649
2071 4,917,445 17,381,598
2070 4,948,313 17,295,105
2069 4,978,425 17,205,503
2068 5,007,604 17,112,154
2067 5,035,877 17,015,090
2066 5,063,521 16,915,436
2065 5,090,474 16,812,946
2064 5,116,546 16,708,669
2063 5,141,922 16,604,296
2062 5,166,260 16,497,292
2061 5,189,836 16,386,905
2060 5,212,549 16,270,535
2059 5,234,066 16,152,614
2058 5,254,528 16,032,684
2057 5,273,844 15,909,649
2056 5,292,013 15,784,519
2055 5,308,829 15,656,542
2054 5,324,305 15,523,143
2053 5,338,417 15,389,244
2052 5,350,974 15,250,715
2051 5,361,865 15,110,389
2050 5,371,197 14,968,530
2049 5,378,904 14,821,865
2048 5,385,081 14,673,459
2047 5,389,678 14,522,926
2046 5,392,713 14,370,120
2045 5,394,209 14,213,585
2044 5,394,124 14,056,036
2043 5,392,590 13,897,765
2042 5,389,628 13,738,690
2041 5,385,101 13,577,382
2040 5,379,344 13,413,396
2039 5,372,186 13,247,486
2038 5,363,617 13,079,352
2037 5,353,928 12,909,735
2036 5,343,027 12,738,223
2035 5,330,994 12,566,543
2034 5,317,895 12,392,476
2033 5,303,634 12,218,246
2032 5,288,416 12,042,345
2031 5,272,215 11,865,316
2030 5,255,064 11,685,599
2029 5,236,901 11,504,890
2028 5,217,724 11,322,573
2027 5,197,413 11,138,409
2026 5,176,096 10,952,454
2025 5,153,634 10,765,048
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% 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 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

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 0.46% 1.78%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Papua New Guinea
Current population
5181862
11002753
Population rank 126/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.13%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +512
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 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 - 967 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 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 (1960–2024, 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/papua-new-guinea | 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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