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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 6,929,153 people in Paraguay in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 7,120,169 in Paraguay.

Population statistics:

  • Paraguay's population is 1.37 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Paraguay is the 108th.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.09% for Paraguay.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.34% in Paraguay.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Paraguay has grown from 5.51M to 7.12M (29.3% growth).

Costa Rica vs Paraguay: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Paraguay
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Paraguay
2100 3,804,183 9,114,469
2099 3,842,423 9,134,868
2098 3,880,999 9,153,773
2097 3,919,996 9,171,880
2096 3,959,352 9,188,931
2095 3,999,084 9,204,812
2094 4,039,053 9,219,996
2093 4,079,349 9,234,274
2092 4,119,898 9,247,659
2091 4,160,663 9,260,551
2090 4,201,548 9,272,453
2089 4,242,452 9,283,984
2088 4,283,327 9,293,775
2087 4,324,225 9,302,722
2086 4,364,979 9,311,508
2085 4,405,520 9,319,285
2084 4,445,770 9,325,447
2083 4,485,644 9,331,054
2082 4,525,171 9,335,846
2081 4,564,265 9,340,017
2080 4,602,737 9,342,618
2079 4,640,677 9,344,195
2078 4,677,935 9,344,403
2077 4,714,527 9,343,525
2076 4,750,309 9,341,603
2075 4,785,359 9,337,944
2074 4,819,691 9,332,883
2073 4,853,137 9,326,126
2072 4,885,727 9,317,685
2071 4,917,445 9,307,917
2070 4,948,313 9,296,216
2069 4,978,425 9,282,854
2068 5,007,604 9,268,086
2067 5,035,877 9,251,858
2066 5,063,521 9,233,146
2065 5,090,474 9,212,933
2064 5,116,546 9,190,368
2063 5,141,922 9,165,372
2062 5,166,260 9,138,205
2061 5,189,836 9,109,701
2060 5,212,549 9,079,572
2059 5,234,066 9,047,300
2058 5,254,528 9,011,957
2057 5,273,844 8,975,110
2056 5,292,013 8,936,412
2055 5,308,829 8,896,115
2054 5,324,305 8,853,974
2053 5,338,417 8,810,350
2052 5,350,974 8,764,844
2051 5,361,865 8,717,773
2050 5,371,197 8,669,516
2049 5,378,904 8,619,672
2048 5,385,081 8,568,157
2047 5,389,678 8,515,265
2046 5,392,713 8,460,084
2045 5,394,209 8,404,136
2044 5,394,124 8,346,996
2043 5,392,590 8,288,781
2042 5,389,628 8,228,904
2041 5,385,101 8,168,202
2040 5,379,344 8,106,496
2039 5,372,186 8,043,273
2038 5,363,617 7,978,464
2037 5,353,928 7,912,690
2036 5,343,027 7,845,468
2035 5,330,994 7,777,137
2034 5,317,895 7,707,832
2033 5,303,634 7,636,950
2032 5,288,416 7,564,485
2031 5,272,215 7,490,891
2030 5,255,064 7,415,529
2029 5,236,901 7,338,535
2028 5,217,724 7,259,813
2027 5,197,413 7,179,864
2026 5,176,096 7,098,035
2025 5,153,634 7,014,448
2024 5,129,910 6,929,153
2023 5,105,525 6,844,146
2022 5,081,765 6,760,464
2021 5,059,988 6,684,182
2020 5,034,320 6,603,739
2019 4,999,553 6,515,058
2018 4,957,818 6,427,382
2017 4,913,177 6,338,660
2016 4,866,998 6,249,126
2015 4,818,038 6,159,103
2014 4,767,119 6,069,811
2013 4,716,147 5,982,445
2012 4,663,934 5,897,008
2011 4,609,833 5,814,626
2010 4,555,962 5,737,971
2009 4,499,791 5,671,236
2008 4,440,056 5,613,574
2007 4,380,248 5,559,386
2006 4,321,340 5,505,148
2005 4,261,240 5,448,097
2004 4,200,078 5,388,175
2003 4,138,784 5,326,436
2002 4,075,705 5,261,328
2001 4,008,947 5,187,689
2000 3,937,739 5,100,868
1999 3,862,101 5,003,135
1998 3,782,838 4,900,025
1997 3,701,711 4,794,412
1996 3,619,013 4,687,543
1995 3,535,176 4,579,806
1994 3,451,122 4,471,417
1993 3,367,434 4,362,696
1992 3,284,258 4,253,600
1991 3,202,176 4,144,364
1990 3,121,706 4,035,747
1989 3,043,827 3,927,802
1988 2,968,103 3,820,546
1987 2,892,699 3,714,889
1986 2,817,216 3,611,474
1985 2,741,894 3,510,671
1984 2,667,595 3,412,936
1983 2,595,153 3,318,068
1982 2,524,806 3,226,189
1981 2,456,637 3,137,604
1980 2,390,633 3,053,235
1979 2,326,490 2,973,968
1978 2,264,510 2,899,269
1977 2,205,025 2,827,874
1976 2,147,774 2,758,836
1975 2,092,719 2,691,648
1974 2,039,643 2,625,621
1973 1,988,343 2,561,102
1972 1,938,248 2,499,881
1971 1,888,539 2,442,537
1970 1,838,949 2,388,028
1969 1,789,276 2,334,992
1968 1,739,731 2,282,391
1967 1,689,523 2,229,994
1966 1,638,116 2,177,584
1965 1,586,208 2,125,177
1964 1,533,960 2,073,119
1963 1,481,604 2,021,909
1962 1,429,445 1,973,130
1961 1,377,920 1,927,394
1960 1,327,496 1,883,514

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/paraguay | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Paraguay gained 743,978 people (a 13.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Paraguay's population increased by 871,043 people (a 13.9% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Paraguay was ranked 107th in 2006 and ranked 108th 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 Paraguay will increase by 21.8% to 8,669,516 people and rank change from 108th to 110th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 9.34M people in 2078 for Paraguay.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Paraguay
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Paraguay
2100 -1% -0.22%
2099 -0.99% -0.21%
2098 -0.99% -0.2%
2097 -0.99% -0.19%
2096 -0.99% -0.17%
2095 -0.99% -0.16%
2094 -0.99% -0.15%
2093 -0.98% -0.14%
2092 -0.98% -0.14%
2091 -0.97% -0.13%
2090 -0.96% -0.12%
2089 -0.95% -0.11%
2088 -0.95% -0.1%
2087 -0.93% -0.09%
2086 -0.92% -0.08%
2085 -0.91% -0.07%
2084 -0.89% -0.06%
2083 -0.87% -0.05%
2082 -0.86% -0.04%
2081 -0.84% -0.03%
2080 -0.82% -0.02%
2079 -0.8% -0.002%
2078 -0.78% 0.009%
2077 -0.75% 0.02%
2076 -0.73% 0.04%
2075 -0.71% 0.05%
2074 -0.69% 0.07%
2073 -0.67% 0.09%
2072 -0.65% 0.1%
2071 -0.62% 0.13%
2070 -0.6% 0.14%
2069 -0.58% 0.16%
2068 -0.56% 0.18%
2067 -0.55% 0.2%
2066 -0.53% 0.22%
2065 -0.51% 0.25%
2064 -0.49% 0.27%
2063 -0.47% 0.3%
2062 -0.45% 0.31%
2061 -0.44% 0.33%
2060 -0.41% 0.36%
2059 -0.39% 0.39%
2058 -0.37% 0.41%
2057 -0.34% 0.43%
2056 -0.32% 0.45%
2055 -0.29% 0.48%
2054 -0.26% 0.5%
2053 -0.23% 0.52%
2052 -0.2% 0.54%
2051 -0.17% 0.56%
2050 -0.14% 0.58%
2049 -0.11% 0.6%
2048 -0.09% 0.62%
2047 -0.06% 0.65%
2046 -0.03% 0.67%
2045 0.002% 0.68%
2044 0.03% 0.7%
2043 0.05% 0.73%
2042 0.08% 0.74%
2041 0.11% 0.76%
2040 0.13% 0.79%
2039 0.16% 0.81%
2038 0.18% 0.83%
2037 0.2% 0.86%
2036 0.23% 0.88%
2035 0.25% 0.9%
2034 0.27% 0.93%
2033 0.29% 0.96%
2032 0.31% 0.98%
2031 0.33% 1.02%
2030 0.35% 1.05%
2029 0.37% 1.08%
2028 0.39% 1.11%
2027 0.41% 1.15%
2026 0.44% 1.19%
2025 0.46% 1.23%
2024 0.48% 1.24%
2023 0.47% 1.24%
2022 0.43% 1.14%
2021 0.51% 1.22%
2020 0.7% 1.36%
2019 0.84% 1.36%
2018 0.91% 1.4%
2017 0.95% 1.43%
2016 1.02% 1.46%
2015 1.07% 1.47%
2014 1.08% 1.46%
2013 1.12% 1.45%
2012 1.17% 1.42%
2011 1.18% 1.34%
2010 1.25% 1.18%
2009 1.35% 1.03%
2008 1.37% 0.97%
2007 1.36% 0.99%
2006 1.41% 1.05%
2005 1.46% 1.11%
2004 1.48% 1.16%
2003 1.55% 1.24%
2002 1.67% 1.42%
2001 1.81% 1.7%
2000 1.96% 1.95%
1999 2.1% 2.1%
1998 2.19% 2.2%
1997 2.29% 2.28%
1996 2.37% 2.35%
1995 2.44% 2.42%
1994 2.49% 2.49%
1993 2.53% 2.56%
1992 2.56% 2.64%
1991 2.58% 2.69%
1990 2.56% 2.75%
1989 2.55% 2.81%
1988 2.61% 2.84%
1987 2.68% 2.86%
1986 2.75% 2.87%
1985 2.79% 2.86%
1984 2.79% 2.86%
1983 2.79% 2.85%
1982 2.77% 2.82%
1981 2.76% 2.76%
1980 2.76% 2.67%
1979 2.74% 2.58%
1978 2.7% 2.52%
1977 2.67% 2.5%
1976 2.63% 2.5%
1975 2.6% 2.51%
1974 2.58% 2.52%
1973 2.58% 2.45%
1972 2.63% 2.35%
1971 2.7% 2.28%
1970 2.78% 2.27%
1969 2.85% 2.3%
1968 2.97% 2.35%
1967 3.14% 2.41%
1966 3.27% 2.47%
1965 3.41% 2.51%
1964 3.53% 2.53%
1963 3.65% 2.47%
1962 3.74% 2.37%
1961 3.8% 2.33%

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/paraguay | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Paraguay's population grew by 1.24%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Paraguay
Current population
5181862
7120169
Population rank 126/197 108/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.09%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
6.18 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
3.84 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
13.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +233
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +85,007
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.24%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 87/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
42.4 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -12,423
Net migration rank 63/196 137/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 180,837
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 119/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 123/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Paraguay
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Paraguay
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -12,423
2024 - 967 - -12,451
2023 24,109 995 97,748 -12,500
2022 21,409 1,006 94,627 -12,500
2021 20,119 1,018 78,667 -8,226
2020 29,164 1,029 98,667 -8,226
2019 37,682 1,653 103,179 -16,263
2018 42,469 1,673 104,908 -16,472
2017 43,471 1,671 105,634 -16,630
2016 45,565 1,649 106,804 -16,737
2015 49,077 1,617 106,817 -16,834
2014 49,559 1,589 105,585 -16,989
2013 49,227 1,579 103,383 -17,232
2012 52,036 1,587 102,508 -17,763
2011 52,884 1,695 100,442 -20,427
2010 50,803 2,357 99,456 -26,169
2009 55,757 3,432 100,296 -40,112
2008 56,491 3,794 99,821 -44,679
2007 55,244 4,080 99,141 -45,914
2006 54,177 4,321 99,808 -44,568
2005 57,139 4,567 101,035 -42,173
2004 55,769 4,856 101,896 -40,907
2003 56,743 5,216 102,427 -39,941
2002 58,388 5,812 104,658 -36,918
2001 62,199 7,119 107,225 -27,676
2000 64,268 8,826 109,979 -15,884
1999 64,922 13,253 112,726 -11,362
1998 64,788 15,556 114,122 -9,276
1997 64,954 16,954 115,095 -8,704
1996 66,094 17,393 115,623 -8,273
1995 67,585 16,609 115,777 -7,653
1994 68,336 15,587 115,662 -6,999
1993 69,016 14,431 115,211 -6,431
1992 69,830 13,069 115,442 -6,035
1991 70,506 10,757 114,472 -5,420
1990 71,727 7,949 112,864 -4,685
1989 72,327 3,758 111,727 -4,009
1988 72,944 2,414 110,348 -3,557
1987 73,188 2,267 107,962 -3,445
1986 73,211 2,302 105,776 -3,460
1985 72,776 2,357 102,859 -3,562
1984 71,062 2,402 99,937 -3,769
1983 68,972 2,449 96,406 -2,845
1982 66,826 2,453 92,917 -2,725
1981 64,632 2,431 89,456 -2,477
1980 62,561 2,387 84,568 -2,808
1979 60,984 2,349 80,345 -3,570
1978 58,327 2,296 76,691 -4,066
1977 56,122 2,228 74,359 -4,201
1976 54,019 2,129 71,973 -4,066
1975 51,979 1,992 70,285 -3,807
1974 50,349 1,839 69,059 -3,478
1973 48,943 1,468 67,803 -4,346
1972 48,417 1,366 66,625 -7,642
1971 48,341 1,296 66,142 -10,446
1970 48,398 1,137 65,905 -12,579
1969 48,790 1,017 65,616 -12,859
1968 48,361 939 65,575 -13,132
1967 50,193 926 65,695 -13,346
1966 50,755 930 66,002 -13,538
1965 51,196 932 66,063 -13,715
1964 51,435 934 65,681 -13,915
1963 51,403 938 64,741 -14,086
1962 51,046 934 63,079 -16,175
1961 50,149 924 61,536 -16,972
1960 48,857 910 60,009 -16,811

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/paraguay | 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 Paraguay 87.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,002,636 people) and 12.4% is from migration (a loss of 141,377 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 180,837 people or 2.6% in Paraguay.

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
Paraguay
City Population
Asuncion 462K
Ciudad del Este 350K
Luque 260K
San Lorenzo 225K
Pedro Juan Caballero 127K
Caaguazu 127K
Encarnacion 107K
Coronel Oviedo 52.4K
Concepcion 45.1K

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/paraguay | 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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