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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 34,576,665 people in Peru in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 35,105,331 in Peru.

Population statistics:

  • Peru's population is 6.77 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Peru is the 48th.
  • The countries together account for 0.48% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.42% for Peru.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +1.26% in Peru.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Peru has grown from 28.3M to 35.1M (23.9% growth).

Costa Rica vs Peru: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Peru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Peru
2100 3,803,678 38,442,430
2099 3,841,913 38,609,486
2098 3,880,484 38,774,265
2097 3,919,475 38,937,509
2096 3,958,826 39,098,598
2095 3,998,552 39,257,494
2094 4,038,516 39,413,146
2093 4,078,807 39,567,920
2092 4,119,351 39,718,895
2091 4,160,111 39,867,036
2090 4,200,989 40,012,169
2089 4,241,888 40,153,701
2088 4,282,758 40,292,740
2087 4,323,650 40,428,045
2086 4,364,399 40,558,786
2085 4,404,935 40,685,268
2084 4,445,179 40,807,007
2083 4,485,048 40,923,102
2082 4,524,570 41,034,801
2081 4,563,658 41,140,743
2080 4,602,126 41,241,207
2079 4,640,060 41,334,845
2078 4,677,313 41,422,439
2077 4,713,901 41,503,511
2076 4,749,678 41,578,164
2075 4,784,723 41,645,808
2074 4,819,050 41,706,491
2073 4,852,492 41,759,277
2072 4,885,078 41,804,713
2071 4,916,792 41,842,534
2070 4,947,655 41,873,019
2069 4,977,764 41,895,381
2068 5,006,939 41,909,248
2067 5,035,207 41,914,729
2066 5,062,849 41,912,112
2065 5,089,797 41,901,353
2064 5,115,866 41,882,691
2063 5,141,239 41,855,037
2062 5,165,574 41,819,132
2061 5,189,146 41,774,412
2060 5,211,857 41,721,225
2059 5,233,370 41,659,921
2058 5,253,830 41,590,180
2057 5,273,143 41,511,131
2056 5,291,310 41,423,914
2055 5,308,124 41,327,613
2054 5,323,598 41,223,066
2053 5,337,707 41,109,699
2052 5,350,263 40,988,952
2051 5,361,152 40,860,060
2050 5,370,484 40,722,627
2049 5,378,189 40,577,434
2048 5,384,366 40,424,258
2047 5,388,962 40,261,875
2046 5,391,996 40,090,240
2045 5,393,493 39,910,095
2044 5,393,407 39,720,613
2043 5,391,873 39,523,731
2042 5,388,912 39,318,023
2041 5,384,386 39,103,923
2040 5,378,629 38,882,017
2039 5,371,473 38,652,110
2038 5,362,904 38,414,521
2037 5,353,217 38,168,782
2036 5,342,317 37,914,498
2035 5,330,286 37,652,693
2034 5,317,189 37,382,554
2033 5,302,930 37,105,048
2032 5,287,714 36,820,835
2031 5,271,514 36,529,111
2030 5,254,366 36,228,701
2029 5,236,206 35,919,668
2028 5,217,031 35,600,666
2027 5,196,723 35,271,163
2026 5,175,408 34,930,183
2025 5,152,950 34,576,665
2024 5,129,910 34,217,848
2023 5,105,525 33,845,617
2022 5,081,765 33,475,438
2021 5,059,988 33,155,882
2020 5,034,320 32,838,579
2019 4,999,553 32,449,303
2018 4,957,818 31,897,584
2017 4,913,177 31,324,637
2016 4,866,998 30,866,494
2015 4,818,038 30,457,600
2014 4,767,119 30,115,826
2013 4,716,147 29,817,919
2012 4,663,934 29,550,366
2011 4,609,833 29,304,086
2010 4,555,962 29,086,019
2009 4,499,791 28,896,811
2008 4,440,056 28,719,041
2007 4,380,248 28,530,699
2006 4,321,340 28,324,491
2005 4,261,240 28,101,180
2004 4,200,078 27,852,190
2003 4,138,784 27,580,490
2002 4,075,705 27,288,217
2001 4,008,947 26,964,601
2000 3,937,739 26,598,331
1999 3,862,101 26,186,504
1998 3,782,838 25,738,095
1997 3,701,711 25,274,147
1996 3,619,013 24,811,171
1995 3,535,176 24,348,919
1994 3,451,122 23,881,493
1993 3,367,434 23,413,783
1992 3,284,258 22,946,340
1991 3,202,176 22,483,775
1990 3,121,706 22,014,771
1989 3,043,827 21,532,589
1988 2,968,103 21,054,702
1987 2,892,699 20,582,320
1986 2,817,216 20,117,122
1985 2,741,894 19,648,204
1984 2,667,595 19,174,716
1983 2,595,153 18,705,957
1982 2,524,806 18,246,503
1981 2,456,637 17,798,805
1980 2,390,633 17,360,949
1979 2,326,490 16,933,139
1978 2,264,510 16,516,059
1977 2,205,025 16,109,806
1976 2,147,774 15,716,809
1975 2,092,719 15,333,957
1974 2,039,643 14,956,552
1973 1,988,343 14,582,867
1972 1,938,248 14,210,147
1971 1,888,539 13,838,067
1970 1,838,949 13,501,237
1969 1,789,276 13,166,767
1968 1,739,731 12,803,993
1967 1,689,523 12,448,814
1966 1,638,116 12,101,297
1965 1,586,208 11,761,085
1964 1,533,960 11,427,978
1963 1,481,604 11,102,099
1962 1,429,445 10,784,612
1961 1,377,920 10,475,123
1960 1,327,496 10,174,127

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/peru | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Peru gained 2,542,003 people (a 8.97% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Peru's population increased by 4,238,837 people (a 13.7% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Peru was ranked 40th in 2006 and ranked 48th 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 Peru will increase by 16% to 40,722,627 people and rank change from 48th to 51st.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 41.9M people in 2067 for Peru.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Peru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Peru
2100 -1% -0.43%
2099 -0.99% -0.42%
2098 -0.99% -0.42%
2097 -0.99% -0.41%
2096 -0.99% -0.4%
2095 -0.99% -0.39%
2094 -0.99% -0.39%
2093 -0.98% -0.38%
2092 -0.98% -0.37%
2091 -0.97% -0.36%
2090 -0.96% -0.35%
2089 -0.95% -0.35%
2088 -0.95% -0.33%
2087 -0.93% -0.32%
2086 -0.92% -0.31%
2085 -0.91% -0.3%
2084 -0.89% -0.28%
2083 -0.87% -0.27%
2082 -0.86% -0.26%
2081 -0.84% -0.24%
2080 -0.82% -0.23%
2079 -0.8% -0.21%
2078 -0.78% -0.2%
2077 -0.75% -0.18%
2076 -0.73% -0.16%
2075 -0.71% -0.15%
2074 -0.69% -0.13%
2073 -0.67% -0.11%
2072 -0.65% -0.09%
2071 -0.62% -0.07%
2070 -0.6% -0.05%
2069 -0.58% -0.03%
2068 -0.56% -0.01%
2067 -0.55% 0.006%
2066 -0.53% 0.03%
2065 -0.51% 0.04%
2064 -0.49% 0.07%
2063 -0.47% 0.09%
2062 -0.45% 0.11%
2061 -0.44% 0.13%
2060 -0.41% 0.15%
2059 -0.39% 0.17%
2058 -0.37% 0.19%
2057 -0.34% 0.21%
2056 -0.32% 0.23%
2055 -0.29% 0.25%
2054 -0.26% 0.28%
2053 -0.23% 0.29%
2052 -0.2% 0.32%
2051 -0.17% 0.34%
2050 -0.14% 0.36%
2049 -0.11% 0.38%
2048 -0.09% 0.4%
2047 -0.06% 0.43%
2046 -0.03% 0.45%
2045 0.002% 0.48%
2044 0.03% 0.5%
2043 0.05% 0.52%
2042 0.08% 0.55%
2041 0.11% 0.57%
2040 0.13% 0.59%
2039 0.16% 0.62%
2038 0.18% 0.64%
2037 0.2% 0.67%
2036 0.23% 0.7%
2035 0.25% 0.72%
2034 0.27% 0.75%
2033 0.29% 0.77%
2032 0.31% 0.8%
2031 0.33% 0.83%
2030 0.35% 0.86%
2029 0.37% 0.9%
2028 0.39% 0.93%
2027 0.41% 0.98%
2026 0.44% 1.02%
2025 0.45% 1.05%
2024 0.48% 1.1%
2023 0.47% 1.11%
2022 0.43% 0.96%
2021 0.51% 0.97%
2020 0.7% 1.2%
2019 0.84% 1.73%
2018 0.91% 1.83%
2017 0.95% 1.48%
2016 1.02% 1.34%
2015 1.07% 1.13%
2014 1.08% 1%
2013 1.12% 0.91%
2012 1.17% 0.84%
2011 1.18% 0.75%
2010 1.25% 0.65%
2009 1.35% 0.62%
2008 1.37% 0.66%
2007 1.36% 0.73%
2006 1.41% 0.79%
2005 1.46% 0.89%
2004 1.48% 0.99%
2003 1.55% 1.07%
2002 1.67% 1.2%
2001 1.81% 1.38%
2000 1.96% 1.57%
1999 2.1% 1.74%
1998 2.19% 1.84%
1997 2.29% 1.87%
1996 2.37% 1.9%
1995 2.44% 1.96%
1994 2.49% 2%
1993 2.53% 2.04%
1992 2.56% 2.06%
1991 2.58% 2.13%
1990 2.56% 2.24%
1989 2.55% 2.27%
1988 2.61% 2.3%
1987 2.68% 2.31%
1986 2.75% 2.39%
1985 2.79% 2.47%
1984 2.79% 2.51%
1983 2.79% 2.52%
1982 2.77% 2.52%
1981 2.76% 2.52%
1980 2.76% 2.53%
1979 2.74% 2.53%
1978 2.7% 2.52%
1977 2.67% 2.5%
1976 2.63% 2.5%
1975 2.6% 2.52%
1974 2.58% 2.56%
1973 2.58% 2.62%
1972 2.63% 2.69%
1971 2.7% 2.49%
1970 2.78% 2.54%
1969 2.85% 2.83%
1968 2.97% 2.85%
1967 3.14% 2.87%
1966 3.27% 2.89%
1965 3.41% 2.91%
1964 3.53% 2.94%
1963 3.65% 2.94%
1962 3.74% 2.95%
1961 3.8% 2.96%

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/peru | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Peru's population grew by 1.05%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Peru
Current population
5186356
35105331
Population rank 126/197 48/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.42%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
1.47 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
58.5 seconds
One death every
18.4 minutes
2.75 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +983
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +358,817
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +1.05%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 97/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
44.2 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +11,931
Net migration rank 63/196 41/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 1,837,219
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 39/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 5.4%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 90/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Peru
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Peru
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 11,931
2024 22,699 967 347,517 18,406
2023 24,109 995 353,788 24,783
2022 21,409 1,006 327,859 33,982
2021 20,119 1,018 235,440 41,868
2020 29,164 1,029 301,950 55,375
2019 37,682 1,653 346,981 74,270
2018 42,469 1,673 343,123 339,067
2017 43,471 1,671 349,333 114,382
2016 45,565 1,649 355,859 96,740
2015 49,077 1,617 362,781 2,421
2014 49,559 1,589 368,708 -50,383
2013 49,227 1,579 372,694 -95,214
2012 52,036 1,587 376,501 -118,863
2011 52,884 1,695 383,268 -148,339
2010 50,803 2,357 382,510 -181,302
2009 55,757 3,432 396,522 -219,314
2008 56,491 3,794 413,640 -235,307
2007 55,244 4,080 435,122 -236,745
2006 54,177 4,321 445,884 -231,851
2005 57,139 4,567 454,199 -221,652
2004 55,769 4,856 459,617 -194,171
2003 56,743 5,216 459,243 -181,276
2002 58,388 5,812 463,709 -157,158
2001 62,199 7,119 470,154 -129,481
2000 64,268 8,826 484,222 -92,353
1999 64,922 13,253 487,095 -55,325
1998 64,788 15,556 489,436 -24,388
1997 64,954 16,954 495,348 -32,515
1996 66,094 17,393 501,855 -38,749
1995 67,585 16,609 507,894 -46,499
1994 68,336 15,587 512,735 -39,299
1993 69,016 14,431 513,769 -51,775
1992 69,830 13,069 514,618 -41,702
1991 70,506 10,757 513,867 -61,645
1990 71,727 7,949 515,233 -29,437
1989 72,327 3,758 512,152 -33,569
1988 72,944 2,414 508,429 -31,238
1987 73,188 2,267 502,229 -34,651
1986 73,211 2,302 496,712 -33,891
1985 72,776 2,357 488,887 -13,887
1984 71,062 2,402 477,968 -6,007
1983 68,972 2,449 469,781 -4,243
1982 66,826 2,453 461,107 -7,748
1981 64,632 2,431 453,158 -11,123
1980 62,561 2,387 445,100 -11,446
1979 60,984 2,349 439,110 -17,148
1978 58,327 2,296 432,127 -19,939
1977 56,122 2,228 425,428 -25,117
1976 54,019 2,129 420,284 -34,602
1975 51,979 1,992 414,400 -34,382
1974 50,349 1,839 408,299 -33,493
1973 48,943 1,468 400,752 -28,191
1972 48,417 1,366 396,960 -24,100
1971 48,341 1,296 391,506 -20,209
1970 48,398 1,137 318,022 -15,653
1969 48,790 1,017 379,347 -12,776
1968 48,361 939 372,379 -13,389
1967 50,193 926 365,224 -13,837
1966 50,755 930 356,819 -13,166
1965 51,196 932 349,245 -12,470
1964 51,435 934 341,570 -12,129
1963 51,403 938 332,352 -10,040
1962 51,046 934 321,716 -9,051
1961 50,149 924 313,385 -7,063
1960 48,857 910 302,924 -7,236

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/peru | 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 Peru 80.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,324,631 people) and 19.4% is from migration (a gain of 801,294 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 1,837,219 people or 5.4% in Peru.

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
Peru
City Population
Lima 9.94M
Arequipa 1.01M
Trujillo 920K
Chiclayo 553K
Callao 537K
Piura 473K
Cusco 428K
Chimbote 395K
Huancayo 378K
Iquitos 378K

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/peru | 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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