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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 34,217,848 people in Peru in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 35,031,596 in Peru.

Population statistics:

  • Peru's population is 6.76 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 0.49% 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 +0.77% per year vs +1.26% in Peru.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Peru has grown from 28.3M to 35M (23.7% growth).

Costa Rica vs Peru: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Peru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Peru
2100 3,804,183 38,452,509
2099 3,842,423 38,619,608
2098 3,880,999 38,784,430
2097 3,919,996 38,947,717
2096 3,959,352 39,108,849
2095 3,999,084 39,267,786
2094 4,039,053 39,423,479
2093 4,079,349 39,578,294
2092 4,119,898 39,729,309
2091 4,160,663 39,877,488
2090 4,201,548 40,022,659
2089 4,242,452 40,164,228
2088 4,283,327 40,303,304
2087 4,324,225 40,438,644
2086 4,364,979 40,569,419
2085 4,405,520 40,695,935
2084 4,445,770 40,817,705
2083 4,485,644 40,933,831
2082 4,525,171 41,045,559
2081 4,564,265 41,151,529
2080 4,602,737 41,252,019
2079 4,640,677 41,345,682
2078 4,677,935 41,433,298
2077 4,714,527 41,514,392
2076 4,750,309 41,589,064
2075 4,785,359 41,656,726
2074 4,819,691 41,717,426
2073 4,853,137 41,770,225
2072 4,885,727 41,815,673
2071 4,917,445 41,853,504
2070 4,948,313 41,883,997
2069 4,978,425 41,906,365
2068 5,007,604 41,920,235
2067 5,035,877 41,925,717
2066 5,063,521 41,923,100
2065 5,090,474 41,912,338
2064 5,116,546 41,893,671
2063 5,141,922 41,866,010
2062 5,166,260 41,830,096
2061 5,189,836 41,785,364
2060 5,212,549 41,732,163
2059 5,234,066 41,670,843
2058 5,254,528 41,601,084
2057 5,273,844 41,522,014
2056 5,292,013 41,434,774
2055 5,308,829 41,338,448
2054 5,324,305 41,233,873
2053 5,338,417 41,120,477
2052 5,350,974 40,999,698
2051 5,361,865 40,870,773
2050 5,371,197 40,733,304
2049 5,378,904 40,588,072
2048 5,385,081 40,434,856
2047 5,389,678 40,272,431
2046 5,392,713 40,100,751
2045 5,394,209 39,920,558
2044 5,394,124 39,731,027
2043 5,392,590 39,534,093
2042 5,389,628 39,328,332
2041 5,385,101 39,114,174
2040 5,379,344 38,892,211
2039 5,372,186 38,662,243
2038 5,363,617 38,424,592
2037 5,353,928 38,178,789
2036 5,343,027 37,924,438
2035 5,330,994 37,662,565
2034 5,317,895 37,392,354
2033 5,303,634 37,114,776
2032 5,288,416 36,830,488
2031 5,272,215 36,538,688
2030 5,255,064 36,238,199
2029 5,236,901 35,929,085
2028 5,217,724 35,609,999
2027 5,197,413 35,280,410
2026 5,176,096 34,939,340
2025 5,153,634 34,585,730
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Peru's population increased by 4,165,102 people (a 13.5% 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 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th. The population of Peru will increase by 16.3% to 40,733,304 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 0.46% 1.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/peru | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Peru's population grew by 1.1%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Peru
Current population
5181862
35031596
Population rank 126/197 48/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.42%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
1.41 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
58.4 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
2.83 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +1,020
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +372,231
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.1%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 95/197
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 - 967 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/peru | 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 Peru 82% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,345,822 people) and 18% is from migration (a gain of 732,505 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 (1960–2024, 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/peru | 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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