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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 36,435,861 people in Poland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 36,007,074 in Poland.

Population statistics:

  • Poland's population is 6.94 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Poland is the 47th.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.43% for Poland.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs -0.38% in Poland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Poland has declined from 38.1M to 36M (5.6% decline).

Costa Rica vs Poland: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Poland
2100 3,803,678 18,452,579
2099 3,841,913 18,644,857
2098 3,880,484 18,838,707
2097 3,919,475 19,033,962
2096 3,958,826 19,231,896
2095 3,998,552 19,431,204
2094 4,038,516 19,634,214
2093 4,078,807 19,840,304
2092 4,119,351 20,049,969
2091 4,160,111 20,263,764
2090 4,200,989 20,482,150
2089 4,241,888 20,705,051
2088 4,282,758 20,933,750
2087 4,323,650 21,167,790
2086 4,364,399 21,407,163
2085 4,404,935 21,652,018
2084 4,445,179 21,902,736
2083 4,485,048 22,159,983
2082 4,524,570 22,423,109
2081 4,563,658 22,691,495
2080 4,602,126 22,964,515
2079 4,640,060 23,242,960
2078 4,677,313 23,524,184
2077 4,713,901 23,811,918
2076 4,749,678 24,102,012
2075 4,784,723 24,395,355
2074 4,819,050 24,691,719
2073 4,852,492 24,990,908
2072 4,885,078 25,290,453
2071 4,916,792 25,590,102
2070 4,947,655 25,889,034
2069 4,977,764 26,187,633
2068 5,006,939 26,485,171
2067 5,035,207 26,780,961
2066 5,062,849 27,074,124
2065 5,089,797 27,364,039
2064 5,115,866 27,650,950
2063 5,141,239 27,934,132
2062 5,165,574 28,212,240
2061 5,189,146 28,487,283
2060 5,211,857 28,757,525
2059 5,233,370 29,025,705
2058 5,253,830 29,288,751
2057 5,273,143 29,548,996
2056 5,291,310 29,806,770
2055 5,308,124 30,060,951
2054 5,323,598 30,311,416
2053 5,337,707 30,559,065
2052 5,350,263 30,801,964
2051 5,361,152 31,043,690
2050 5,370,484 31,281,762
2049 5,378,189 31,516,893
2048 5,384,366 31,748,736
2047 5,388,962 31,978,608
2046 5,391,996 32,205,877
2045 5,393,493 32,431,013
2044 5,393,407 32,653,012
2043 5,391,873 32,873,136
2042 5,388,912 33,090,733
2041 5,384,386 33,303,578
2040 5,378,629 33,514,705
2039 5,371,473 33,722,530
2038 5,362,904 33,926,660
2037 5,353,217 34,126,585
2036 5,342,317 34,323,967
2035 5,330,286 34,515,669
2034 5,317,189 34,704,048
2033 5,302,930 34,887,791
2032 5,287,714 35,067,502
2031 5,271,514 35,242,658
2030 5,254,366 35,410,392
2029 5,236,206 35,572,635
2028 5,217,031 35,725,650
2027 5,196,723 35,870,384
2026 5,175,408 36,007,074
2025 5,152,950 36,435,861
2024 5,129,910 36,559,233
2023 5,105,525 36,687,353
2022 5,081,765 36,821,749
2021 5,059,988 36,981,559
2020 5,034,320 37,515,748
2019 4,999,553 37,965,475
2018 4,957,818 37,974,750
2017 4,913,177 37,974,826
2016 4,866,998 37,970,087
2015 4,818,038 37,986,412
2014 4,767,119 38,011,735
2013 4,716,147 38,040,196
2012 4,663,934 38,063,164
2011 4,609,833 38,063,255
2010 4,555,962 38,042,794
2009 4,499,791 38,151,603
2008 4,440,056 38,125,759
2007 4,380,248 38,120,560
2006 4,321,340 38,141,267
2005 4,261,240 38,165,445
2004 4,200,078 38,182,222
2003 4,138,784 38,204,570
2002 4,075,705 38,230,364
2001 4,008,947 38,248,076
2000 3,937,739 38,258,629
1999 3,862,101 38,660,271
1998 3,782,838 38,663,481
1997 3,701,711 38,649,660
1996 3,619,013 38,624,370
1995 3,535,176 38,594,998
1994 3,451,122 38,542,652
1993 3,367,434 38,461,408
1992 3,284,258 38,363,667
1991 3,202,176 38,246,193
1990 3,121,706 38,110,782
1989 3,043,827 37,961,529
1988 2,968,103 37,824,487
1987 2,892,699 37,668,045
1986 2,817,216 37,456,119
1985 2,741,894 37,201,885
1984 2,667,595 36,904,134
1983 2,595,153 36,571,808
1982 2,524,806 36,230,481
1981 2,456,637 35,898,587
1980 2,390,633 35,574,150
1979 2,326,490 35,247,217
1978 2,264,510 34,965,600
1977 2,205,025 34,689,050
1976 2,147,774 34,356,300
1975 2,092,719 34,015,199
1974 2,039,643 33,678,899
1973 1,988,343 33,357,200
1972 1,938,248 33,055,650
1971 1,888,539 32,783,500
1970 1,838,949 32,664,300
1969 1,789,276 32,548,300
1968 1,739,731 32,294,655
1967 1,689,523 31,987,155
1966 1,638,116 31,681,000
1965 1,586,208 31,444,950
1964 1,533,960 31,139,450
1963 1,481,604 30,712,000
1962 1,429,445 30,308,500
1961 1,377,920 29,964,000
1960 1,327,496 29,637,450

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/poland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Poland lost 171,180 people (a 0.45% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Poland's population decreased by 1,963,013 people (a 5.17% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Poland was ranked 32nd in 2006 and ranked 47th 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 Poland will decrease by 13.1% to 31,281,762 people and rank change from 47th to 61st.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Poland's population already peaked in 1998 at 38.7M people and is projected to decrease to 18.5M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Poland
2100 -1% -1.03%
2099 -0.99% -1.03%
2098 -0.99% -1.03%
2097 -0.99% -1.03%
2096 -0.99% -1.03%
2095 -0.99% -1.03%
2094 -0.99% -1.04%
2093 -0.98% -1.05%
2092 -0.98% -1.06%
2091 -0.97% -1.07%
2090 -0.96% -1.08%
2089 -0.95% -1.09%
2088 -0.95% -1.11%
2087 -0.93% -1.12%
2086 -0.92% -1.13%
2085 -0.91% -1.14%
2084 -0.89% -1.16%
2083 -0.87% -1.17%
2082 -0.86% -1.18%
2081 -0.84% -1.19%
2080 -0.82% -1.2%
2079 -0.8% -1.2%
2078 -0.78% -1.21%
2077 -0.75% -1.2%
2076 -0.73% -1.2%
2075 -0.71% -1.2%
2074 -0.69% -1.2%
2073 -0.67% -1.18%
2072 -0.65% -1.17%
2071 -0.62% -1.15%
2070 -0.6% -1.14%
2069 -0.58% -1.12%
2068 -0.56% -1.1%
2067 -0.55% -1.08%
2066 -0.53% -1.06%
2065 -0.51% -1.04%
2064 -0.49% -1.01%
2063 -0.47% -0.99%
2062 -0.45% -0.97%
2061 -0.44% -0.94%
2060 -0.41% -0.92%
2059 -0.39% -0.9%
2058 -0.37% -0.88%
2057 -0.34% -0.86%
2056 -0.32% -0.85%
2055 -0.29% -0.83%
2054 -0.26% -0.81%
2053 -0.23% -0.79%
2052 -0.2% -0.78%
2051 -0.17% -0.76%
2050 -0.14% -0.75%
2049 -0.11% -0.73%
2048 -0.09% -0.72%
2047 -0.06% -0.71%
2046 -0.03% -0.69%
2045 0.002% -0.68%
2044 0.03% -0.67%
2043 0.05% -0.66%
2042 0.08% -0.64%
2041 0.11% -0.63%
2040 0.13% -0.62%
2039 0.16% -0.6%
2038 0.18% -0.59%
2037 0.2% -0.58%
2036 0.23% -0.56%
2035 0.25% -0.54%
2034 0.27% -0.53%
2033 0.29% -0.51%
2032 0.31% -0.5%
2031 0.33% -0.47%
2030 0.35% -0.46%
2029 0.37% -0.43%
2028 0.39% -0.4%
2027 0.41% -0.38%
2026 0.44% -1.18%
2025 0.45% -0.34%
2024 0.48% -0.35%
2023 0.47% -0.36%
2022 0.43% -0.43%
2021 0.51% -1.42%
2020 0.7% -1.18%
2019 0.84% -0.02%
2018 0.91% -0%
2017 0.95% 0.01%
2016 1.02% -0.04%
2015 1.07% -0.07%
2014 1.08% -0.07%
2013 1.12% -0.06%
2012 1.17% -0%
2011 1.18% 0.05%
2010 1.25% -0.29%
2009 1.35% 0.07%
2008 1.37% 0.01%
2007 1.36% -0.05%
2006 1.41% -0.06%
2005 1.46% -0.04%
2004 1.48% -0.06%
2003 1.55% -0.07%
2002 1.67% -0.05%
2001 1.81% -0.03%
2000 1.96% -1.04%
1999 2.1% -0.008%
1998 2.19% 0.04%
1997 2.29% 0.07%
1996 2.37% 0.08%
1995 2.44% 0.14%
1994 2.49% 0.21%
1993 2.53% 0.25%
1992 2.56% 0.31%
1991 2.58% 0.36%
1990 2.56% 0.39%
1989 2.55% 0.36%
1988 2.61% 0.42%
1987 2.68% 0.57%
1986 2.75% 0.68%
1985 2.79% 0.81%
1984 2.79% 0.91%
1983 2.79% 0.94%
1982 2.77% 0.92%
1981 2.76% 0.91%
1980 2.76% 0.93%
1979 2.74% 0.81%
1978 2.7% 0.8%
1977 2.67% 0.97%
1976 2.63% 1%
1975 2.6% 1%
1974 2.58% 0.96%
1973 2.58% 0.91%
1972 2.63% 0.83%
1971 2.7% 0.36%
1970 2.78% 0.36%
1969 2.85% 0.79%
1968 2.97% 0.96%
1967 3.14% 0.97%
1966 3.27% 0.75%
1965 3.41% 0.98%
1964 3.53% 1.39%
1963 3.65% 1.33%
1962 3.74% 1.15%
1961 3.8% 1.1%

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/poland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Poland's population declined by 0.34%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Poland
Current population
5186356
36007074
Population rank 126/197 47/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.43%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
4.27 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
2.08 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
1.28 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 -338
Annual growth/decline +23,040 -123,372
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% -0.34%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 179/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.59 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -330,820
Net migration rank 63/196 191/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 1,739,901
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 41/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 4.5%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 97/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Poland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Poland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -330,820
2024 22,699 967 -157,205 -238,062
2023 24,109 995 -135,743 -7,824
2022 21,409 1,006 -143,605 967,744
2021 20,119 1,018 -184,907 2,251
2020 29,164 1,029 -120,050 3,920
2019 37,682 1,653 -34,169 7,696
2018 42,469 1,673 -26,582 -223
2017 43,471 1,671 0 -21,535
2016 45,565 1,649 -3,797 -5,675
2015 49,077 1,617 -26,590 3,887
2014 49,559 1,589 0 5,525
2013 49,227 1,579 -19,020 12,402
2012 52,036 1,587 0 4,635
2011 52,884 1,695 11,419 45,951
2010 50,803 2,357 38,043 119,623
2009 55,757 3,432 30,521 -8,283
2008 56,491 3,794 34,313 -42,288
2007 55,244 4,080 11,436 -51,235
2006 54,177 4,321 3,814 -68,882
2005 57,139 4,567 -3,817 -41,942
2004 55,769 4,856 -7,637 -38,216
2003 56,743 5,216 -15,281 -19,039
2002 58,388 5,812 -3,823 -16,462
2001 62,199 7,119 3,825 -16,648
2000 64,268 8,826 11,478 -15,921
1999 64,922 13,253 0 -53,035
1998 64,788 15,556 19,332 -39,509
1997 64,954 16,954 34,785 -44,230
1996 66,094 17,393 42,487 -45,349
1995 67,585 16,609 46,314 -52,989
1994 68,336 15,587 96,357 -41,845
1993 69,016 14,431 103,846 -48,805
1992 69,830 13,069 118,928 -46,893
1991 70,506 10,757 141,511 -55,342
1990 71,727 7,949 160,066 -50,339
1989 72,327 3,758 182,215 -49,192
1988 72,944 2,414 215,599 -101,671
1987 73,188 2,267 226,008 -32,310
1986 73,211 2,302 258,448 -22,520
1985 72,776 2,357 297,615 -27,277
1984 71,062 2,402 332,137 -18,402
1983 68,972 2,449 373,032 -26,724
1982 66,826 2,453 369,551 -34,980
1981 64,632 2,431 351,806 -16,155
1980 62,561 2,387 348,627 -42,420
1979 60,984 2,349 366,571 -22,162
1978 58,327 2,296 339,166 -62,936
1977 56,122 2,228 353,828 -33,496
1976 54,019 2,129 367,612 -25,716
1975 51,979 1,992 350,356 -31,346
1974 50,349 1,839 346,893 -18,273
1973 48,943 1,468 320,229 -29,335
1972 48,417 1,366 314,028 -15,004
1971 48,341 1,296 278,660 -31,767
1970 48,398 1,137 280,913 -66,859
1969 48,790 1,017 270,151 -26,744
1968 48,361 939 280,963 -11,905
1967 50,193 926 275,089 -25,479
1966 50,755 930 297,801 -17,158
1965 51,196 932 314,450 -21,658
1964 51,435 934 326,965 -23,273
1963 51,403 938 359,330 -13,770
1962 51,046 934 360,671 -31,021
1961 50,149 924 398,521 -20,044
1960 48,857 910 444,562 -6,306

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/poland | 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 Poland 53.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 832,648 people) and 46.1% is from migration (a gain of 712,179 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 1,739,901 people or 4.5% in Poland.

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
Poland
City Population
Warsaw 1.86M
Krakow 804K
Wroclaw 674K
Lodz 649K
Poznan 547K
Gdansk 488K
Szczecin 388K
Lublin 335K
Bydgoszcz 325K
Bialystok 290K

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/poland | 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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