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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 10,804,871 people in Portugal in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 10,788,071 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Portugal's population is 2.08 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 91st.
  • The countries together account for 0.19% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +0.35% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.8M (2.53% growth).

Costa Rica vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Portugal
2100 3,803,678 9,079,610
2099 3,841,913 9,084,930
2098 3,880,484 9,089,064
2097 3,919,475 9,094,546
2096 3,958,826 9,100,755
2095 3,998,552 9,108,548
2094 4,038,516 9,113,366
2093 4,078,807 9,118,286
2092 4,119,351 9,123,579
2091 4,160,111 9,127,714
2090 4,200,989 9,132,140
2089 4,241,888 9,136,870
2088 4,282,758 9,141,647
2087 4,323,650 9,147,996
2086 4,364,399 9,152,804
2085 4,404,935 9,158,263
2084 4,445,179 9,165,158
2083 4,485,048 9,171,574
2082 4,524,570 9,179,958
2081 4,563,658 9,190,466
2080 4,602,126 9,201,621
2079 4,640,060 9,214,398
2078 4,677,313 9,228,555
2077 4,713,901 9,243,708
2076 4,749,678 9,262,542
2075 4,784,723 9,282,392
2074 4,819,050 9,305,608
2073 4,852,492 9,330,117
2072 4,885,078 9,353,771
2071 4,916,792 9,380,991
2070 4,947,655 9,409,668
2069 4,977,764 9,440,299
2068 5,006,939 9,473,457
2067 5,035,207 9,506,001
2066 5,062,849 9,539,597
2065 5,089,797 9,574,237
2064 5,115,866 9,611,738
2063 5,141,239 9,649,045
2062 5,165,574 9,686,737
2061 5,189,146 9,723,601
2060 5,211,857 9,762,379
2059 5,233,370 9,801,072
2058 5,253,830 9,841,936
2057 5,273,143 9,880,092
2056 5,291,310 9,918,643
2055 5,308,124 9,958,971
2054 5,323,598 9,997,570
2053 5,337,707 10,037,385
2052 5,350,263 10,076,095
2051 5,361,152 10,112,788
2050 5,370,484 10,149,626
2049 5,378,189 10,187,172
2048 5,384,366 10,221,034
2047 5,388,962 10,255,340
2046 5,391,996 10,289,266
2045 5,393,493 10,321,807
2044 5,393,407 10,353,338
2043 5,391,873 10,384,554
2042 5,388,912 10,412,950
2041 5,384,386 10,440,054
2040 5,378,629 10,469,380
2039 5,371,473 10,497,556
2038 5,362,904 10,523,869
2037 5,353,217 10,548,445
2036 5,342,317 10,573,361
2035 5,330,286 10,597,352
2034 5,317,189 10,621,955
2033 5,302,930 10,645,024
2032 5,287,714 10,668,384
2031 5,271,514 10,689,372
2030 5,254,366 10,708,819
2029 5,236,206 10,729,893
2028 5,217,031 10,752,023
2027 5,196,723 10,770,712
2026 5,175,408 10,788,071
2025 5,152,950 10,804,871
2024 5,129,910 10,694,681
2023 5,105,525 10,578,174
2022 5,081,765 10,434,332
2021 5,059,988 10,361,831
2020 5,034,320 10,297,081
2019 4,999,553 10,286,263
2018 4,957,818 10,283,822
2017 4,913,177 10,300,300
2016 4,866,998 10,325,452
2015 4,818,038 10,358,076
2014 4,767,119 10,401,062
2013 4,716,147 10,457,295
2012 4,663,934 10,514,844
2011 4,609,833 10,557,560
2010 4,555,962 10,573,100
2009 4,499,791 10,568,247
2008 4,440,056 10,558,177
2007 4,380,248 10,542,964
2006 4,321,340 10,522,288
2005 4,261,240 10,503,330
2004 4,200,078 10,483,861
2003 4,138,784 10,458,821
2002 4,075,705 10,419,631
2001 4,008,947 10,362,722
2000 3,937,739 10,289,898
1999 3,862,101 10,217,828
1998 3,782,838 10,160,196
1997 3,701,711 10,108,977
1996 3,619,013 10,063,945
1995 3,535,176 10,026,176
1994 3,451,122 9,991,525
1993 3,367,434 9,964,675
1992 3,284,258 9,952,494
1991 3,202,176 9,960,235
1990 3,121,706 9,983,218
1989 3,043,827 10,005,000
1988 2,968,103 10,019,610
1987 2,892,699 10,030,031
1986 2,817,216 10,032,734
1985 2,741,894 10,023,613
1984 2,667,595 9,996,232
1983 2,595,153 9,957,865
1982 2,524,806 9,911,771
1981 2,456,637 9,851,362
1980 2,390,633 9,766,312
1979 2,326,490 9,661,265
1978 2,264,510 9,558,250
1977 2,205,025 9,455,675
1976 2,147,774 9,355,810
1975 2,092,719 9,093,470
1974 2,039,643 8,754,365
1973 1,988,343 8,633,100
1972 1,938,248 8,630,430
1971 1,888,539 8,643,756
1970 1,838,949 8,680,431
1969 1,789,276 8,757,705
1968 1,739,731 8,836,650
1967 1,689,523 8,874,520
1966 1,638,116 8,930,990
1965 1,586,208 8,998,595
1964 1,533,960 9,035,365
1963 1,481,604 9,030,355
1962 1,429,445 8,993,985
1961 1,377,920 8,929,316
1960 1,327,496 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 462,619 people (a 4.48% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,149,626 people and rank change from 91st to 97th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2025 at 10.8M people and is projected to decrease to 9.08M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Portugal
2100 -1% -0.06%
2099 -0.99% -0.05%
2098 -0.99% -0.06%
2097 -0.99% -0.07%
2096 -0.99% -0.09%
2095 -0.99% -0.05%
2094 -0.99% -0.05%
2093 -0.98% -0.06%
2092 -0.98% -0.05%
2091 -0.97% -0.05%
2090 -0.96% -0.05%
2089 -0.95% -0.05%
2088 -0.95% -0.07%
2087 -0.93% -0.05%
2086 -0.92% -0.06%
2085 -0.91% -0.08%
2084 -0.89% -0.07%
2083 -0.87% -0.09%
2082 -0.86% -0.11%
2081 -0.84% -0.12%
2080 -0.82% -0.14%
2079 -0.8% -0.15%
2078 -0.78% -0.16%
2077 -0.75% -0.2%
2076 -0.73% -0.21%
2075 -0.71% -0.25%
2074 -0.69% -0.26%
2073 -0.67% -0.25%
2072 -0.65% -0.29%
2071 -0.62% -0.3%
2070 -0.6% -0.32%
2069 -0.58% -0.35%
2068 -0.56% -0.34%
2067 -0.55% -0.35%
2066 -0.53% -0.36%
2065 -0.51% -0.39%
2064 -0.49% -0.39%
2063 -0.47% -0.39%
2062 -0.45% -0.38%
2061 -0.44% -0.4%
2060 -0.41% -0.39%
2059 -0.39% -0.42%
2058 -0.37% -0.39%
2057 -0.34% -0.39%
2056 -0.32% -0.4%
2055 -0.29% -0.39%
2054 -0.26% -0.4%
2053 -0.23% -0.38%
2052 -0.2% -0.36%
2051 -0.17% -0.36%
2050 -0.14% -0.37%
2049 -0.11% -0.33%
2048 -0.09% -0.33%
2047 -0.06% -0.33%
2046 -0.03% -0.32%
2045 0.002% -0.3%
2044 0.03% -0.3%
2043 0.05% -0.27%
2042 0.08% -0.26%
2041 0.11% -0.28%
2040 0.13% -0.27%
2039 0.16% -0.25%
2038 0.18% -0.23%
2037 0.2% -0.24%
2036 0.23% -0.23%
2035 0.25% -0.23%
2034 0.27% -0.22%
2033 0.29% -0.22%
2032 0.31% -0.2%
2031 0.33% -0.18%
2030 0.35% -0.2%
2029 0.37% -0.21%
2028 0.39% -0.17%
2027 0.41% -0.16%
2026 0.44% -0.16%
2025 0.45% 1.03%
2024 0.48% 1.1%
2023 0.47% 1.38%
2022 0.43% 0.7%
2021 0.51% 0.63%
2020 0.7% 0.11%
2019 0.84% 0.02%
2018 0.91% -0.16%
2017 0.95% -0.24%
2016 1.02% -0.31%
2015 1.07% -0.41%
2014 1.08% -0.54%
2013 1.12% -0.55%
2012 1.17% -0.4%
2011 1.18% -0.15%
2010 1.25% 0.05%
2009 1.35% 0.1%
2008 1.37% 0.14%
2007 1.36% 0.2%
2006 1.41% 0.18%
2005 1.46% 0.19%
2004 1.48% 0.24%
2003 1.55% 0.38%
2002 1.67% 0.55%
2001 1.81% 0.71%
2000 1.96% 0.71%
1999 2.1% 0.57%
1998 2.19% 0.51%
1997 2.29% 0.45%
1996 2.37% 0.38%
1995 2.44% 0.35%
1994 2.49% 0.27%
1993 2.53% 0.12%
1992 2.56% -0.08%
1991 2.58% -0.23%
1990 2.56% -0.22%
1989 2.55% -0.15%
1988 2.61% -0.1%
1987 2.68% -0.03%
1986 2.75% 0.09%
1985 2.79% 0.27%
1984 2.79% 0.39%
1983 2.79% 0.47%
1982 2.77% 0.61%
1981 2.76% 0.87%
1980 2.76% 1.09%
1979 2.74% 1.08%
1978 2.7% 1.08%
1977 2.67% 1.07%
1976 2.63% 2.88%
1975 2.6% 3.87%
1974 2.58% 1.4%
1973 2.58% 0.03%
1972 2.63% -0.15%
1971 2.7% -0.42%
1970 2.78% -0.88%
1969 2.85% -0.89%
1968 2.97% -0.43%
1967 3.14% -0.63%
1966 3.27% -0.75%
1965 3.41% -0.41%
1964 3.53% 0.06%
1963 3.65% 0.4%
1962 3.74% 0.72%
1961 3.8% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Portugal
Current population
5186356
10788071
Population rank 126/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.13%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
4.78 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
6.22 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
4.43 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +302
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +110,190
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 99/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
32 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +16,472
Net migration rank 63/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 16,472
2024 22,699 967 -34,223 20,648
2023 24,109 995 -32,792 29,102
2022 21,409 1,006 -40,694 68,696
2021 20,119 1,018 -45,592 69,606
2020 29,164 1,029 -39,129 54,076
2019 37,682 1,653 -24,687 63,031
2018 42,469 1,673 -25,709 22,495
2017 43,471 1,671 -23,691 13,979
2016 45,565 1,649 -23,749 -775
2015 49,077 1,617 -23,823 -3,209
2014 49,559 1,589 -22,882 -26,447
2013 49,227 1,579 -24,052 -36,342
2012 52,036 1,587 -17,875 -37,083
2011 52,884 1,695 -5,279 -31,513
2010 50,803 2,357 -4,230 -5,627
2009 55,757 3,432 -5,284 14,532
2008 56,491 3,794 0 9,478
2007 55,244 4,080 -1,055 21,064
2006 54,177 4,321 3,156 16,754
2005 57,139 4,567 2,101 15,537
2004 55,769 4,856 7,339 13,928
2003 56,743 5,216 4,184 24,740
2002 58,388 5,812 8,335 42,169
2001 62,199 7,119 8,290 55,565
2000 64,268 8,826 15,435 60,586
1999 64,922 13,253 8,175 49,572
1998 64,788 15,556 7,112 40,931
1997 64,954 16,954 8,087 36,922
1996 66,094 17,393 4,026 32,640
1995 67,585 16,609 4,011 26,971
1994 68,336 15,587 9,991 20,761
1993 69,016 14,431 7,972 8,561
1992 69,830 13,069 13,933 -11,847
1991 70,506 10,757 12,948 -37,914
1990 71,727 7,949 13,976 -34,855
1989 72,327 3,758 22,011 -30,615
1988 72,944 2,414 24,047 -26,595
1987 73,188 2,267 28,084 -23,142
1986 73,211 2,302 31,102 -20,000
1985 72,776 2,357 33,077 -19,183
1984 71,062 2,402 45,983 -16,658
1983 68,972 2,449 47,798 -16,568
1982 66,826 2,453 58,479 -15,006
1981 64,632 2,431 56,152 -7,938
1980 62,561 2,387 63,481 29,881
1979 60,984 2,349 67,628 32,434
1978 58,327 2,296 70,731 34,345
1977 56,122 2,228 84,156 37,779
1976 54,019 2,129 85,138 40,490
1975 51,979 1,992 81,841 42,262
1974 50,349 1,839 74,412 41,254
1973 48,943 1,468 76,835 39,748
1972 48,417 1,366 83,715 39,058
1971 48,341 1,296 82,980 48,944
1970 48,398 1,137 87,672 -191,862
1969 48,790 1,017 89,329 -161,114
1968 48,361 939 100,737 -145,200
1967 50,193 926 106,495 -136,232
1966 50,755 930 107,171 -129,233
1965 51,196 932 115,182 -123,855
1964 51,435 934 120,170 -118,763
1963 51,403 938 113,783 -116,874
1962 51,046 934 123,217 -113,947
1961 50,149 924 117,867 -112,768
1960 48,857 910 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/portugal | 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 Portugal 48.2% is from natural causes (a loss of 314,089 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 337,649 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

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
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | 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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