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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 2,857,822 people in Qatar in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 2,999,260 in Qatar.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 1.73 times bigger than Qatar's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Qatar is the 136th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.04% for Qatar.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +3.86% in Qatar.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Qatar has grown from 973K to 3M (208.3% growth).

Costa Rica vs Qatar: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Qatar
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Qatar
2100 3,804,183 6,864,512
2099 3,842,423 6,795,697
2098 3,880,999 6,726,889
2097 3,919,996 6,658,115
2096 3,959,352 6,589,399
2095 3,999,084 6,520,903
2094 4,039,053 6,452,670
2093 4,079,349 6,384,792
2092 4,119,898 6,317,235
2091 4,160,663 6,249,912
2090 4,201,548 6,182,993
2089 4,242,452 6,116,439
2088 4,283,327 6,050,282
2087 4,324,225 5,984,646
2086 4,364,979 5,919,506
2085 4,405,520 5,854,810
2084 4,445,770 5,790,733
2083 4,485,644 5,727,107
2082 4,525,171 5,663,726
2081 4,564,265 5,600,872
2080 4,602,737 5,538,952
2079 4,640,677 5,477,309
2078 4,677,935 5,416,092
2077 4,714,527 5,355,430
2076 4,750,309 5,295,298
2075 4,785,359 5,235,611
2074 4,819,691 5,176,349
2073 4,853,137 5,117,758
2072 4,885,727 5,059,696
2071 4,917,445 5,002,249
2070 4,948,313 4,945,273
2069 4,978,425 4,888,911
2068 5,007,604 4,833,090
2067 5,035,877 4,777,814
2066 5,063,521 4,723,056
2065 5,090,474 4,668,810
2064 5,116,546 4,614,957
2063 5,141,922 4,561,622
2062 5,166,260 4,509,442
2061 5,189,836 4,457,910
2060 5,212,549 4,406,963
2059 5,234,066 4,356,604
2058 5,254,528 4,306,842
2057 5,273,844 4,257,533
2056 5,292,013 4,208,980
2055 5,308,829 4,160,635
2054 5,324,305 4,113,078
2053 5,338,417 4,065,870
2052 5,350,974 4,019,393
2051 5,361,865 3,973,445
2050 5,371,197 3,927,949
2049 5,378,904 3,882,963
2048 5,385,081 3,838,380
2047 5,389,678 3,794,282
2046 5,392,713 3,750,671
2045 5,394,209 3,707,573
2044 5,394,124 3,665,008
2043 5,392,590 3,623,031
2042 5,389,628 3,581,673
2041 5,385,101 3,540,989
2040 5,379,344 3,500,991
2039 5,372,186 3,461,758
2038 5,363,617 3,423,310
2037 5,353,928 3,385,696
2036 5,343,027 3,348,948
2035 5,330,994 3,313,100
2034 5,317,895 3,278,067
2033 5,303,634 3,243,892
2032 5,288,416 3,210,644
2031 5,272,215 3,178,257
2030 5,255,064 3,146,733
2029 5,236,901 3,112,748
2028 5,217,724 3,075,676
2027 5,197,413 3,035,492
2026 5,176,096 2,985,826
2025 5,153,634 2,926,071
2024 5,129,910 2,857,822
2023 5,105,525 2,656,032
2022 5,081,765 2,657,333
2021 5,059,988 2,504,910
2020 5,034,320 2,794,148
2019 4,999,553 2,638,657
2018 4,957,818 2,580,734
2017 4,913,177 2,545,820
2016 4,866,998 2,477,113
2015 4,818,038 2,344,557
2014 4,767,119 2,151,745
2013 4,716,147 1,916,426
2012 4,663,934 1,722,438
2011 4,609,833 1,624,761
2010 4,555,962 1,616,832
2009 4,499,791 1,608,903
2008 4,440,056 1,426,938
2007 4,380,248 1,208,595
2006 4,321,340 972,831
2005 4,261,240 825,408
2004 4,200,078 773,332
2003 4,138,784 744,682
2002 4,075,705 711,205
2001 4,008,947 677,925
2000 3,937,739 644,989
1999 3,862,101 612,500
1998 3,782,838 580,540
1997 3,701,711 550,500
1996 3,619,013 529,019
1995 3,535,176 514,325
1994 3,451,122 499,459
1993 3,367,434 484,545
1992 3,284,258 469,657
1991 3,202,176 454,853
1990 3,121,706 440,175
1989 3,043,827 425,646
1988 2,968,103 411,264
1987 2,892,699 397,005
1986 2,817,216 382,422
1985 2,741,894 365,940
1984 2,667,595 347,878
1983 2,595,153 329,709
1982 2,524,806 311,537
1981 2,456,637 293,553
1980 2,390,633 275,913
1979 2,326,490 258,670
1978 2,264,510 241,808
1977 2,205,025 225,285
1976 2,147,774 209,052
1975 2,092,719 193,087
1974 2,039,643 177,362
1973 1,988,343 161,841
1972 1,938,248 146,506
1971 1,888,539 131,346
1970 1,838,949 116,350
1969 1,789,276 103,025
1968 1,739,731 91,749
1967 1,689,523 81,439
1966 1,638,116 72,192
1965 1,586,208 64,065
1964 1,533,960 56,867
1963 1,481,604 50,380
1962 1,429,445 44,630
1961 1,377,920 39,680
1960 1,327,496 36,010

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/qatar | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Qatar gained 1,504,282 people (a 154.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Qatar's population increased by 522,147 people (a 21.1% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Qatar was ranked 156th in 2006 and ranked 136th 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 Qatar will increase by 31% to 3,927,949 people and rank change from 136th to 134th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 6.86M people in 2100 for Qatar.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Qatar
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Qatar
2100 -1% 1.01%
2099 -0.99% 1.02%
2098 -0.99% 1.03%
2097 -0.99% 1.04%
2096 -0.99% 1.05%
2095 -0.99% 1.06%
2094 -0.99% 1.06%
2093 -0.98% 1.07%
2092 -0.98% 1.08%
2091 -0.97% 1.08%
2090 -0.96% 1.09%
2089 -0.95% 1.09%
2088 -0.95% 1.1%
2087 -0.93% 1.1%
2086 -0.92% 1.11%
2085 -0.91% 1.11%
2084 -0.89% 1.11%
2083 -0.87% 1.12%
2082 -0.86% 1.12%
2081 -0.84% 1.12%
2080 -0.82% 1.13%
2079 -0.8% 1.13%
2078 -0.78% 1.13%
2077 -0.75% 1.14%
2076 -0.73% 1.14%
2075 -0.71% 1.14%
2074 -0.69% 1.14%
2073 -0.67% 1.15%
2072 -0.65% 1.15%
2071 -0.62% 1.15%
2070 -0.6% 1.15%
2069 -0.58% 1.15%
2068 -0.56% 1.16%
2067 -0.55% 1.16%
2066 -0.53% 1.16%
2065 -0.51% 1.17%
2064 -0.49% 1.17%
2063 -0.47% 1.16%
2062 -0.45% 1.16%
2061 -0.44% 1.16%
2060 -0.41% 1.16%
2059 -0.39% 1.16%
2058 -0.37% 1.16%
2057 -0.34% 1.15%
2056 -0.32% 1.16%
2055 -0.29% 1.16%
2054 -0.26% 1.16%
2053 -0.23% 1.16%
2052 -0.2% 1.16%
2051 -0.17% 1.16%
2050 -0.14% 1.16%
2049 -0.11% 1.16%
2048 -0.09% 1.16%
2047 -0.06% 1.16%
2046 -0.03% 1.16%
2045 0.002% 1.16%
2044 0.03% 1.16%
2043 0.05% 1.15%
2042 0.08% 1.15%
2041 0.11% 1.14%
2040 0.13% 1.13%
2039 0.16% 1.12%
2038 0.18% 1.11%
2037 0.2% 1.1%
2036 0.23% 1.08%
2035 0.25% 1.07%
2034 0.27% 1.05%
2033 0.29% 1.04%
2032 0.31% 1.02%
2031 0.33% 1%
2030 0.35% 1.09%
2029 0.37% 1.21%
2028 0.39% 1.32%
2027 0.41% 1.66%
2026 0.44% 2.04%
2025 0.46% 2.39%
2024 0.48% 7.6%
2023 0.47% -0.05%
2022 0.43% 6.08%
2021 0.51% -10.4%
2020 0.7% 5.89%
2019 0.84% 2.24%
2018 0.91% 1.37%
2017 0.95% 2.77%
2016 1.02% 5.65%
2015 1.07% 8.96%
2014 1.08% 12.3%
2013 1.12% 11.3%
2012 1.17% 6.01%
2011 1.18% 0.49%
2010 1.25% 0.49%
2009 1.35% 12.8%
2008 1.37% 18.1%
2007 1.36% 24.2%
2006 1.41% 17.9%
2005 1.46% 6.73%
2004 1.48% 3.85%
2003 1.55% 4.71%
2002 1.67% 4.91%
2001 1.81% 5.11%
2000 1.96% 5.3%
1999 2.1% 5.51%
1998 2.19% 5.46%
1997 2.29% 4.06%
1996 2.37% 2.86%
1995 2.44% 2.98%
1994 2.49% 3.08%
1993 2.53% 3.17%
1992 2.56% 3.25%
1991 2.58% 3.33%
1990 2.56% 3.41%
1989 2.55% 3.5%
1988 2.61% 3.59%
1987 2.68% 3.81%
1986 2.75% 4.5%
1985 2.79% 5.19%
1984 2.79% 5.51%
1983 2.79% 5.83%
1982 2.77% 6.13%
1981 2.76% 6.39%
1980 2.76% 6.67%
1979 2.74% 6.97%
1978 2.7% 7.33%
1977 2.67% 7.77%
1976 2.63% 8.27%
1975 2.6% 8.87%
1974 2.58% 9.59%
1973 2.58% 10.5%
1972 2.63% 11.5%
1971 2.7% 12.9%
1970 2.78% 12.9%
1969 2.85% 12.3%
1968 2.97% 12.7%
1967 3.14% 12.8%
1966 3.27% 12.7%
1965 3.41% 12.7%
1964 3.53% 12.9%
1963 3.65% 12.9%
1962 3.74% 12.5%
1961 3.8% 10.2%

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/qatar | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Qatar's population grew by 7.6%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Qatar
Current population
5181862
2999260
Population rank 126/197 136/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.04%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
2.6 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
20 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
3.55 hours
Daily growth/decline +67 +553
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +201,790
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +7.6%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 1/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
14.5 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +36,288
Net migration rank 63/196 26/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 2,337,000
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 31/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 76.7%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 1/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Qatar
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Qatar
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 36,288
2024 - 967 - 46,105
2023 24,109 995 23,845 39,995
2022 21,409 1,006 24,360 80,004
2021 20,119 1,018 21,297 24,501
2020 29,164 1,029 25,128 -50,433
2019 37,682 1,653 24,112 10,557
2018 42,469 1,673 23,340 12,465
2017 43,471 1,671 23,244 46,719
2016 45,565 1,649 22,416 119,725
2015 49,077 1,617 22,568 177,467
2014 49,559 1,589 21,699 194,712
2013 49,227 1,579 19,669 133,520
2012 52,036 1,587 17,681 77,091
2011 52,884 1,695 16,543 77,228
2010 50,803 2,357 16,225 90,620
2009 55,757 3,432 15,595 123,217
2008 56,491 3,794 14,062 165,572
2007 55,244 4,080 11,351 245,703
2006 54,177 4,321 10,225 204,236
2005 57,139 4,567 11,392 68,993
2004 55,769 4,856 11,242 12,531
2003 56,743 5,216 11,291 22,234
2002 58,388 5,812 11,062 22,356
2001 62,199 7,119 10,683 22,456
2000 64,268 8,826 9,974 22,769
1999 64,922 13,253 9,431 22,815
1998 64,788 15,556 9,055 22,618
1997 64,954 16,954 8,846 19,547
1996 66,094 17,393 9,049 5,517
1995 67,585 16,609 9,186 5,634
1994 68,336 15,587 9,257 5,660
1993 69,016 14,431 9,250 5,670
1992 69,830 13,069 9,189 5,670
1991 70,506 10,757 9,182 5,562
1990 71,727 7,949 9,388 5,216
1989 72,327 3,758 9,407 5,045
1988 72,944 2,414 9,198 5,118
1987 73,188 2,267 8,806 5,405
1986 73,211 2,302 8,439 6,512
1985 72,776 2,357 8,212 9,797
1984 71,062 2,402 7,997 10,113
1983 68,972 2,449 7,765 10,462
1982 66,826 2,453 7,489 10,634
1981 64,632 2,431 7,202 10,644
1980 62,561 2,387 6,894 10,540
1979 60,984 2,349 6,579 10,466
1978 58,327 2,296 6,246 10,434
1977 56,122 2,228 5,925 10,445
1976 54,019 2,129 5,598 10,494
1975 51,979 1,992 5,289 10,549
1974 50,349 1,839 5,015 10,603
1973 48,943 1,468 4,780 10,641
1972 48,417 1,366 4,581 10,663
1971 48,341 1,296 4,433 10,644
1970 48,398 1,137 4,346 10,579
1969 48,790 1,017 3,941 7,790
1968 48,361 939 3,547 7,266
1967 50,193 926 3,167 6,637
1966 50,755 930 2,811 5,880
1965 51,196 932 2,472 5,083
1964 51,435 934 2,150 4,686
1963 51,403 938 1,854 4,283
1962 51,046 934 1,589 3,773
1961 50,149 924 1,357 3,186
1960 48,857 910 1,220 1,586

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/qatar | 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 Qatar 26.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 232,009 people) and 73.9% is from migration (a gain of 655,712 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 2,337,000 people or 76.7% in Qatar.

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
Qatar
City Population
Doha 1.19M
Al Khor 31.5K

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/qatar | 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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