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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 19,051,804 people in Romania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 18,839,108 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • Romania's population is 3.64 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs -0.43% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.8M (11.1% decline).

Costa Rica vs Romania: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Romania
2100 3,804,183 10,801,385
2099 3,842,423 10,885,505
2098 3,880,999 10,969,050
2097 3,919,996 11,052,086
2096 3,959,352 11,134,776
2095 3,999,084 11,217,462
2094 4,039,053 11,299,298
2093 4,079,349 11,382,352
2092 4,119,898 11,464,817
2091 4,160,663 11,546,872
2090 4,201,548 11,630,335
2089 4,242,452 11,713,468
2088 4,283,327 11,796,733
2087 4,324,225 11,880,373
2086 4,364,979 11,966,550
2085 4,405,520 12,052,744
2084 4,445,770 12,140,454
2083 4,485,644 12,229,714
2082 4,525,171 12,319,480
2081 4,564,265 12,412,385
2080 4,602,737 12,507,333
2079 4,640,677 12,603,302
2078 4,677,935 12,700,870
2077 4,714,527 12,799,985
2076 4,750,309 12,900,610
2075 4,785,359 13,002,848
2074 4,819,691 13,107,513
2073 4,853,137 13,213,407
2072 4,885,727 13,323,211
2071 4,917,445 13,435,661
2070 4,948,313 13,550,449
2069 4,978,425 13,667,892
2068 5,007,604 13,786,771
2067 5,035,877 13,909,141
2066 5,063,521 14,034,214
2065 5,090,474 14,163,381
2064 5,116,546 14,293,294
2063 5,141,922 14,424,068
2062 5,166,260 14,557,025
2061 5,189,836 14,689,897
2060 5,212,549 14,821,441
2059 5,234,066 14,952,855
2058 5,254,528 15,082,857
2057 5,273,844 15,211,914
2056 5,292,013 15,340,213
2055 5,308,829 15,467,019
2054 5,324,305 15,590,545
2053 5,338,417 15,712,155
2052 5,350,974 15,834,374
2051 5,361,865 15,954,507
2050 5,371,197 16,073,070
2049 5,378,904 16,192,498
2048 5,385,081 16,311,535
2047 5,389,678 16,430,565
2046 5,392,713 16,547,661
2045 5,394,209 16,665,026
2044 5,394,124 16,783,383
2043 5,392,590 16,900,955
2042 5,389,628 17,018,000
2041 5,385,101 17,136,818
2040 5,379,344 17,253,674
2039 5,372,186 17,370,310
2038 5,363,617 17,488,193
2037 5,353,928 17,604,853
2036 5,343,027 17,721,511
2035 5,330,994 17,837,396
2034 5,317,895 17,950,976
2033 5,303,634 18,064,449
2032 5,288,416 18,176,399
2031 5,272,215 18,288,437
2030 5,255,064 18,399,699
2029 5,236,901 18,511,331
2028 5,217,724 18,621,197
2027 5,197,413 18,730,482
2026 5,176,096 18,839,108
2025 5,153,634 18,946,392
2024 5,129,910 19,051,804
2023 5,105,525 19,061,062
2022 5,081,765 19,048,502
2021 5,059,988 19,122,059
2020 5,034,320 19,265,250
2019 4,999,553 19,371,648
2018 4,957,818 19,473,970
2017 4,913,177 19,588,715
2016 4,866,998 19,702,267
2015 4,818,038 19,815,616
2014 4,767,119 19,908,979
2013 4,716,147 19,983,693
2012 4,663,934 20,058,035
2011 4,609,833 20,147,528
2010 4,555,962 20,246,871
2009 4,499,791 20,367,487
2008 4,440,056 20,537,875
2007 4,380,248 20,882,982
2006 4,321,340 21,193,760
2005 4,261,240 21,319,685
2004 4,200,078 21,451,748
2003 4,138,784 21,574,326
2002 4,075,705 21,730,496
2001 4,008,947 22,131,970
2000 3,937,739 22,442,971
1999 3,862,101 22,472,040
1998 3,782,838 22,507,344
1997 3,701,711 22,553,978
1996 3,619,013 22,619,004
1995 3,535,176 22,684,270
1994 3,451,122 22,730,211
1993 3,367,434 22,763,280
1992 3,284,258 22,794,284
1991 3,202,176 23,001,155
1990 3,121,706 23,201,835
1989 3,043,827 23,161,458
1988 2,968,103 23,057,662
1987 2,892,699 22,949,430
1986 2,817,216 22,836,841
1985 2,741,894 22,732,999
1984 2,667,595 22,640,547
1983 2,595,153 22,560,478
1982 2,524,806 22,475,741
1981 2,456,637 22,353,070
1980 2,390,633 22,207,282
1979 2,326,490 22,090,488
1978 2,264,510 21,951,464
1977 2,205,025 21,756,096
1976 2,147,774 21,551,634
1975 2,092,719 21,293,583
1974 2,039,643 21,029,429
1973 1,988,343 20,835,681
1972 1,938,248 20,657,957
1971 1,888,539 20,461,567
1970 1,838,949 20,250,398
1969 1,789,276 20,009,141
1968 1,739,731 19,799,831
1967 1,689,523 19,534,242
1966 1,638,116 19,215,450
1965 1,586,208 19,031,576
1964 1,533,960 18,919,126
1963 1,481,604 18,797,850
1962 1,429,445 18,676,550
1961 1,377,920 18,555,250
1960 1,327,496 18,406,905

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Romania's population decreased by 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th 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 Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,073,070 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Romania's population already peaked in 1990 at 23.2M people and is projected to decrease to 10.8M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Romania
2100 -1% -0.77%
2099 -0.99% -0.76%
2098 -0.99% -0.75%
2097 -0.99% -0.74%
2096 -0.99% -0.74%
2095 -0.99% -0.72%
2094 -0.99% -0.73%
2093 -0.98% -0.72%
2092 -0.98% -0.71%
2091 -0.97% -0.72%
2090 -0.96% -0.71%
2089 -0.95% -0.71%
2088 -0.95% -0.7%
2087 -0.93% -0.72%
2086 -0.92% -0.72%
2085 -0.91% -0.72%
2084 -0.89% -0.73%
2083 -0.87% -0.73%
2082 -0.86% -0.75%
2081 -0.84% -0.76%
2080 -0.82% -0.76%
2079 -0.8% -0.77%
2078 -0.78% -0.77%
2077 -0.75% -0.78%
2076 -0.73% -0.79%
2075 -0.71% -0.8%
2074 -0.69% -0.8%
2073 -0.67% -0.82%
2072 -0.65% -0.84%
2071 -0.62% -0.85%
2070 -0.6% -0.86%
2069 -0.58% -0.86%
2068 -0.56% -0.88%
2067 -0.55% -0.89%
2066 -0.53% -0.91%
2065 -0.51% -0.91%
2064 -0.49% -0.91%
2063 -0.47% -0.91%
2062 -0.45% -0.9%
2061 -0.44% -0.89%
2060 -0.41% -0.88%
2059 -0.39% -0.86%
2058 -0.37% -0.85%
2057 -0.34% -0.84%
2056 -0.32% -0.82%
2055 -0.29% -0.79%
2054 -0.26% -0.77%
2053 -0.23% -0.77%
2052 -0.2% -0.75%
2051 -0.17% -0.74%
2050 -0.14% -0.74%
2049 -0.11% -0.73%
2048 -0.09% -0.72%
2047 -0.06% -0.71%
2046 -0.03% -0.7%
2045 0.002% -0.71%
2044 0.03% -0.7%
2043 0.05% -0.69%
2042 0.08% -0.69%
2041 0.11% -0.68%
2040 0.13% -0.67%
2039 0.16% -0.67%
2038 0.18% -0.66%
2037 0.2% -0.66%
2036 0.23% -0.65%
2035 0.25% -0.63%
2034 0.27% -0.63%
2033 0.29% -0.62%
2032 0.31% -0.61%
2031 0.33% -0.6%
2030 0.35% -0.6%
2029 0.37% -0.59%
2028 0.39% -0.58%
2027 0.41% -0.58%
2026 0.44% -0.57%
2025 0.46% -0.55%
2024 0.48% -0.05%
2023 0.47% 0.07%
2022 0.43% -0.38%
2021 0.51% -0.74%
2020 0.7% -0.55%
2019 0.84% -0.53%
2018 0.91% -0.59%
2017 0.95% -0.58%
2016 1.02% -0.57%
2015 1.07% -0.47%
2014 1.08% -0.37%
2013 1.12% -0.37%
2012 1.17% -0.44%
2011 1.18% -0.49%
2010 1.25% -0.59%
2009 1.35% -0.83%
2008 1.37% -1.65%
2007 1.36% -1.47%
2006 1.41% -0.59%
2005 1.46% -0.62%
2004 1.48% -0.57%
2003 1.55% -0.72%
2002 1.67% -1.81%
2001 1.81% -1.39%
2000 1.96% -0.13%
1999 2.1% -0.16%
1998 2.19% -0.21%
1997 2.29% -0.29%
1996 2.37% -0.29%
1995 2.44% -0.2%
1994 2.49% -0.15%
1993 2.53% -0.14%
1992 2.56% -0.9%
1991 2.58% -0.86%
1990 2.56% 0.17%
1989 2.55% 0.45%
1988 2.61% 0.47%
1987 2.68% 0.49%
1986 2.75% 0.46%
1985 2.79% 0.41%
1984 2.79% 0.35%
1983 2.79% 0.38%
1982 2.77% 0.55%
1981 2.76% 0.66%
1980 2.76% 0.53%
1979 2.74% 0.63%
1978 2.7% 0.9%
1977 2.67% 0.95%
1976 2.63% 1.21%
1975 2.6% 1.26%
1974 2.58% 0.93%
1973 2.58% 0.86%
1972 2.63% 0.96%
1971 2.7% 1.04%
1970 2.78% 1.21%
1969 2.85% 1.06%
1968 2.97% 1.36%
1967 3.14% 1.66%
1966 3.27% 0.97%
1965 3.41% 0.59%
1964 3.53% 0.65%
1963 3.65% 0.65%
1962 3.74% 0.65%
1961 3.8% 0.81%

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/romania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Romania's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Romania
Current population
5181862
18839108
Population rank 126/197 70/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.23%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
56.8 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
3.45 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
2.17 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 -25
Annual growth/decline +24,385 -9,258
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 169/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -29,041
Net migration rank 63/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -29,041
2024 - 967 - -28,466
2023 24,109 995 -89,587 -27,780
2022 21,409 1,006 -93,338 89,076
2021 20,119 1,018 -141,504 -17,731
2020 29,164 1,029 -100,179 -13,202
2019 37,682 1,653 -60,053 -27,909
2018 42,469 1,673 -62,316 -33,018
2017 43,471 1,671 -50,930 -33,081
2016 45,565 1,649 -53,196 -33,073
2015 49,077 1,617 -59,447 -35,751
2014 49,559 1,589 -55,745 -35,448
2013 49,227 1,579 -59,951 -34,910
2012 52,036 1,587 -54,157 -37,589
2011 52,884 1,695 -56,413 -102,769
2010 50,803 2,357 -46,567 -122,364
2009 55,757 3,432 -34,625 -137,953
2008 56,491 3,794 -30,806 -144,368
2007 55,244 4,080 -37,590 -133,089
2006 54,177 4,321 -38,148 -132,777
2005 57,139 4,567 -40,508 -131,176
2004 55,769 4,856 -42,904 -117,432
2003 56,743 5,216 -56,093 -107,139
2002 58,388 5,812 -58,673 -106,585
2001 62,199 7,119 -37,625 -91,154
2000 64,268 8,826 -22,443 -92,451
1999 64,922 13,253 -31,461 -82,590
1998 64,788 15,556 -33,761 -81,366
1997 64,954 16,954 -42,853 -88,734
1996 66,094 17,393 -56,548 -70,799
1995 67,585 16,609 -36,295 -73,779
1994 68,336 15,587 -18,184 -76,246
1993 69,016 14,431 -13,658 -73,475
1992 69,830 13,069 -4,559 -63,200
1991 70,506 10,757 25,301 -36,824
1990 71,727 7,949 69,605 -38,157
1989 72,327 3,758 122,756 -33,866
1988 72,944 2,414 126,817 -48,911
1987 73,188 2,267 128,517 -42,868
1986 73,211 2,302 134,737 -50,450
1985 72,776 2,357 111,392 -28,108
1984 71,062 2,402 117,731 -24,629
1983 68,972 2,449 87,986 3,093
1982 66,826 2,453 119,121 -4,725
1981 64,632 2,431 156,472 -20,870
1980 62,561 2,387 168,776 -16,668
1979 60,984 2,349 194,397 -29,600
1978 58,327 2,296 204,148 -31,427
1977 56,122 2,228 215,385 -28,135
1976 54,019 2,129 213,361 18,748
1975 51,979 1,992 219,324 9,125
1974 50,349 1,839 235,530 6,725
1973 48,943 1,468 175,020 58,651
1972 48,417 1,366 198,316 61,920
1971 48,341 1,296 206,662 74,473
1970 48,398 1,137 234,905 71,919
1969 48,790 1,017 264,120 74,851
1968 48,361 939 338,577 33,601
1967 50,193 926 347,709 37,282
1966 50,755 930 115,293 -25,458
1965 51,196 932 114,190 -60,430
1964 51,435 934 134,326 -59,500
1963 51,403 938 139,104 -58,076
1962 51,046 934 130,736 -56,152
1961 50,149 924 163,286 -54,642
1960 48,857 910 191,431 -55,397

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/romania | 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 Romania 82% is from natural causes (a loss of 766,295 people) and 18% is from migration (a loss of 167,917 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | 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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