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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 218,019 people in Samoa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 220,932 in Samoa.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 23.5 times bigger than Samoa's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Samoa is the 177th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.003% for Samoa.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.87% in Samoa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Samoa has grown from 188K to 221K (17.7% growth).

Costa Rica vs Samoa: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Samoa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Samoa
2100 3,804,183 384,161
2099 3,842,423 382,854
2098 3,880,999 381,539
2097 3,919,996 380,191
2096 3,959,352 378,724
2095 3,999,084 377,198
2094 4,039,053 375,643
2093 4,079,349 374,011
2092 4,119,898 372,292
2091 4,160,663 370,495
2090 4,201,548 368,729
2089 4,242,452 366,876
2088 4,283,327 364,923
2087 4,324,225 362,970
2086 4,364,979 360,980
2085 4,405,520 358,958
2084 4,445,770 356,899
2083 4,485,644 354,766
2082 4,525,171 352,554
2081 4,564,265 350,260
2080 4,602,737 347,980
2079 4,640,677 345,610
2078 4,677,935 343,130
2077 4,714,527 340,587
2076 4,750,309 337,992
2075 4,785,359 335,365
2074 4,819,691 332,762
2073 4,853,137 330,070
2072 4,885,727 327,311
2071 4,917,445 324,429
2070 4,948,313 321,716
2069 4,978,425 318,960
2068 5,007,604 316,145
2067 5,035,877 313,447
2066 5,063,521 310,683
2065 5,090,474 308,047
2064 5,116,546 305,429
2063 5,141,922 302,831
2062 5,166,260 300,287
2061 5,189,836 297,894
2060 5,212,549 295,476
2059 5,234,066 293,072
2058 5,254,528 290,637
2057 5,273,844 288,344
2056 5,292,013 286,143
2055 5,308,829 283,928
2054 5,324,305 281,737
2053 5,338,417 279,498
2052 5,350,974 277,186
2051 5,361,865 274,775
2050 5,371,197 272,374
2049 5,378,904 269,906
2048 5,385,081 267,438
2047 5,389,678 264,962
2046 5,392,713 262,389
2045 5,394,209 259,755
2044 5,394,124 257,081
2043 5,392,590 254,546
2042 5,389,628 251,896
2041 5,385,101 249,251
2040 5,379,344 246,679
2039 5,372,186 244,169
2038 5,363,617 241,648
2037 5,353,928 239,306
2036 5,343,027 237,018
2035 5,330,994 234,803
2034 5,317,895 232,771
2033 5,303,634 230,885
2032 5,288,416 229,148
2031 5,272,215 227,434
2030 5,255,064 225,916
2029 5,236,901 224,499
2028 5,217,724 223,100
2027 5,197,413 221,828
2026 5,176,096 220,601
2025 5,153,634 219,378
2024 5,129,910 218,019
2023 5,105,525 216,663
2022 5,081,765 215,261
2021 5,059,988 213,779
2020 5,034,320 211,944
2019 4,999,553 209,780
2018 4,957,818 207,582
2017 4,913,177 205,415
2016 4,866,998 203,499
2015 4,818,038 201,782
2014 4,767,119 200,037
2013 4,716,147 198,268
2012 4,663,934 196,498
2011 4,609,833 194,713
2010 4,555,962 193,023
2009 4,499,791 191,513
2008 4,440,056 190,107
2007 4,380,248 188,753
2006 4,321,340 187,709
2005 4,261,240 186,978
2004 4,200,078 186,249
2003 4,138,784 185,430
2002 4,075,705 184,471
2001 4,008,947 183,166
2000 3,937,739 181,685
1999 3,862,101 180,275
1998 3,782,838 178,905
1997 3,701,711 177,547
1996 3,619,013 176,071
1995 3,535,176 174,571
1994 3,451,122 173,159
1993 3,367,434 171,774
1992 3,284,258 170,331
1991 3,202,176 169,368
1990 3,121,706 169,042
1989 3,043,827 168,768
1988 2,968,103 168,346
1987 2,892,699 167,661
1986 2,817,216 167,061
1985 2,741,894 166,849
1984 2,667,595 166,796
1983 2,595,153 166,714
1982 2,524,806 166,484
1981 2,456,637 165,678
1980 2,390,633 164,322
1979 2,326,490 162,882
1978 2,264,510 161,375
1977 2,205,025 159,753
1976 2,147,774 157,113
1975 2,092,719 153,344
1974 2,039,643 149,431
1973 1,988,343 146,516
1972 1,938,248 144,538
1971 1,888,539 142,503
1970 1,838,949 140,400
1969 1,789,276 138,233
1968 1,739,731 136,020
1967 1,689,523 133,764
1966 1,638,116 131,073
1965 1,586,208 127,978
1964 1,533,960 124,894
1963 1,481,604 121,764
1962 1,429,445 118,597
1961 1,377,920 115,496
1960 1,327,496 112,490

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/samoa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Samoa gained 15,790 people (a 8.41% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Samoa's population increased by 17,433 people (a 8.57% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Samoa was ranked 176th in 2006 and ranked 177th 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 Samoa will increase by 23.3% to 272,374 people and rank change from 177th to 176th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 384K people in 2100 for Samoa.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Samoa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Samoa
2100 -1% 0.34%
2099 -0.99% 0.34%
2098 -0.99% 0.35%
2097 -0.99% 0.39%
2096 -0.99% 0.4%
2095 -0.99% 0.41%
2094 -0.99% 0.44%
2093 -0.98% 0.46%
2092 -0.98% 0.48%
2091 -0.97% 0.48%
2090 -0.96% 0.51%
2089 -0.95% 0.54%
2088 -0.95% 0.54%
2087 -0.93% 0.55%
2086 -0.92% 0.56%
2085 -0.91% 0.58%
2084 -0.89% 0.6%
2083 -0.87% 0.63%
2082 -0.86% 0.65%
2081 -0.84% 0.66%
2080 -0.82% 0.69%
2079 -0.8% 0.72%
2078 -0.78% 0.75%
2077 -0.75% 0.77%
2076 -0.73% 0.78%
2075 -0.71% 0.78%
2074 -0.69% 0.82%
2073 -0.67% 0.84%
2072 -0.65% 0.89%
2071 -0.62% 0.84%
2070 -0.6% 0.86%
2069 -0.58% 0.89%
2068 -0.56% 0.86%
2067 -0.55% 0.89%
2066 -0.53% 0.86%
2065 -0.51% 0.86%
2064 -0.49% 0.86%
2063 -0.47% 0.85%
2062 -0.45% 0.8%
2061 -0.44% 0.82%
2060 -0.41% 0.82%
2059 -0.39% 0.84%
2058 -0.37% 0.8%
2057 -0.34% 0.77%
2056 -0.32% 0.78%
2055 -0.29% 0.78%
2054 -0.26% 0.8%
2053 -0.23% 0.83%
2052 -0.2% 0.88%
2051 -0.17% 0.88%
2050 -0.14% 0.91%
2049 -0.11% 0.92%
2048 -0.09% 0.93%
2047 -0.06% 0.98%
2046 -0.03% 1.01%
2045 0.002% 1.04%
2044 0.03% 1%
2043 0.05% 1.05%
2042 0.08% 1.06%
2041 0.11% 1.04%
2040 0.13% 1.03%
2039 0.16% 1.04%
2038 0.18% 0.98%
2037 0.2% 0.96%
2036 0.23% 0.94%
2035 0.25% 0.87%
2034 0.27% 0.82%
2033 0.29% 0.76%
2032 0.31% 0.75%
2031 0.33% 0.67%
2030 0.35% 0.63%
2029 0.37% 0.63%
2028 0.39% 0.57%
2027 0.41% 0.56%
2026 0.44% 0.56%
2025 0.46% 0.62%
2024 0.48% 0.63%
2023 0.47% 0.65%
2022 0.43% 0.69%
2021 0.51% 0.87%
2020 0.7% 1.03%
2019 0.84% 1.06%
2018 0.91% 1.05%
2017 0.95% 0.94%
2016 1.02% 0.85%
2015 1.07% 0.87%
2014 1.08% 0.89%
2013 1.12% 0.9%
2012 1.17% 0.92%
2011 1.18% 0.88%
2010 1.25% 0.79%
2009 1.35% 0.74%
2008 1.37% 0.72%
2007 1.36% 0.56%
2006 1.41% 0.39%
2005 1.46% 0.39%
2004 1.48% 0.44%
2003 1.55% 0.52%
2002 1.67% 0.71%
2001 1.81% 0.82%
2000 1.96% 0.78%
1999 2.1% 0.77%
1998 2.19% 0.76%
1997 2.29% 0.84%
1996 2.37% 0.86%
1995 2.44% 0.82%
1994 2.49% 0.81%
1993 2.53% 0.85%
1992 2.56% 0.57%
1991 2.58% 0.19%
1990 2.56% 0.16%
1989 2.55% 0.25%
1988 2.61% 0.41%
1987 2.68% 0.36%
1986 2.75% 0.13%
1985 2.79% 0.03%
1984 2.79% 0.05%
1983 2.79% 0.14%
1982 2.77% 0.49%
1981 2.76% 0.83%
1980 2.76% 0.88%
1979 2.74% 0.93%
1978 2.7% 1.02%
1977 2.67% 1.68%
1976 2.63% 2.46%
1975 2.6% 2.62%
1974 2.58% 1.99%
1973 2.58% 1.37%
1972 2.63% 1.43%
1971 2.7% 1.5%
1970 2.78% 1.57%
1969 2.85% 1.63%
1968 2.97% 1.69%
1967 3.14% 2.05%
1966 3.27% 2.42%
1965 3.41% 2.47%
1964 3.53% 2.57%
1963 3.65% 2.67%
1962 3.74% 2.68%
1961 3.8% 2.67%

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/samoa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Samoa's population grew by 0.63%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Samoa
Current population
5181862
220932
Population rank 126/197 177/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.003%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
6.46 hours
One birth every
10.1 minutes
1.59 hours
One death every
18.9 minutes
6.57 hours
Daily growth/decline +67 +4
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +1,356
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.63%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 125/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
3.12 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -2,815
Net migration rank 63/196 105/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 3,843
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 186/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 1.8%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 137/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Samoa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Samoa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -2,815
2024 - 967 - -2,754
2023 24,109 995 4,170 -2,810
2022 21,409 1,006 4,288 -2,837
2021 20,119 1,018 4,379 -2,860
2020 29,164 1,029 4,442 -2,299
2019 37,682 1,653 4,495 -2,313
2018 42,469 1,673 4,637 -2,425
2017 43,471 1,671 4,661 -2,539
2016 45,565 1,649 4,720 -3,008
2015 49,077 1,617 4,795 -3,074
2014 49,559 1,589 4,849 -3,081
2013 49,227 1,579 4,875 -3,107
2012 52,036 1,587 4,863 -3,089
2011 52,884 1,695 4,860 -3,056
2010 50,803 2,357 4,779 -3,197
2009 55,757 3,432 4,525 -3,093
2008 56,491 3,794 4,581 -3,194
2007 55,244 4,080 4,480 -3,152
2006 54,177 4,321 4,473 -3,714
2005 57,139 4,567 4,503 -3,805
2004 55,769 4,856 4,554 -3,796
2003 56,743 5,216 4,622 -3,748
2002 58,388 5,812 4,672 -3,624
2001 62,199 7,119 4,759 -3,198
2000 64,268 8,826 4,855 -3,453
1999 64,922 13,253 4,937 -3,517
1998 64,788 15,556 5,022 -3,702
1997 64,954 16,954 5,053 -3,658
1996 66,094 17,393 5,038 -3,476
1995 67,585 16,609 4,976 -3,532
1994 68,336 15,587 4,880 -3,505
1993 69,016 14,431 4,769 -3,373
1992 69,830 13,069 4,652 -3,161
1991 70,506 10,757 4,655 -4,227
1990 71,727 7,949 4,759 -4,533
1989 72,327 3,758 4,845 -4,527
1988 72,944 2,414 4,889 -4,366
1987 73,188 2,267 4,909 -4,056
1986 73,211 2,302 4,983 -4,637
1985 72,776 2,357 4,998 -4,920
1984 71,062 2,402 4,979 -4,944
1983 68,972 2,449 4,914 -4,789
1982 66,826 2,453 4,808 -4,479
1981 64,632 2,431 4,720 -3,440
1980 62,561 2,387 4,672 -3,240
1979 60,984 2,349 4,624 -3,177
1978 58,327 2,296 4,587 -3,022
1977 56,122 2,228 4,555 -2,866
1976 54,019 2,129 4,519 -929
1975 51,979 1,992 4,465 -522
1974 50,349 1,839 4,411 -526
1973 48,943 1,468 4,446 -2,501
1972 48,417 1,366 4,487 -2,483
1971 48,341 1,296 4,534 -2,463
1970 48,398 1,137 4,567 -2,429
1969 48,790 1,017 4,592 -2,399
1968 48,361 939 4,605 -2,370
1967 50,193 926 4,621 -2,333
1966 50,755 930 4,593 -1,503
1965 51,196 932 4,605 -1,512
1964 51,435 934 4,326 -1,252
1963 51,403 938 4,544 -1,365
1962 51,046 934 4,498 -1,341
1961 50,149 924 4,399 -1,349
1960 48,857 910 4,298 -1,333

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/samoa | 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 Samoa 62.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 45,436 people) and 37.5% is from migration (a loss of 27,246 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 3,843 people or 1.8% in Samoa.

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
Samoa
City Population
Apia 37.7K
Manase 161

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/samoa | 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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